In this issue:  Science   |  Abstracts  |  Industry News   |  Policy Subscribe   |   Unsubscribe    TOP STORIES Harnessing the Brain's Own Ability for Repair Neuroscientists at Sydney's Garvan Institute of Medical Research have shown that nerve cells in the brain produce an anti-inflammatory molecule that allows the brain to repair itself. SCIENCE Landmark Stem Cells Trial Yields Positive Results The Phase I trial of HuCNS-SC (purified human neural stem cells) conducted at OHSU Doernbecher Children's Hospital included six children with advanced stages of infantile and late-infantile neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis, often referred to as Batten disease. Johns Hopkins Scientists Say Tiny Protein-activator Responsible for Brain Cell Damage in Huntington Disease Scientists have figured out why a faulty protein accumulates in cells everywhere in the bodies of people with Huntington's disease, but only kills cells in the part of the brain that controls movement, causing negligible damage to tissues elsewhere. New Imaging Technique: Toward Spinal Cord Regeneration? Axons can regenerate toward the muscles, whereas in the opposite direction inhibiting factors prevent regrowth toward the nerve centers and also regrow in the direction of the spinal cord within a short lapse of time after the injury. Skin Cells Provide New Knowledge About Brain Functions New research findings from Örebro University in Sweden show that it is just as good to study a certain type of skin cells, since they function in a way that is similar to a type of brain cells that are suspected of playing a major role in both disorders. Protein Linked to Alzheimer's Disease Doesn't Act Alone A team of U.S. investigators have discovered that amyloid precursor protein interacts with another protein known as Reelin to promote development of abundant connections between brain neurons. Hundreds of Cell-surface Proteins Can Be Simultaneously Studied with New Technique The results obtained could help to develop more accurate diagnostic tests and more specific therapies in the future. Elsevier Tweaks Custom Pub Rules Publishing company Elsevier is revising its policies and procedures for partnering with pharmaceutical companies to create custom publications in response to recent media attention over a fake journal created by the company and paid for by Merck. Visit our events page to stay up to date with the latest events in the cell, gene and immunotherapy community. ABSTRACTS Leptin-Dependent Control of Glucose Balance and Locomotor Activity by POMC Neurons Via unknown central pathways, leptin also affects peripheral glucose homeostasis and locomotor activity, which is hypothesized to be mediated by pro-opiomelanocortin neurons. (Cell Metabolism) Protein Phosphatase 2A Regulates Self-renewal of Drosophila Neural Stem Cells Here the researchers have identified Drosophila Protein phosphatase 2A as a brain tumor-suppressor that can inhibit self-renewal of neuroblasts. (Development) Electrical Stimulation of Nerve Cells Using Conductive Nanofibrous Scaffolds for Nerve Tissue Engineering Electrical stimulation was directly applied to electrospun conductive nanofibrous scaffolds in order to enhance the nerve regeneration process. (Tissue Engineering Part A) Changes in Progenitor Populations and Ongoing Neurogenesis in the Regenerating Chick Spinal Cord This study investigated the contribution of proliferation, phenotypic changes in radial glia progenitors, and neurogenesis to spinal cord regeneration. (Developmental Biology) Selective Sigma Receptor Agonist 2-(4-morpholinethyl)1-phenylcyclohexanecarboxylate (PRE084) Promotes Neuroprotection and Neurite Elongation Through Protein Kinase C (PKC) Signaling on Motoneurons This study used organotypic cultures of spinal cord slices and dorsal root ganglia explants to assess whether the agonist of the Sig-1R, 2-(4-morpholinethyl)1-phenylcyclohexanecarboxylate (PRE084), protects the spinal cord against glutamate excitotoxicity and promotes neurite elongation. (Neuroscience) Chronically CNS-Injured Adult Sensory Neurons Gain Regenerative Competence upon a Lesion of Their Peripheral Axon Several experimental manipulations result in axonal regeneration in the central nervous system when applied before or at the time of injury but not when initiated after a delay, which would be clinically more relevant. (Current Biology) Brain Bots are Developing Personalities - and a Whole Lot More Can we build a brain from the ground up, one neuron (or so) at a time? Neurobotics is an outgrowth of a growing realization that, when it comes to understanding the brain, neither computer simulations nor top-down robotic models are getting anywhere close. INDUSTRY Connexon Creative Launches Mammary Cell News Mammary Cell News is a weekly e-newsletter that keeps members of the mammary cell community informed by providing the latest news from all areas of the field, including its science, research and business. Subscribe Today Viewed Archived Issues biOasis Enters Into Blood-Brain Barrier Collaborative Research Agreement The primary purpose of this CRA is to perform additional research on the use of p97 as a delivery system to shuttle compounds across the blood-brain barrier. StemCells Inc. to Shut Down Stem Cell Sciences Australia and Reduce Overhead Biotechnology company StemCells Inc, headquartered in Palo Alto, California, will close the Stem Cell Sciences Australia facility in an effort to streamline its operations and reduce overhead. Despite Strings, NIH Will Focus Money on Science Although $10.4 billion allocated to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in the economic stimulus bill is aimed at creating jobs, a top official said the agency will still fund projects based on their science, rather than their economic impact. Nobel Winner to Lead Research at Max Planck Sakmann intends to develop a three-dimensional atlas of the brain by describing the precise arrangement of neurons within the decision-making and thinking region of the mouse brain, an area called the cerebral cortex. Top Stem Cell Scientist Svendsen Leaving UW-Madison for California Highly regarded UW-Madison stem cell researcher Clive Svendsen is heading to Los Angeles to become director of the new Cedars-Sinai Regenerative Medicine Institute. Neuralstem Receives Patent Allowance for Compounds That Promote Neurogenesis Neuralstem, Inc. announced recently it received a notice of allowance from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office for a patent on four new chemical entities that boost the generation of new neurons. POLICY California Stem Cell Chief Seeks Trials in Four Years California's $3 billion stem-cell funding agency wants to get 10 to 12 new therapies into human testing within four years, said the agency's president, Alan Trounson. Geron's Okarma Urges Obama to Set Up Stem Cell Panel President Barack Obama should appoint a commission on stem cell research to help the therapy fulfill its promise to save lives and reduce medical costs, Geron Corp. Chief Executive Officer Tom Okarma said. Drug Agency May Reveal More Data on Actions The Obama administration plans to announce on Tuesday that it is setting up a task force within the agency to recommend ways to reveal more information about F.D.A. decisions, possibly including the disclosure of now secret data about drugs and devices under study.  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