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SCIENCE NEWS
Targeted Drug Leads to Rapid Regression of Metastatic Melanoma in Patients with Mutated BRAF Gene Use of an experimental targeted drug to treat metastatic melanoma tumors with a specific genetic signature was successful in more than 80 percent of patients in a Phase I clinical trial. [Press release from Massachusetts General Hospital discussing online prepublication in the New England Journal of Medicine]
Gene Involved in Fuchs Corneal Dystrophy Is Found A research team has found a gene likely responsible for Fuchs corneal dystrophy. [Press release from the University of Oregon discussing online prepublication in the New England Journal of Medicine]
Gene Scan Finds Link Across Array of Childhood Brain Disorders Mutations in a single gene can cause several types of developmental brain abnormalities that experts have traditionally considered different disorders. Researchers found those mutations through whole exome sequencing — a new gene scanning technology that cuts the cost and time of searching for rare mutations. [Press release from the National Institutes of Health discussing online prepublication in Nature]
Team Finds a Genetic Rarity: A Mutation That Restores Health Scientists have unraveled the secrets of a rare phenomenon with potential therapeutic implications — disease-causing genes that show a high frequency of self-repair. [Press release from Yale University discussing online prepublication in Science]
Scientists Unveil Structure of Adenovirus, the Largest High-Resolution Complex Ever Found Scientists have pieced together the structure of a human adenovirus — the largest complex ever determined at atomic resolution. The new findings about the virus may lead to more effective gene therapy and to new anti-viral drugs. [Press release from the Scripps Research Institute discussing online prepublication in Science]
A Better Way to Grow Stem Cells Researchers have devised a synthetic surface that includes no foreign animal material and allows stem cells to stay alive and continue reproducing themselves for at least three months. [Press release from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology discussing online prepublication in Nature Materials]
Liver Cells Created from Patients’ Skin Cells By creating diseased liver cells from a small sample of human skin, scientists have for the first time shown that stem cells can be used to model a diverse range of inherited disorders. [Press release from the University of Cambridge discussing online prepublication in the Journal of Clinical Investigation]
Gene Therapy to Treat Epilepsy a Step Closer Researchers introduced genes that increase the expression of certain receptors for neuropeptides in the brain. [Press release from Lund University discussing online prepublication in Brain]
Double-Therapy Approach Effectively Inhibited Brain Cancer Recurrence Researchers have identified a novel approach of combining chemotherapy with a targeted therapy to decrease the recurrence of glioblastoma multiforme. [Press release from the University of Massachusetts Medical School discussing online prepublication in Cancer Research]
Human Umbilical Cord Blood Cells Aid Lab Animal Brain Cell Survival After Simulated Stroke Human umbilical cord blood cells used to treat cultured rat brain cells deprived of oxygen appear to protect astrocytes from cell death after stroke-like damage. [Press release from EurekAlert! discussing online prepublication in Stem Cell Reviews and Reports]
Seeing the World with New Eyes: Biosynthetic Corneas Restore Vision in Humans A new study has shown that biosynthetic corneas can help regenerate and repair damaged eye tissue and improve vision in humans. [Press release from Linköping University discussing online prepublication in Science Translational Medicine]
CURRENT PUBLICATIONS (Ranked by Impact Factor of the Journal)
Inhibition of Mutated, Activated BRAF in Metastatic Melanoma Treatment of metastatic melanoma with PLX4032 in patients with tumors that carry the V600E BRAF mutation resulted in complete or partial tumor regression in the majority of patients. [N Engl J Med]
E2-2 Protein and Fuchs's Corneal Dystrophy Genetic variation in transcription factor 4 gene (TCF4) contributes to the development of Fuchs's corneal dystrophy. [N Engl J Med]
Non-Canonical Inhibition of DNA Damage-Dependent Ubiquitination by OTUB1 Researchers report that OTUB1, a deubiquitinating enzyme, is an inhibitor of double-strand break-induced chromatin ubiquitination. [Nature]
Whole Exome Sequencing Identifies WDR62 Mutations in Severe Brain Cortical Malformations Researchers demonstrate the use of whole-exome sequencing to identify recessive mutations in WD repeat domain 62 (WDR62) as the cause of a wide spectrum of severe cerebral cortical malformations including microcephaly, pachygyria with cortical thickening as well as hypoplasia of the corpus callosum. [Nature] Mitotic Recombination in Patients with Ichthyosis Causes Reversion of Dominant Mutations in KRT10 The high frequency of somatic reversion in ichthyosis with confetti suggests that revertant stem cell clones are under strong positive selection and/or that the rate of mitotic recombination is elevated in individuals with this disorder. [Science] Crystal Structure of Human Adenovirus at 3.5 Angstrom Resolution Researchers report the x-ray structure at 3.5 angstrom resolution of the 150-megadalton adenovirus capsid containing nearly 1 million amino acids. [Science]
