In this issue:  Science   |  Abstracts  |  Industry News   |  Policy Subscribe   |   Unsubscribe    TOP STORIES Penn Veterinary Researchers Identify a Critical Growth Factor That Stimulates Sperm Stem Cells to Thrive Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine and Pennsylvania State University have identified for the first time a specific "niche factor" in the mouse testes called colony stimulating factor 1, Csf1, that has a direct effect on sperm stem cell self-renewal. SCIENCE Stem Cells Yield New Clues to Glut of Glial Cells in Down's Syndrome, Glioblastoma, and Alzheimer's Disease A newly identified molecular pathway that directs stem cells to produce glial cells yields insights into the neurobiology of Down's syndrome and a number of central nervous system disorders characterized by too many glial cells. TriMark Point of Care Testing Conference 2009 May 11, 2009  |  San Diego, California Enter "CONNEXON" at checkout and receive 10% off registration. Visit here to register today. Visit our events page to stay up to date with the latest events in the cell, gene and immunotherapy community. ABSTRACTS Noncanonical Wnt Signaling Orchestrates Early Developmental Events toward Hematopoietic Cell Fate from Human Embryonic Stem Cells This paper demonstrates that activation of canonical Wnt signaling by Wnt3a promotes proliferation of human embryonic stem cells-precursors already committed to the hematopoietic lineage. piggyBac Transposition Reprograms Fibroblasts to Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells Transgenic expression of just four defined transcription factors (c-Myc, Klf4, Oct4 and Sox2) is sufficient to reprogram somatic cells to a pluripotent state. INDUSTRY Shanghai Team Analyzes Mechanism that Enables Adult Cells to Behave Like Embryonic Stem Cells Agilent Technologies Inc. recently announced its collaboration with a team from the Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences and Tongi University that has achieved new insight into how adult cells can be induced to act like embryonic stem cells. University of Buffalo to Receive $4.9 Million in Stem Cell Research Funds from New York State The University at Buffalo will receive $4.9 million in funding to conduct research on stem cells, part of a new investment in stem cell research announced recently by New York State Governor David A. Paterson. University of California Merced Gets $4M for Campus Stem Cell Project University officials announced plans Monday to update the school's Science and Engineering Building for researchers who will examine stem cells at the single-cell level. International Stem Cell Corporation Enters Into an Agreement with Cytograft Tissue Engineering to Develop a Therapeutic Medium for Cytograft's Living Vascular Grafts International Stem Cell Corporation is working with tissue engineers at Cytograft Tissue Engineering, to design a custom cell culture medium to cultivate living human vascular grafts; grafts which are expected to be used in future human clinical trials. Improved Cryopreservation Outcomes in Potential $100B Tissue Engineering Market Enabled by BioLife Solutions CryoStor(TM) BioLife Solutions, Inc. recently announced that an independent European comparison of the Company's CryoStor biopreservation media against traditional in-house formulated culture media/serum/DMSO showed a significant cryopreservation process improvement and better cellular outcomes. California Stem Cell Agency Chooses Two Vice Chairs California's stem cell research funding agency has chosen two vice chairs: outgoing California Democratic Party chairman Art Torres and San Diego biotech industry insider Duane Roth. StemEx(R) Receives Orphan Medicinal Product Designation in the EU The Gamida Cell-Teva Joint Venture announced recently that orphan designation was granted by the European Commission for the investigational medicinal product StemEx(R) for the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia and acute myeloid leukemia. Advanced Cell Technology Prepares IND Filing With the Capability to Produce Stem Cell Lines without the Destruction of the Embryo Advanced Cell Technology, Inc. announced recently that it is finalizing preparations to file an IND in the second half of this year with the Food and Drug Administration for the Company's retinal pigment epithelium cell program for the treatment of diseases of the eye. Cytori Receives Cell Banking Patent for the Celution(R) System  Cytori Therapeutics, Inc. recently received a patent which covers methods of cooling and cryopreserving stem and regenerative cells processed by the Celution(R) System. POLICY Barack Obama Reverses Ban on Funding Stem Cell Research President Barack Obama reversed the federal funding ban on stem cell research, placing a new emphasis on science within his administration and budget compared to his predecessor. VIDEO: Obama's Order on Stem Cells Leaves Key Questions to NIH President Obama's open-ended order lifting limits on federal funding for stem cell research raises the prospect that taxpayer money could be used for a much broader, much more controversial array of studies than many scientists, officials and activists anticipated. Stem Cell Decision Worries Some Scientists While praised by scientists, President Obama's decision to lift restrictions on federal financing of embryonic stem cell research could cause state governments and philanthropists to pull back on billions of dollars they have pledged for such work. Some States Push Back Against Stem Cell Research A showdown is shaping up in some of the nation's most conservative states over embryonic stem cell research, as opponents draw language and tactics from the battle over abortion to counter President Barack Obama's plan to ease research restrictions.  Learn more about Embryonic Stem Cell News:  Archives  |  Events   |  Subscribe   |  Contact Us This email was sent by: Connexon Creative 400-570 W. 7th Avenue Vancouver, British Columbia V5Z 1B3 Canada