ESC & iPSC News Volume 5.17 | May 5 2010

TOP STORY

Scientists Discover Key Step for Regulating Embryonic Development
Deleting a gene in mouse embryos caused cardiac defects and early death, leading researchers to identify a mechanism that turns developmental genes off and on as an embryo matures. [Press release from University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center discussing online prepublication in Molecular Cell]

SCIENCE NEWS

Embryonic Stem Cells Reveal Oncogene’s Secret Growth Formula
A comprehensive new gene expression study in embryonic stem cells has uncovered a transcription control mechanism that is not only more pervasive than once thought but is also heavily regulated by the cancer-causing gene c-Myc. [Press release from EurekAlert! discussing online prepublication in Cell]

Scientists Provide Groundbreaking New Understanding of Stem Cells
In findings that could one day lead to new therapies, researchers from The Scripps Research Institute have described some striking differences between the biochemistry of stem cells versus mature cells. [Press release from PhysOrg discussing online prepublication in Nature Chemical Biology]

Discovery Holds Promise for Treatment of Diabetes and Other Debilitating Diseases
The discovery marks the first time pluripotent stem cells, or cells that can turn into any type of cell in the body, have been created from adult livestock. [Press release from The University of Georgia discussing online prepublication in Stem Cells and Development]

CURRENT PUBLICATIONS

c-Myc Regulates Transcriptional Pause Release
Researchers report that promoter-proximal pausing is a general feature of transcription by Pol II in mammalian cells and thus an additional step where regulation of gene expression occurs. [Cell]

Metabolic Oxidation Regulates Embryonic Stem Cell Differentiation
By monitoring the reduced and oxidized glutathione ratio as well as ascorbic acid levels, researchers demonstrate that the stem cell redox status is regulated during differentiation. [Nat Chem Biol]

SUMO-Specific Protease 2 Is Essential for Suppression of Polycomb Group Protein-Mediated Gene Silencing During Embryonic Development
Researchers show that deletion of SENP2 gene in mouse causes defects in the embryonic heart and reduces the expression of Gata4 and Gata6, which are essential for cardiac development. [Mol Cell]

Induction of Pluripotent Stem Cells from Adult Somatic Cells by Protein-Based Reprogramming Without Genetic Manipulation
Investigators report that a single transfer of embryonic stem cell-derived proteins into primarily cultured adult mouse fibroblasts, rather than repeated transfer or prolonged exposure to materials, can achieve full reprogramming up to the pluripotent state without the forced expression of ectopic transgenes. [Blood]

Retinoic Acid Enhances the Generation of Hematopoietic Progenitors from Human Embryonic Stem Cell-Derived Hemato-Vascular Precursors
Researchers report a three-stage method to direct the differentiation of human embryonic stem cells towards hematopoietic progenitors in chemically-defined mediums. [Blood]

Conversion of Adult Mouse Unipotent Germline Stem Cells into Pluripotent Stem Cells
In this study, researchers describe a simple and robust protocol for the derivation of germline stem cells (GSCs) from adult mouse testis and the rapid and reproducible conversion of GSCs into germline-derived pluripotent stem cells. [Nat Protoc]

Cdks and Cyclins Link G1 Length and Differentiation of Embryonic, Neural and Hematopoietic Stem Cells
This study discusses the effects of G1-cdks/cyclins on differentiation of embryonic, neural and hematopoietic stem cells during development and adulthood, for which a role of G1 length has been proposed. [Cell Cycle]

INDUSTRY NEWS

Wisconsin Loses Round in Stem Cell Patent Battle
Consumer groups challenging a key patent covering embryonic stem cell research pioneered at the University of Wisconsin-Madison have won an appeal overturning an earlier rejection of their claims. [Associated Press]

UNMC Researcher Begins Work on New Embryonic Stem Cell Line
A University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) researcher has obtained one of the first new human embryonic stem cell lines approved for use by the National Institutes of Health since President Obama ordered an update of the federal stem cell research guidelines in March 2009. [University of Nebraska Medical Center Press Release]

The New York Stem Cell Foundation and the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine to Collaborate on Stem Cell Research
The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and The New York Stem Cell Foundation are establishing a collaborative program to advance the development and use of stem cells in therapies for a wide range of diseases. [The New York Stem Cell Foundation Press Release]

Vitro Forms Strategic Alliance With a Leading Stem Cell Company
Vitro Diagnostics, Inc., dba Vitro Biopharma, announced that it signed a contract to jointly manufacture and distribute stem cell analysis tools with HemoGenix^®, Inc. [Marketwire]

Power3 Principals Patent Stem Cell Breakthrough Identifying Protein Biomarkers Which Scientists Expect to be the Gold Standard for Future Stem Cell Therapy
StemTroniX, Inc. and Power3 Medical Products, Inc. announced that a joint provisional patent application entitled, “Stem Cell Protein Biomarkers and Their Use in Monitoring Stem Cells and Their Products for Stem Cell Therapy” has been filed by the principals of StemTroniX and Power3 with the United States Patent and Trademark Office. [Power3 Medical Products, Inc. Press Release]