Combinatorial Development of Biomaterials for Clonal Growth of Human Pluripotent Stem Cells Researchers developed the first chemically defined, xeno-free, feeder-free synthetic substrates to support robust self-renewal of fully dissociated human embryonic stem and induced pluripotent stem cells. [Nat Mater]
Modeling Inherited Metabolic Disorders of the Liver Using Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells Researchers report a simple and effective platform for hepatocyte generation from patient-specific human induced pluripotent stem cells. [J Clin Invest]
A Biosynthetic Alternative to Human Donor Tissue for Inducing Corneal Regeneration: 24-Month Follow-Up of a Phase I Clinical Study With further optimization, biosynthetic corneal implants could offer a safe and effective alternative to the implantation of human tissue to help address the current donor cornea shortage. [Sci Transl Med]
Dynamic MicroRNA Expression Programs During Cardiac Differentiation of Human Embryonic Stem Cells: Role for miR-499 Data give significant insight into the regulatory networks that govern human embryonic stem cells (hESC) differentiation, and highlights the ability of microRNAs to perturb, and even control, the genes that are involved in cardiac specification of hESCs. [Circ Cardiovasc Genet]
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BUSINESS
Roche Enters $1.1 Billion Drug Deal With U.S.'s Aileron Roche Holding AG entered into a partnership deal with U.S.-based biopharmaceutical firm Aileron Therapeutics to produce a novel class of drugs to treat diseases such as inflammation and metabolic ailments, speeding up recent efforts to broaden its R&D pipeline by entering into licensing agreements and acquisitions. [The Wall Street Journal]
Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine Signs a Memorandum of Understanding with NUI Galway The Network of Excellence for Functional Biomaterials and the Regenerative Medicine Institute at National University of Ireland (NUI) Galway have formally signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine. [National University of Ireland, Galway Press Release]
Soligenix Announces Award of $1.2 Million FDA Orphan Products Development Grant Soligenix, Inc. announced that it has been awarded a three year $1.2 million clinical research grant by the Office of Orphan Products Development of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) pursuant to its Orphan Products Development Program. [Soligenix, Inc. Press Release] Fox Center Receives Donation to Further Research on Stem Cell Therapy for Corneal Scarring The Louis J. Fox Center for Vision Restoration of University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) and the University of Pittsburgh received a $244,000 donation from the Western Pennsylvania Medical Eye Bank Foundation. The donation, to be matched by UPMC, will be used to further research on stem cell therapy for corneal scarring. [University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Press Release] Neuralstem Files FDA Application for First Chronic Spinal Cord Injury Stem Cell Trial Neuralstem, Inc. announced that it has filed an Investigational New Drug application with the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to begin a Phase I safety clinical trial for chronic spinal cord injury with its spinal cord stem cells. [Neuralstem, Inc. Press Release] Shire Announces European Approval of VPRIV® (velaglucerase alfa) for the Treatment of Type 1 Gaucher Disease Shire plc announced that the European Commission has granted marketing authorization for VPRIV® (velaglucerase alfa), a human cell line derived enzyme replacement therapy for the long-term treatment of type 1 Gaucher disease. [Shire plc Press Release] Celera Announces Issuance of United States Patent Relating to LPA Gene Variant Associated with Increased Risk for Myocardial Infarction Celera Corporation announced that the United States Patent and Trademark Office has issued United States Patent 7,781,168 relating to methods of determining heart attack risk by detecting the Ile4399Met genetic polymorphism in the protease-like domain of LPA. [Celera Corporation Press Release]
European Patent Office Allows Advaxis/University of Pennsylvania Modified Listeria Protein Listeriolysin O Patent Advaxis, Inc. has been notified by the European Patent Office that patent application WO2001/072329, for the use of Prokaryotic PEST-Like Peptides for Enhancing Immunogenicity of Antigen has been allowed for issuance. [Advaxis, Inc. Press Release]
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EVENTS (Listed by Date)
European Workshop on Skin Stem Cells August 31-September 2, 2010 Cambridge, United Kingdom
Clinical Trials International Summit 2010 September 1-2, 2010 Shanghai, China
Third Annual Limbal Stem Cell Meeting September 10, 2010 Reading, United Kingdom
International Society for Cellular Therapy (ISCT) – Europe 2nd Regional Meeting September 11-14, 2010 Belgirate, Italy
Hydra VI: The European Summer School on Stem Cells & Regenerative Medicine September 11-17, 2010 Hydra, Greece
