TOP STORIES

DNA Methylation Programming and Reprogramming in Primate Embryonic Stem Cells
Researchers report on DNA methylation patterns in native monkey embryonic stem cells, fibroblasts, and embryonic stem cells generated through somatic cell nuclear transfer, identifying and comparing epigenome programming and reprogramming. [Genome Res]

SCIENCE NEWS

New Technique Could Revolutionize Stem Cell Transplants
Montreal researchers have developed a new approach that preserves the cells that fight infection and leukemia while eliminating the cells that reject donor cells. [Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital, Montreal]

Edmonton Doctor's Stem Cell Research Gives Hope for Premature Babies
An Edmonton doctor has injected stem cells, derived from bone marrow, into the diseased lungs of baby rats and found that the cells prevented further damage. [Royal Alexandra Hospital, Edmonton]

CURRENT PUBLICATIONS

Many Routes to Pluripotency
Although a lot of recent attention has been on the reprogramming of somatic cells to the pluripotent state, other types of reprogramming can be achieved in the culture dish as well. [Nature Methods]

All of the Human {Beta}-type Globin Genes Compete for LCR Enhancer Activity in Embryonic Erythroid Cells of Yeast Artificial Chromosome Transgenic Mice
To clarify the {beta}-globin gene silencing mechanism, researchers established TgM lines carrying either {gamma}- or {epsilon}- plus {gamma}-globin promoter deletions, without significantly altering the distance between the {beta}-globin gene and the locus control region. [FASEB J]

Decreased Replication Origin Activity in Temporal Transition Regions
Researchers identified a temporal transition region in the mouse immunoglobulin heavy chain locus, which contains replication origins that are silent in embryonic stem cells but activated during B cell development. [J Cell Biol]

Induction of Chondrogenesis from Human Embryonic Stem Cells without Embryoid Body Formation by Bone Morphogenetic Protein 7 and Transforming Growth Factor Beta1
The present study was undertaken to determine the in vitro chondrogenic potential of bone morphogenetic protein 7 and transforming growth factor beta1-induced human embryonic stem cells differentiation toward the articular cartilage phenotype. [Arthritis Rheum]

BMP4 Regulates Vascular Progenitor Development in Human Embryonic Stem Cells through a Smad-dependent Pathway
Researchers investigated the roles of BMP on vascular progenitor development from human embryonic stem cells. [J Cell Biochem]

The Postischemic Environment Differentially Impacts Teratoma or Tumor Formation after Transplantation of Human Embryonic Stem Cell-derived Neural Progenitors
The researchers analyzed the relative effects of the stage of differentiation and the postischemic environment on the formation of adverse structures by transplanted human embryonic stem cell-derived neural progenitors. [Stroke]

INDUSTRY NEWS

Clarient Granted Exclusive License to Commercialize Cancer Biomarker by Minerva Biotechnologies
Clarient, Inc. recently announced that Minerva Biotechnologies has granted it the exclusive right to develop and commercialize a test that identifies the MUC1* protein, an altered form of MUC1, on cancer cells and embryonic stem cells.

ReNeuron Awarded Two Grants Under Regenerative Medicine Funding Programme Established by UK Government
ReNeuron Group plc announces that it has been awarded two grants under the Government-backed Technology Strategy Board's Regenerative Medicine Programme.

Intercytex Group plc - Update on Divestment of Business Assets
Intercytex Group plc recently announced that it has completed the sale of certain assets related to stem cell therapies from its wholly owned subsidiary Axordia Limited to Pfizer Limited for a total cash consideration of $750,000.

Kyoto University Granted Patents for Stem Cell Production, Conversion Techniques
A patent for a set of techniques to convert artificially produced stem cells into nerve, muscle and other cell types has been granted to Kyoto University by the Japan Patent Office.

StemCyte Licenses Promising IP for Stem Cell Therapy to Treat Stroke
StemCyte, Inc. concluded an exclusive license and commercialization agreement with Academia Sinica, the National Laboratory of Taiwan, for certain proprietary methods and Intellectual Property related to the treatment of Chronic Stroke with stem cells.

POLICY NEWS

Nebraska Regents Reject Stem Cell Restrictions
The University of Nebraska's Board of Regents took a stand on a controversial issue on Friday, voting down a resolution that would have restricted the amount of stem cell research done in university facilities.

Obama Taps Emory's Wagner for Bioethical Advisory Post
The White House Wednesday announced the formation of a new Presidential Commission for the Study Bioethical Issues and tapped Emory University President James W. Wagner as its vice chairman.

NIH Awards $20.4 Million for Biomedical Research in Rhode Island and South Carolina

First Human Embryonic Stem Cell Lines Approved for Use Under New NIH Guidelines

EVENTS

WiCell Human Pluripotent Stem Cell Culture Methods Course
December 7-9, 2009
Madison, United States

49th American Society for Cell Biology Annual Meeting
December 5-9, 2009
San Diego, United States

Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine World Congress
January 20-21, 2010
San Francisco, United States

Phacilitate Cell and Gene Therapy Forum 2010
January 25-27, 2010
Washington DC, United States

CHI's Molecular Medicine Tri-Conference 2010
February 3-5, 2010
San Francisco, United States

SMi's 2nd Annual Stem Cells Conference 2010
February 15-16, 2010
London, United Kingdom

Keystone Symposia: Stem Cell Differentiation and Dedifferentiation (B4)
February 15-20, 2010
Keystone, United States

5th Annual Stem Cell Summit
February 16, 2010
New York, United States

16th Annual ISCT meeting
May 23-26, 2010
Philadelphia, United States

ISSCR 8th Annual Meeting
June 16-19, 2010
San Francisco, United States

JOB OPPORTUNITIES

Technical Specialist (AABB)

Research & Development Scientist - Mesenchymal Cell Biology (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 Embryonic Cell News? Click here to submit!