TOP STORY Researchers Eliminate Major Roadblock in Regenerative Medicine A team of stem cell biologists and engineers has identified an optimal combination and concentration of small-molecule inhibitors to support the long-term quality and maintenance of human embryonic stem cells in feeder-free and serum-free conditions. [Press release from the University of California, Los Angeles discussing online prepublication in Nature Communications] SPECIAL FEATURE A Very Sad Loss – Stem Cell Pioneer Ernest A. McCulloch Passes Away It is with great sadness that scientists honor the life and extraordinary contributions of Dr. Ernest “Bun” McCulloch who passed away on Wednesday, January 19th, 2011. Dr. McCulloch, along with his close friend and colleague, Dr. James Till, was a pioneer in the field of stem cell research. [Canadian Stem Cell Foundation Press Release] Cell Therapy News is now on Facebook. Join us! Follow us on Twitter! @ESC_iPSC_News Interested in recruiting talented individuals? Post your career opportunities in ESC & iPSC News at no cost. Contact us at info@connexoncreative.com
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SCIENCE NEWS Uncovering the Trail Behind Growing Too Old, Too Soon Scientists have produced the world’s first human cell model of progeria. The team used a novel technique of deriving induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells from cells of human progeria patients. The researchers used their iPS cells to identify two types of cells — mesenchymal stem cells and vascular smooth muscle cells — that were particularly adversely affected by progeria. [Press release from the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) discussing online prepublication in Cell Stem Cell] Hypoxia Induces Multipotency in Skin Cells, Proteins Produced Trigger Cancer Stem Cell Death Scientists demonstrated that, in both monolayer and suspension cultures under hypoxic conditions, normal human newborn fibroblasts become multipotent cells and express key pluripotent stem cell markers including Oct4, Sox2 and Nanog as well as a number of tissue and germ layer-specific stem cell markers, such as Brachyury, Gata4, alpha-fetoprotein, and Pax6. [Press release from Histogen, Inc. discussing research presented at the 5th Annual Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine World Congress]
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INDUSTRY NEWS International Society for Cellular Therapy (ISCT) Launches Inaugural Cell Therapy Commercial Development Focus Group on Peripheral Vascular Disease In keeping with its commitment to connect industry, regulatory experts, therapeutic societies and translational centers to advance emerging cellular therapies, ISCT announced its first commercial development focus group addressing Cell Therapies for Peripheral Vascular Disease. [Reuters] Stanford Joins First Embryonic-Stem Cell Therapy Clinical Trial The first clinical trial of cells derived from human embryonic stem cells began in October 2010 in a paralyzed patient at the Shepherd Center in Atlanta. Stanford University School of Medicine and Santa Clara Valley Medical Center became the third site to participate in the trial, which will enroll up to 10 patients with spinal cord injuries at up to seven institutions nationwide. [Stanford University School of Medicine Press Release] NeoStem Acquires Progenitor Cell Therapy NeoStem, Inc. and Progenitor Cell Therapy LLC announced the closing of their previously announced merger transaction. [NeoStem, Inc. Press Release] Wisconsin Stem Cell Pioneer Wins Faisal International Prize James Thomson, director of regenerative biology at the Morgridge Institute for Research and a University of Wisconsin-Madison researcher since 1994, learned this week that he is this year’s co-winner of the prestigious King Faisal International Prize in Medicine. [Morgridge Institute for Research Press Release] CIRM Appoints National Expert on Drug Development and Regulation as Vice President, Research and Development The California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) has named Ellen Feigal, M.D., as its first Vice President for Research and Development effective January 31. [California Institute for Regenerative Medicine Press Release]
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POLICY NEWS Consensus Statement: Statement on Policies and Practices Governing Data and Materials Sharing and Intellectual Property in Stem Cell Science Tension is increasing between fairly new and pervasive policies and practices governing data and materials sharing and intellectual property in science, and norms of openness and free exchange. While intellectual property rights can bring private investment into areas underfunded by governments and help bridge gaps between scientific invention or discovery and useful technologies, some new and emerging policies and practices risk slowing innovation in research and development and skewing attention toward large markets, to the disadvantage of small markets, such as those for rare diseases and in some emerging economies. [Hinxton Group] Fourth Circuit Cites Judicial Restraint, Affirms NIH Stem Cell Research Funding The United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit has affirmed a decision by federal district court Judge Alexander Williams, dismissing a lawsuit challenging federal funding of embryonic stem cell research. [Court of Appeals, United States] U.K. Scientists: Budget Threatens Facilities Heads of the United Kingdom’s research councils warned politicians that delaying capital investments due to funding cuts will harm the country’s scientific standing. “It will in principle damage our international competitiveness,” said Keith Mason, chief executive of the Science and Technology Facilities Council. [House of Commons Science and Technology Select Committee, United Kingdom] Office of Biotechnology Activities, Office of Science Policy, Office of the Director; Notice of Meeting (FR Doc. 2011-1244) [National Institutes of Health, United States] National Human Genome Research Institute; Notice of Closed Meeting (FR Doc. 2011-1247) [National Institutes of Health, United States] Center for Scientific Review; Notice of Closed Meetings (FR Doc. 2011-1252) [National Institutes of Health, United States] National Center for Research Resources; Notice of Closed Meetings (FR Doc. 2011-1327) [National Institutes of Health, United States]
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