TOP STORY

Tackling Blood Stem Cell Heterogeneity
Distinct populations of hematopoietic stem cells that preferentially generate specific types of blood cells can be identified based on abundance of a single surface protein, according to a new study. [Press release from PhysOrg discussing online prepublication in The Journal of Experimental Medicine]

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Complimentary Webinar Presented by STEMCELL Technologies
Instructing Lineage Choice: Assays to Determine Effects of Cytokines and Novel Compounds on Hematopoiesis

Thursday, May 13, 2010 at 9:00 a.m. EDT; 2:00 p.m. BST
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SCIENCE NEWS

Study Examines Global Availability of Treatment Involving Transplantation of Blood Stem Cells
An examination of the world-wide use of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) finds that there are significant differences in transplant rates between countries and continental regions by indication and donor type, and that HSCT is most frequently used in countries with higher gross national incomes and governmental health care expenditures, according to a recent study. [Press release from EurekAlert! discussing online prepublication in the Journal of the American Medical Association]

CURRENT PUBLICATIONS

Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation: A Global Perspective
Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is used for a broad spectrum of indications worldwide, but most frequently in countries with higher gross national incomes, higher governmental health care expenditures, and higher team densities. [JAMA]

Heterogeneity and Hierarchy Within the Most Primitive Hematopoietic Stem Cell Compartment
Using single-cell transplantation studies, researchers found that a fraction of CD150^high cells displayed latent and barely detectable myeloid engraftment in primary-recipient mice but progressive and multilineage reconstitution in secondary-recipient mice. [J Exp Med]

CD14⁺ Monocytes Promote the Immunosuppressive Effect of Human Umbilical Cord Matrix Stem Cells
Here, the effect of CD14⁺ monocytes on human umbilical cord matrix stem cells-mediated immunsuppression was studied in vitro. [Exp Cell Res] 

In Vitro Protection of Umbilical Cord Blood-Derived Primitive Hematopoietic Stem Progenitor Cell Pool by Mannose-Specific Lectins Via Antioxidant Mechanisms
The data show that both banana lectin and garlic lectin protect the primitive hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) in vitro and may also serve as cost-effective HSPC enrichment tools. [Transfusion]

Multiple Unrelated Chromosomal Abnormalities in Host Cells After Cord Blood Transplantation
Researchers experienced a 16-year-old patient with T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia, who had multiple unrelated chromosomal abnormalities in host cells after chemotherapy and cord blood transplantation. [J Pediatr Hematol Oncol]

Allogeneic Haematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation as a Salvage Strategy for Relapsed or Refractory Nasal NK/T Cell Lymphoma
This clinical experience suggests that allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation with a modified conditioning regimen is a promising treatment for patients with relapsed or refractory nasal NK/T cell lymphoma. [Med Oncol]

Differentiation of Cryopreserved Human Umbilical Cord Blood-Derived Stromal Cells into Cells with an Oligodendrocyte Phenotype
In this study, researchers examined the phenotypic characteristics of human umbilical cord blood-derived mesenchymal stromal cells differentiated along an oligodendrocyte pathway. [In Vitro Cell Dev Biol Anim]

INDUSTRY NEWS

NeoStem, Inc. Officially Launches Adult Stem Cell Collection Center and R&D Laboratory in Cambridge, Massachusetts
NeoStem, Inc. announced the official launch of the Company's Adult Stem Cell Collection Center and Research & Development laboratory at the Company's 8,000 square foot facility at the Riverside Technology Center in Cambridge, Massachusetts. [NeoStem, Inc. Press Release]

Pluristem Therapeutics Announces Interim Top-Line Results from PLX–PAD Clinical Trials
Pluristem Therapeutics Inc. announced interim top-line results from its Phase I clinical trials utilizing its placenta-derived cell therapy product, PLX-PAD, for the treatment of critical limb ischemia, the end-stage of peripheral artery disease. [Pluristem Therapeutics Inc. Press Release]

Ontario's $11.5 Million will Build Network for Stem Cell-Based Therapies
McMaster University's Stem Cell and Cancer Research Institute has received $11.5 million to lead a world-class initiative to develop new stem cell-based therapies. [McMaster University Press Release]

Pluristem Therapeutics Raises $2.7 Million in Private Placement of Restricted Common Stock
Pluristem Therapeutics Inc. announced that it has entered into definitive agreements with selected investors to sell restricted common stock and warrants for aggregate gross proceeds of approximately $2.7 million. [Pluristem Therapeutics Inc. Press Release]

U.S. Department of Defense Gives $31.6 Million to Belmont Instrument for Blood Warmers
Belmont Instrument Corp. of Billerica has been awarded a $31.6 million contract by the U.S. Department of Defense for its blood fluid warming technology line of products. [Mass High Tech]

POLICY NEWS

Instructions for Completion and Technical Evaluation of the Vertebrate Animal Section (VAS) in NIH Contract Proposals (NOT-OD-10-049) [National Institutes of Health, United States]

Request for Information (RFI): Priorities for the NIH Adherence Research Network (NOT-OD-10-078) [National Institutes of Health, United States]

Waivers for Conflicts of Interest for the May 7, 2010 Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee Meeting [Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, United States]

FDA Announces Draft Revised Guidance on Transparency and Advisory Committees [Food and Drug Administration, United States]

Risk Communication Advisory Committee; Notice of Meeting [Docket No. FDA-2010-N-0001] [Food and Drug Administration, United States]

Draft Guidance for the Public, Food and Drug Administration Advisory Committee Members, and Food and Drug Administration Staff: Public Availability of Advisory Committee Members' Financial Interest Information and Waivers; Availability [Docket No. FDA-2002-D-0094] [Food and Drug Administration, United States]

EVENTS

XXIII International Symposium on Technological Innovations in Laboratory Hematology
May 10-12, 2010
Brighton, United Kingdom

16th Annual International Society for Cellular Therapy (ISCT) Meeting
May 23-26, 2010
Philadelphia, United States 

8th Annual International Umbilical Cord Blood Transplantation Symposium
June 3-5, 2010
San Francisco, United States

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

Select Biosciences World Biobanking Summit
August 24-25, 2010
Edinburgh, Scotland

International Society for Hematology and Stem Cells (ISEH) 2010 Meeting
September 15-18, 2010
Melbourne, Australia

American Association of Blood Banks (AABB) Annual Meeting & Cellular Therapy and Transfusion Medicine Expo (CTTXPO) 2010
October 9-12, 2010
Baltimore, United States

52nd American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting and Exposition
December 4-7, 2010
Orlando, 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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