U of M Cancer Researchers Find Two Units of Umbilical Cord Blood Significantly Reduce Risk of Leukemia Recurrence
A new study shows that patients who have acute leukemia and are transplanted with two units of umbilical cord blood have significantly reduced risk of the disease returning. [University of Minnesota, Minneapolis]

New Research Suggests Stem Cells from Amniotic Fluid May be More Versatile than Originally Thought
For the first time, scientists have demonstrated that stem cells found in amniotic fluid meet an important test of potential to become specialized cell types. [Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center, Winston-Salem]

CURRENT PUBLICATIONS

Re-Exposure of Cord Blood to Noninherited Maternal HLA Antigens Improves Transplant Outcome in Hematological Malignancies
By matching for donor noninherited maternal antigens in search algorithms of CB inventories, the probability of selecting a graft with an optimal outcome will increase significantly. [PNAS]

Identification of Novel Regulators of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Development Through Refinement of Stem Cell Localization and Expression Profiling
Many genes involved in the development of the tissues surrounding the dorsal aorta are up-regulated during hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) emergence, suggesting that the regulation of HSC generation occurs in coordination with the development of other organs. [Blood]

Niche Recycling Through Division-Independent Egress of Hematopoietic Stem Cells
Research data provide insight as to how HSC replacement can occur despite the residence of endogenous HSCs in niches, and suggest therapeutic interventions that capitalize upon physiological HSC egress. [J Exp Med]

Human Herpes Virus 6 Infection is a Hallmark of Cord Blood Transplant in Adults and May Participate to Delay Engraftment: a Comparison with Matched Unrelated Donors as Stem Cell Source
The use of a cord blood transplantation and a myeloablative conditioning regimen were found to increase the risk of HHV6 infection when compared to allogeneic transplantation from a matched unrelated donor. [Bone Marrow Transplant]

Effective Generation of iPS Cells from CD34+ Cord Blood Cells by Inhibition of P53
Cord blood banks provide fully HLA typed cells from which a set of standard iPS cells for use in allogenic transplantation could be derived. Hence, the ability to generate iPS cells from cord blood cells has the potential to provide a suitable source for clinical transplantation. [Exp Hematol]

Cord Blood Units with Low CD34+ Cell Viability Have a Low Probability of Engraftment after Double Unit Transplantation
The researchers' data suggests double unit CBT can improve engraftment by increasing the probability of transplanting at least one adequately viable unit and the potential to engraft. [Biol Blood Marrow Transplant]

Stable Transgene Expression in Primitive Human CD34+ Hematopoietic Stem/Progenitor Cells, Using the Sleeping Beauty Transposon System
This study demonstrates that an improved HSB gene transfer system can stably integrate genes into primitive human HSCs while maintaining the pluripotency of the stem cells. [Stem Cell Dev]

 

POLICY NEWS

NIGMS 'Challenge' Areas Get Millions in Recovery Act Funds
The National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) has invested $16.4 million of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act) funds to jump-start a range of research projects that address critical gaps in the basic biomedical and behavioral sciences.

FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION (United States)

Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection; Comment Request; Biological Products: Reporting of Biological Product Deviations and Human Cells, Tissues, and Cellular and Tissue-Based Product Deviations in Manufacturing; Form FDA 3486 and Addendum 3486A

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

CBER: Proper Biologic Application Format May Speed Review

Complete List of Licensed Products and Establishments

December 15, 2009: Vaccines & Related Biological Products Advisory Committee Meeting Announcement

HUMAN TISSUE AUTHORITY (United Kingdom)

Revised Codes of Practice

EVENTS

51st ASH Annual Meeting and Exposition
December 5-8, 2009
New Orleans, Louisiana

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

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

12th Biennial CBMTG Conference
April 7-10, 2010
Vancouver, British Columbia

16th Annual International Society for Cellular Therapy Meeting
May 23-26, 2010
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 

JOB OPPORTUNITIES

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