ESC & iPSC News Volume 5.38 | Sep 29 2010

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    ESC & iPSC News 5.38, September 29, 2010.
    In this issue:  Science News |  Current Publications |  Industry News |  Policy News |  Events
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    TOP STORY

    The Pluripotency Regulator Zic3 is a Direct Activator of the Nanog Promoter in Embryonic Stem Cells 
    By genome-wide chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP-chip) in embryonic stem cells, researchers have identified 379 direct Zic3 targets, many of which are functionally associated with pluripotency, cell cycle, proliferation, oncogenesis and early embryogenesis. [Stem Cells]

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    SCIENCE NEWS

    Researchers Use Stem Cells to Create Disease Models
    Researchers have used skin cells from patients with the genetic disorders Angelman Syndrome and Prader-Willi Syndrome to generate induced pluripotent stem cells. [Press release from the University of Connecticut discussing online prepublication in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA]

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    CURRENT PUBLICATIONS (Ranked by Impact Factor of the Journal)

    Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Models of the Genomic Imprinting Disorders Angelman and Prader-Willi Syndromes
    The induced pluripotent stem cell models of genomic imprinting disorders will facilitate investigation of the Angelman syndrome and Prader-Willi syndrome disease processes and allow study of the developmental timing and mechanism of UBE3A repression in human neurons. [Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A]

    Coordinated Waves of Gene Expression During Neuronal Differentiation of Embryonic Stem Cells as Basis for Novel Approaches to Developmental Neurotoxicity Testing
    The wave kinetics and the patterns of neuronal specification define the time windows and end points for examination of developmental neurotoxicity. [Cell Death Differ]

    Neuronatin (Nnat) Promotes Neural Lineage in Embryonic Stem Cells via Ca2+ Signaling
    Researchers show that Nnat initiates neural induction in embryonic stem cells through increasing intracellular Ca2+ by antagonising Ca2+-ATPase isoform 2 in the endoplasmic reticulum, which in turn increases the phosphorylation of Erk1/2 and inhibits the BMP4 pathway and leads to neural induction in conjunction with FGF/Erk pathway. [Stem Cells]

    Regulation of Somatic Cell Reprogramming Through Inducible mir-302 Expression
    Researchers report that induced mir-302 expression beyond 1.3-fold of the concentration in human embryonic stem H1 and H9 cells led to reprogramming of human hair follicle cells to induced pluripotent stem cells. [Nucleic Acids Res]

    Incorporation of Biomaterials in Multicellular Aggregates Modulates Pluripotent Stem Cell Differentiation
    Microparticles fabricated from different materials, such as agarose, PLGA and gelatin, were stably integrated, in a dose-dependent manner, within aggregates of pluripotent stem cells prior to differentiation as a means to directly examine stem cell–biomaterial interactions in 3D. [Biomaterials]

    Direct Targets of Klf5 Transcription Factor Contribute to the Maintenance of Mouse Embryonic Stem Cell Undifferentiated State
    Results, through the definition of a detailed list of Kruppel-like factor 5 (Klf5) transcriptional targets in mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs), support the important and specific functional role of Klf5 in the maintenance of the undifferentiated ESC phenotype. [BMC Biology]

    Dynamic Instability of Genomic Methylation Patterns in Pluripotent Stem Cells
    Data indicate that DNA methylation in pluripotent stem cells is much more dynamic and error-prone than is maintenance methylation in differentiated cells. [Epigenetics Chromatin]

    Generation of Functional Cardiomyocytes from Mouse Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells
    Results demonstrate that functional cardiomyocytes can be generated from induced pluripotent stem cells, and suggest that these cells may be useful for the treatment of cardiovascular disease. [Int J Cardiol]

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    INDUSTRY NEWS

    NeoStem and Progenitor Cell Therapy Announce Entry into Merger Agreement
    NeoStem, Inc. and Progenitor Cell Therapy, LLC jointly announced the signing of a definitive merger agreement whereby NeoStem will acquire Progenitor Cell Therapy. [NeoStem, Inc. Press Release]

