ESC & iPSC News Volume 5.12 | Mar 31 2010

TOP STORY

National Institute on Aging Researchers Find Gene to Explain Mouse Embryonic Stem Cell Immortality
Researchers have discovered a key to embryonic stem cell rejuvenation in a gene, Zscan4. [Press release from EurekaAlert! discussing online prepublication in Nature]

SCIENCE NEWS

Israeli Advance in Stem Cell Tech 
By changing the conditions of the culture, researchers showed that they could control the ripening of human embryonic stem cell clusters in suspension into neural spheres. [Press release from Hadassah University Medical Center discussing online prepublication in Nature Biotechnology]

CURRENT PUBLICATIONS

Zscan4 Regulates Telomere Elongation and Genomic Stability in Embryonic Stem Cells
Researchers show that Zscan4 is involved in telomere maintenance and long-term genomic stability in embryonic stem cells. [Nature]

Derivation, Propagation and Controlled Differentiation of Human Embryonic Stem Cells in Suspension
Investigators show that human embryonic stem cell lines can be derived from floating inner cell masses in suspension culture conditions that do not involve feeder cells or microcarriers. [Nat Biotechnol]

Downregulation of GATA1 Uncouples STAT5-Induced Erythroid Differentiation from Stem/Progenitor Cell Proliferation
Since GATA1 is a key transcription factor involved in erythropoiesis, the involvement of GATA1 in STAT5-induced phenotypes was studied by knocking down GATA1 using a lentiviral shRNA approach. [Blood]

Notch Exhibits Ligand Bias and Maneuvers Stage-Specific Steering of Neural Differentiation in Embryonic Stem Cells
Using an embryonic stem cell (ESC) model, researchers have deciphered Notch ligand preference during ESC commitment to different germ layers and determined the stage-specific temporal effect of Notch during neural differentiation. [Mol Cell Biol]

FOXA1 Functions as a Pioneer Transcription Factor at Transposable Elements to Activate Alpha-Fetoprotein During Differentiation of Embryonic Stem Cells
Although alpha-fetoprotein (Afp) falls into the class of genes that are silent in embryonic stem cells, but destined for expression during differentiation, as it is silent in pluripotent stem cells and activated during differentiation of endoderm, researchers find that Afp chromatin lacks bivalent histone modifications. [J Biol Chem]

FGF Signaling as a Mediator of Lineage Transitions-Evidence from Embryonic Stem Cell Differentiation
Given the prominent role of fibroblast growth factor (FGF) signaling in early embryonic development, researchers explore the role of this pathway in early embryonic stem cell differentiation towards the major lineages of the embryo. [J Cell Biochem]

DPPA4 Modulates Chromatin Structure via Association with DNA and Core Histone H3 in Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells
Researchers performed fluorescence recovery after photobleaching analysis to examine the dynamics of DPPA4 in embryonic stem cells.  [Genes Cells]

INDUSTRY NEWS

Boehringer Ingelheim Launches Global Venture Fund to Foster Innovation in Life Sciences
Boehringer Ingelheim announced the launch of its corporate venture capital fund, the Boehringer Ingelheim Venture Fund. [Boehringer Ingelheim Press Release]

Abbreviated Trials Yield Misleading Results: Study
Many positive treatment effects are exaggerated in clinical trials that are stopped early due to encouraging results, a new study has found. [HealthDay News]

POLICY NEWS

NIH Director Collins Defends Obama Administration Policy On Embryonic Stem Cell Research
In a letter to the editor of the Washington Post about a recent article on embryonic stem cell research, NIH Director Francis Collins writes that he is “concerned that readers might come away confused about what is happening” at the agency. [National Institutes of Health, United States]

Government Accountability Office: FDA Needs Better Plans To Protect Public Health
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is facing significant planning and management challenges that could affect its ability to protect the public health, according to a report by the Government Accountability Office. [Food and Drug Administration, United States]

Emotions Run Deep in Senate Budget Debate
By the time staffers finish their work and the bills are printed and ready to be voted upon, they will be scrubbed of all the emotional debate that previously offered a rare look into the deep social and geographical schisms that exist within Maryland’s deep shade of blue on national political maps. [Maryland Senate, United States]

Notice of Termination of Selected Research Training and Research Career Development Award Funding Opportunity Announcements (NOT-OD-10-069) [National Institutes of Health, United States]

Final Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (Kirschstein-NRSA) Policy for Tuition, Fees, and Health Insurance on Training Grants and Fellowships (NOT-OD-10-073) [National Institutes of Health, United States]

Waivers for Conflicts of Interest for the April 12, 2010 Blood Products Advisory Committee Meeting [Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, United States]

Guidance for Industry on the Content and Format of the Dosage and Administration Section of Labeling for Human Prescription Drug and Biological Products; Availability [Docket No. FDA-2007-D-0201] [Food and Drug Administration, United States]

Advisory Committees; Technical Amendment [Docket No. FDA-2010-N-0001] [Food and Drug Administration, United States]

Food and Drug Administration Clinical Trial Requirements, Regulations, Compliance, and Good Clinical Practices; Public Workshop [Docket No. FDA-2010-N-0001] [Food and Drug Administration, United States]

Consultation: Proposed Standards for Haematopoietic Progenitor Cells Intended for Use in Haematopoietic Reconstitution [Therapeutic Goods Administration, Australia]

EVENTS

American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) 101st Annual Meeting 2010
April 17-21, 2010
Washington, DC, United States

Society for Biological Engineering’s (SBE) 2nd International Conference on Stem Cell Engineering
May 2-5, 2010
Boston, United States

World Stem Cells & Regenerative Medicine Congress 2010
May 11-13, 2010
London, United Kingdom

16th Annual International Society for Cellular Therapy (ISCT) Meeting
May 23-26, 2010
Philadelphia, United States

Tissue Engineering & Regenerative Medicine International Society (TERMIS) – European Union 2010
June 13-17, 2010
Galway, Ireland

International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) 8th Annual Meeting
June 16-19, 2010
San Francisco, United States

United Kingdom National Stem Cell Network (UKNSCN) Third Annual Scientific Conference
July 12-14, 2010
Nottingham, United Kingdom

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

International Society of Cell Therapy (ISCT) – Europe 2nd Regional Meeting
September 11-14, 2010
Belgirate, Italy

5th World Congress on Preventive & Regenerative Medicine (WCRM) 2010
October 5-7, 2010
Hannover, Germany

Tissue Engineering & Regenerative Medicine International Society (TERMIS) – North American 2010 Annual Conference
December 5-8, 2010
Orlando, 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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