Cellular Dynamics Raises $40.6 Million to Revolutionize Pharma Drug Research with Industrial Manufacture of Human Heart and Other Cells
Cellular Dynamics International, Inc. has closed on a $40.6 million Series B private equity round. This financing enables the company to increase production capacity for its iCell™ Cardiomyocytes, human heart cells derived from induced pluripotent stem cells, and to launch additional human tissue cell products for biomedical and pharmaceutical drug development and safety research. [Cellular Dynamics International, Inc. Press Release]

Training Australian Scientists in Latest Stem Cell Discoveries
For the first time in Australia, young researchers will be trained in the techniques of growing and using human induced pluripotent stem cells in research. [The Australian Stem Cell Centre Press Release]

Missourians Reject Anti-Stem Cell Research Ballot Proposals
Missouri citizens won an important victory May 2 when opponents of stem cell research failed to collect enough signatures to place on the November ballot any of a string of proposals seeking to gut or outright repeal the Missouri Stem Cell Amendment. [The Star]

More States Jump Into Biotech Pool
California continues to lead the biotech race, but it shouldn’t look back to see who’s gaining. Several states are concentrating on niches within the biotech industry – ranging from wet corn milling to diagnostic imaging centers – in an economic development quest for high-wage jobs, according to a recent report. [San Francisco Business Times]

In Montgomery County, Plans for Bioscience Development Nears Approval
Plans for a “science city” in Montgomery County are expected to win approval from the County Council, a move that officials hope will lead to the creation of a $10 billion, 17.5 million-square-foot center for research and development. [Washington Post]

POLICY NEWS

Collins Tells Congress NIH Budget Will Pay Off
National Institutes of Health Director Francis Collins went to Capitol Hill to express his support for President Barack Obama’s proposed 2011 budget for the institutes. [National Institutes of Health, United States]

Statement of NIH Director on Federal Funding for Embryonic Stem Cell Lines
National Institutes of Health Director Francis S. Collins, M.D., Ph.D., announced today that 13 additional human embryonic stem cell lines have been approved for federal funding and added to the NIH Stem Cell Registry. [National Institutes of Health, United States]

Science Panel Cuts Authorization Levels for Three COMPETES Agencies
The House of Representatives Science and Technology Committee scaled back proposed funding levels for three key science agencies as part of its reauthorization of the America COMPETES Act. [The House of Representatives Science and Technology Committee, United States]

Commission to Boost Research and Innovation by Making it Easier to Apply for and Manage European Union Grants
The European Commission has unveiled a plan to simplify the procedures for taking part in European Union-funded research projects. [European Research, Innovation and Science Commission, European Union]

$11.5 Million for Stem Cell Therapy Research
Ontario’s provincial government has announced $11.5 million in funding support for researchers at McMaster University, who are developing stem cell-based therapies. [Global Leadership Round in Genomics & Life Sciences, Canada]

CIRM Awards $28 Million to Answer Fundamental Questions in Stem Cell Biology
At a meeting at the City of Hope, the governing board of the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM), the state stem cell agency created by Proposition 71, approved funding $28 million to support 16 Basic Biology II Awards that answer fundamental questions about stem cell biology and one Leadership Award. [California Institute for Regenerative Medicine, United States]

Final Opportunity to Attend a 2010 NIH Regional Seminar on Program Funding & Grants Administration: Register Now for Portland, OR (June 24-25, 2010) (NOT-OD-10-092) [National Institutes of Health, United States]

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) for: Centers of Research Translation (CORT) (P50) RFA-AR-11-002 (NOT-AR-10-035) [National Institutes of Health, United States]

Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Awards (NRSA) for Individual Predoctoral Fellows in PharmD/PhD Programs (F31) (PA-10-178) [National Institutes of Health, United States]

Extension of Expiration Date for PA-07-277, PA-06-367, and PA-06-368: Research on Ethical Issues in Human Subjects Research (NOT-OD-10-086) [National Institutes of Health, United States]

List of Establishments Granted Approval for a Variance to 21CFR640.3(d) and 21CFR640.3(f) [Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, United States]

May 7, 2010: Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee Meeting Announcement [Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, United States]

Considerations Regarding Food and Drug Administration Review and Regulation of Articles for the Treatment of Rare Diseases; Public Hearing [Docket No. FDA-2010-N-0218] [Food and Drug Administration, United States]

EVENTS

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

European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) Stem Cells, Tissue Homeostasis and Cancer Conference
May 12-15, 2010
Heidelberg, Germany

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) 3rd Annual Scientific Conference
July 12-14, 2010
Nottingham, United Kingdom

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

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

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

2010 World Stem Cell Summit
October 4-6, 2010
Detroit, United States

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

Stem Cell Network 10th Annual Scientific Meeting
November 22-24, 2010
Calgary, Canada

Tissue Engineering & Regenerative Medicine International Society (TERMIS) – North America 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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