Mesenchymal Cell News Volume 2.03 | Jan 26 2010

TOP STORY

“Jekyll and Hyde” Cell May Hold Key to Muscular Dystrophy, Fibrosis Treatment
A team of researchers have identified fat-producing cells that possess “dual-personalities” and may further the development of treatments for muscle diseases such as muscular dystrophy and fibrosis. [University of British Columbia, Vancouver]

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SCIENCE NEWS

Scientists Identify Molecule that Inhibits Stem Cell Differentiation
Scientists have identified a molecule involved in helping skin stem cells determine who they are and what they should become. [Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford]

CURRENT PUBLICATIONS

Engineering Cardiac Tissue In Vivo from Human Adipose-Derived Stem Cells
Researchers evaluate the potential for generating human cardiac muscle cells in vivo from adipose-derived stem cells by co-implanting in a vascularised tissue engineering chamber with inducing rat cardiomyocytes. [Biomaterials]

Molecular and Functional Effects of Organismal Aging on Smooth Muscle Cells Derived from Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells
Researchers employed a smooth muscle alpha-actin promoter driving expression of enhanced green fluorescent protein to isolate smooth muscle cells from bone marrow of neonatal or adult sheep and examined their proliferation potential and contractility. [Cardiovasc Res]

The Effects of COX-2 Inhibitor During Osteogenic Differentiation of Bone Marrow-Derived Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells
This work was designed to investigate the effect of COX-2 inhibitor on osteogenesis of human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cell. [Stem Cells Dev]

Intracellular Ca2⁺ Regulation During Neuronal Differentiation of Murine Embryonal Carcinoma and Mesenchymal Stem Cells
This study shows that both in embryonal carcinoma stem cells and adult mesenchymal stem cells [Ca²⁺]i is controlled by a common pathway, indicating that coupling of L-type Ca²⁺ channels and ryanodine-sensitives may be a conserved mechanism necessary for neuronal differentiation. [Stem Cells Dev]

Mesenchymal Stem Cell Therapy for Treatment of Cardiovascular Disease: Helping People Sooner or Later
Here researchers analyze and integrate information from recent mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) studies, focusing on underlying mechanisms of MSC-associated repair in animal models of cardiac disease. [Stem Cells Dev]

Effective Ex Vivo Expansion of Hematopoietic Stem Cells Using Osteoblast-Differentiated Mesenchymal Stem Cells is CXCL12 Dependent
Researchers used the human HM3.B10 mesenchymal stem cell line and the osteoblast-differentiated B10 as a feeder layer and examined ex vivo expansion of CD34⁺CD38^– hematopoietic stem cells obtained from peripheral blood and cord blood with or without several growth cytokines. [Eur J Haematol]

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INDUSTRY NEWS

Venture Funding Stabilizes, Shifts to Biotech, Shuns Energy
Venture-capital funding for startup companies stabilized in the fourth quarter, with investor interest shifting toward drug development and away from clean energy. [Bloomberg Press Release]

Osiris Completes Enrollment in Stem Cell Trial for Type 1 Diabetes
Osiris Therapeutics, Inc. announced that it has achieved a $750,000 milestone payment from the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation for completing enrollment in a Phase II clinical trial evaluating Prochymal, an adult mesenchymal stem cell therapy, as a treatment for patients recently diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. [Osiris Therapeutics, Inc. Press Release]

The Automation Partnership Begins New Five Year Collaboration with Top Regenerative Medicine Centre Following an Injection of £5.3 Million from the United Kingdom Government
The Automation Partnership announced recently that its collaboration with leading translational research group, the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council Centre for Innovative Manufacturing in Regenerative Medicine at Loughborough University is to continue into a second five year phase. [The Automation Partnership Press Release]

Aastrom Biosciences Announces Closing of Unit Offering
Aastrom Biosciences, Inc. announced the closing of its previously announced underwritten public offering from which the Company received approximately $12.4 million in net proceeds from the sale of the units (including the partially exercised option of the over-allotment), after underwriting discounts and commissions and other offering expenses. [Aastrom Biosciences, Inc. Press Release]

Stem Cell Assurance Announces a Financing and Marketing Partnership with MDwerks
Stem Cell Assurance, Inc. and MDwerks, Inc. announced a financing and marketing partnership wherein MDwerks, through its Xeni Finance subsidiary, has provided the first tranche of financing to Stem Cell for the purchase of various medical devices from Cytori Therapeutics, Inc. [Stem Cell Assurance, Inc. Press Release]

Scientific Breakthrough: Baltimore’s Bioparks Enjoy a Growth Spurt
Companies are taking more space in Baltimore’s two emerging biotechnology research centers; at least one firm is mulling a venture capital-backed funding round; and plans to expand the University of Maryland, Baltimore’s biopark are still on the table. [Baltimore Business Journal]

Can Miromatrix “Regenerate” Minnesota’s Medical Industry?
Miromatrix Inc. has one official employee, zero money, and nothing yet to develop, never mind sell. But make no mistake: Everyone wants a piece of it. [MedCity News]

POLICY NEWS

Stem Cell OK Should Be Law, Backers Say
President Barack Obama’s 2009 executive order that lifted some stem cell research restrictions should be codified into law so future lawmakers cannot undo it, a national stem cell research advocate said recently. [Genetics Policy Institute, United States]

Maryland Stem Cell Commission Gets 141 Applications for Grants
The commission had received its highest level of interest to date for fiscal 2010, with 193 letters of intent to apply for grants submitted by November. But a smaller amount of money is available – the program’s budget is $12.4 million, down from $19 million and $18 million the previous two years. [Maryland Stem Cell Research Commission, United States]

In Tough Economic Times, National Institutes of Health Head Looks to Clinic
As he puts together his budget proposal for the coming year, National Institutes of Health director Dr. Francis Collins plans to do something a little different – emphasizing the “health” in the name of his U.S. agency. [National Institutes of Health, United States]

Clarification on the Extended Error Correction Window and Format of the Research Strategy Section for Restructured Applications Intended for Due Dates on or After January 25, 2010 (NOT-OD-10-050) [National Institutes of Health, United States]

FY2010 Recovery Act Funding Announcements: Clarification on Page Limitations for Bibliography and References Cited Section (NOT-OD-10-051) [National Institutes of Health, United States]

Clarification of SF424 (R&R) Application Instructions for Resubmissions of Revision and Renewal Applications (NOT-OD-10-052) [National Institutes of Health, United States]

EVENTS

CHI’s Molecular Medicine Tri-Conference 2010
February 3-5, 2010
San Francisco, United States

2010 Bone Marrow Transplant Tandem Meetings
February 24-28, 2010
Orlando, United States

36^th Annual Meeting of the European Group for Blood and Marrow Transplantation
March 21-24, 2010
Vienna, Austria

9th Transgenic Technology Meeting
March 22-24, 2010
Berlin, Germany

4th UK Mesenchymal Stem Cell Meeting
April 14, 2010
Leeds, United Kingdom

16th Annual ISCT meeting
May 23-26, 2010
Philadelphia, United States

5^th World Congress on Preventative and Regenerative Medicine
October 5-7, 2010
Hannover, Germany

2010 American Society for Matrix Biology Meeting
October 24-27, 2010
Charleston, United States

JOB OPPORTUNITIES

Business Development Europe – Cell Therapy Products (PALL Corporation)

Research & Development Scientist – Pancreatic Cell Biology (STEMCELL Technologies)

Research & Development Scientist – Endothelial Cell Biology (STEMCELL Technologies)

Research & Development Scientist – Epithelial Cell Biology (STEMCELL Technologies)

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