In this issue:  Science   |  Abstracts  |  Industry News   |  Policy Subscribe   |   Unsubscribe    TOP STORIES Creating Ideal Neural Cells for Clinical Use Investigators at the Burnham Institute for Medical Research have developed a protocol to rapidly differentiate human embryonic stem cells into neural progenitor cells that may be ideal for transplantation. SPECIAL FEATURE Learn to culture Neural Stem Cells with the Cell Experts(TM) STEMCELL Technologies is offering a 2-day Neural Stem Cell Training Course that provides hands-on instruction in the dissection, culture, identification and enumeration of neural stem and progenitor cells. May 22-23, 2009, Vancouver, Canada SCIENCE Neuronal Growth Factor Receptor Protects the Sympathetic Nervous System in Alzheimer's Disease New research casts the role of a neuronal growth factor receptor-long suspected to facilitate the toxic effects of beta amyloid in Alzheimer's disease-in a new light, suggesting the molecule actually protects the neuron in the periphery from beta amyloid-induced damage. University College of London Study Discovers Potential Therapeutic Target for Alzheimer's Research led by Professor Mark Pepys FRS has identified a protein known as serum amyloid P component as a possible therapeutic target in Alzheimer's disease. Creating Ideal Neural Cells for Clinical Use Investigators at the Burnham Institute for Medical Research have developed a protocol to rapidly differentiate human embryonic stem cells into neural progenitor cells that may be ideal for transplantation. UCSF, Stanford Study Reveals Neural Networks Targeted in Brain Diseases Scientists are reporting the strongest evidence to date that neurodegenerative diseases target and progress along distinct neural networks that normally support healthy brain function. New Findings Resolve Long Dispute about how the Disease Might Kill Brain Cells Recent research results clarify how small proteins called amyloid-beta peptides damage brain cell membranes, allowing extra calcium ions to enter the neurons. Penn Scientists Use RNA to Reprogram One Cell Type into Another By simply flooding one cell type, a nerve cell, with the an abundance of a specific type of messenger RNA from another cell type, the investigators changed a neuron into an astrocyte-like cell. Brain Metastases Hijack Neuron-Supporting Cells to Resist Chemotherapy Researchers have shown that brain metastases subvert astrocytes, tricking them into protecting the tumors, and that this is the important factor in resistance to chemotherapy. TriMark Point of Care Testing Conference 2009 May 11, 2009  |  San Diego, California Enter "CONNEXON" at checkout and receive 10% off registration. Visit here to register today. Visit our events page to stay up to date with the latest events in the cell, gene and immunotherapy community. ABSTRACTS Simultaneous Prospective Purification of Adult Subventricular Zone Neural Stem Cells and their Progeny This study reports that epidermal growth factor receptor-positive subventricular-zone astrocytes are activated stem cells that are eliminated by antimitotic treatment. Neurodegenerative Diseases Target Large-Scale Human Brain Networks This research used network-sensitive neuroimaging methods to show that five different neurodegenerative syndromes cause circumscribed atrophy within five distinct, healthy, human intrinsic functional connectivity networks. Pathway Interactions and Synaptic Plasticity in the Dendritic Tuft Regions of CA1 Pyramidal Neurons The researchers investigated input comparison is thought to occur in many neuronal circuits using multisite, whole-cell recordings and Ca2+ imaging and found that properly timed, repetitive stimulation of both pathways results in the generation of large plateau potentials in distal dendrites of CA1 pyramidal neurons. Mobilization of Neural Stem Cells and Generation of New Neurons in 6-h OHDA-lesioned Rats by Intracerebroventricular Infusion of Liver Growth Factor The aim of this study was to investigate the potential neurogenic activity of LGF in the 6-hydroxydopamine rat model of Parkinson's disease. Region-specific Differentiation Potential of Adult Rat Spinal Cord Neural Stem/Precursors and Their Plasticity in Response to In Vitro Manipulation This study characterized the differentiation of neural stem/precursor cells isolated from different levels of the spinal cord (cervical vs lumbar cord) and different regions along the neuraxis (brain vs cervical spinal cord) of adult male Wistar enhanced green fluorescent protein rats. Twins/PP2A Regulates aPKC to Control Neuroblast Cell Polarity and Self-renewal This research reports that aPKC is in a protein complex in vivo with Twins, a Drosophila B-type protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) subunit, and that Twins and the catalytic subunit of PP2A, called Microtubule star (Mts), are detected in larval neuroblasts; stem cell-like progenitors that divide asymmetrically to generate neurons of the adult brain. INDUSTRY NeoStem, Inc. Announces Agreement With Progenitor Cell Therapy, LLC NeoStem, Inc. recently announced that it will be moving its commercial adult stem cells processing and storage operations and utilizing exclusively Progenitor Cell Therapy, LLC. Gene Network Sciences Announces Brain Cancer Collaboration with M.D. Anderson Gene Network Sciences, Inc. recently announced that it has entered into a research collaboration with The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center aimed at the rapid translation of DNA sequence and clinical data from patients with glioblastoma. StemCells, Inc. Announces License Agreement with Major Pharmaceutical Company Covering Gene Insertion Technology StemCells, Inc. announced recently that a major international pharmaceutical company has taken a non-exclusive license to the Company's recently acquired Internal Ribosome Entry Site technology. Advanced Cell Technology Inc. Advances Filings, Looks to Get Back on Over-the-Counter Bulletin Board Advanced Cell Technology Inc. reports that it is moving closer to being relisted on the Over-the-Counter Bulletin Board, now that it has updated the status of its filings for quarterly and annual reports for certain periods of calendar 2008. Stem Cell Consortium $43 Million Richer The state Pooled Money Investment Board this week approved putting $43 million in an escrow account for San Diego's stem cell consortium. Parfet's $1 Million Donation Promotes Stem Cell Research The owner of MPI Research donated $1 million last year to a group that supported a ballot proposal to ease restrictions on embryonic stem-cell research in Michigan. POLICY Georgia House to Withhold Stem Cell Bill, Legislators Weigh In The Georgia House of Representatives plans to withhold a bill that would make it unlawful to create human embryos for any purpose besides clinical fertilization. Oklahoma Lawmakers Vote To Ban Embryonic Stem Cell Research Lawmakers in the state Senate have passed legislation that would ban embryonic stem cell research in Oklahoma.  Learn more about Neural Cell News:  Archives  |  Events   |  Subscribe   |  Contact Us This email was sent by: Connexon Creative 400-570 W. 7th Avenue Vancouver, British Columbia V5Z 1B3 Canada