TOP STORIES

Japanese Researchers Make Brain Tissues from Stem Cells
Japanese researchers said Thursday they had created functioning human brain tissues from stem cells, a world first that has raised new hopes for the treatment of disease.

SCIENCE

Newborn Neurons in the Adult Brain can Settle in the Wrong Neighborhood
A team, led by Fred H. Gage, discovered that a protein called cdk5 is necessary for both correct elaboration of highly branched and complex antennae, known as dendrites, which are extended by neurons, and the proper migration of cells bearing those antennae.

Yerkes Researchers Find Stem Cells from Monkey Teeth can Stimulate Growth and Generation of Brain Cells
Researchers at the Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, have discovered dental pulp stem cells can stimulate growth and generation of several types of neural cells.

Silencing Growth Inhibitors Could Help Recovery from Brain Injury
Silencing natural growth inhibitors may make it possible to regenerate nerves damaged by brain or spinal cord injury, finds a study from Children's Hospital Boston.

Protein can Nurture or Devastate Brain Cells, Depending on its 'Friends,' Researchers Find
Researchers at Univeresity of Texas Southwestern Medical Center have uncovered new insights into the "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" nature of a protein that stimulates stem-cell maturation in the brain but, paradoxically, can also lead to nerve-cell damage.

More Alzheimer Patients Receive 'Protein Factory' Brain Implants
Clinical testing of implanting small capsules containing protein-producing cells into the brain to treat Alzheimer's disease, have now been implanted in six patients.

ABSTRACTS

The Influence of Fiber Diameter of Electrospun Substrates on Neural Stem Cell Differentiation and Proliferation
In this study, we cultured rat hippocampus-derived adult NSCs on laminin-coated electrospun Polyethersulfone fiber meshes and demonstrated that fiber diameter of PES mesh significantly influences rNSC differentiation and proliferation.

Implantation of Neural Stem Cells Embedded in Hyaluronic Acid and Collagen Composite Conduit Promotes Regeneration in a Rabbit Facial Nerve Injury Model
In this study, the researchers expanded neural stem cells in hyaluronic acid-collagen composite with neurotrophin-3, and implanted BrdU-labeled NSC conduit onto the ends of the transected facial nerve of rabbits.

A New Paradigm for Local and Sustained Release of Therapeutic Molecules to the Injured Spinal Cord for Neuroprotection and Tissue Repair
The researchers tested, for the first time, the in vivo efficacy of hyaluronan and methylcellulose as an intrathecal drug delivery system by delivering a known neuroprotective molecule, erythropoietin.

Polysialylated-neural Cell Adhesion Molecule in the Human Trigeminal Ganglion and Brainstem at Prenatal and Adult Ages
With the aim of providing information relevant to the potential for dynamic changes of specific neuronal populations in man, this study analyses the immunohistochemical occurrence of PSA-NCAM in the human trigeminal ganglion and brainstem neuronal populations at prenatal and adult age.

INDUSTRY

Aldagen and University of California Davis Form Collaboration Related to Neural Diseases
Aldagen and UC Davis Health System will collaborate to explore the activity of Aldagen's unique adult stem cell population in a preclinical model of ischemic stroke.

Ceregene Phase 2 Clinical Trial for Alzheimer's Disease to be Funded by $5.4 Million Grant from National Institutes of Health
The University of California, San Diego has received a $5.4 million grant from the National Institute of Aging at the National Institutes of Health to support a Phase 2 clinical study of Ceregene's CERE-110, a gene therapy product designed to deliver nerve growth factor for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.

POLICY

Michigan Voters Approve Stem Cell Research Measure
Michigan voters on Tuesday approved Proposal 2, which changes state law to allow people to donate embryos left over from fertility treatments for scientific research.

Stem Cell Supporters Await Their Obama Moment
Stem cell advocates and researchers are eagerly awaiting the moment next year when president-elect Barack Obama rescinds a directive that limits federal funding of human embryonic stem-cell research.