Neuralstem Files FDA Application for First ALS Stem Cell Trial
Neuralstem, Inc. announced recently that it has filed an Investigational New Drug application with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to begin a clinical trial to treat amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

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University of Missouri Researchers Discover Target that Could Ease Spinal Muscular Atrophy Symptoms
University of Missouri researchers have discovered a new therapeutic target that improves deteriorating skeletal muscle tissue caused by spinal muscular atrophy.

Scientists Identify New Kind of Stem Cell Found in Testes
Scientists at the Stanford School of Medicine and at the University of California San Francisco have succeeded in isolating stem cells from human testes, which bear a striking resemblance to embryonic stem cells.

IBM Research Creates Microscope with 100 Million Times Finer Resolution than Current MRI
IBM Research scientists, in collaboration with the Center for Probing the Nanoscale at Stanford University, have demonstrated magnetic resonance imaging with volume resolution 100 million times finer than conventional MRI.

StemCells, Inc. Receives FDA Approval to Initiate Clinical Trial of HuCNS-SC Cells in a Myelin Disease
StemCells, Inc. recently announced that it has received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to initiate a clinical trial of the Company's proprietary purified human neural stem cell product candidate to treat Pelizaeus-Merzbacher Disease, a fatal brain disorder that mainly affects young children.

Cellartis Deposits Cell Lines with U.S. National Stem Cell Bank; All NIH Human Embryonic Stem Cell Registry Lines Now on Deposit at NSCB
The U.S. National Stem Cell Bank has announced that it has received deposits of two human embryonic stem cell lines from Cellartis AB, a biotechnology company based in Sweden.

Coordinated Changes in Dendritic Arborization and Synaptic Strength during Neural Circuit Development
In this paper, the researchers identify coordinated and inversely correlated changes in dendritic morphology and mEPSC amplitude following increased neural activity.

Transcription Factor RBP-J-mediated Signaling Represses the Differentiation of Neural Stem Cells into Intermediate Neural Progenitors
The researchers studied whether RBP-J-mediated signaling might inhibit the differentiation of neural stem cells into intermediate neural progenitors and support the generation of certain early born neurons at early neurogenic stages.

Cell Communication with the Neural Plate is Required for Induction of Neural Markers by BMP Inhibition: Evidence for Homeogenetic Induction and Implications for Xenopus Animal Cap and Chick Explant Assays
In this study, the researchers compared the animal cap assay in Xenopus and explant assays in the chick for studying instructive signals in neural induction.

Molecular Interaction between Parkin and PINK1 in Mammalian Neuronal Cells
Here the researchers show molecular and functional interactions between parkin and PINK1, genes linked to early-onset autosomal recessive forms of familial Parkinson's disease.

Largest Ever Stem Cell 'Dialogue' Provides Insight into Public Attitudes
Results of the largest ever public dialogue on stem cell research in the UK have revealed high levels of public support for stem cell science and technology, from basic research to development of treatments.

STEMCELL Technologies Launches Direct Distribution to Singapore
STEMCELL Technologies Inc is pleased to announce the opening of a new sales and distribution office in Singapore, effective January 12th, 2009.

Joint Venture Between CHA Biotech and Advanced Cell Technology to be called Stem Cell & Regenerative Medicine International
The joint venture between Advanced Cell Technology, Inc. and leading Korean-based biotechnology company CHA Biotech Co, Ltd., announced recently that the company would be named "Stem Cell & Regenerative Medicine International."

The Massachusetts Life Sciences Center to Start Taking Tax Break, Funding Apps on New Year's Day
The Massachusetts Life Sciences Center, which has been tasked with handling the state's $1 billion Life Sciences Initiative, reports it will start taking online applications for the Life Sciences Tax Incentive Program and the Center's new Life Sciences Accelerator investment program on Jan. 1.

California Funds University of California Irvine Stem Cell Sorting, Tracking Research
Two UC Irvine scientists will receive grants totaling nearly $1.6 million to develop and advance stem cell sorting and tracking devices aimed at improving future therapies for people with brain and spinal cord damage, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases, and other disorders.

Life Technologies to Develop Human Stem Cell Models of Neurodegenerative Diseases to Advance Drug Development
Life Technologies Corporation announced it will use human embryonic stem cells to develop new models of Lou Gehrig's disease and other neurodegenerative diseases with a grant it received this week from the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine.

President-Elect Obama's Choices for Key Science Posts Hailed
President-Elect Barack Obama's recent appointment of four scientific luminaries to major posts in his new administration marks an ambitious attempt to improve U.S. science policy and implementation.