ESC & iPSC News Volume 7.49 | Dec 12 2012

Conversion of Human Fibroblasts to Angioblast-Like Progenitor Cells
Researchers report the development of a reprogramming methodology in which cells transition through a plastic intermediate state induced by brief exposure to reprogramming factors followed by differentiation. [Nat Methods] Abstract | Press Release

Generation of Integration-Free Neural Progenitor Cells from Cells in Human Urine
Scientists combined an episomal system to deliver reprogramming factors with a chemically defined culture medium to reprogram epithelial-like cells from human urine into neural progenitor cells. Although functional in vivo analysis is still needed, they reported that the cells survive and differentiate upon transplant into newborn rat brain. [Nat Methods] Abstract | Press Release

In Vivo Generation of Transplantable Human Hematopoietic Cells from Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells
Researchers report a novel in vivo system in which human induced pluripotent stem cells differentiate within teratomas to derive functional myeloid and lymphoid cells. Similarly, hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells can be isolated from teratoma parenchyma and reconstitute a human immune system when transplanted into immunodeficient mice. [Blood] Abstract

Integration-Free Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells Model Genetic and Neural Developmental Features of Down Syndrome Etiology
To assess the ability of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) to model Down syndrome (DS) phenotypes, as a prototypical complex human disease, researchers generated bona-fide DS and wild-type non-viral iPSCs by episomal reprogramming. [Stem Cells] Abstract

Conditional Induction of Math1 Specifies Embryonic Stem Cells to Cerebellar Granule Neuron Lineage and Promotes Differentiation into Mature Granule Neurons
Results showed that conditional induction of Math1 drives embryonic stem (ES) cells toward the cerebellar fate and indicated that acting on both intrinsic and extrinsic factors is a powerful means to modulate ES cells’ differentiation and maturation into a specific neuronal lineage. [Stem Cells] Abstract

Reprogramming to Pluripotency Is an Ancient Trait of Vertebrate Oct4 and Pou2 Proteins
Investigators reported that different vertebrate Pou2 and Oct4 homologues can induce pluripotency in mouse and human fibroblasts and that the inability of zebrafish Pou2 to establish pluripotency is not representative of all Pou2 genes, as medaka Pou2 and axolotl Pou2 are able to reprogram somatic cells into pluripotent cells. [Nat Commun] Abstract

Prevention of β-Amyloid Induced Toxicity in Human iPS Cell-Derived Neurons by Inhibition of Cyclin-Dependent Kinases and Associated Cell Cycle Events
Researchers used neurons with forebrain marker expression from two unrelated human induced pluripotent stem (hiPS) cell lines. As both populations of neurons were vulnerable to β-amyloid 1-42 (Aβ1-42) aggregates, a hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease pathology, the authors used them to investigate cellular mediators of Aβ1-42 toxicity. [Stem Cell Res] Abstract | Press Release

Differentiation of Reprogrammed Mouse Cardiac Fibroblasts into Functional Cardiomyocytes
Scientists examined if functional cardiomyocytes can be produced from mouse cardiac fibroblasts, using induced pluripotent stem cell factor-based reprogramming. [Cell Biochem Biophys] Abstract | Full Article

T Lymphocyte Potential Marks the Emergence of Definitive Hematopoietic Progenitors in Human Pluripotent Stem Cell Differentiation Cultures
Researchers used T lymphocyte potential to track the onset of definitive hematopoiesis from human embryonic and induced pluripotent stem cells differentiated with specific morphogens in serum- and stromal-free cultures. [Cell Rep] Abstract | Graphical Abstract

Axiogenesis Earns U.S. Patent with In Vitro Drug Discovery Assay for Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
The USPTO approved a patent for Axiogenesis AG for the invention of its in vitro assay to screen pharmaceutical drug candidates for effectiveness and safety in treating hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. The assay, which has previously received patents in Europe and Japan, is based on induced pluripotent stem cell technology. [Axiogenesis AG] Press Release

GE Healthcare Life Sciences Opens New £3 Million Laboratories for Cell Science in Cardiff, Wales
GE Healthcare Life Sciences announced the opening of its new £3 million cell science laboratories in Cardiff, Wales. The state-of-the-art investment at the company’s Maynard Centre creates a world-class facility for research and technology innovation in cell science, to help advance the rapidly emerging fields of cell therapy and cell bioprocessing, and to support the development of new, more effective and safer medicines. [GE Healthcare Life Sciences] Press Release

U.K. Government Injects Nearly $1 Billion into Research
The United Kingdom’s finance minister announced a new lump of money, some £600 million, for scientific research. The new funding will be spent on big data and energy efficient computing, synthetic biology, energy storage, and advance materials. [U.K. Finance Minister, United Kingdom] Press Release

NSF Graduate Fellows Get Chance to Work Overseas
As many as 400 U.S. graduate students will be able to work abroad in 2014 under a new program at the National Science Foundation (NSF). NSF officials unveiled the Graduate Research Opportunities Worldwide program as part of a celebration of the 60th anniversary of its Graduate Research Fellowship Program. [National Science Foundation, United States] Press Release

National Panel Says California Stem Cell Agency Has Room for Improvement
A review by the Institute of Medicine (IOM) praises the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine as a “bold social innovation” that provided a creative new source of funding that has turned the state into an international hub of stem cell research. But the IOM panel authoring the report also concluded that the funding agency’s organization and governance is not optimal. [Institute of Medicine, United States]
Press Release

Pakistan’s New Science Policy Raises Hopes
As they hail Pakistan’s first comprehensive national science, technology and innovation policy, the country’s science leaders are hopeful of effective implementation and funding. The ‘National Science, Technology and Innovation Policy-2012’, launched with support from the Pakistan Council for Science and Technology and the ministry of science and technology, is expected to help Pakistan emerge as a scientifically sensitive nation. [Pakistan Council for Science and Technology, Pakistan] Press Release

NIH Promises to Improve Biomedical Research Training
Reacting to a steep rise in the number of young biomedical scientists seeking scarce academic jobs, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) plans to launch programs to prepare scientists for nonacademic careers, move students through their PhDs faster, and bolster the pay of postdocs. [National Institutes of Health, United States] Press Release

Product Quality Scientist (STEMCELL Technologies, Inc.)

Scientist – Endothelial Cell Research (STEMCELL Technologies, Inc.)

Research Technologist – Cell Separation (STEMCELL Technologies, Inc.)

Scientist or Engineer – hPSC Bioengineer (STEMCELL Technologies, Inc.)

Quality Control Analyst (STEMCELL Technologies, Inc.)

Stem Cell Researcher (BioTalentum Ltd.)

Postdoctoral Position – Tumor Stem Cells (Cancer Institute of New Jersey)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Stem Cell Genomics (University of Virginia)

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

MS/PhD Assistantship – Stem Cell Research (Utah State University)

Postdoctoral Position – iPSC Research (University of Washington)

Senior QC Analyst/Assay Development Associate (StemCells, Inc.)

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