Category Archives: Stem Cell Research

Newswise The governing board of the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) has announced that six investigators from the University of California, San Diego Stem Cell Research program have received a total of more than $7 million in the latest round of CIRM funding. This brings UC San Diegos total to more than $128 million in CIRM funding since the first awards in 2006. UC San Diego scientists funded by the newly announced CIRM Basic Biology Awards IV include Maike Sander, MD, professor of Pediatrics and Cellular and Molecular Medicine; Miles Wilkinson, PhD, professor, Division of Reproductive Endocrinology; Gene Yeo, PhD, MBA, assistant professor with the Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine and the Institute for Genomic Medicine; George L. Sen, PhD, assistant professor of cellular and molecular medicine; David Traver, PhD, associate professor with the Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine and Ananda Goldrath, PhD, associate professor in the Division of Biological Sciences. Sander was awarded nearly $1.4 million for her proposal to define and characterize the key transcription factors necessary to promote maturation of human embryonic stem cell (hESC)-derived pancreatic progenitors into mature insulin-secreting beta cells. The loss of pancreatic beta cells in type 1 diabetes results in … Continue reading →

DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/kwt8xq/essential_zebrafis) has announced the addition of Elsevier Science and Technology's new report "Essential Zebrafish Methods: Cell and Developmental Biology. Reliable Lab Solutions" to their offering. Due to its prolific reproduction and the external development of the transparent embryo, the zebrafish is the prime model for genetic and developmental studies, as well as research in genomics. While genetically distant from humans, nonetheless the vertebrate zebrafish has comparable organs and tissues which make it the model organism for study of vertebrate development. This book will provide overview of commonly used methods and a comprehensive collection of protocols describing the most powerful techniques. The methods and techniques in this volume were chosen by the editors of Methods in Cell Biology, whose goal was to provide fail-safe methods, tips, and "tricks of the trade? to experienced researchers and more junior members in the lab. Key Topics Covered: For more information visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/kwt8xq/essential_zebrafis Source: Elsevier Science and Technology Read more from the original source: Research and Markets: Essential Zebrafish Methods: Cell and Developmental Biology - Reliable Lab Solutions … Continue reading →

By Kim Ribbink, Studio One Networks Stem cell research often conjures images of political firestorms and futuristic science, yet it's a field that's already offering hope for humans and dogs alike. While the ideal of fixing spinal injuries and curing disease may be a long way off, dogs treated with stem cells are enjoying a new lease on life. Pepper, a 10-year-old standard poodle, is a case in point. Crippled with arthritis in both his hips, Pepper came to James Gaynor, DVM, M.S., medical director of Animal Anesthesia & Pain Management Center in Colorado Springs, Colo., with his owners, who fully expected to have to put their pet to sleep. Conventional treatments hadn't worked, or had made their dog even sicker. In fact, Pepper's owners were so certain nothing could be done that they bought another puppy. "At our 60 day recheck, the owner was hugging me and crying out of happiness because, in her words, we gave her back her dog," Dr. Gaynor says. "The only problem was she now had Pepper and a puppy." Healthy Bones It wasn't long ago that dogs like Pepper with arthritis had few options beyond conventional anti-inflammatory treatments -- including a variety of … Continue reading →

DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/p9c5cg/complete_2012_indu) has announced the addition of the "Complete 2012 Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Industry Report" report to their offering. Diseases such as Huntington's Chorea, Parkinson's Disease, and spinal cord injuries are just some examples of potential clinical applications where stem cells can offer potential benefits in halting or even reversing medical conditions that previously had no positive outcome potential - and induced pluripotent stem cells represent a preferred cell type for this type of disease reversal research. Traditionally, scientists have worked with both embryonic and adult stem cells. While the appeal of embryonic cells has been their ability to differentiate into any type of cell, there has been significant ethical, moral and spiritual controversy surrounding the use of embryonic cells for research. Although adult stem cells can differentiate slightly, they are typically limited to differentiation within their original tissue type, creating narrow options for their use. What's In This Report: - Charts, Timelines, Metrics and Financials for the iPSC Research Product Market - Trends for iPSC Grants, Publications, Patents, and More - 5-Year Market Projection Data for 2012-2017 - Competitive Environment Analysis, Including Market Share by Competitor - Preferred Species for iPSC Research Read this … Continue reading →

CARLSBAD, CA--(Marketwire -09/06/12)- International Stem Cell Corporation (ISCO) (www.internationalstemcell.com) ("ISCO" or "the Company"), a California-based biotechnology company, today announced that its cosmoseutical subsidiary Lifeline Skin Care (www.lifelineskincare.com) has entered an agreement to distribute its anti-aging skin care products in China using the extended clinical network of one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in China, Sinopharm Group. Lifeline develops, manufactures and commercializes advanced skin care products based on growth factors and peptides derived from human parthenogenetic stem cells. The products, developed by ISCO's scientific team in collaboration with renowned skin care experts, deliver anti-aging benefits, resulting in healthier- and younger-looking skin. The products are available for purchase through medical offices and luxury spas across the United States and from http://www.lifelineskincare.com. Sales of cosmetic products in mainland China, with its large population of affluent consumers and surging demand for consumer products, are estimated at approximately $8 billion / year. With an annual growth rate of over 10%, the Chinese market for beauty products represents an enormous growth opportunity for Lifeline Skin Care. Together with our Chinese partner Brilliant Sunrise SBC, which is responsible for importation and regulatory approvals, Lifeline will offer its breakthrough anti-aging skin care products in China's largest and most … Continue reading →

