TOP STORY

Gene Flaw Found in Induced Stem Cells
A team led by Konrad Hochedlinger at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston has now derived induced pluripotent stem and embryonic stem cells with identical DNA. [Nature News Press Release]

SCIENCE NEWS

Some Pancreas Cells Have Potential to Spontaneously Change into Insulin-Producing Cells
Researchers have shown that "alpha cells" in the pancreas, specialized cells that do not produce insulin, can spontaneously convert into insulin-producing beta cells. [Press release from Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation discussing online prepublication in Nature]

Researchers Find a Better Way to Track Stem Cells
A recently published study has found that using the Food and Drug Administration-approved contrast agent Indocyanine Green to label human embryonic stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes substantially improved efforts to optically track stem cells after transplanting them into heart tissues. [Press release from EurekaAlert! discussing online prepublication in Cell Transplantation]

New Discovery Could Speed Up Liver Repair
Western Australian scientists have discovered a way to double the speed of liver cell growth, which could herald the beginning of new regeneration treatment for patients with liver damage and make transplantations a thing of the past. [Press release from Western Australian Institute for Medical Research discussing online prepublication in Hepatology]

Recent Advances Lead to a Breakthrough Method for Expanded Medical Use of Adult Stem Cells
At a recent scientific symposium, Vitro Diagnostics, Inc. scientists presented their evidence that expression of a single gene within adult stem cells resulted in expanded differentiation capacity comparable to embryonic stem cells that have the capacity to differentiate into any cell of the body. [Market Wire Press Release]

Derive iPSCs feeder-free* with mTeSR®1 by STEMCELL Technologies     *Sun et al., PNAS, 2009

CURRENT PUBLICATIONS

Conversion of Adult Pancreatic Alpha-Cells to Beta-Cells After Extreme Beta-Cell Loss
Researchers show beta-cell regeneration in a transgenic model of diphtheria-toxin-induced acute selective near-total beta-cell ablation. [Nature]

Stem Cells: Skin Regeneration and Repair
Different types of stem cells maintain the skin's epidermis and contribute to its healing after damage. The identity of a stem cell type that gives rise to different epidermal-cell lineages has just been revealed. [Nature]

MicroRNA-9 Coordinates Proliferation and Migration of Human Embryonic Stem Cell-Derived Neural Progenitors
Researchers show that the expression of the brain-specific microRNA-9 is turned on in human neural progenitor cells derived from human embryonic stem cells. [Cell Stem Cell]

Efficient Derivation of Functional Floor Plate Tissue from Human Embryonic Stem Cells
Investigators report the efficient derivation of human embryonic stem cell (hESC)-derived floor plate tissue capable of secreting Netrin-1 and SHH and patterning primary and hESC derived tissues. [Cell Stem Cell]

An Oct4-Centered Protein Interaction Network in Embryonic Stem Cells
Researchers use an improved affinity protocol to purify Oct4-interacting proteins from mouse embryonic stem cells. [Cell Stem Cell]

p53-Mediated Hematopoietic Stem and Progenitor Cell Competition
By using genetic mosaic mouse models and bone marrow chimeras, researchers describe a form of cell competition that selects for the least damaged cells. [Cell Stem Cell]

Robust Activation of the Human But Not Mouse Telomerase Gene During the Induction of Pluripotency
Results demonstrate that the hTERT promoter was strongly activated in discrete steps, revealing a critical difference in human and mouse cell reprogramming. [FASEB J]

Labeling Human Embryonic Stem Cell-Derived Cardiomyocytes with Indocyanine Green for Noninvasive Tracking With Optical Imaging: A Food and Drug Administration-Compatible Alternative to Firefly Luciferase
The purpose of this study was to develop a labeling technique for human embryonic stem cells and human embryonic stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes with the Food and Drug Administration-approved contrast agent indocyanine green for optical imaging. [Cell Transplant]

