ESC & iPSC News Volume 5.41 | Oct 20 2010

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    ESC & iPSC News 5.41, October 20, 2010.
    In this issue:  Science News |  Current Publications |  Industry News |  Policy News |  Events
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    TOP STORY

    A Genome-Wide RNAi Screen Reveals Determinants of Human Embryonic Stem Cell Identity 
    The study uncovers a wealth of novel human embryonic stem cell (hESC) regulators wherein PRDM14 exemplifies a key transcription factor required for the maintenance of hESC identity and the reacquisition of pluripotency in human somatic cells. [Nature]

    PluripotentWallchart_645x110

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    SCIENCE NEWS

    Scientists Turn Stem Cells into Cells for Cartilage Repair
    Researchers took human embryonic stem cells and developed a culture procedure involving a precise sequential program of conditions to specifically produce chondrocytes. [Press release from The University of Manchester discussing online prepublication in Nature Biotechnology]

    Not All Stem Cells the Same, Say Researchers
    Until now it’s been thought that human stem cell lines are all identical and possess the same ability to differentiate. But new research has shown there are subsets of stem cells that respond differently depending on what stem cell properties are measured and what test is used. [Press release from McMaster University discussing online prepublication in Nature Methods]
     
    Japanese Researchers Report on Liver Transplantation Studies Using Animal and iPS Cells
    A research team at the Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, working with colleagues at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, found that mouse induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells are pluripotent and able to proliferate in vitro without limits and could be cultured to become hepatocyte-like cells. [Press release from EurekAlert! discussing online prepublication in Cell Transplantation]

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    CURRENT PUBLICATIONS  (Ranked by Impact Factor of the Journal)

    A Myc Network Accounts for Similarities between Embryonic Stem and Cancer Cell Transcription Programs
    Researchers identify a c-Myc (Myc)-centered regulatory network in embryonic stem (ES) cells by combining protein-protein and protein-DNA interaction studies and show that Myc interacts with the NuA4 complex, a regulator of ES cell identity. [Cell]

    Clonal Tracking of hESCs Reveals Differential Contribution to Functional Assays
    Using clonal tracking by retroviral integration, researchers analyzed in situ the propensity of individual human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) to contribute to different functional assays. They observed different clonal distributions in teratomas versus in vitro differentiation assays. [Nat Methods]
     
    Human Embryonic Stem Cells Suffer from Centrosomal Amplification
    Researchers report, for the first time, that very high percentage of cultured human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) have supernumerary centrosomes during mitosis. Supernumerary centrosomes were strictly associated with an undifferentiated hESC state and progressively disappeared upon prolonged propagation in culture. [Stem Cells]

    In Vivo Assessment of the Electrophysiological Integration and Arrhythmogenic Risk of Myocardial Cell Transplantation Strategies
    Results demonstrate the ability of human embryonic stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes to functionally integrate with host tissue. [Stem Cells]

    Identification of microRNAs Regulating Reprogramming Factor LIN28 in Embryonic Stem Cells and Cancer Cells
    The studies demonstrate that microRNAs let-7, mir-125, mir-9, and mir-30 directly repress LIN28 expression in embryonic stem and cancer cells. [J Biol Chem]
     
    Dax1 Up-Regulates Oct4 Expression in Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells via LRH-1 and SRA
    Results indicate that Dax1 plays an important role in the maintenance of pluripotency in mouse embryonic stem cells through interaction with liver receptor homolog 1 (LRH-1) and transcriptional activation of Oct4 and other genes. [Mol Endocrinol]
     
    Hepatic Differentiation of Mouse iPS Cells In Vitro
    Researchers present instant hepatic differentiation of mouse induced pluripotent stem cells using combined 3-day treatments of activin A and basic fibroblast growth factor with subsequent 8-day hepatocyte growth factor. [Cell Transplant]
     
    Human Embryonic Stem Cell Proliferation and Differentiation as Parameters to Evaluate Developmental Toxicity
    Researchers explored the potential of a human embryonic stem cell-based assay to evaluate the potential toxicity of Penicillin-G, Caffeine and Hydroxyurea. [J Cell Physiol]
     
    Pluripotent Hybrid Cells Contribute to Extraembryonic as Well as Embryonic Tissues
    Researchers evaluated whether the tetraploid fusion hybrid cells have a unique differentiation potential compared with diploid pluripotent cells. [Stem Cells Dev]

