NextVolume 11.11 March 29, 2010Previous

Surprising New Clues on How to Build a Heart
New studies of how the heart develops in growing mouse embryos have brought researchers a step closer to understanding how to induce the body’s own cells to rebuild damaged coronary arteries. [Press release from Howard Hughes Medical Institute discussing online prepublication in Nature]
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Insulin-Like Signal Needed to Keep Stem Cells Alive in Adult Brain
Biologists have found a signal that keeps stem cells alive in the adult brain, providing a focus for scientists looking for ways to re-grow or re-seed stem cells in the brain to allow injured areas to repair themselves. [Press release from University of California, Berkeley discussing online prepublication in Current Biology]
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Secret to Healing Chronic Wounds Might Lie in Tiny Pieces of Silent RNA
Researchers discovered in a new animal study that an RNA segment, known as miR-210,  in wounds with limited blood flow lowers the production of a protein that is needed to encourage skin cells to grow and close over the sore. [Press release from The Ohio State University discussing online prepublication in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA]
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Biologic Joint Reconstruction Using Stem Cells Proven Successful In Patients With Arthritis
Biologic Joint Reconstruction, rather than bionic replacement, may be an appropriate first step for many people with knee joint arthritis. [PRWeb Press Release]
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Scientists Share Secret of How Our Cells Make Us Tick
Scientists have defined the shape of a protein molecule at different stages as it performs a key activity within a cell - breaking down sugar to turn it into energy. [Press release from ScienceDaily discussing online prepublication in Journal of Biological Chemistry]
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“Good” Cells can Go “Bad” in a “Bad Neighborhood"
Researchers report that normal blood stem cells "are dependent upon their environment. They get their cues from the surrounding 'neighborhood' of bone cells," says Scadden, co-director of the Harvard Stem Cell Institute and director of the MGH Center for Regenerative Medicine. [Press release from the Harvard Stem Cell Institute discussing the online prepublication in Nature]
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Aastrom Announces Treatment of Final Patient in RESTORE-CLI Clinical Trial
Aastrom Biosciences, Inc. reported that the final patient has been treated in the company's ongoing multi-center, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled U.S. Phase IIb clinical trial designated RESTORE-CLI. [Aastrom Biosciences, Inc. Press Release]
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Fish Show How to Fix a Broken Heart
Using advanced genetic tools, researchers now have identified key cells involved in zebrafish heart regeneration and begun to discover the instructions the cells use to carry out their repair work. [Press release from the Harvard Stem Cell Institute discussing online prepublication in Nature]
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Independent Studies Demonstrate that NellOne Therapeutics’ Protein Has Potential to Heal Damaged Skeletal and Heart Muscle
Two key, independent proof-of-concept studies conducted for NellOne Therapeutics, Inc. demonstrate the potential efficacy of the company’s lead therapeutic candidate for both skeletal muscle wound healing and myocardial infarction. [NellOne Therapeutics, Inc. Press Release]
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Garnet BioTherapeutics Announces First Patient Treated in Trial of New Therapy for Improvement in Scar Appearance
Garnet BioTherapeutics announced that the first patient has been treated in a Phase II multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of its lead product candidate GBT009 at Unity Hospital in Rochester, New York. [Garnet BioTherapeutics Press Release]
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CURRENT PUBLICATIONS

