Neural Cell News Volume 4.29 | Jul 28 2010

Scientists Identify Brain Circuits Related to the Initiation and Termination of Movement Sequences in NIH-Supported Study 
Scientists at the National Institutes of Health and the Gulbenkian Institute in Portugal have identified brain activity in mice that can signal the initiation and termination of newly learned action sequences. [Press release from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism discussing online prepublication in Nature]

Brain Training Reverses Age-Related Cognitive Decline
Specialized brain training targeted at the regions of a rat’s brain that process sound reversed many aspects of normal, age-related cognitive decline and improved the health of the brain cells. [Press release from University of California, San Francisco discussing online prepublication in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA]

Neuroscience: Watching and Learning from Flies on the March
Using a microscope, a floating foam ball, and rock-steady hands, Janelia Farm researchers developed a way to measure the brain activity of a fruit fly while it is walking. [Press release from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute discussing online prepublication in Current Biology]

Screen Yields Drugs That Could Help Treat Fatal Brain Disorder
Using novel screens to sort through libraries of drugs already approved for use in human patients, researchers have identified several compounds that could be used to treat a rare and deadly neurological disorder. [Press release from the University of Wisconsin discussing online prepublication in Human Molecular Genetics]

Researchers Pinpoint Key Stem Cells for Eating and Sex
Researchers have identified the stem cells that generate three critical classes of nerve cells that are responsible for enabling animals and humans, to eat, interact socially and reproduce. [Press release from George Washington University discussing online prepublication in Development]

Irradiating Brain’s Stem Cell Niche Doubles Survival Time for Patients with Brain Cancers
Patients with deadly glioblastomas who received high doses of radiation that hit a portion of the brain which harbors neural stem cells had double the progression-free survival time as patients who had lower doses or no radiation targeting the area. [Press release from the University of California, Los Angeles Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center discussing online prepublication in BMC Cancer]

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Start/Stop Signals Emerge in Nigrostriatal Circuits During Sequence Learning
Using a self-paced operant task in which mice learn to perform a particular sequence of actions to obtain an outcome, researchers found that neural activity in nigrostriatal circuits specifically signals for the initiation or the termination of each action sequence. [Nature]

Walking Modulates Speed Sensitivity in Drosophila Motion Vision
Scientists report state-dependent activity modulations during walking in a visual-motor pathway of Drosophila. [Current Biol]

S Phase Entry Causes Homocysteine-Induced Death while Ataxia Telangiectasia and Rad3 Related Protein Functions Anti-Apoptotically to Protect Neurons
To investigate whether reactivation of the G1 cell cycle proteins and S phase entry was linked with apoptosis, researchers examined homocysteine-induced neuronal cell death in a rat cortical neuron tissue culture system. [Brain]

Recovery of Functional and Structural Age-Related Changes in the Rat Primary Auditory Cortex with Operant Training
Investigators described more than twenty age-related cortical processing deficits in the primary auditory cortex of aging versus young rats that appear to be strongly contributed to by altered cortical inhibition. [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA]

A Small Synthetic Cripto Blocking Peptide Improves Neural Induction, Dopaminergic Differentiation and Functional Integration of Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells in a Rat Model of Parkinson’s Disease
In this study scientists developed a Cripto specific blocking tool that would mimic the deletion of cripto, but could be easily applied to embryonic stem cell lines without the need of genetic manipulation. [Stem Cells]

Drug Screening to Identify Suppressors of GFAP Expression
With the goal of finding drugs that reduce the expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), researchers devised screens to detect changes in GFAP promoter activity or protein levels in primary cultures of mouse astrocytes in a 96-well format. [Hum Mol Genet]

Proliferative and Transcriptional Identity of Distinct Classes of Neural Precursors in the Mammalian Olfactory Epithelium
Scientists characterized two precursor classes in the olfactory epithelium shortly after it becomes a distinct tissue at midgestation in the mouse: slowly dividing self-renewing precursors that express Meis1/2 at high levels, and rapidly dividing neurogenic precursors that express high levels of Sox2 and Ascl1. [Development]

The Closely Related Transcription Factors Sox4 and Sox11 Function as Survival Factors During Spinal Cord Development
Scientists showed that the combined absence of both Sox proteins in the mouse leads to severe hypoplasia of the developing spinal cord. [J Neurochem]

Steroidal and Gonadal Effects on Neural Cell Proliferation In Vitro in an Adult Songbird
To examine the acute effects of sex-steroids on ventricular zone (VZ) cell proliferation, male and female adult zebra finch brain slices containing VZ were exposed to 5-bromo-2′-deoxyuridine-5′-monophosphate in vitro. [Brain Res]

Actelion Obtains Option to Acquire Privately-Held Trophos
Actelion Ltd and privately-held Trophos SA announced that they have entered into a binding agreement whereby Actelion has, for EUR 10 million, obtained an exclusive option to acquire privately-held Trophos SA. [Actelion Pharmaceuticals, Ltd Press Release]

Researchers Report in Neuroscience that TB4 Improves Neurological Function after Stroke
RegeneRx Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. announced a research team from the Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, MI, reported that Thymosin beta 4 (TB4), administered to rats after embolic stroke, improved neurological functional outcome compared to control animals. [RegeneRx Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. Press release]

