Neural Cell News Volume 4.05 | Feb 10 2010

TOP STORY

Computational Prediction of Neural Progenitor Cell Fates
Researchers present a computational method, based on algorithmic information theory, to analyze dynamic features of living cells over time. [Nat Methods]

SCIENCE NEWS

Virus-Free Technique Enables Scientists to Easily Make Stem Cells Pluripotent, Moving Closer to Possible Human Therapies
Tiny circles of DNA are the key to a new and easier way to transform stem cells from human fat into induced pluripotent stem cells for use in regenerative medicine. [Press release from Stanford University School of Medicine discussing the online prepublication in Nature Methods]

Pluristem’s PLX Cells May Effectively Treat Ischemic Stroke – Brain Research Journal Reports
Pluristem Therapeutics Inc. recently announced that the results of a pre-clinical study in an animal model of ischemic stroke demonstrated that its PLacental eXpanded cell therapy may be an effective treatment for this disorder. [Press release from Pluristem Therapeutics Inc. discussing the online prepublication in Brain Research]

Engineer Creates Unique Software that Predicts Stem Cell Fate
An assistant professor at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee is creating software that offers a completely novel approach to analyzing time-lapse images capturing live stem cell behaviors. [Press release from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee discussing the online prepublication in Nature Methods]

Method of the Future Uses Single-Cell Imaging to Identify Gene Interactions
Researchers have developed a novel method of interpreting data from single-cell images to identify genetic interactions within biological networks, offering a glimpse into the future of high-throughput cell imaging analysis. [Press release from the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory discussing the online prepublication in Genome Research]

CURRENT PUBLICATIONS

CD99 Inhibits Neural Differentiation of Human Ewing Sarcoma Cells and Thereby Contributes to Oncogenesis
This study indicates a new role for CD99 in preventing neural differentiation of Ewing sarcoma (EWS) cells and suggests that blockade of CD99 or its downstream molecular pathway may be a new therapeutic approach for EWS. [J Clin Invest]

Genomic Code for Sox10 Activation Reveals a Key Regulatory Enhancer for Cranial Neural Crest
In search of direct inputs to the neural crest specifier module, researchers dissected the chick Sox10 genomic region and isolated two downstream regulatory regions with distinct spatiotemporal activity. [Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A]

The Neurofibromatosis Type 1 Tumor Suppressor Controls Cell Growth by Regulating Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription-3 Activity In Vitro and In Vivo
To discover other downstream targets of neurofibromin, researchers performed an unbiased cell-based high-throughput chemical library screen using NF1-deficient malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor cells. [Cancer Res]

Synergistic Effects of Transplanted Adult Neural Stem/Progenitor Cells, Chondroitinase, and Growth Factors Promote Functional Repair and Plasticity of the Chronically Injured Spinal Cord
Researchers demonstrate key biological and functional benefits for the combined use of chondroitinase ABC, growth factors, and neural stem/progenitor cells to repair the chronically injured spinal cord. [ J Neurosci]

Increased Neural Progenitors in Vascular Dementia
An immunohistological study was performed in order to examine neurogenesis in both the subventricular and peri-infarct zones of vascular dementia patients compared to age-matched controls. [Neurobiol Aging]

Gliomas Display a MicroRNA Expression Profile Reminiscent of Neural Precursor Cells
Both human gliomas (regardless of their grade) and methylcholanthrene-induced mouse glioma shared an miRNA expression profile that is reminiscent of neural precursor cells. [Neuro Oncol]

Neural Crest Cell Origin and Signals for Intrinsic Neurogenesis in the Mammalian Respiratory Tract
Researchers investigate the innervation of the respiratory tract during mouse embryonic development with a focus on identification of cell origin and essential developmental signals for the resident, or intrinsic, neurons. [Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol]

A Multipotent Neural Crest Derived Progenitor Cell Population is Resident within the Oral Mucosa Lamina Propria
This paper reports for the first time, the isolation and characterisation of a novel, clonally derived progenitor cells population resident within the oral mucosal lamina propria. [Stem Cells Dev]

Stem Cells from Human Exfoliated Deciduous Teeth Can Differentiate into Dopaminergic Neuron-Like Cells
Results indicate that stem cells from human exfoliated deciduous teeth, potentially derived from neural crest cells, may be an optimal source of postnatal stem cells for Parkinson’s disease treatment. [Stem Cells Dev]

Delta Opioid Peptide DADLE and Naltrexone Cause Cell Cycle Arrest and Differentiation in a Central Nervous System Neural Progenitor Cell Line
This study examined the effect of a stable delta opioid peptide [D-Ala(2), D-Leu(5)]-enkephalin (DADLE) on proliferation and differentiation in an AF5 central nervous system neural progenitor cell line derived from rat mesencephalic cells. [Synapse]

INDUSTRY NEWS

Fate Therapeutics Receives Allowance of First U.S. Patent for Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Technology
Fate Therapeutics, Inc. received a Notice of Allowance from the United States Patent and Trademark Office for U.S. Patent Application Number 10/997,146 entitled “Methods for Reprogramming Somatic Cells.” [Fate Therapeutics, Inc. Press Release]

