TOP STORIES

A Proposal for Improving Cord Blood Transplants
Dutch researchers propose that a relatively simple change in the way donors are matched with recipients could expand the number of optimal matches by up to eighteen fold. [Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden]

Enumerate total hematopoietic progenitors (CFC) in cord blood units in only 7 days with MethoCult® Express by STEMCELL Technologies     REQUEST A SAMPLE

SCIENCE NEWS

Phase 1/2 Results for Aldagen's ALD-301 Critical Limb Ischemia Clinical Study
In the study, researchers showed that the company's cell product ALD-301 was well-tolerated, and patients in the treatment group were shown to have increased blood flow and improved clinical status. [Aldagen, Inc., Durham]

Pluristem Therapeutics Announces Three Month Follow-Up Data from the First Patient to Receive PLX-PAD
Pluristem Therapeutics Inc. recently announced that safety and potential efficacy parameters were demonstrated by the three month follow up data from the first patient ever to receive its placenta derived cell therapy product, PLX-PAD. [Pluristem Therapeutics Inc., Haifa]

Stem Cells May Improve Heart Bypass Results
Patients who received bone marrow stem cell transplants during coronary bypass surgery experienced "excellent long-term safety and survival". [University of Rostock, Rostock]

BrainStorm Stem Cell Therapy Technology Possesses Promising Potential for the Future Treatment of Multiple Sclerosis
BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics Inc. recently announced that the company's therapeutic approach for treating neurodegenerative diseases, particularly ALS and Parkinson's disease, was found to have a positive effect in a mouse model of multiple sclerosis. [BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics, Petach Tikvah]

CURRENT PUBLICATIONS

Deleterious Effect of Human Umbilical Cord Blood Mononuclear Cell Transplantation on Thioacetamide-induced Chronic Liver Damage in Rats
In the present study, human umbilical cord blood cells transplanted into rats with thioacetamide-induced liver cirrhosis, developed a hepatorenal syndrome. [Cell Transplant]

Superagonistic CD28 Stimulation of Allogeneic T Cells Protects from Acute Graft-versus-host Disease
This study investigated the effect of immunomodulatory superagonistic anti-CD28 monoclonal antibodies on the capacity of allogeneic T cells to mediate both acute graft-versus-host disease and the protective graft-versus-tumor response. [Blood]

Human Cord Blood-Derived Hematopoietic and Neural-Like Stem/Progenitor Cells Are Attracted by the Neurotransmitter GABA
Since human umbilical cord blood contains stem/progenitor cells able to generate either neuronal or hematopoietic cells, the researchers evaluated the effect of GABA on this type of cells. [Stem Cells Dev]

The Osteogenic Differentiation of Adult Bone Marrow and Perinatal Umbilical Mesenchymal Stem Cells and Matrix Remodeling in Three-dimensional Collagen Scaffolds
This study compares the cell-mediated remodeling of three-dimensional collagen I/III gels during osteogenic differentiation of both adult human mesenchymal stem cells from bone marrow and perinatal mesenchymal stem cells from Wharton's Jelly of the umbilical cord. [Biomaterials]

INDUSTRY NEWS

STEMSOFT Software Inc. Licenses StemLab^® Software to Cord Blood America
STEMSOFT Software Inc is pleased to announce the licensing of StemLab, the leading cell therapy and cord blood banking laboratory software, to Cord Blood America's cord banking laboratory in Las Vegas, NV.

Michigan Community Blood Centers Changes Name to Michigan Blood to Reflect Statewide Focus
The slight change may seem simple and even a bit confusing, but it is an important distinction intended to reflect the nonprofit organization's statewide "Michigan first" presence, center leaders said Wednesday.

Cerus Corporation Stock Trading Halted; FDA Blood Products Advisory Committee to Review and Discuss Proposed Phase III Clinical Trial Design for the INTERCEPT Blood System
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) Blood Products Advisory Committee is meeting to review and discuss the proposed design for a potential U.S. Phase III clinical trial of platelets treated with the Company's INTERCEPT Blood System.

FDA Clears the First Rapid Test to Detect Bacteria in Pooled Platelets
Fenwal, Inc. announced recently that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has cleared the Verax Platelet PGD test as a quality control test to detect bacterial contamination in whole blood-derived, pooled platelets prior to transfusion.

POLICY NEWS

Guidance for Industry: Recommendations for the Assessment of Blood Donor Suitability, Blood Product Safety, and Preservation of the Blood Supply in Response to Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 Virus

November 18-19, 2009: Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee Briefing Documents

EVENTS

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

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, British Columbia

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

JOB OPPORTUNITIES

Manager, Market Segment Regenerative Medicine (Sigma-Aldrich Corporation)

Technical Specialist (AABB)

R&D Scientist (STEMCELL Technologies)

Technical Support Representative - France (STEMCELL Technologies)

Recruit Top Talent
Reach more than 11,000 potential candidates by posting your organization's career opportunities with Cell Therapy News.
Visit here to post your career opportunities. 

Have we missed an important article or publication in Cord Blood News? Click here to submit!