INDUSTRY NEWS

International Stem Cell Announces the Signing of a Distribution Agreement with Veritas Corporation, Opening Japanese Markets for Its Lifeline Cell Technology^® Brand of Human Cell Culture Products
International Stem Cell Corporation announced its wholly-owned subsidiary, Lifeline Cell Technology has signed a distribution agreement with Tokyo-based Veritas Corporation to distribute its human cell culture products throughout Japan. [International Stem Cell Corporation Press Release]

Osiris Therapeutics Considers Incorporating in Maryland for Tax Savings
Osiris Therapeutics is asking its shareholders to approve a plan for the Columbia biotechnology firm to reincorporate in Maryland - a move the company says could help it save thousands of dollars a year in tax charges. [Baltimore Business Journal]

POLICY NEWS

Ohio Bill to Ban Human Cloning Draws Fire from Stem Cell Researchers
An Ohio senator has reintroduced legislation stem cell researchers had hoped would never again see the light of day: a cloning ban some in the medical industry fear will hurt innovation in the state. [Ohio Senate, United States]

Key Budget Question: $12.4 Million or $6.2 Million for Stem Cell Funding?
A General Assembly budget conference committee started discussions recently to seek a resolution on how much to allocate for stem cell research grants in fiscal 2011, with the House and Senate versions on the legislation far apart. [United States General Assembly, United States]

Enhancing Peer Review: Updated Processes for the Review of All Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award Fellowship Applications (NOT-OD-10-071) [National Institutes of Health, United States]

NIH Will Require the Electronic Submission of Appointment Forms and Termination Notices via xTrain for Research Training, Fellowship, Education, and Career Awards Beginning January 2011 (NOT-OD-10-072) [National Institutes of Health, United States]

Small Business Innovation Research Award Levels Adjusted to $150,000 (Phase I) and $1,000,000 (Phase II) (NOT-OD-10-079) [National Institutes of Health, United States]

Notice of Change in Expiration Date for Program Announcement on Bioengineering Research Partnerships (PAR-07-352) (NOT-EB-10-001) [National Institutes of Health, United States]

2010 Biological License Application Supplement Noteworthy Approvals [Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, United States]

Revision of the Requirements for Constituent Materials [Docket No. FDA-2010-N-0099] [Food and Drug Administration, United States]

Voting and Nonvoting Consumer Representative Members on Public Advisory Committees and Panels; Notice of Public Meeting [Docket No. FDA-2010-N-0001] [Food and Drug Administration, United States]

Determination of Regulatory Review Period for Purposes of Patent Extension; LUSEDRA [Docket Nos. FDA-2009-E-0202 and FDA-2009-E-0204] [Food and Drug Administration, United States]

Revision of Organization and Conforming Changes to Regulations [Docket No. FDA-2010-N-0148] [Food and Drug Administration, United States]

Administrative Practices and Procedures; Good Guidance Practices; Technical Amendment [Docket No. FDA-1999-N-3539] [Food and Drug Administration, United States]

EVENTS

American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) 101st Annual Meeting 2010
April 17-21, 2010
Washington, DC, United States

Society for Biological Engineering's (SBE) 2nd International Conference on Stem Cell Engineering
May 2-5, 2010
Boston, United States

World Stem Cells & Regenerative Medicine Congress 2010
May 11-13, 2010
London, United Kingdom

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

Tissue Engineering & Regenerative Medicine International Society (TERMIS) - European Union 2010
June 13-17, 2010
Galway, Ireland

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

United Kingdom National Stem Cell Network (UKNSCN) Third Annual Scientific Conference
July 12-14, 2010
Nottingham, United Kingdom

3rd Annual Stem Cells Europe Conference
August 24-25, 2010
Edinburgh, Scotland

International Society of Cell Therapy (ISCT) - Europe 2nd Regional Meeting
September 11-14, 2010
Belgirate, Italy

5th World Congress on Preventive & Regenerative Medicine (WCRM) 2010
October 5-7, 2010
Hannover, Germany

Tissue Engineering & Regenerative Medicine International Society (TERMIS) - North American 2010 Annual Conference
December 5-8, 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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