Stem Cells News and Research

RSS

Stem cells have the remarkable potential to develop into many different cell types in the body during early life and growth. In addition, in many tissues they serve as a sort of internal repair system, dividing essentially without limit to replenish other cells as long as the person or animal is still alive. When a stem cell divides, each new cell has the potential either to remain a stem cell or become another type of cell with a more specialized function, such as a muscle cell, a red blood cell, or a brain cell.

Yale University scientists synthesize lomaiviticin that appears to destroy cancer stem cells

A team of Yale University scientists has synthesized for the first time a chemical compound called lomaiviticin aglycon, leading to the development of a new class of molecules that appear to target and destroy cancer stem cells.

1 Feb 2011

Scientists devise safer way to create iPS cells

Researchers at Johns Hopkins have found a better way to create induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells-adult cells reprogrammed with the properties of embryonic stem cells-from a small blood sample. This new method, described last week in Cell Research, avoids creating DNA changes that could lead to tumor formation.

1 Feb 2011

Walk briskly to boost memory

Researchers have found that older adults who took a brisk walk three times a week did better on memory tests and increased the size of their hippocampus, a portion of the brain involved with memory formation.

1 Feb 2011

Scientists convert adult skin cells into cardiomyocytes using direct reprogramming strategy

Scripps Research Institute scientists have converted adult skin cells directly into beating heart cells efficiently without having to first go through the laborious process of generating embryonic-like stem cells. The powerful general technology platform could lead to new treatments for a range of diseases and injuries involving cell loss or damage, such as heart disease, Parkinson's, and Alzheimer's disease.

30 Jan 2011

Research shows nestin regulates formation of neuromuscular junction

In a study published in the Jan. 30, 2011, advance online edition of Nature Neuroscience, Salk Institute of Biological Studies investigators led by Kuo-Fen Lee, PhD., show that nestin has reason for being in a completely different cell type--muscle tissue.

30 Jan 2011

Athersys enters definitive agreements to sell common stock, warrants

Athersys, announced today that it has entered into definitive agreements with certain investors to sell 4,366,667 shares of its common stock and warrants to purchase up to an additional 1,310,000 shares of common stock in a registered direct offering for gross proceeds of approximately $13.1 million, before deducting fees and offering expenses.

29 Jan 2011

BioTime announces acquisition of CTI assets

BioTime, today announced that it has acquired substantially all the assets of Cell Targeting, a Cleveland, Ohio-based biotechnology company conducting research in regenerative medicine.

29 Jan 2011

FDA approves Arteriocyte's Magellan MAR01 technology for Phase I trial to treat CLI

Arteriocyte, a leading clinical stage biotechnology company with offices in Cleveland, Ohio and Hopkinton, Massachusetts that develops proprietary stem cell and tissue engineering based therapies, announced today approval from the Food and Drug Administration to initiate a Phase I clinical trial using its Magellan MAR01 technology in the treatment of Critical Limb Ischemia.

29 Jan 2011

Research provides new clues for compulsive behavior, cognitive defects linked with LND

Research from the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine provides new clues for the compulsive behavior and cognitive defects associated with a rare childhood neurological disease called Lesch-Nyhan Disease.

29 Jan 2011

Neuralstem ends litigation with ReNeuron

Neuralstem, Inc. announced that it has reach a settlement with ReNeuron, Ltd. ending litigation between the parties.

28 Jan 2011

EHSI examines business plans and product lines of OceanBASIS

Emerging Healthcare Solutions, Inc. is examining the business plans and product lines of German biotech firm OceanBASIS as part of the company's due diligence towards a potential profit sharing agreement.

28 Jan 2011

Prototype drug halts GVHD in mouse models of bone marrow transplantation

A prototype drug already shown to hold promise for treating autoimmune disorders like lupus, arthritis and psoriasis halts established graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) in mouse models of bone marrow transplantation, research at the University of Michigan and the University of Florida shows.

28 Jan 2011

Study suggests newborn diagnosis can improve survival in SCID patients

Severe Combined Immunodeficiency occurs in just one out of every 50,000 to 100,000 births in the United States, yet it is the most serious primary immunodeficiency disorder. A study published today in Blood, the Journal of the American Society of Hematology, demonstrates that babies with SCID who are diagnosed at birth and receive a hematopoietic stem cell transplant, which is the transplantation of blood-forming stem cells, have significantly improved survival.

28 Jan 2011

XYTOS shares cancer patient treatment results

XYTOS Shares Patient Results.

28 Jan 2011

Magnetic nanoparticles for ovarian cancer treatment

A paper published in the January issue of the journal Nanomedicine could provide the foundation for a new ovarian cancer treatment option - one that would use an outside-the-body filtration device to remove a large portion of the free-floating cancer cells that often create secondary tumors.

28 Jan 2011

Cardiac stem cell therapy can rebuild damaged heart in children

Visionaries in the field of cardiac therapeutics have long looked to the future when a damaged heart could be rebuilt or repaired by using one's own heart cells. A study published in the February issue of Circulation, a scientific journal of the American Heart Association, shows that heart stem cells from children with congenital heart disease were able to rebuild the damaged heart in the laboratory.

27 Jan 2011

New four year study to evaluate asthma triggers in children

A newly announced study by researchers at UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School will examine how elevated levels of exposure to air pollutants, coupled with chronic psychological stress, may contribute to higher rates of asthma in urban communities.

27 Jan 2011

Inviragen completes memorandum of understanding with Duke-NUS

Inviragen, and the Duke-National University of Singapore Graduate Medical School announced today that they have completed a memorandum of understanding to establish a partnership between the two organizations.

27 Jan 2011

Ligand announces acquisition of CyDex Pharmaceuticals

Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated today announced it has acquired privately held CyDex Pharmaceuticals, for a combination of cash and contingent payments.

26 Jan 2011

Spine surgeon successfully treated with RNL Bio's stem cell therapy for Autoimmune Arthritis

RNL BIO CO., LTD, a leading biopharmaceutical company specialized in adult stem cell therapeutics, announced on January 21, 2011 another successful patient report utilizing stem cell therapy on a leading US orthopedic spine surgeon who suffered from Autoimmune Arthritis.

26 Jan 2011