    Scientists Seek Donations on Innovative Micro-Philanthropy Site
    A creative new Web site connects funding proposals by scientists with contributors who want to support the work out of the goodness of their hearts. [ScienceInsider]

    NIH Awards Dr. Robert Lanza of ACT and Dr. Kwang-Soo Kim of Harvard and McLean Hospital With Director’s Opportunity Award
    Advanced Cell Technology, Inc. announced that the company’s Chief Scientific Officer, Robert Lanza, MD, and Kwang-Soo Kim, PhD, of Harvard University and McLean Hospital, have won a National Institutes of Health (NIH) Director’s Opportunity Award for research in “Translating Basic Science Discoveries into New and Better Treatments” under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. [Advanced Cell Technology, Inc. Press Release]

    The Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago/Northwestern First Site Open for Spinal Cord Stem Cell Trial
    Northwestern Medicine is the first site open for enrollment in a national clinical research trial of a human embryonic stem cell-based therapy for participants with a subacute thoracic spinal cord injury. [Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago Press Release]

    Angiotech Pharmaceuticals and Partner Athersys Announce Updated Results from Phase I Study of Multistem® in Heart Attack Patients
    Angiotech Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and partner Athersys, Inc. announced updated results from its phase I clinical trial of MultiStem®, its allogeneic cell therapy product, administered to individuals following acute myocardial infarction [Angiotech Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Press Release]

    Stem Cells That Save Big Pharma a Bundle
    Researchers hope they can use human tissue created from stem cells to help identify potentially dangerous side-effects from drugs under development before human trials. [BusinessWeek]

    POLICY NEWS

    U.S. Can Continue Stem-Cell Funding, Court Says
    Scientists who use embryonic stem cells for research can continue to receive U.S. taxpayer funding while the government challenges a lower-court order that barred federal support, an appeals court said. [Court of Appeals, United States]

    Department of Justice Urges Court to Stay Ban on Stem Cell Research Funding
    A Justice Department lawyer told an appellate panel that upholding a lower court’s decision to ban federal funding of human embryonic stem cell research would threaten tens of millions in research funds and dozens of projects that could aid in cell and tissue regeneration and could help cure disease. [Department of Justice, United States]

    Judges Ask Tough Questions of Both Sides in Appeal of Stem Cell Research Ban
    Government lawyers asked an appeals court to suspend a lower court ruling that froze federally funded research on human embryonic stem cells last month. In a rapid-fire discussion that lasted more than an hour, a three-judge panel had tough questions for both sides in the dispute; at the end of the hearing, it wasn’t clear which way the court was leaning. [Court of Appeals, United States]

    New Legislation Introduced to Form First U.S. National Strategy for Regenerative Medicine, with Commendation from the Alliance for Regenerative Medicine
    The Alliance for Regenerative Medicine announced the introduction of the bi-partisan Regenerative Medicine Promotion Act of 2010 in the U.S. House of Representatives. [House of Representatives, United States]

    Lawmakers Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Create Jobs and Promote Investment in Life Sciences
    U.S. Representatives introduced bipartisan legislation that will provide tax incentives for small and mid-sized businesses to invest in life sciences research and development on a targeted basis. The Life Sciences Jobs and Investment Act of 2010 provides an opportunity to enhance medical innovation, life sciences education and job creation in the United States. [House of Representatives, United States]

    NIH and FDA Announce Awards to Advance Regulatory Science
    The National Institutes of Health will award $9.4 million over three years to support four research projects in regulatory science. This research is conducted in partnership with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, which will contribute approximately $950,000. [National Institutes of Health and Food and Drug Administration, United States]

    NIH Releases Biennial Report of the Director
    Dr. Francis S. Collins, M.D., PhD, director of the National Institutes of Health, announced the release of the Biennial Report of the Director, NIH, for fiscal years 2008 and 2009. The report provides an integrated portrait of NIH research activities, making it easy for Congress, advocates and patient groups and the general public to understand the many activities of the agency. [National Institutes of Health, United States]

