Mouse Study Shows Fetal Heart can Grow Cells to Repair Disease Damage
The capacity of a mouse heart to repair extensive damage while in the womb, even after all the heart's major cell types and structures have developed has been shown in a recent study.

VistaGen and Leading Stem Cell Researchers Pinpoint Key Biochemical Pathways Involved in Generating Large Numbers of Heart Cells from Embryonic Stem Cells
Researchers from VistaGen Therapeutics, scientists from Toronto's McEwen Centre for Regenerative Medicine and the Mount Sinai School of Medicine, have successfully identified key biochemical pathways involved in directing embryonic stem cells to become heart cells.

Scientists Closer to Producing Liver Cells
Edinburgh University scientists have overcome a key hurdle in developing a source of liver and pancreatic cells in the laboratory.

Stem Cell Research to Benefit Horse Owners and Trainers
Melbourne scientists are aiming to create embryonic stem cell lines to repair tendon, ligament, cartilage and bone damage in horses.

The Endoderm of the Mouse Embryo Arises by Dynamic Widespread Intercalation of Embryonic and Extraembryonic Lineages
The researcher's findings suggest that the segregation of extraembryonic and embryonic tissues within the mammalian embryo is not as strict as believed and that a lineage previously defined as exclusively extraembryonic contributes cells to the embryo.

Lack of Laminin gamma1 In ES Cell-Derived Cardiomyocytes Causes Inhomogeneous Electrical Spreading Despite Intact Differentiation And Function
In this study, the researchers investigated the role of the laminin gamma1 chain for cardiac muscle differentiation and function using cardiomyocytes derived from embryonic stem cells deficient in the LAMC1 gene.

Lentiviral-Mediated HoxB4 Expression in Human Embryonic Stem Cells Initiates Early Hematopoiesis in a Dose-Dependent Manner but Does not Promote Myeloid Differentiation
In this study, hESCs ectopically expressing high and low levels of HoxB4 were quantified throughout differentiation revealing a steady increase in transcription levels of the constructs.

Regulation of Embryonic Stem Cell Self-Renewal and Pluripotency by Foxd3
This paper presents a model for the role of Foxd3 in repressing differentiation, promoting self-renewal, and maintaining survival of mouse embryonic stem cells.

A Novel Approach for the Derivation of Putative Primordial Germ Cells and Sertoli Cells from Human Embryonic Stem Cells
Using human embryonic stem cells, the researchers describe a novel method for the rapid derivation and enrichment of cells that are comparable to primordial germ cells and Sertoli cells.

University of Toronto and Kyoto University Join Forces in Stem Cell Research
A world-class partnership in stem cell research was forged recently in Japan, as esteemed scientific teams at University of Toronto and Kyoto University joined forces in the race to get cutting-edge therapies to the clinic.

California Stem Cell Agency Signs Deal with U.K.
The California Institute for Regenerative Medicine and the United Kingdom's Medical Research Council signed a memorandum of understanding today that they say will make it easier for researchers in California and the U.K. to obtain joint funding.

Hansjorg Wyss Gives $125 Million to Create Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering
Engineer, entrepreneur, and philanthropist Hansjorg Wyss MBA '65 has given Harvard University $125 million to create the Hansjorg Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering.

Spinal Cord Stem Cell Trial could Start Soon, Report Says
A clinical trial that would test the use of embryonic stem cells to treat spinal cord injury could begin within three months thanks to a projected lifting of a Food and Drug Administration hold on the trial.

Draft Guidance for Industry: Potency Tests for Cellular and Gene Therapy Products