    INDUSTRY NEWS

    Fate Therapeutics Announces Collaboration with BD to Develop and Commercialize Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Technology
    Fate Therapeutics, Inc. has forged a collaboration and license agreement with BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company), through its BD Biosciences segment, for the joint development and worldwide commercialization of induced pluripotent stem cell tools and technologies for drug discovery and development. [Fate Therapeutics, Inc. Press Release]
     
    Cellectis In-Licenses Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Technology from iPS Academia Japan — First patent License in the Therapeutic Field
    Cellectis and iPS Academia Japan Inc. announced that they have signed two separate non-exclusive agreements granting Cellectis worldwide access to the induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells patent portfolio arising from the work of Professor Shinya Yamanaka, MD, Ph.D., Center for iPS Cell Research and Application at the University of Kyoto, Japan. [Cellectis Press Release]
     
    Sanofi-aventis Establishes Research Collaboration with Harvard University
    Sanofi-aventis announced a research collaboration with Harvard University. The goal of the collaboration is to advance knowledge in the area of human health through basic and applied research and to promote scientific exchange between Harvard University and Sanofi-aventis. [Sanofi-aventis Press Release]
     
    The New York Stem Cell Foundation Announces 2010 NYSCF-Investigators in Conjunction with Fifth Annual Translational Stem Cell Conference
    In an expansion of its ongoing effort to promote the next generation of stem cell scientists, The New York Stem Cell Foundation (NYSCF) named the first six NYSCF Investigators. Each of the NYSCF-Robertson and NYSCF-Helmsley Investigators will receive up to $1.5 million over the next five years to expand their own laboratories, train other scientists and foster innovative high-risk/high reward research to explore the therapeutic potential of stem cells derived from humans and model organisms. [The New York Stem Cell Foundation Press Release]

    POLICY NEWS

    More Legal Jousting in Stem Cell Case
    The two sides in the ongoing court battle over stem cell research filed another batch of legal documents in response to court-ordered deadlines [Court of Appeals, United States]

    FDA Writes Prescription for IT Innovation
    The Food and Drug Administration is prioritizing IT as part of its five-year strategic plan, including accelerating a program to build innovative devices to improve field and laboratory analysis. [Food and Drug Administration, United States]
     
    European Medicines Agency Strengthens Rules on Conflicts of Interests of Its Scientific Experts
    The European Medicines Agency has published new rules on how the Agency will be handling potential conflicts of interests of its scientific experts, following endorsement by its Management Board. [European Medicines Agency, European Union]

    IQWiG: Law Must Prescribe Obligation to Publish All Clinical Trials
    If the currently discussed draft on the “Law on the Reorganization of the Pharmaceutical Market” (AMNOG) is implemented, drug manufacturers will in future have to register their clinical trials at inception and publish results after completion. [Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG), Germany]

    Draft Guidance for Industry: Early Clinical Trials With Live Biotherapeutic Products: Chemistry, Manufacturing, and Control Information; Availability (FR Doc. 2010-25850) [Food and Drug Administration, United States]
     
    Draft Guidance for Industry on Investigational New Drug Applications–Determining Whether Human Research Studies Can Be Conducted Without an Investigational New Drug Application; Availability (FR Doc. 2010-25851) [Food and Drug Administration, United States]
     
    Partnerships To Advance the National Occupational Research Agenda (NORA) (FR Doc. 2010-25973) [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, United States]
     
    Center for Scientific Review; Notice of Closed Meetings (FR Doc. 2010-26362) [National Institutes of Health, United States]
     
    Center for Scientific Review; Notice of Closed Meetings (FR Doc. 2010-26363) [National Institutes of Health, United States]
     
    Center for Scientific Review; Notice of Closed Meetings (FR Doc. 2010-26317) [National Institutes of Health, United States]
     
    Center for Scientific Review; Notice of Closed Meetings (FR Doc. 2010-26317) [National Institutes of Health, United States]
     
    Center for Scientific Review; Notice of Closed Meetings (FR Doc. 2010-26028) [National Institutes of Health, United States]
     
    Center for Scientific Review; Notice of Closed Meetings (FR Doc. 2010-26033) [National Institutes of Health, United States]
     
    Office of the Director, National Institutes of Health; Notice of Meeting (FR Doc. 2010-26036) [National Institutes of Health, United States]

    EVENTS

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

    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

    5th UK Cancer Stem Cell Symposium
    November 2, 2010
    London, United Kingdom

    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

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

    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, Canada

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

    5th Annual Stem Cell Meeting on the Mesa
    December 7, 2010
    La Jolla, United States

    Biotech Showcase 2011
    January 10-12, 2011
    San Francisco, United States

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

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

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

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

    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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