    U.K. Research Leaders Make Final Stand Against Science Cuts
    Top officials from six U.K. universities joined Martin Rees, president of the Royal Society, in London in a last-ditch attempt to avert the government’s expected cuts in science funding, which will be detailed in its forthcoming comprehensive spending review, scheduled for release on 20 October. [Royal Society, United Kingdom]

    European Medicines Agency Publishes First Review of Orphan Designation
    The European Medicines Agency has published the first of its ‘review of orphan designation’ documents. [European Medicines Agency, European Union]

    Statement by the University of California (UC) Regarding the U.S. Federal Court of Appeals Decision to Allow UC to Participate as Amicus Curiae in the Case of Sherley v. Sebelius [Court of Appeals, United States]

    Guidance on Withdrawal of Subjects From Research: Data Retention and Other Related Issues (FR Doc. 2010-23517) [Department of Health and Human Services, United States]

    Office of Biotechnology Activities, Office of Science Policy, Office of the Director; Notice of Meeting (FR Doc. 2010-23947) [National Institutes of Health, United States]
     
    National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering; Notice of Closed Meeting (FR Doc. 2010-23867) [National Institutes of Health, United States]
     
    National Center for Research Resources; Notice of Closed Meeting (FR Doc. 2010-23852) [National Institutes of Health, United States]

    Center for Scientific Review; Notice of Closed Meeting (FR Doc. 2010-23849) [National Institutes of Health, United States]
     
    Center for Scientific Review; Notice of Closed Meetings (FR Doc. 2010-23860) [National Institutes of Health, United States]
     
    Center for Scientific Review; Notice of Closed Meetings (FR Doc. 2010-23952) [National Institutes of Health, United States]
     
    National Cancer Institute; Notice of Closed Meetings (FR Doc. 2010-23543) [National Institutes of Health, United States]
     
    National Cancer Institute; Notice of Closed Meetings (FR Doc. 2010-23545) [National Institutes of Health, United States]

    EVENTS

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

    NEW Stem Cells and Regeneration – NIH Sponsored Advanced Training Courses
    October 3-9, 2010
    Woods Hole, United States

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

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

    Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells: Production and Utility in Regenerative Medicine
    October 7, 2010
    Welwyn Garden City, United Kingdom

    NEW Functional Stem Cell and Regeneration
    October 9-10, 2010
    Kansas City, United States

    NEW 18th Annual BioPartnering Europe
    October 10-12, 2010
    London, United Kingdom

    NEW 3rd Biobridge “Generation Regeneration” Conference
    October 11, 2010
    Geneva, Switzerland

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

    4th International Symposium Stem Cells, Development and Regulation
    October 12-14, 2010
    Amsterdam, Netherlands

    NEW Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine – New Solutions to Old Problems
    October 18-20, 2010
    San Antonio, United States

    European Society of Gene and Cell Therapy (ESGCT) 18th Annual Congress
    October 22-25, 2010
    Milan, Italy

    NEW World Stem Cells & Regenerative Medicine Congress Asia 2010
    October 26-28, 2010
    Seoul, Korea

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

    NEW Stem Cell Society Singapore Symposium 2010: Translating Science to Therapy
    November 2-3, 2010
    Singapore

    BioMalaysia 2010 Conference and Exhibition
    November 1-3, 2010
    Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

    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 8th Annual Commercial Translation of Regenerative Medicine Conference
    November 18-19, 2010
    London, United Kingdom

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

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

    Biotech Showcase 2011
    January 10-12, 2011
    San Francisco, USA

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

    NEW Keystone Symposia-Stem Cells in Development, Tissue Homeostasis and Disease
    January 30-February 4, 2011
    Santa Fe, United States

    NEW Molecular Medicine Tri-Conference – Stem Cells: Revolutionizing Regenerative Medicine and Personalized Therapy 2011
    February 23-25, 2011
    San Francisco, United States

    NEW American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Stem Cells, Development, and Cancer
    March 3-6, 2011
    Vancouver, Canada

    NEW Stem Cells, Cancer and Metastasis (C4)
    March 6-11, 2011
    Dillon, 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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