TOP STORIES

First Ever Treatment of Stroke Patient with Stem Cell Therapy Product
The International Neuroscience Institute is pleased to announce that the first patient has been treated in the first ever clinical trial for the treatment of stroke with a stem cell product.

SCIENCE

Visit our events page to stay up to date with the latest events in the cell, gene and immunotherapy community.

Discovery of a Debilitating Genetic Syndrome
Canadian researchers announce the discovery of MEDNIK Syndrome, characterized by impaired development of various neural networks, including the spinal cord, the inner ear and possibly the brain.

Genetic Change Extends Mouse Life, Points to Possible Treatment for ALS
In a series of experiments reported recently in the Journal of Neuroscience, a UW-Madison pharmacy researcher was able to prolong life and slow nerve deterioration in a mouse with a genetic form of ALS.

Maintaining the Brain's Wiring in Ageing and Disease
Researchers at the Babraham Institute near Cambridge have discovered that the brain's circuitry survives longer than previously thought in diseases of ageing such as Alzheimer's disease.

Intel Hopes to Bring Free Energy to Mobile Devices
Among Intel's research technology is a self-charging neural implant that can monitor bodily functions and transmit its readings wirelessly.

ABSTRACTS

Functional Gait Evaluation of Collagen Chitosan Nerve Guides for Sciatic Nerve Repair
The objective of this work was to use a functional gait analysis technique to evaluate sciatic nerve repair through tissue-engineered nerve guides in a rodent animal model.

Plasticity of Lower Limb Motor Axons after Cervical Cord Injury
Conventional nerve conduction and nerve excitability studies were longitudinally investigated in a patient diagnosed as C6 American Spinal Injury Association C incomplete to assess changes in peripheral motor excitability after traumatic spinal cord injury.

In Vitro Behavior of Neural Stem Cells in Response to Different Chemical Functional Groups
Neural stem cells cultured on glass surfaces modified by different chemical groups, including hydroxyl, sulfonic, amino, carboxyl, mercapto and methyl groups, are shown here to commit to phonotypes with extreme sensitivity to surface chemical groups.

Cells of Adult Brain Germinal Zone have Properties Akin to Hair Cells and can be Used to Replace Inner Ear Sensory Cells after Damage
This study reports that in the adult brain of both rodents and humans, the ependymal layer of the lateral ventricle contains cells with proliferative potential, which share morphological and functional characteristics with hair cells.

Mature Adipocyte-Derived Cells, Dedifferentiated Fat Cells, Promoted Functional Recovery from Spinal Cord Injury-Induced Motor Dysfunction in Rats
Transplantation of mature adipocyte-derived cells led to marked functional recovery from spinal cord injury-induced motor dysfunction in rats.

INDUSTRY

Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation Funds sGC Pharma to Develop Drugs That Improve Memory
The Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation announced recently that it is providing a Biotechnology Founder's grant of $295,300 to sGC Pharma, Inc., a start-up biotechnology company dedicated to developing a drug to improve cognition and memory in patients with Alzheimer's disease.

Novocell Announces Collaboration with World-Renowned Stem Cell Researcher Shinya Yamanaka of Kyoto University
Novocell, Inc. recently announced a collaboration with renowned stem cell researcher Dr. Shinya Yamanaka of Kyoto University, Japan, to allow Novocell to explore the creation of human islet cells from induced pluripotent stem cells.

POLICY

Putting State Money to Good Use
The Maryland Stem Cell Research Commission recently announced that it had received 187 letters of intent from researchers vying for $18 million in state funds available from the Maryland Stem Cell Research Fund, which substantially survived the state's recent budget difficulty with a modest $1 million cut for fiscal 2009.

Lawmakers Divided Over Next FDA Head, Fixing Safety Issues
A top House Democrat is asking President-elect Barack Obama to avoid naming any current officials of Food and Drug Administration to lead the agency, even temporarily, reflecting a divergence of views on Capitol Hill on how to fix the FDA's problems.

Chair of the California Democratic Party's Next Job: Stem Cell Vice-Chairman?
Art Torres, the chair of the California Democratic Party, is building support to become the next vice-chairman of California's stem cell agency.

Missouri Stem Cell Research Critics Refile Lawsuit
Missouri critics of embryonic stem cell research have resurrected a lawsuit that seeks to block $21 million from going to life sciences research.