Bone Progenitor Dysfunction Induces Myelodysplasia and Secondary Leukemia
By examining how mesenchymal osteolineage cells modulate hematopoiesis, researchers show that deletion of Dicer1 specifically in mouse osteoprogenitors, but not in mature osteoblasts, disrupts the integrity of hematopoiesis. [Nature]
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Zscan4 Regulates Telomere Elongation and Genomic Stability in Embryonic Stem Cells
Researchers show that Zscan4 is involved in telomere maintenance and long-term genomic stability in embryonic stem cells. [Nature]
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Primary Contribution to Zebrafish Heart Regeneration by gata4+ Cardiomyocytes
Results indicate that electrically coupled cardiac muscle regenerates after resection injury, primarily through activation and expansion of cardiomyocyte populations. [Nature]
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Zebrafish Heart Regeneration Occurs by Cardiomyocyte Dedifferentiation and Proliferation
The researchers' data provide the first direct evidence for the source of proliferating cardiomyocytes during zebrafish heart regeneration and indicate that stem or progenitor cells are not significantly involved in this process. [Nature]
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Inactivation of Both foxo and reaper Promotes Long-Term Adult Neurogenesis in Drosophila
Researchers show that the absence of adult neurogenesis in Drosophila results from the elimination of neural stem cells (neuroblasts) during development. [Curr Biol]
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Hypoxia Inducible MicroRNA 210 Attenuates Keratinocyte Proliferation and Impairs Closure in a Murine Model of Ischemic Wounds
These results are unique in presenting evidence demonstrating that the hypoxia component of ischemia may limit wound re-epithelialization by stabilizing HIF-1(alpha), which induces miR-210 expression, resulting in the down-regulation of the cell-cycle regulatory protein E2F3. [Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A]
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The Allosteric Mechanism of Pryuvate Kinase from Leishmania mexicana: a Rock and Lock Model
The results presented here illustrate how conformational changes coupled with effector binding correlate with loss of flexibility and increase in thermal stability providing a general mechanism for allosteric control. [J Biol Chem]
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Carl Wieman Chosen for White House Science Post
Physicist Carl Wieman has been picked to be associate director for science in the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. [Office of Science and Technology Policy, United States]
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Emotions Run Deep in Senate Budget Debate
By the time staffers finish their work and the bills are printed and ready to be voted upon, they will be scrubbed of all the emotional debate that previously offered a rare look into the deep social and geographical schisms that exist within Maryland's deep shade of blue on national political maps. [Maryland Senate, United States]
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ReNeuron Signs Further Stem Cell Manufacturing Contracts with Angel Biotechnology for Stroke Clinical Trial
ReNeuron Group plc announced that it has signed two further clinical-grade stem cell manufacturing contracts with Angel Biotechnology Holdings plc, in support of ReNeuron's recently approved first-in-man clinical trial with its ReN001 stem cell therapy for stroke patients. [ReNeuron Group plc Press Release]
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Alnylam Completes Key Technology Transfer Objectives in its Takeda Alliance and Earns $20 Million Payment 
This payment is related to the achievement of certain pre-defined objectives in the transfer of Alnylam’s platform technology, including documents, materials, and know-how, to Takeda for the development of RNAi therapeutics. [Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Press Release]
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Moffitt Cancer Center Signs Licensing Agreement with Proteacel, LLC Goal is to Accelerate the Pace of Discovery
Moffitt Cancer Center and Proteacel LLC announced that they have entered a licensing agreement under which Proteacel has acquired the exclusive rights to the PORE™ technology for delivery of genes into cells. [Proteacel LLC Press Release]
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The Automation Partnership and AVISO Sign Second Distribution Agreement for TAP to Exclusively Market CellCelector™ in the UK and Ireland
The Automation Partnership (TAP) announced it has entered into a second distribution agreement with AVISO GmbH, a major German manufacturer of automation for the stem cell market. [The Automation Partnership Press Release]
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Stemedica Files Investigative New Drug Application with Food and Drug Administration for Treatment of Stroke with Adult Allogeneic Mesenchymal Stem Cells
The trial will assess the safety, tolerability and efficacy of Stemedica's high potency proprietary allogeneic mesenchymal bone marrow-derived stem cells as a treatment for ischemic stroke. [Stemedica Cell Technologies, Inc. Press Release]
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Emerging Healthcare Solutions Funds Stem Cell Firm
Emerging Healthcare Solutions Inc. has closed on a $1.8 million funding injection to Celulas Genetica. [Houston Business Journal]
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Newly Established Firm Aims to Speed Development of Stable Cell Lines and Primary Cells for R&D
A new service company focused on the development of customized cells for drug discovery and development applications has been spun-out from Germany’s Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research. [Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News]
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Biotechs, Venture Capitalists  Shoot, Score with Reform
Looking for a couple of winners out of the House’s historic passage of so-called health care reform — otherwise known as March Madness? Consider the biotech industry and its venture capital backers. [San Francisco Business Times]
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Abbreviated Trials Yield Misleading Results: Study
Many positive treatment effects are exaggerated in clinical trials that are stopped early due to encouraging results, a new study has found. [HealthDay News]
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Institutions Seek Four-Part Harmony on Stem Cells
A new “collaboratory” where scientists from four La Jolla research institutions will work together to advance the field of stem cells should be open within 18 months, officials said yesterday at an official groundbreaking for the facility. [Sign On San Diego]
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NIH Director Collins Defends Obama Administration Policy On Embryonic Stem Cell Research
In a letter to the editor of the Washington Post about a recent article on embryonic stem cell research, NIH Director Francis Collins writes that he is "concerned that readers might come away confused about what is happening" at the agency.
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Notice of Termination of Selected Research Training and Research Career Development Award Funding Opportunity Announcements (NOT-OD-10-069)
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Final Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (Kirschstein-NRSA) Policy for Tuition, Fees, and Health Insurance on Training Grants and Fellowships (NOT-OD-10-073)
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Waivers for Conflicts of Interest for the April 12, 2010 Blood Products Advisory Committee Meeting
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FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION (United States)

Government Accountability Office: FDA Needs Better Plans To Protect Public Health
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is facing significant planning and management challenges that could affect its ability to protect the public health, according to a report by the Government Accountability Office.
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Guidance for Industry on the Content and Format of the Dosage and Administration Section of Labeling for Human Prescription Drug and Biological Products; Availability [Docket No. FDA-2007-D-0201]
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Advisory Committees; Technical Amendment [Docket No. FDA-2010-N-0001]
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Food and Drug Administration Clinical Trial Requirements, Regulations, Compliance, and Good Clinical Practices; Public Workshop [Docket No. FDA-2010-N-0001]
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THERAPEUTIC GOODS ADMINISTRATION (Australia)

Consultation: Proposed Standards for Haematopoietic Progenitor Cells Intended for Use in Haematopoietic Reconstitution
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