ESC & iPSC News Volume 6.23 | Jun 8 2011

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    ESC & iPSC News 6.23, June 8, 2011

         In this issue: Science News | Current Publications | Industry News | Policy News | Events
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    TOP STORY
    Pluripotency Factors in Embryonic Stem Cells Regulate Differentiation into Germ Layers
    Scientists asked how mouse embryonic stem cells leave the pluripotent state and choose between germ layer fates. [Cell]

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    SCIENCE NEWS

    New Take On iPS Cells May Cut Cancer Risk
    Researchers have developed a new way to make artificial stem cells that prevents them from turning against the body as cancer, a step that could dramatically reduce one of the biggest risks of regenerative medicine. [Press release from Nikkei News discussing online prepublication in Nature]

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    CURRENT PUBLICATIONS (Ranked by Impact Factor of the Journal)

    Direct Reprogramming of Somatic Cells Is Promoted by Maternal Transcription Factor Glis1
    Researchers showed that the Gli-like transcription factor Glis1 (Glis family zinc finger 1) markedly enhances the generation of induced pluripotent stem cells from both mouse and human fibroblasts when it is expressed together with OSK (Oct3/4, Sox2 and Klf4). [Nature]

    Democracy Derived? New Trajectories in Pluripotent Stem Cell Research
    Here, coauthorship networks of stem cell research articles and analysis of cell lines used in stem cell research indicated that human induced pluripotent stem cells are not replacing human embryonic stem cells, but instead, the two cell types are complementary, interdependent research tools. [Cell]

    Antisense RNA Polymerase II Divergent Transcripts Are P-TEFb Dependent and Substrates for the RNA Exosome
    Investigators reported the characterization of upstream antisense transcription in regions encoding transcription start site associated RNAs at four divergent CpG island promoters: Isg20l1, Tcea1, Txn1, and Sf3b1. [Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A]

    A System for Treating Ischemic Disease Using Human Embryonic Stem Cell-Derived Endothelial Cells without Direct Incorporation
    Scientists sought to develop a method for using secreted angiogenic factors from human embryonic stem cell-derived endothelial cell derivatives, while avoiding direct cell incorporation, to reduce tumorigenesis or unidentified side effects of injected cells in vivo. [Biomaterials]

    Docosahexaenoic Acid Promotes Dopaminergic Differentiation in Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells and Inhibits Teratoma Formation in Rats with Parkinson-Like Pathology
    This study examined whether functional neurons could be efficiently generated from induced pluripotent stem cells using a five-step induction procedure combined with docosahexaenoic acid treatment. [Cell Transplant]

    Mapping the Stem Cell State: Eight Novel Human Embryonic Stem and Embryonal Carcinoma Cell Antibodies
    Data revealed a range of reactivity for all antibodies against both embryonic stem and embryonal carcinoma cells, suggesting that these markers will afford recognition of unique sub-states within the undifferentiated stem cell compartment. [Int J Androl]

    Cell Type-Specific Transcriptional Regulation of the Gene Encoding Importin-α1
    In this study, researchers identified a critical promoter region in Kpna2 and showed that the expression of this gene is differentially regulated in embryonic stem cells and NIH3T3 cells. [Exp Cell Res]

    Enhanced Production of Neuroprogenitors, Dopaminergic Neurons and Identification of Target Genes by Overexpression of Sonic Hedgehog in Human Embryonic Stem Cells
    In this study, investigators reported that overexpression of Sonic hedgehog in human embryonic stem cells promotes the derivation of neuroprogenitors (NP), increases proliferation of NP and subsequently increases the yield of dopaminergic neurons. [Stem Cells Dev]

    Simple and Efficient Method for Generation of Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells Using PiggyBac Transposition of Doxycycline-Inducible Factors and an EOS (Early Transposon Promoter and Oct3/4 and Sox2 Enhancers) Reporter System
    Scientists described a simple and efficient system for generating high-quality induced pluripotent stem cells by a single transfection of multiple plasmids that does not require the use of a virus, special instruments or skilled techniques. [Genes Cells]

    INDUSTRY NEWS

    Funding Ban for Embryonic Stem Cell Research Would Derail Related Work, Researchers Conclude
    Banning federal funding for human embryonic stem cell research would have “disastrous consequences” on the study of a promising and increasingly popular new stem cell type that is not derived from human embryos, researchers said. [University of Michigan Press Release]