Public release date: 5-Sep-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ] Contact: Kim Irwin kirwin@mednet.ucla.edu 310-425-9457 University of California - Los Angeles Health Sciences UCLA stem cell scientists have shown that two common tumor suppressor genes, TSC and PTEN, are vital to regulating the stem cell-like precursor cells that create the blood supply in Drosophila, the common fruit fly. The researchers examined a signaling pathway called TOR that the cells use to gauge nutrition levels and stress, said study senior author Dr. Julian A. Martinez-Agosto, an assistant professor of human genetics and pediatrics and a researcher with the Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research at UCLA. "We wondered how an organism knows how many blood cells to make and when to make them in the context of injury and repair to tissue. In particular, we wondered how the blood progenitor cells sense that change and know when it's time to make more blood cells," Martinez-Agosto said. "We found that the TOR pathway uses these two genes to regulate its function and, when activated, it expands or increases the number of blood progenitor cells in the fly's blood." The study appears Sept. 5, 2012 in the … Continue reading →

SAN DIEGO A study led by researchers at the UC San Diego Stem Cell Research program and funded by the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) looks at an important RNA binding protein called LIN28, which is implicated in pluripotency and reprogramming as well as in cancer and other diseases. According to the researchers, their study published in Thursday's (Sept. 6) online issue of Molecular Cell will change how scientists view this protein and its impact on human disease. Studying embryonic stem cells and somatic cells stably expressing LIN28, the researchers defined discrete binding sites of LIN28 in 25 percent of human transcripts. In addition, splicing-sensitive microarrays demonstrated that LIN28 expression causes widespread downstream alternative splicing changes variations in gene products that can result in cancer or other diseases. "Surprisingly, we discovered that LIN28 not only binds to the non-coding microRNAs, but can also bind directly to thousands of messenger RNAs," said first author Melissa Wilbert, a doctoral student in the UC San Diego Biomedical Sciences graduate program. Messenger RNA or mRNA, are RNA molecules that encode a chemical "blueprint" for the synthesis of a protein. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are short snippets of RNA that are crucial regulators of cell growth, … Continue reading →

Public release date: 4-Sep-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ] Contact: Debra Kain ddkain@ucsd.edu 619-543-6163 University of California - San Diego A study led by researchers at the UC San Diego Stem Cell Research program and funded by the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) looks at an important RNA binding protein called LIN28, which is implicated in pluripotency and reprogramming as well as in cancer and other diseases. According to the researchers, their study published in the September 6 online issue of Molecular Cell will change how scientists view this protein and its impact on human disease. Studying embryonic stem cells and somatic cells stably expressing LIN28, the researchers defined discrete binding sites of LIN28 in 25 percent of human transcripts. In addition, splicing-sensitive microarrays demonstrated that LIN28 expression causes widespread downstream alternative splicing changes variations in gene products that can result in cancer or other diseases. "Surprisingly, we discovered that LIN28 not only binds to the non-coding microRNAs, but can also bind directly to thousands of messenger RNAs," said first author Melissa Wilbert, a doctoral student in the UC San Diego Biomedical Sciences graduate program. Messenger RNA or mRNA, are RNA molecules that encode a chemical "blueprint" for … Continue reading →

Jeremy Hunt, the new Health Secretary, has come under fire for voting to reduce the abortion time limit and signing a letter in support of homeopathy. In 2008 the-then MP for South West Surrey voted for the abortion time limit to be reduced to 12 weeks from 24, according to data from Publicwhip. Labour shadow health secretary Diane Abbott told The Huffington Post UK that Jeremy Hunts "record on womens right to choose is really concerning". She said a key test of the new health secretary would be if the government dropped plans to "allow anti-choice organisations to give counselling to women." Separately, Hunt signed a parliamentary Early Day Motion (EDM) in 2007 welcoming "the positive contribution made to the health of the nation by the NHS homeopathic hospitals." The EDM said complimentary medicine could help treat chronic conditions including chronic difficult to treat conditions such as musculoskeletal and other chronic pain, eczema, depression, anxiety and insomnia, allergy, chronic fatigue and irritable bowel syndrome. Reacting to the news of his appointment, Labour MP Angela Smith tweeted: "Worrying that Hunt sent to Health given that he's anti abortion and anti stem cell research." There are also concerns about Culture Secretary and … Continue reading →

Sept. 4, 2012, 4:07 a.m. Bomaderry toddler Luke Alderton was the face of the political debate over stem cell research. The two-year-old, who could not walk due to a rare spinal condition, featured on the Mercury's front page 10 years ago with NSW Premier Bob Carr sitting on his front lawn. The pair met at Shoalhaven Hospital and the youngster's plight inspired Mr Carr as he lobbied the federal government to embrace medicine's next frontier - the use of human cells, including some from embryos, to regrow damaged tissue. Luke's case was presented to urge politicians to pass laws allowing research on excess IVF embryonic stem cells. It worked. Legislation put forward by then prime minister John Howard, in line with an agreement with the states and territories, to enact uniform stem cell laws got the green light. Today there is still no cure for Luke's condition but he is making the most of the cards he has been dealt. The Mercury caught up with his dad Steve last week to check on Luke's progress. "While his future will always involve hospitals and medical support, overall its very bright," Steve Alderton said from New Zealand, the family's home since 1994. … Continue reading →