In this issue:  Science   |  Abstracts  |  Industry News   |  Policy Subscribe   |   Unsubscribe    TOP STORIES On the Trail of Huntington Disease Using gene therapy, USC Davis School of Gerontology researchers have taken an important first step toward protecting against Huntington disease. 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 Generating Safer, Therapeutic Stem Cells from Adult Cells A group of researchers have achieved a breakthrough in converting adult cells all the way back to the most primitive embryonic-like cells without using any genes or genetic manipulations at all. Chinese Scientists Look for New Way to Repair Damaged Brain Cells Chinese neuroscientists are beginning new research on changing the nature of brain neurons after disproving theories that neurons can change themselves to replace cells damaged by strokes or by diseases like Alzheimer's or Parkinson's. 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 A Zebrafish Model of Tauopathy Allows in Vivo Imaging of Neuronal Cell Death and Drug Evaluation This study generated fluorescently labeled TAU transgenic zebrafish, which rapidly recapitulated key pathological features of tauopathies, including phosphorylation and conformational changes of human TAU protein, tangle formation, neuronal and behavioral disturbances, and cell death. Mitochondrial Gene Therapy Augments Mitochondrial Physiology in a Parkinson's Disease Cell Model The researchers developed a technology that uses recombinant human mitochondrial transcription factor A (TFAM) engineered with an N-terminal protein transduction domain followed by SOD2 mitochondrial localization signal to deliver mtDNA cargo to mitochondria of living cells. A Novel Three-Dimensional Culture System for Isolation and Clonal Propagation of Neural Stem Cells Using a Thermo-Reversible Gelation Polymer In the present report, the researchers examined the possible utility of a three-dimensional culture system using a thermo-reversible gelation polymer to isolate and expand neural stem cells. Linking Asymmetric Cell Division to the Terminal Differentiation Program of Postmitotic Neurons in C. elegans This study establishes a transcriptional cascade linking asymmetric division to a large battery of terminal differentiation genes' differentiation program. Development of Cloned Embryos from Porcine Neural Stem Cells and Amniotic Fluid-derived Stem Cells Transfected with Enhanced Green Fluorescence Protein Gene This study assessed the developmental ability of embryos cloned from porcine neural stem cells, amniotic fluid-derived stem cells, fetal fibroblast cells, adult fibroblast, and mammary gland epithelial cells. Efficient Production of Mesencephalic Dopamine Neurons by Lmx1a Expression in Embryonic Stem Cells This study shows that forced expression of Lmx1a, a transcription factor functioning as a determinant of mesDA neurons during embryogenesis, effectively can promote the generation of mesDA neurons from mouse and human ESCs. p66ShcA Adaptor Molecule Accelerates ES Cell Neural Induction This reports establishes that p66ShcA is up-regulated during in vitro neural induction in embryonic stem cells. INDUSTRY STEMCELL Technologies Introduces a New Animal Component-Free, Serum-Free Medium for Culturing Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells STEMCELL Technologies, Inc. recently announced the release of MesenCult(R)-ACF Medium, the first defined, animal component-free and serum-free medium for culturing human mesenchymal stem cells. MesenCult(R)-ACF Medium supports long-term growth of MSCs with retention of multi-lineage differentiation potential. University College London-Pfizer to Develop Pioneering Stem Cell Sight Therapies UCL has entered into collaboration with the biopharmaceutical group Pfizer to advance development of stem cell-based therapies for age-related macular degeneration. University of Utah Cell Therapy Lab Collaborates with Q Therapeutics on Stem Cell Therapy to Fight Lou Gehrig's Disease With $5 million dollars in funding from the National Institutes of Health, the University of Utah's Cell Therapy Facility and spin-out Q Therapeutics, Inc. have teamed up to bring the cell-based therapy to the point of human clinical trials to treat amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Roche Madison Opens Facility in University Research Park The Madison subsidiary is focused in the areas of RNA interference and gene therapy, which plans to hire more employees during the next six to 12 months, has opened a new facility Thursday in University Research Park. Credit Crisis Puts Canadian Biotech at Risk The global credit crisis threatens to put many of Canada's biotech companies out of business and choke off the country's role in a key sector of the future economy, a study says. POLICY Judge Upholds Stem Cell Ballot Language A Cole County Circuit Court judge has dismissed parts of a lawsuit against Missouri Secretary of State Robin Carnahan and upheld ballot summary language for an initiative petition about prohibiting public money for certain abortion- or human cloning-related research and services. Money is Running Low at Maryland's Venture Fund A state fund that invests in technology startups has recently put $450,000 into Maryland companies, but the future of the program is in flux because of a tight budget and sluggish market for investment returns. Override Attempt Defeated: Senate Short 6 Votes on Stem Cell-ban Measure Governor Brad Henry's veto of a measure that would have banned embryonic stem cell research withstood an override attempt Thursday in the state Legislature. UK's Strategic Investment Fund Announces 750M Pound High-tech Fund The UK's high-tech industrial sector will get an investment of 750 million pounds ($1.09 billion) through a fund focusing on advanced technology, the government said on Wednesday. Japan Lagging U.S. in iPS Cell Research Japan has been overtaken by the United States in terms of research into practical applications of induced pluripotent stem cells, first produced by Shinya Yamanaka of Kyoto University, for regenerative medicine. China Ramps Up Stem Cell Efforts Just Weeks After US Research U-Turn Construction of a new stem cell research and processing plant began recently in China's Eastern Jiangsu province as part of a joint project between the Chinese government and Shenzen Beike Biotechnology.  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