Stem Cell Hierarchy Offers Potential For Isolating, Growing Cells
Canadian researchers have, for the first time, isolated special stem cells from human umbilical cord tissue and conducted experiments showing they can be used to regenerate tissue. [University of Toronto, Toronto]

U of T Researchers Learn How Blood Cells 'Talk'
Researchers revealed a new mathematical model that links functional cellular assays to specific model outputs, defines cell-level kinetic parameters such as cell cycle rates and self-renewal probabilities as functions of culture variables, and simulates feedback regulation using cell-cell interaction networks. [University of Toronto, Toronto]

Ohio State Researches Stem Cells for Cardiac Treatment
Researchers and clinicians at The Ohio State University Medical Center are studying the effectiveness of using cord blood stem cells to regenerate heart muscle to improve outcomes for patients. [Ohio State University Medical Center, Columbus]

CURRENT PUBLICATIONS

Cell-Cell Interaction Networks Regulate Blood Stem and Progenitor Cell Fate
This study demonstrated that variability in the secretion rates of the intercellular regulators is sufficient to explain heterogeneity in culture outputs, and that loss of responsiveness to cell-cell feedback signaling is both necessary and sufficient to induce leukemic transformation in silico. [Mol Syst Biol]

Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells Self-Renew and Differentiate According to a Deterministic Hierarchy
Self-renewing multipotent MSC gives rise to more restricted self-renewing progenitors that gradually lose differentiation potential until a state of complete restriction to the fibroblast is reached. [PLOS]

Donor-Recipient Mismatches in MHC Class I Chain-Related Gene A in Unrelated Donor Transplantation Lead to Increased Incidence of Acute Graft-Versus-Host Disease
MHC class I-related chain A may represent novel a transplantation antigen recognized by human allogeneic T-cells. [Blood]

Selective Depletion of Alloreactive T Cells by Targeted Therapy of Heat Shock Protein 90: A Novel Strategy for Control of Graft-Versus-Host Disease
Hsp90 represents a novel target for selective depletion of alloreactive T cells, and provide the rationale for application of Hsp90 inhibitors as potential approach to selectively prevent and treat GVHD in HSCT recipients without impairing pathogen- and disease-specific T cell immunity. [Blood]

An Approach to Predicting Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation Outcome Using HLA-Mismatch Information Mapped on Protein Structure Data
The energy of contact between the T lymphocyte cell receptor (TCR) and HLA residues can help predict the future development of an immune reaction and, consequently, the outcome of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. [Biol Bone Marrow Transplant]

Dual Requirement for the ETS Transcription Factors Fli-1 and Erg in Hematopoietic Stem Cells and The Megakaryocyte Lineage
The study results illustrate an indispensable requirement for both Fli-1 and Erg in normal hematopoietic stem cell and megakaryocyte homeostasis, and suggest these transcription factors may coregulate common target genes. [PNAS]

Moderate Exposure to Allogeneic Blood Products Is Not Associated with Reduced Long-term Survival after Surgery for Coronary Artery Disease
Patients who have undergone coronary artery surgery and received moderate amounts of blood as part of responsible and conservative management should be reassured that they are unlikely to experience a reduction in long-term survival. [Anesthesiology]

POLICY NEWS

Obama Enacts New U.S. Stem Cell Research Rules
U.S. President Barack Obama directed federal agencies on Thursday to enact new rules governing federally funded research on human embryonic stem cells.

Germany Tightens Law on Stem Cell Treatments
Treatments in Germany involving adult stem cells will be more closely regulated after revision of Germany's medical products law received final approval by the Bundesrat, the upper house of parliament.


FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION (United States)

Public Workshop: FDA Regulation and Licensure of Whole Blood and Blood Components

Exceptions and Alternative Procedures Approved Under 21 CFR 640.120

Agency Information Collection Activities; Class II Special Controls Guidance Document: Automated Blood Cell Separator Device Operating by Centrifugal or Filtration Separation Principle

Agency Information Collection Activities; Request for Samples and Protocols


CENTER FOR BIOLOGICS EVAULATION & RESEARCH (United States)

2009 Meeting Materials, Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee 

MEDICINES & HEALTHCARE PODUCTS REGULATORY AGENCY (United Kingdom)

Medical Device Alert: In Vitro Diagnostic (IVD) Instrumentation: DS2 Automated Microplate Processing System Manufactured by Dynex Technologies (MDA/2009/052)

Events

2nd TERMIS World Congress In Conjunction With 2009 Seoul Stem Cell Symposium
August 31-September 3, 2009
Seoul, South Korea

XXXVI Annual Meeting of the European Society for Artificial Organs 2009   
September 2-5, 2009
Compiègne, France

16th International Society of Developmental Biologists Congress
September 6-10, 2009
Edinburgh, United Kingdom

International Society for Hematology and Stem Cells 38th Annual Scientific Meeting
September 9-12, 2009
Athens, Greece

51st ASH Annual Meeting and Exposition
December 9-12, 2009
New Orleans, LA

2010 BMT Tandem Meetings
February 24-28, 2010
Orlando, Florida

The European Group for Blood & Marrow Transplantation Annual Meeting
March 21-24, 2010
Vienna, Austria

Canadian Blood and Marrow Transplant Consortium Annual Meeting
April 7-10, 2010
Vancouver, BC

16th Annual International Society for Cellular Therapy Meeting
May 22-26, 2010
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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

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