Joint Metastasis Research Society – American Association of Cancer Research Conference on Metastasis and the Tumor Microenvironment September 12-15, 2010 Philadelphia, United States
Stem Cells USA & Regenerative Medicine Congress 2010 September 13-15, 2010 Philadelphia, United States
Select Biosciences 7th Annual RNAi & miRNA Europe September 14-15, 2010 Dublin, Ireland
Select Biosciences Inaugural Epigenetics Europe Conference September 14-15, 2010 Dublin, Ireland
Select Biosciences Inaugural Genomics Automation Europe Conference September 14-15, 2010 Dublin, Ireland
Tissue Engineering & Regenerative Medicine International Society (TERMIS) – Asia Pacific 2010 September 15-17, 2010 Sydney, Australia
First Annual BIO India International Partnering Conference September 21-22, 2010 Hyderabad, India
Cellular Therapy of Cancer Symposium – ATTACK Project Meeting September 24-27, 2010 Montpellier, France
International Society for Cellular Therapy 2nd Annual Symposium on Stem Cell Translation: Best Practices & Regulatory Considerations September 27-28, 2010 San Francisco, United States
International Society for Cell and Gene Therapy of Cancer (ISCGT) Congress September 27-29, 2010 Doha, Qatar
4th American Association of Cancer Research International Conference on Molecular Diagnostics in Cancer Therapeutic Development September 27-30, 2010 Denver, United States
Select Biosciences 6th Annual Ion Channel Targets Conference September 28-29, 2010 Washington, DC, United States
Cytokines 2010: Cytokines in Infectious Diseases, Autoimmune Disorders and Cancer October 3-7, 2010 Chicago, United States
2010 World Stem Cell Summit October 4-6, 2010 Detroit, United States
9th Annual BIO Investor Forum October 5-6, 2010 San Francisco, United States
5th World Congress on Preventive & Regenerative Medicine (WCRM) October 5-7, 2010 Hannover, Germany
17th Annual Meeting German Society for Gene Therapy (DG-GT e.V.) October 6-9, 2010 Munich, Germany
COGEM Symposium: GM Viruses as Medicine: Panacea or Pandora's Box? October 7, 2010 Amsterdam, The Netherlands
American Association of Blood Banks (AABB) Annual Meeting & Cellular Therapy and Transfusion Medicine Expo (CTTXPO) 2010 October 9-12, 2010 Baltimore, United States
18th Annual BioPartnering Europe October 10-12, 2010 London, United Kingdom
3rd Biobridge “Generation Regeneration” Conference October 11, 2010 Geneva, Switzerland
New York Stem Cell Foundation Fifth Annual Translational Stem Cell Research Meeting October 12-13, 2010 New York, United States
Translational Cancer Research for Basic Scientists October 17-22, 2010 Boston, United States
2010 NanoMedicine Summit October 18-19, 2010 Cleveland, United States
BIO Intellectual Property Counsels Committee Fall Conference and Committee Meeting October 18-20, 2010 Boston, United States
NEW 6th Modern Drug Discovery & Development Summit (M3D) October 20-22, 2010 San Francisco, United States
European Society of Gene and Cell Therapy (ESGCT) 18th Annual Congress October 22-25, 2010 Milan, Italy
3rd Annual Dubai Congress on Anti-Aging and Aesthetic Medicine (DCAAAM) October 26-27, 2010 Dubai, United Arab Emirates
World Stem Cells & Regenerative Medicine Congress Asia 2010 October 26-29, 2010 Singapore City, Singapore
Select Biosciences 3rd Annual Molecular Diagnostics World Congress October 28-29, 2010 San Diego, United States
Fraunhofer Life Science Symposium 2010 October 29-30, 2010 Leipzig, Germany
Stem Cell Society Singapore Symposium 2010: Translating Science to Therapy November 2-3, 2010 Singapore City, Singapore
BioMalaysia 2010 Conference and Exhibition November 2-4, 2010 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
World Cord Blood Congress November 4-7, 2010 Marseille, France
Select Biosciences 5th Annual European Biomarkers Summit November 9-10, 2010 Florence, Italy
Select Biosciences International Forum on Stem Cells November 12-13, 2010 Tianjin, China
Select Biosciences 2nd Annual RNAi Asia Conference November 15-16, 2010 Singapore City, Singapore
BIO-Europe International Partnering Conference November 15-17, 2010 Munich, Germany
9th Annual Gene Therapy Symposium for Heart, Lung, and Blood Diseases November 17-19, 2010 Sonoma, United States
8th Annual Commercial Translation of Regenerative Medicine Conference November 18-19, 2010 London, United Kingdom
Stem Cell Network 10th Annual Scientific Meeting November 22-24, 2010 Calgary, Canada
HealthTech and Medicines Knowledge Transfer Network 7th Annual BioProcessUK Conference November 24-25, 2010 Manchester, United Kingdom
2nd European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery (EACTS) Meeting on Cardiac and Pulmonary Regeneration December 2-3, 2010 Vienna, Austria
Tissue Engineering & Regenerative Medicine International Society (TERMIS) – North America 2010 Annual Conference December 5-8, 2010 Orlando, United States
Select Biosciences 5th Annual Stem Cells World Congress January 24-25, 2011 San Diego, United States
BIO Asia International Partnering Conference January 24-25, 2011 Tokyo, Japan
Phacilitate 7th Annual Cell & Gene Therapy Forum 2011 January 24-26, 2011 Washington DC, United States
Visit our events page to stay up to date with the latest events in the cell, gene and immunotherapy community.
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