Cord Blood News Volume 2.27 | Jul 22 2010

Depleting Immune Cells Increases Bone Marrow Transplant Effectiveness 
A new technique that depletes certain immune cells could improve the treatment of leukemia relapse after bone marrow transplants, resulting in an effective therapy for patients with resistant cancer. [Press release from DOTMedNews discussing online prepublication in Science Translational Medicine]

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Discovery Suggests Possible Treatment Strategy for Aggressive Leukemias
Researchers have identified a protein called Musashi that prevents cells from maturing, creating a large population of immature cells, which is one of the hallmarks of chronic myelogenous leukemia. [Press release from Duke University Medical Center discussing online prepublication in Nature]

New Model of Leukemia Sheds Light on Possible Novel Treatment Targets
Scientists have created a clever model of how leukemia cells hide in the bone marrow niche and then grow and divide throughout the human body. Researchers figured out a way to create a human to human microenvironment in the laboratory so that they can study the disease process and eventually use the model to test new treatments. [Press release from the Feinstein Institute for Medical Research discussing online prepublication in Tissue Engineering]

Multicenter Survey on the Outcome of Transplantation of Hematopoietic Cells in Patients with the Complete Form of DiGeorge Anomaly
Seventeen patients transplanted with hematopoietic cells to correct severe T lymphocyte immunodeficiency due to complete DiGeorge anomaly were identified worldwide and retrospective data were obtained using a questionnaire-based survey. [Blood]

RH Genotyping in a Sickle Cell Disease Patient Contributing to Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation Donor Selection and Management
This case documents that blood unit selection should be based on genotype rather than one matching haplotype. [Blood]

Single-Cell Analysis of T-Cell Receptor Repertoire of HTLV-1 Tax-Specific Cytotoxic T Cells in Allogeneic Transplant Recipients with Adult T-Cell Leukemia/Lymphoma
Researchers, for the first time, analyzed the T-cell receptor repertoire of isolated Tax_301–309 (SFHSLHLLF)-specific cytotoxic T cells in HLA-A*2402⁺ adult T-cell leukemia patients before and after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation by single-cell reverse transcription-PCR. [Cancer Res]

Umbilical Cord-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells with Forced Expression of Hepatocyte Growth Factor Enhance Remyelination and Functional Recovery in a Rat Intracerebral Hemorrhage Model
Researchers hypothesized that transplantation of mesenchymal stem cells with previous transduction of hepatocyte growth factor has an additive effect in promoting neurological recovery through myelin and axonal regeneration. [Neurosurgery]

The Effect of Umbilical Cord Blood Cells on Outcomes After Experimental Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury
Researchers conclude umbilical cord blood derived multipotential stem cells improve neurologic function of rats with acute spinal cord injury, possibly by the release of factors that reduce secondary injury. [Spine]

Migration of Human Umbilical Cord Blood Mesenchymal Stem Cells Mediated by Stromal Cell-Derived Factor-1/CXCR4 Axis via Akt, ERK, and p38 Signal Transduction Pathways
Results demonstrate that Akt, ERK and p38 signal transduction pathways may be involved in stromal cell-derived factor-1-mediated migration of human umbilical cord blood-mesenchymal stem cells. [Biochem Biophys Res Commun]

Ectopic Human Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Coated Scaffolds in NOD/SCID Mice: An In Vivo Model of the Leukemia Niche
Researchers believe that their novel scaffold niches provide a new and powerful tool to study the leukemia stem cell microenvironment and may be useful for identification of novel drug targets. [Tissue Eng]

Risk Factors for Enterococcal Bacteremia in Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant Recipients
The aim of this study was to identify risk factors for enterococcal bacteremia during the first 30 days after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant. [Transpl Infect Dis]

CD4+CD25+ Regulatory T Cell Depletion Improves the Graft-Versus-Tumor Effect of Donor Lymphocytes After Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation
Results suggest that regulatory T cell-depleted donor lymphocyte infusion is a safe, feasible approach that induces graft-versus-host or graft-versus-tumor effects in alloreactivity-resistant patients. [Sci Transl Med]

Cell Therapeutics, Inc. (CTI) Signs Long-Term Manufacturing Agreement for Pixantrone with NerPharMa
Cell Therapeutics (CTI) announced that it has signed a manufacturing agreement with NerPharMa DS for CTI’s drug candidate pixantrone. [Cell Therapeutics, Inc. Press Release]

