Stem Cells News and Research

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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.

Researchers evaluate dental pulp cells as optimal source of iPS cells

Defined sets of factors can reprogram human cells to induced pluripotent stem cells. However, many types of human cells are not easily accessible to minimally invasive procedures. In a paper published in the International and American Associations for Dental Research's Journal of Dental Research, lead researcher K. Tezuka and researchers N. Tamaoki, H. Aoki, T. Takeda-Kawaguchi, K. Iida, T. Kunisada and T. Shibata all from the Gifu University Graduate School of Medicine, Japan; and K. Takahashi, T. Tanaka and S. Yamanaka, all from Kyoto University, Japan, evaluate dental pulp cells as an optimal source of iPS cells, since they are easily obtained from extracted teeth and can be expanded under simple culture conditions.

18 Jun 2010

Stem cell therapy leads to development of blood vessel, bone marrow masses

Following stem cell therapy, an adult patient experienced a new and previously unrecognized complication, which required removal of one of the kidneys, according to a case report appearing in an upcoming issue of the Journal of the American Society Nephrology (JASN). The report suggests that stem cell therapy may cause patients to develop blood vessel and bone marrow masses, the long term effects of which are unknown.

18 Jun 2010

FDA approves new indication for Tasigna in treatment of rare blood cancer

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved a new indication for Tasigna (nilotinib) for the treatment of a rare blood cancer when it is first diagnosed. The cancer, called Philadelphia chromosome positive chronic phase chronic myeloid leukemia (Ph+ CP-CML), is a slowly progressing blood and bone marrow disease linked to a genetic abnormality.

18 Jun 2010

ACT awarded patent for production processes of RPE cells from hESCs

Advanced Cell Technology, Inc., a leader in the field of regenerative medicine, announced today that it has been issued U.S. Patent Number 7736896, which is broadly directed to processes developed by ACT scientists for the production of retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells from human embryonic stem cells (hESCs).

17 Jun 2010

Bayer, OncoMed collaborate to develop anti-cancer stem cell therapeutics to target Wnt signaling pathway

Bayer Schering Pharma AG and OncoMed Pharmaceuticals, Inc., today announced a global strategic alliance to discover, develop and commercialize novel anti-cancer stem cell therapeutics targeting the Wnt signaling pathway.

17 Jun 2010

Research studies may lead to future development of cell transplant therapy for ALS

The University of California, San Diego, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies and Life Technologies Corporation today announced the initiation of studies which may lead to the future development of cell transplant therapy for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease. Currently, there is only one FDA-approved pharmaceutical addressing this lethal disease, which affects approximately 30,000 people in the United States.

17 Jun 2010

OncoMed, Bayer Schering Pharma to develop and commercialize novel anti-cancer stem cell therapeutics

OncoMed Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Bayer Schering Pharma AG, Germany, today announced a global strategic alliance to discover, develop and commercialize novel anti-cancer stem cell therapeutics targeting the Wnt signaling pathway. Cancer stem cells are a subset of tumor cells believed to play a significant role in the establishment, metastasis and recurrence of cancer.

17 Jun 2010

BD Biosciences further expands Research Grant program to support promising stem cell research

BD Biosciences, a segment of BD, announced today a further expansion of its Research Grant program, adding $100,000 worth of reagents, cell culture tools and labware to support promising stem cell research.

From BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company) 17 Jun 2010

AssureImmune merges with BCU

AssureImmune LLC, the premier family stem cell bank in the United States, today announced their merger with Banco de Cordón Umbilical, the largest cord blood bank in Latin America. This merger expands the Companies' global reach providing family stem cell banking services to North, Central and South America.

16 Jun 2010

Hamilton Thorne announces launch of Staccato multi-pulse laser system at 8th ISSCR Annual Meeting

Hamilton Thorne Ltd., a leading provider of advanced laser systems and instruments for the stem cell research and fertility clinic markets, today announced the launch of the Staccato(TM) multi-pulse laser system at the 8th Annual Meeting of the International Society of Stem Cell Research (ISSCR), June 16-19, 2010, in San Francisco, CA. Staccato(TM) will add to the functionality of the XYClone(R) laser system, providing the ability of near-continuous application of the laser to the sample through rapid pulsing of the beam.

16 Jun 2010

Injectable bone carries living stem cells

A team of researchers at the University of Nottingham have invented a new class of materials that can be injected by surgeons as a low-viscosity fluid into the body that, using body heat as the only trigger, converts into a tough porous material with mechanical properties that mimic human cancellous bone.

16 Jun 2010

Vitro, HemoGenix launch new stem cell testing products at International Society for Stem Cell Research meeting

Vitro Diagnostics, Inc., dba Vitro Biopharma, and HemoGenix®, Inc. announced the launch of new high performance stem cell testing products at the International Society for Stem Cell Research annual meeting being held in San Francisco, CA this week. This meeting is being attended by over 3,000 participants from leading academic institutions and commercial stem cell firms throughout the world.

