TOP STORIES

Scientists Rescue Visual Function in Rats Using Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells
In experiments spearheaded by University College London's Amanda Carr, the team found that by surgically inserting stem cell-derived retinal pigmented epithelial into the retinas of the rats before photoreceptor degeneration, vision was retained. [University College London, London]

SCIENCE NEWS

Stem Cells Battle for Space
Although the manner in which some cells compete for space and dominance is well known to be the survival of the fittest, researchers describe how stem cells win this battle by literally sticking around. [Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore]

Stem Cell Research Gives Hope to Stroke Patients
Stroke-damaged brains could be repaired within 5-10 years using adult stem cells from teeth, according to one of Australia's leading stroke physicians. [University of Adelaide Centre for Stem Cell Research, Adelaide]

Study on Very Small Embryonic-Like Stem Cell Mobilization Presented at American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting
Researchers show that very small embryonic-like stem cells, normally rare in peripheral blood, can be released in greater numbers from the bone marrow by using an FDA approved drug called G-CSF. The authors postulate that G-CSF mobilization could become a novel strategy to obtain human pluripotent stem cells. [NeoStem, Inc., New York]

CURRENT PUBLICATIONS

Lin28-mediated Post-Transcriptional Regulation of Oct4 Expression in Human Embryonic Stem Cells
Researchers report that in human embryonic stem cells Lin28 facilitates the expression of the pivotal pluripotency factor Oct4 at the post-transcriptional level. [Nucleic Acids Res]

GABA(A) and GABA(B) Receptors of Distinct Properties Affect Oppositely the Proliferation of Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells through Synergistic Elevation of Intracellular Ca2+
Researchers demonstrate that mouse embryonic stem cells, which possess the capacity for virtually unlimited self-renewal and pluripotency, synthesize GABA and express functional ionotropic GABA(A) receptors and metabotropic GABA(B) receptors, as well as voltage-gated calcium channels, ryanodine receptors, and inwardly rectifying potassium channels. [FASEB J]

The 5-Lipoxygenase Pathway Regulates Vasculogenesis in Differentiating Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells
The impact of the 5-LO pathway on vasculogenesis of mouse embryonic stem cells was investigated in this study. [Cardiovasc Res]

Efficient Reprogramming of Human and Mouse Primary Extra-Embryonic Cells to Pluripotent Stem Cells
Newborn human and mouse extra-embryonic amnion and yolk-sac cells, in which endogenous KLF4/Klf4, c-MYC/c-Myc and RONIN/Ronin are expressed, were reprogrammed to human induced pluripotent stem cells and mouse induced pluripotent stem cells with efficiencies for extra-embryonic amnion cells of 0.02% and 0.1%, respectively. [Genes Cells]

Oct4 and LIF/Stat3 Additively Induce Kruppel Factors to Sustain Embryonic Stem Cell Self-Renewal
Propagation of the pluripotent state is stimulated by the cytokine leukemia inhibitory factor acting through the transcriptional regulator Stat3. Researchers illustrate that this extrinsic stimulus converges with the intrinsic circuitry in Kruppel-factor activation. [Cell Stem Cell] 

The Microwell Control of Embryoid Body Size in Order to Regulate Cardiac Differentiation of Human Embryonic Stem Cells
Results suggest that microwell-engineered embryoid body size regulates cardiogenesis and can be used for more efficient and reproducible formation of human embryonic stem cells cardiomyocytes needed for research and therapeutic applications. [Biomaterials]

INDUSTRY NEWS

ThermoGenesis Announces Agreement for Adipose Tissue Clinical Program
ThermoGenesis Corp. recently announced that it has entered into a material transfer agreement with the GID Group which has been working with ThermoGenesis to use ThermoGenesis' MarrowXpress™ technology for the processing of adipose, or fatty, tissue - a rich source of adult stem cells.

Stem Cell Commercialization Center in Detroit Aims to Create Jobs
A new stem cell commercialization center is set to open in Detroit's TechTown incubator as early as July and is seeking federal grants to bring new high-tech jobs to the city.

Financial Backing from the University of California Spurs Construction of Stem Cell Center
Construction will begin on San Diego's stem cell center, the Sanford Consortium for Regenerative Medicine, this week, now that financing is in place.

Women Researchers Less Likely to Receive Major Career Funding Grants
Women were less likely than men to receive major funding for scientific research. The study also found that only a quarter of all researchers, both men and women, who received a major early career award went on to get further federal funding within five years.

POLICY NEWS

University of Michigan to Begin Accepting Donated Embryos for Stem Cell Research
University of Michigan researchers have received approval to begin accepting donated embryos that will be used to derive the university's first human embryonic stem cell lines.

U.S. Set to Fund More Stem Cell Study
The Obama administration has begun approving new lines of human embryonic stem cells that are eligible for federally funded experiments, opening the way for millions of taxpayer dollars to be used to conduct research that was put off-limits by President George W. Bush.

Bill Would Ban Public Money for Stem Cell Research in Missouri
Missouri would ban the use of public dollars for stem cell research through a constitutional amendment proposed in legislation filed last week.

FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION (United States)

2009 Meeting Materials, Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee

THERAPEUTIC GOODS ADMINISTRATION (Australia)

Draft Australian Code of Good Manufacturing Practice: Human Blood and Blood Components, Human Tissues and Human Cellular Therapies

EVENTS

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

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