International Stem Cell Corporation and Insight Bioventures Seek to Establish Indian Operations
International Stem Cell Corporation (ISCO), and Insight Bioventures India Private Limited, announced that they have signed a letter of intent concerning funding and establishment of an Indian affiliate of ISCO. [International Stem Cell Corporation Press Release]

New Research Collaboration to Advance Stem Cell Use
North East-based Orla Protein Technologies Ltd., the UK Stem Cell Bank and Newcastle University, have been awarded a grant by the Technology Strategy Board to develop technology which could dramatically improve the way cells are grown in a laboratory. [UK Stem Cell Bank Press Release]

Mesoblast Receives TGA Regulatory Approval to Commercially Manufacture Adult Stem Cell Products
Australian regenerative medicine company, Mesoblast Limited announced that the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has issued a license to Mesoblast to manufacture and supply its proprietary Mesenchymal Precursor Cell products. [Mesoblast Limited Press Release]

BioTime Announces Addition of New Stem Cell Lines to Its Product Portfolio
BioTime, Inc. announced that on August 1, 2010 the Company will be offering for sale 21 new stem cell products for research use only. [Yahoo! Finance]

Asuragen and Life Technologies Launch CE-Marked BCR/ABL1 Quant™ Leukemia Test in Europe
Asuragen, Inc. and Life Technologies Corporation announced that they have achieved CE-marking and commercial launch in Europe of the BCR/ABL1 Quant™ Test, Asuragen’s clinically validated and cGMP manufactured test intended to aid clinicians in the monitoring and treatment of individuals afflicted with chronic myeloid leukemia. [Asuragen, Inc. Press Release]

Prochymal New Drug Submission Granted Priority Review by Health Canada
Osiris Therapeutics, Inc. announced that the Biologics and Genetic Therapies Directorate of Health Canada has completed its initial evaluation and accepted for full review the company’s New Drug Submission of Prochymal (remestemcel-L), an adult stem cell therapy for the treatment of graft versus host disease. [Osiris Therapeutics, Inc. Press Release]

Kit-Based Cord Blood Program Gives Moms New Options for Donation
A new kit-based umbilical cord blood pilot donation program under way at Duke University Medical Center could significantly expand options for mothers who want to donate their baby’s cord blood to a public bank. [Duke University Medical Center Press Release]

Key GlycoMimetics Patents Issue in the U.S.
GlycoMimetics, Inc. announced that the U. S. Patent and Trademark Office has issued two patents covering the company’s lead drug candidate and related compounds. One patent, U.S. number 7,728,117, specifically covers GMI-1070, the Company’s drug candidate now in clinical trials of patients with vaso-occlusive crisis of sickle cell disease. [GlycoMimetics, Inc. Press Release]

NIH Asks for Input on Closing Loophole in Conflict-of-Interest Rule
Responding to yet another flap about the influence of drug companies on biomedical research, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has decided it needs more time to revise its rules for policing conflicts of interest so that sanctions will move with an investigator if he or she changes institutions. [National Institutes of Health, United States]

House Panel Approves 3.2% Raise for NIH in 2011
A House of Representatives spending panel yesterday approved a $1 billion increase, to $32 billion, in the 2011 budget for the National Institutes of Health (NIH). [National Institutes of Health, United States]

NIH Expands National Network for Transforming Clinical and Translational Research
Nine health research centers have received funds to develop ways to reduce the time it takes for clinical research to become treatments for patients. The funds were awarded as part of the Clinical and Translational Science Awards program which is led by the National Center for Research Resources. [National Institutes of Health, United States]

Brussels to Invest $8.3 Billion in Research
Research organizations, universities, and industry will receive a sum of EUR6.4 billion next year in the European Commission’s largest ever allocation for research and innovation. [European Commission, European Union]

Ireland Keeps Light Shining on Science with New Spending
In a surprise move, the Irish government (which is tottering on the brink of bankruptcy) announced that it would inject EUR359 million into research. [Programme for Research in Third-Level Institutions, Ireland]

Russian Researchers Call for Better Coordination of Science
More than 2200 researchers sent an open letter to Russian President Dmitry Medvedev last week asking the government to set Russian science in order and to consult with the scientific community when making major science-policy decisions. [Russia]

