05-03-2012 11:59 Learn more about cord blood stem cells here http://www.cordblood.com Cord Blood Registry's Scientific and Medical Affairs team, led by Heather Brown Vice President of Scientific and Medical Affairs, is dedicated to helping understand, communicate and advance stem cell medicine. Her team's focus is on helping find new uses for cord blood, including supporting research that is looking for treatments for conditions that have no treatment today. Our company was founded on the belief that saving newborn stem cells can change the future of medicine. Whether it's providing newborn stem cell banking at no cost to a family with a medical need or partnering with world-class researchers for first-of-their-kind clinical trials, we are committed to advancing stem cell medicine and finding new cures. Read the rest here: Cord Blood Registry's Leading Science and Research Team - Video … Continue reading →

PHILADELPHIA Jamie Shuda, EdD, director of life science outreach at the University of Pennsylvania's Institute for Regenerative Medicine (IRM), and coordinator of life science education at the Netter Center for Community Partnerships also at Penn, along with Steve Farber, PhD, Investigator, Embryology Department, Carnegie Institution for Science, Baltimore, have been awarded the Hamburger Outstanding Educator Prize from the Society for Developmental Biology (SBD). Shuda and Farber run Project BioEYES, a K-12 science education program that provides classroom-based, hands-on learning using live zebrafish to teach about how cells and animals develop. The program is located within the Perelman School of Medicine, Penn; the Carnegie Institution; Notre Dame University in South Bend, IN; and Monash University in Melbourne, Australia, among others, and reaches over 9,000 students per year. "I am honored that the Society for Developmental Biology has chosen me and Dr. Farber as the 2012 recipients of the Viktor Hamburger prize," says Shuda. "Project BioEYES exemplifies how scientists and educators can come together to teach cutting edge, exciting science to students of all ages. Collaboration across disciplines is greatly supported by Penn and the IRM and it is wonderful that the university is being recognized for their public engagement. Viktor Hamburger … Continue reading →

Repeated injections of human umbilical cord blood cells improved motor neuron survival, delayed disease progression and increased lifespan Oldsmar, FL (PRWEB) March 06, 2012 Dr. Julie G. Allickson, PhD. Vice President of Laboratory Operations and R&D, stated This groundbreaking study demonstrates the amazing capacity of cord blood stem cells to potentially treat a devastating neurodegenerative disease through the secretion of trophic factors that resulted in neuroprotection in the ALS mouse model. The data certainly justifies additional pre-clinical investigations using umbilical cord blood stem cells. This source of cells has mainly been used in hematopoietic and immune diseases in more than 25,000 transplants to date. Cryo- Cell is excited about the results of the research Saneron CCEL Therapeutics has completed and proud of the progress Saneron has made in the treatment for ALS. The investment community does not appreciate the value of Cryo-Cells holdings in Saneron and its world-class research initiatives, commented David Portnoy, Cryo-Cells Chairman and CEO. Given the delay between the onset of symptoms and the actual diagnosis of ALS, the data obtained from this study was critically important to show that multiple low-doses of cord blood cells started after the symptomatic disease stage in the ALS mouse model … Continue reading →

Researchers can use the method, called nanocombinatorics, to build enormous libraries of physical structures varying in size from a few nanometers to many micrometers for addressing problems within and outside biology. Those in the fields of chemistry, materials engineering and nanotechnology could use this invaluable tool to assess which chemical and physical structures -- including size, shape and composition -- work best for a desired process or function. Nanocombinatorics holds promise for screening catalysts for energy conversion, understanding properties conferred by nanostructures, identifying active molecules for drug discovery or even optimizing materials for tissue regeneration, among other applications. Details of the method and proof of concept is published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. "With further development, researchers might be able to use this approach to prepare cells of any lineage on command," said Chad A. Mirkin, who led the work. "Insight into such a process is important for understanding cancer development and for developing novel cancer treatment methodologies." Mirkin is the George B. Rathmann Professor of Chemistry in the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences and professor of medicine, chemical and biological engineering, biomedical engineering and materials science and engineering. He also is the director of … Continue reading →

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. -- A Carrboro man is getting the first triple-tandem stem cell transplant performed at UNC Hospitals to treat a testicular cancer recurrence. David Alston was diagnosed with testicular cancer a year ago. He went through chemotherapy at UNC and thought he'd beat it, but doctors discovered the cancerhad come back during a routine blood test. "I was devastated", said Alston. "I completely fell apart." He found hope again when Dr. Paul Armstead at UNC Hospitalssuggested a treatment that involved stem cell transplants. "It's good for someone young like David whose already tolerated all the chemotherapy we've given him," said Dr. Armstead. "We think this is his best chance of being cured of this disease." Alston's stem cells were recovered in a process that Alston says is like giving blood. "Once we give a high dose of chemotherapy we then take some of his frozen bone marrow stem cells and give those back to him," explained Dr. Armstead. "This allows his blood count to recover and that's transplant number one." Alston's treatment is unique because he'll receive three transplants. It's a process that will keep him in the hospital for about nine weeks and take a major toll … Continue reading →

Public release date: 6-Mar-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ] Contact: Megan Fellman fellman@northwestern.edu 847-491-3115 Northwestern University Northwestern University scientists have developed a powerful analytical method that they have used to direct stem cell differentiation. Out of millions of possibilities, they rapidly identified the chemical and physical structures that can cue stem cells to become osteocytes, cells found in mature bone. Researchers can use the method, called nanocombinatorics, to build enormous libraries of physical structures varying in size from a few nanometers to many micrometers for addressing problems within and outside biology. Those in the fields of chemistry, materials engineering and nanotechnology could use this invaluable tool to assess which chemical and physical structures -- including size, shape and composition -- work best for a desired process or function. Nanocombinatorics holds promise for screening catalysts for energy conversion, understanding properties conferred by nanostructures, identifying active molecules for drug discovery or even optimizing materials for tissue regeneration, among other applications. Details of the method and proof of concept is published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. "With further development, researchers might be able to use this approach to prepare cells of any lineage on command," said Chad A. … Continue reading →