SANTA BARBARA Biomedical research at UC Santa Barbara has catapulted to a position of leadership in the arena of stem cell biology, offering progress toward cures for vision diseases such as macular degeneration. Stem cell research has the potential to transform the practice of medicine, by replacing diseased tissue with healthy new cells. Interdisciplinary teams of UC Santa Barbara researchers including world-renowned faculty members recruited from the U.S. and Britain are leading the charge. The university's newly renovated lab space is critical to the mission. The latest research holds the promise of developing stem cells from skin, called induced pluripotent stem cells, which could eventually replace the use of human embryonic stem cells. The hope is to find cures for diseases including macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy and Alzheimer's. Campus leaders, dignitaries, scientists, and engineers gathered at UC Santa Barbara on Friday (Oct. 26) to celebrate the completion of a dream: 10,000 square feet of renovated laboratory space devoted to stem cell research. This was the grand opening ceremony and ribbon-cutting in celebration of UC Santa Barbara's Center for Stem Cell Biology and Engineering, part of the Neuroscience Research Institute. The California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) contributed to the renovation … Continue reading →

GAITHERSBURG, MD--(Marketwire - Oct 23, 2012) - Cytomedix, Inc. ( OTCQX : CMXI ) (the "Company"), a leading developer of biologically active regenerative therapies, today announced that it will present at the First Annual Houston Stem Cell Summit on October 26th and at the 2012 Stem Cell Meeting on the Mesa Conference, October 29th - 30th.The presentations will be given by Edward L. Field, Chief Operating Officer of Cytomedix. Houston Stem Cell Summit Houston, TX, Oct 26 - 27 Presentation Time: 9:50 AM, Friday, October 26th, 2012 Location: The Houstonian Hotel, 111 North Post Oak Lane, Houston, TX The Houston Stem Cell Summit will bring together, for the first time; the many and varied stem cell research and commercialization activities in Texas with the leading global researchers and entrepreneurs. The latest therapeutic research regarding the use of adult stem and progenitor cell therapies will be featured.The Summit will also provide a forum for entrepreneurs to discuss their latest efforts to commercialize stem cell therapies, and to debate and discuss FDA and other legal and regulatory issues impacting stem cell research and commercialization. Participating Texas institutions include: Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Heart Institute, Texas A&M, Rice University, and MD Anderson.The … Continue reading →

KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 29): The Health Ministry has no intention of introducing a Stem Cell Act as the current guidelines are believed to be sufficient to regulate the research being carried out in this growing field. Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said his ministry has taken the lead to regulate this field by producing four guidelines that provide framework for researchers, clinicians and companies involved in research, clinical trials as well as manufacturing of stem cells. These four guidelines and standards cover haemopoietic stem cell therapy; cord blood banking and transplantation; stem cell transplantation; and stem cell research and therapy. Liow stressed that these guidelines, which were introduced in December 2006, with a second edition in July 2009, serve as standards to which practitioners and scientists must abide to in order to ensure no harm is done to the patient. As such, he said there was no need to table a Stem Cell Bill in Parliament to monitor research and transplants in this field. Liow said the ministry set up a National Sub-Committee for Ethics in Stem Cell Research and Therapy (NSCERT) as an oversight body for all stem cell research in the country, and religious authorities were consulted … Continue reading →