‘Game Over’ for British Science?
The Royal Society and the British Academy strongly warned the British government that looming cuts to science funding could be “irreversibly catastrophic for the future of U.K. science and economic growth” if they go too far. [The Royal Society and the British Academy, United Kingdom]

Responsibility of Applicants for Promoting Objectivity in Research for Which Public Health Service Funding Is Sought and Responsible Prospective Contractors [Docket Number NIH-2010-0001] [Department of Health and Human Services, United States]

Office of Biotechnology Activities; Recombinant DNA Research: Proposed Action Under the NIH Guidelines for Research Involving Recombinant DNA Molecules (NIH Guidelines) (Doc. 2010-17668) [National Institutes of Health, United States]

Notice of Intent to Publish a Request for Applications for Tumor Microenvironment Network (TMEN) (NOT-CA-10-032) [National Institutes of Health, United States]

Clarification of Additional Research Objectives for NICHD PAR-08-138, Genetic Screens to Enhance Zebrafish Research (R01) (NOT-HD-10-015) [National Institutes of Health, United States]

Notice of Expiration of Biomedical Technology Research Resource (PAR-08-259) and Reissuance of Biomedical Technology Research Center (P41)(PAR-10-225) (NOT-RR-10-011) [National Institutes of Health, United States]

2011 NIH Directors New Innovator Award Program (DP2) (RFA-RM-10-009) [National Institutes of Health, United States]

EVENTS (Listed by Date)

NEW Cold Spring Harbor Workshop on Stem Cells
July 30-August 5, 2010
Cold Spring Harbor, United States

NEW 9th Mount Desert Island Stem Cell Symposium
August 6-7, 2010
Salsbury Cove, United States

Select Biosciences 3rd Annual Stem Cells Europe Conference
August 24-25, 2010
Edinburgh, Scotland

Select Biosciences World Biobanking Summit
August 24-25, 2010
Edinburgh, Scotland

Select Biosciences Inaugural Cellular Therapy Summit
August 24-25, 2010
Edinburgh, Scotland

International Society for Cellular Therapy – Europe 2nd Regional Meeting
September 11-14, 2010
Belgirate, Italy

Stem Cells USA & Regenerative Medicine Congress 2010
September 13-15, 2010
Philadelphia, United States

Tissue Engineering & Regenerative Medicine International Society (TERMIS) – Asia Pacific 2010
September 15-17, 2010
Sydney, Australia

International Society for Hematology and Stem Cells (ISEH) 2010 Meeting
September 15-18, 2010
Melbourne, Australia

NEW Cellular Therapy of Cancer Symposium – ATTACK Project Meeting
September 24-27, 2010
Montpellier, France

NEW International Society for Cell and Gene Therapy of Cancer (ISCGT) Congress
September 27-29, 2010
Doha, Qatar

NEW 5th Annual Meeting of the German Society for Stem Cell Research
September 30-October 2, 2010
Lübeck, Germany

AABB (formerly known as the American Association of Blood Banks) Annual Meeting & Cellular Therapy and Transfusion Medicine Expo (CTTXPO) 2010
October 9-12, 2010
Baltimore, United States

NEW 5th Annual Translational Stem Cell Research Conference
October 12-13, 2010
New York City, United States

Institute for Genomic Medicine Inaugural Symposium
October 11-12, 2010
San Diego, United States

Fraunhofer Life Science Symposium Leipzig 2010
October 29-30, 2010
Leipzig, Germany

World Cord Blood Congress
November 4-7, 2010
Marseille, France

Select Biosciences 2nd International Forum on Stem Cells (2010 IFSC)
November 12-13, 2010
Tianjin, China

NEW The 16th International Conference of the International Society of Differentiation: From Stem Cells to Organisms
November 15-18, 2010
Nara, Japan

NEW Stem Cell Network’s 10th Annual Scientific Meeting
November, 22-24, 2010
Calgary, Alberta

52nd American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting and Exposition
December 4-7, 2010
Orlando, United States

Select Biosciences 5th Annual Stem Cells World Congress
January 24-25, 2011
San Diego, United States

Visit our events page to stay up to date with the latest events in the cell, gene and immunotherapy community.

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