ReNeuron Receives Final Regulatory Approval to Commence Landmark Stroke Clinical Trial in the United Kingdom
ReNeuron Group plc announced that the United Kingdom Gene Therapy Advisory Committee has given a full and final Favourable Opinion to ReNeuron’s proposed first-in-man clinical trial with its ReN001 stem cell therapy for stroke. [ReNeuron Group plc Press Release]

Teijin Signs Agreement for SanBio’s New Drug for Stroke Therapy
Teijin Limited announced that it has signed an exclusive licensing agreement with SanBio, Inc., to develop and sell in Japan SB623, which holds promise as a revolutionary drug for stroke therapy. [Teijin Limited Press Release]

Roche Allies with Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard to Develop Stem Cell-Derived Cell Lines for Drug Discovery
Roche is teaming up with the Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard University to develop new stem cell-based cell lines as disease models for early drug candidate testing. [Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News]

‘Clique’ of Scientists Skewing Stem Cell Research by Influencing High-Profile Journals
A small clique of scientists are skewing stem cell research by unduly influencing which breakthroughs get published in high-profile journals, experts have warned. [Telegraph]

Private, Public Research Under One Roof at the University of Wisconsin-Madison
When it opens in December, the $205 million Wisconsin Institutes for Discovery will be a showcase of high-tech design and model of collaboration. [Journal Sentinel]

University of Colorado Applies for Federal Grants to Help Finish Biotechnology Hub
The University of Colorado has applied for multi-million dollar federal grants to help finish the construction of its biotechnology building since the cash-strapped state is rejecting the school’s funding requests. [Daily Camera]

POLICY NEWS

Senate Rejects Stem Cell Legislation
By a vote of 21 to 12, the South Dakota Senate shot down a bill that could have repealed South Dakota’s ban on embryonic stem cell treatments. [South Dakota Senate, United States]

Parsing National Institutes of Health’s 2011 Budget: Is Big Science Up, Small Science Down?
Is National Institutes of Health Director Francis Collins planning to steer his ocean liner of an institute toward “big biology” at the expense of single-investigator grants? [National Institutes of Health, United States]

Medvedev Talks Science in Moscow
Russian science has been getting some bad press recently, what with a recent report on its declining productivity in scientific papers and a letter from expatriate scientists to the Russian president and prime minister warning of the parlous state of basic research. [Russian Academy of Sciences, Russia]

Impersonation of MHRA Staff [Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency, United Kingdom]

Waivers for Conflicts of Interest for the February 22, 2010 Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee Meeting [Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, United States]

Recovery Act Limited Competition: Program to Enhance National Institutes of Health-Supported Global Health Research Involving Human Subjects (S07) (RFA-OD-10-006) [National Institutes of Health, United States]

Institutional Clinical and Translational Science Award (U54) (RFA-RM-10-001) [National Institutes of Health, United States]

IACUC 101 Workshop and PRIM&R 2010 IACUC Conference: March 21-23, 2010 in Baltimore, MD (NOT-OD-10-059) [National Institutes of Health, United States]

Delays in Grant Application Submission Due to Blizzard (NOT-OD-10-060) [National Institutes of Health, United States]

Notice of Intent to Establish a New National Institutes of Health Common Fund Program: Library of Integrated Network-Based Cellular Signatures (LINCS) (NOT-RM-10-002) [National Institutes of Health, United States]

Notice of Availability of Administrative Supplements for R25 Science Education Grants (NOT-DA-10-007) [National Institutes of Health, United States]

Investigator Initiated Multi-Site Clinical Trials (Collaborative R01) (PAR-10-096) [National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, United States]

Neurotechnology Research, Development, and Enhancement – [SBIR (R43/R44)] [Small Business Innovation Research, United States]

Neurotechnology Research, Development, and Enhancement – [STTR (R41/R42)] [Small Business Technology Transfer, United States]

EVENTS

Keystone Symposia: Stem Cell Differentiation and Dedifferentiation (B4)
February 15-20, 2010
Keystone, United States

American Society for Neurochemistry (ASN) 41st Annual Meeting
March 6-10, 2010
Santa Fe, United States

American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) 101st Annual Meeting 2010
April 17-21, 2010
Washington, DC, United States

17th Annual Conference of the American Society for Neural Therapy & Repair (ASNTR)
April 29-May 1, 2010
Clearwater Beach, United States

2010 Canadian Neuroscience Meeting
May 15-18, 2010
Ottawa, Canada

International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) 8th Annual Meeting
June 16-19, 2010
San Francisco, United States

BIT’s 1st World Congress of NeuroTalk – 2010
June 25-28, 2010
Singapore, Singapore

7th Federation of European Neuroscience Societies (FENS) Forum of European Neuroscience
July 3-7, 2010
Amsterdam, The Netherlands

40th Annual Meeting of the Society for Neuroscience 2010
November 13-17, 2010
San Diego, United States

JOB OPPORTUNITIES

Business Development Europe – Cell Therapy Products (PALL Corporation)