16 Jun 2010

Cyntellect to provide LEAP Cell Processing Workstation to Salk Institute for Biological Studies

Cyntellect, Inc., a privately-held life sciences company commercializing products to advance the study of cell biology, stem cell research, biopharmaceutical production, and drug discovery, has entered into an agreement with the Salk Institute for Biological Studies to provide its researchers with the LEAP™ Cell Processing Workstation.

16 Jun 2010

Florida State University researcher explores role of key protein in cell division

A Florida State University researcher has identified the important role that a key protein plays in cell division, and that discovery could lead to a greater understanding of stem cells.

16 Jun 2010

ISB, GIND collaborate on whole-genome sequencing to identify drug targets for Huntington's Disease

The Institute for Systems Biology (ISB) of Seattle, WA, is collaborating with the Gladstone Institute of Neurological Disease (GIND) and its Taube-Koret Center for Huntington's Disease Research to use whole-genome sequencing to identify genes and novel drug targets related to the onset and progression of Huntington's disease (HD). The research team, led by GIND associate director and senior investigator Steven Finkbeiner, MD, PhD, will also use induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells from patients with HD to screen for drugs that might delay, prevent, or even reverse this devastating condition.

16 Jun 2010

New combination appears to be effective against cancer stem cells in pancreatic cancer

The new cancer medication sorafenib looks promising. Sorafenib is used for advanced liver and kidney cancer and also appears to be effective against cancer stem cells in pancreatic cancer. The team led by Professor Dr. Ingrid Herr, Head of the Department of Molecular Oncosurgery, a group of the Department of Surgery at Heidelberg University Hospital, (Managing Director: Professor Dr. Markus W. B-chler) in cooperation with the German Cancer Research Center, tested the new substance in mice and pancreatic cancer cells.

16 Jun 2010

CDI, Promega enter collaboration for toxicity testing in drug discovery process

Cellular Dynamics International (CDI) and Promega have entered into a research collaboration with the goal of bringing more relevant and highly predictive toxicity testing to the drug discovery process. Pharmaceutical discovery scientists will now be able to combine bioassays with human cardiomyocytes to improve prediction of unintentional, detrimental side effects that have previously remained undetected until late in the development process or after release of the drug to the general public.

15 Jun 2010

Sulindac shuts down cancer cell growth, initiates cell death: Study

Without knowing exactly why, scientists have long observed that people who regularly take non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like aspirin have lower incidences of certain types of cancer. Now, in a study appearing in Cancer Cell on June 15, investigators at Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute and their colleagues have figured out how one NSAID, called Sulindac, inhibits tumor growth.

15 Jun 2010

Micromet's blinatumomab demonstrates potential to change outcome for patients with ALL

Micromet, Inc. today announced the presentation of updated results from a Phase 2 trial of the Company's lead product candidate blinatumomab (MT103) in adult patients with minimal residual disease (MRD) positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Results of the analysis demonstrate that a prolonged hematologic relapse free survival was observed in patients treated with blinatumomab.

15 Jun 2010

DV Biologics executes agreement with System Biosciences to develop iPSC lines

DV Biologics LLC announced today that it has executed an agreement with System Biosciences LLC for the development of human-derived disease-specific induced pluripotent stem cell lines.

14 Jun 2010

Stem Cells News and Research

Further Reading

Researchers evaluate dental pulp cells as optimal source of iPS cells

Stem cell therapy leads to development of blood vessel, bone marrow masses

FDA approves new indication for Tasigna in treatment of rare blood cancer

ACT awarded patent for production processes of RPE cells from hESCs

Bayer, OncoMed collaborate to develop anti-cancer stem cell therapeutics to target Wnt signaling pathway

Research studies may lead to future development of cell transplant therapy for ALS

OncoMed, Bayer Schering Pharma to develop and commercialize novel anti-cancer stem cell therapeutics

BD Biosciences further expands Research Grant program to support promising stem cell research

AssureImmune merges with BCU

Hamilton Thorne announces launch of Staccato multi-pulse laser system at 8th ISSCR Annual Meeting

Injectable bone carries living stem cells

Vitro, HemoGenix launch new stem cell testing products at International Society for Stem Cell Research meeting

Cyntellect to provide LEAP Cell Processing Workstation to Salk Institute for Biological Studies

Florida State University researcher explores role of key protein in cell division

ISB, GIND collaborate on whole-genome sequencing to identify drug targets for Huntington's Disease

New combination appears to be effective against cancer stem cells in pancreatic cancer

CDI, Promega enter collaboration for toxicity testing in drug discovery process

Sulindac shuts down cancer cell growth, initiates cell death: Study

Micromet's blinatumomab demonstrates potential to change outcome for patients with ALL

DV Biologics executes agreement with System Biosciences to develop iPSC lines

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