In this issue:  Science   |  Abstracts  |  Industry News   |  Policy Subscribe   |   Unsubscribe    TOP STORIES Cell's Split Personality is a Major Discovery into Neurological Diseases Researchers have discovered that cells which normally support nerve cell survival also play an active and major role in the death of neurons in the eye. 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 Visit here to learn more. SCIENCE Science Zeroes In On New Alzheimer's Drug Target Drugs that control the "wrapping" of certain DNA have brought back learning and memory to mice stricken with an Alzheimer's-like disease - and scientists now believe they know how. ACADIA Pharmaceuticals and Biovail Announce Completion of Enrollment in First Pivotal Phase III Trial with Pimavanserin in Patients with Parkinson's Disease Psychosis ACADIA Pharmaceuticals Inc. and Biovail Corporation recently announced the completion of enrollment in the first pivotal Phase III clinical trial of pimavanserin in patients with Parkinson's disease psychosis. 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 Alzheimer Beta-amyloid Blocks Epileptiform Activity in Hippocampal Neurons This study tested the effect of Aß1-40 oligomers/aggregates, believed to be involved in Alzheimer's Disease genesis, on this type of synaptic plasticity. Bunched Specifically Regulates a/ß Mushroom Body Neuronal Cell Proliferation During Metamorphosis The researchers here report that bunched is expressed only in a/ß-type mushroom body neurons and that mutation of the bun gene only affects the development of a/ß neurons. CD133 (Prominin) Negative Human Neural Stem Cells Are Clonogenic and Tripotent In this study, the researchers demonstrate that CD133 and a second marker CD15 are expressed heterogeneously in uniformly undifferentiated human neural stem cell cultures. INDUSTRY Pfizer, WARF Reach Accord on Stem Cell Drug Therapies Pfizer Inc. on Tuesday announced a licensing agreement with the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation, or WARF, for the development of drug therapies using human embryonic stem cells. Barricode Signs Definitive Agreement to Acquire IP from Azura Stem Cell UK Barricode has developed an acquisition strategy that will create, over the next few months, a vertically integrated healthcare model applicable to the world's population. Cytori and GE Healthcare Form Partnership to Commercialize StemSource Products in the U.S. Cytori Therapeutics and GE Healthcare, recently announced an agreement by which GE Healthcare will commercialize Cytori's StemSource technology in the North American stem cell banking and research markets. Ontario to Provide Major New Research Funding Ontario, Canada announced recently $100-million in new research funding in a move to keep top talent from fleeing to U.S. laboratories that will soon be awash in stimulus money from the Obama administration. Cord Blood America to Acquire or Build Its Own Stem Cell Laboratory Cord Blood America said recently it has begun due diligence to either purchase or build its own secure cryogenic stem cell bank for the storage of multiple stem cell products including umbilical cord blood stem cells. NeoStem Obtains Exclusive Worldwide License for Innovative Stem Cell Technology and Applications to Heal Chronic Wounds NeoStem, Inc. announced recently it has signed an agreement to license the exclusive worldwide rights to an innovative product and procedure using autologous bone marrow-derived stem cells to promote the healing of chronic wounds. POLICY Obama Wants Additional $300 Million for FDA President Barack Obama wants Congress to give the Food and Drug Administration an additional $300 million in its budget, which the agency called the largest funding boost in its history. Texan Senate Panel Passes Stem Cell Report Bill A legislative committee has approved a proposal by the Senate's chief budget writer to require state agencies and universities to report on any stem cell research they are conducting, funding or supporting.  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