    Agreement with Roche Gives UCLA Stem Cell and Cancer Researchers Early Access to Leading-Edge Technologies for the Advancement of Medical Research
    An agreement between the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and Roche will provide stem cell and cancer researchers with leading-edge technologies that will drive research capabilities and further the understanding of complex disease. [Eli & Edythe Broad Center of Regenerative Medicine & Stem Cell Research Press Release]

    The New York Stem Cell Foundation Awards Fellowships to Seven Innovative Stem Cell Scientists
    The New York Stem Cell Foundation (NYSCF) announced the appointment of seven new NYSCF-Druckenmiller Fellows, who are conducting groundbreaking research in the stem cell field. [New York Stem Cell Foundation Press Release]

    Five Top Scientists to Receive DeBakey Research Awards
    Five distinguished Baylor College of Medicine scientists will receive the annual Michael E. DeBakey, M.D., Excellence in Research Awards. [Baylor College of Medicine Press Release]

    POLICY NEWS

    Will Universities Suffer from Stanford’s Patent Defeat?
    The U.S. Supreme Court ended a long patent battle over rights to a widely used HIV test, awarding a victory to Roche Molecular Systems Inc. while rejecting the royalty demands of Stanford University. [U.S. Supreme Court, United States]

    U.S. Research Facilities Anticipate Budget Gloom
    As US federal agencies prepare for lean times ahead, concern is growing at some of the centralized, multimillion-dollar facilities supported by the National Science Foundation. [National Science Foundation, United States]

    HHS Gives Congress More Info on NIH Translational Center
    The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) gave Congress more budget details for a proposed National Institutes of Health (NIH) reorganization that would create a center devoted to bench-to-bedside research. [The Department of Health and Human Services, United States]

    Key Vote Looms on European Science Funding
    Máire Geoghegan-Quinn, the European Commissioner for Research, Innovation and Science, had promised a name change for the massive, multiyear science and technology funding effort commonly known as the Framework Program. Framework 7 ends in 2013, and earlier this year she launched a contest for the next 6-year cycle, which ends in 2020, that drew more than 1000 entries. [European Science Funding, France]

    National Institute of General Medical Sciences; Notice of Closed Meeting [FR Doc No: 2011-13988] [National Institutes of Health, United States]

    National Institute of General Medical Sciences; Notice of Closed Meeting [FR Doc No: 2011-13989] [National Institutes of Health, United States]

    Center for Scientific Review; Notice of Closed Meetings [FR Doc No: 2011-14101] [National Institutes of Health, United States]

    Correction of Application Due Dates for PA-11-186, “Translation of Pluripotent Stem Cell Therapies for Blood Diseases (R01)” [NOT-HL-11-148] [National Institutes of Health, United States]

    Guidance for Industry and Investigators on Enforcement of Safety Reporting Requirements for Investigational New Drug Applications and Bioavailability/Bioequivalence Studies; Availability [FR Doc No: 2011-13950] [Food and Drug Administration, United States]

    Agency Information Collection Activities; Announcement of Office of Management and Budget Approval; Institutional Review Boards [FR Doc No: 2011-14409] [Food and Drug Administration, United States]

    EVENTS

    NEW Screening Stem Cells 2011: From Reprogramming to Regenerative Medicine
    September 26-27, 2011
    Boston, United States

    Visit
    our events page to see a complete list of events in the ESC & iPSC community.

    JOB OPPORTUNITIES

    Chemist (STEMCELL Technologies)

    Research and Development Senior Technologist (STEMCELL Technologies)

    Research Laboratory Technician (Cambridge Centre for Brain Repair)

    Staff Scientist Position (Spanish National Cancer Center)

    Postdoctoral Position in Stem Cells and Epigenetics (Mount School of Medicine)

    Senior Research Fellowship (Masaryk University)

    Junior Research Fellowship (Masaryk University)

    PhD Positions in Stem Cell Research (Masaryk University)

    PhD Positions in Medical Biology (Masaryk University)

    Postdoctoral Position in Stem Cells and Epigenetics (Mount Sinai School of Medicine)

    Postdoctoral Fellow (Stanford University)

    Postdoctoral Research Fellow (University of Ottawa)

    Postdoctoral Position (Spanish National Cancer Center)

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