Winston Laboratories, Inc. Receives Notice of Compliance in Canada for CIVANEX™ for Treatment of Osteoarthritis
Winston Laboratories, Inc. announced that it has received Notice of Compliance from the Therapeutics Drug Directorate, Health Canada for its New Drug Submission for CIVANEX ™ for the treatment of the signs and symptoms of osteoarthritis. [Winston Pharmaecuticals, Inc. Press release]

Institute of Microelectronics and Stanford University to Develop Silicon Nanowire Based Circuits Inspired by the Brain
The Institute of Microelectronics announced a collaborative partnership with Stanford University to develop silicon nanowire based circuits that are inspired by the brain. [A*Star Press Release]

Mark Goldberg Named Head of Neurology at UT Southwestern
Dr. Mark Goldberg has become chairman of neurology at UT Southwestern Medical Center. [Press release from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center]

NIH Asks for Input on Closing Loophole in Conflict-of-Interest Rule
Responding to yet another flap about the influence of drug companies on biomedical research, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has decided it needs more time to revise its rules for policing conflicts of interest so that sanctions will move with an investigator if he or she changes institutions. [National Institutes of Health, United States]

Office of Biotechnology Activities; Recombinant DNA Research: Proposed Action Under the NIH Guidelines for Research Involving Recombinant DNA Molecules (NIH Guidelines) (Doc. 2010-17668) [National Institutes of Health, United States]

National Institute of General Medical Sciences; Notice of Closed Meeting (Doc. 2010-18088) [National Institutes of Health, United States]

Center for Scientific Review; Notice of Closed Meeting (Doc. 2010-18052) [National Institutes of Health, United States]

Instrument Development for Biomedical Applications (R21) (RFA-RR-10-009) [National Institutes of Health, United States]

Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories (BMBL): 5th Edition (NOT-OD-10-117) [National Institutes of Health, United States]

National Institute on Aging (NIA) Announces Research Model Sharing Website (NOT-AG-10-009)  [National Institutes of Health, United States]

Bioengineering Research Partnerships (BRP)[R01] (PAR-10-234) [National Institutes of Health, United States]

National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering Program Project (P01) Applications (PAR-10-233)  [National Institutes of Health, United States]

Request for Information (RFI): Tools and Resources for Neuroscience Research (NOT-NS-10-023) [National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, United States]

February 22, 2010: Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee Transcripts [Center for Biologics Evaluation & Research, United States]

Charter of the Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee  [Center for Biologics Evaluation & Research, United States]

Responsibility of Applicants for Promoting Objectivity in Research for Which Public Health Service Funding Is Sought and Responsible Prospective Contractors [Docket Number NIH-2010-0001][Department of Health and Human Services, United States]

Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corp. et al.; Withdrawal of Approval of 27 New Drug Applications and 58 Abbreviated New Drug Applications [Docket No. FDA-2010-N-0318] [Food and Drug Administration, United States]

EVENTS (Listed by Date)

NEW Neural Development, Physiology, Imaging and Degeneration
August 16-September 10, 2010
Mexico D.F., Mexico

Select Biosciences 3rd Annual Stem Cells Europe Conference
August 24-25, 2010
Edinburgh, Scotland

Select Biosciences Inaugural Cellular Therapy Summit
August 24-25, 2010
Edinburgh, Scotland

BIOSPINE 3 – 3rd World Congress on Biotechnologies for Spinal Surgery
September 1-4, 2010
Amsterdam, The Netherlands

NEW EMBO/EMBL Structures and Function of Neural Circuits
September 5-8, 2010
Heidelberg, Germany

International Society for Cellular Therapy (ISCT)-Europe 2nd Regional Meeting
September 11-14, 2010
Belgirate, Italy

Joint Metastasis Research Society – American Association of Cancer Research Conference on Metastasis and the Tumor Microenvironment
September 12-15, 2010
Philadelphia, United States

Stem Cells USA & Regenerative Medicine Congress 2010
September 13-15, 2010
Philadelphia, United States

International Society for Cell and Gene Therapy of Cancer (ISCGT) Congress
September 27-29, 2010
Doha, Qatar

4th American Association of Cancer Research International Conference on Molecular Diagnostics in Cancer Therapeutic Development
September 27-30, 2010
Denver, United States

6th International Symposium on Neuroprotection and Neurorepair
October 1-4, 2010
Rostock, Germany

2010 World Stem Cell Summit
October 4-6, 2010
Detroit, United States

18th Annual BioPartnering Europe
October 10-12, 2010
London, United Kingdom

Institute for Genomic Medicine Inaugural Symposium
October 11-12, 2010
San Diego, United States

5th Annual Translational Stem Cell Research Conference
October 12-13, 2010
New York City, United States

Translational Cancer Research for Basic Scientists
October 17-22, 2010
Boston, United States

Fraunhofer Life Science Symposium 2010
October 29-30, 2010
Leipzig, Germany

Stem Cell Society Singapore Symposium 2010: Translating Science to Therapy
November 2-3, 2010
Singapore City, Singapore

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

Stem Cell Network 10th Annual Scientific Meeting
November 22-24, 2010
Calgary, Canada

The American Society for Cell Biology 50th Annual Meeting
December 11-15, 2010
Philadelphia, United States

NEW Adult Neurogenesis
January 9-14, 2011
Taos, New Mexico

Select Biosciences 5th Annual Stem Cells World Congress
January 24-25, 2011
San Diego, United States

Phacilitate 7th Annual Cell & Gene Therapy Forum 2011
January 24-26, 2011
Washington, DC, United States

Visit our events page to stay up to date with the latest events in the cell, gene and immunotherapy community.

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