Volume 13.36 | Sep 17

Long-Distance Growth and Connectivity of Neural Stem Cells after Severe Spinal Cord Injury
Neural stem cells expressing GFP were embedded into fibrin matrices containing growth factor cocktails and grafted to sites of severe spinal cord injury. Grafted cells differentiated into multiple cellular phenotypes, including neurons, which extended large numbers of axons over remarkable distances. Grafted neurons supported formation of electrophysiological relays across sites of complete spinal transection, resulting in functional recovery. [Cell] Abstract | Press Release | Graphical Abstract

Adipose Tissue Invariant NKT Cells Protect against Diet-Induced Obesity and Metabolic Disorder through Regulatory Cytokine Production
Adoptive transfer of invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cells into obese mice or in vivo activation of iNKT cells via their lipid ligand, alpha-galactocylceramide, decreased body fat, triglyceride levels, leptin, and fatty liver and improved insulin sensitivity through anti-inflammatory cytokine production by adipose-derived iNKT cells. [Immunity] Abstract | Press Release

A Strong Regenerative Ability of Cardiac Stem Cells Derived from Neonatal Hearts
When transplanted into infarcted myocardium, neonatal-derived cardiosphere-derived cells (CDCs) had a significantly higher ability to preserve myocardial function, prevent adverse remodeling, and enhance blood vessel preservation and/or formation when compared with adult-derived CDCs. [Circulation]
Abstract | Press Release

MicroRNA-145 Targeted Therapy Reduces Atherosclerosis
Lentiviral delivery of microRNA-145 resulted in reduced KLF4 and elevated myocardin expression in aortas from apolipoprotein E knockout mice, consistent with an effect of microRNA-145 to promote a contractile phenotype in vascular smooth muscle cells. [Circulation] Abstract | Press Release

Gene Therapy for Adenosine Deaminase-Deficient Severe Combined Immune Deficiency: Clinical Comparison of Retroviral Vectors and Treatment Plans
Researchers conducted a gene therapy trial in ten patients with adenosine deaminase-deficient severe combined immunodeficiency using two slightly different retroviral vectors for the transduction of patients’ bone marrow CD34+ cells. [Blood] Abstract | Press Release

T Cells Engineered with a T Cell Receptor against the Prostate Antigen TARP Specifically Kill HLA-A2⁺ Prostate and Breast Cancer Cells
To produce genetically engineered T cells directed against prostate and breast cancer cells, researchers cloned the T-cell receptor recognizing the HLA-A2-restricted T-cell receptor γ-chain alternate reading-frame protein (TARP)_4-13 epitope. [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA] Abstract | Press Release

MHC Mismatch Results in Neural Progenitor Cell Rejection following Spinal Cord Transplantation in a Model of Viral-Induced Demyelination
Researchers used the JHM strain of mouse hepatitis virus-induced demyelination model to evaluate the antigenicity of transplanted allogeneic neural progenitor cells within the central nervous system of mice with established immune-mediated demyelination. [Stem Cells] Abstract

Oxygen Sensing Mesenchymal Progenitors Promote Neo-Vasculogenesis in a Humanized Mouse Model In Vivo
Results demonstrated that endothelial colony forming progenitor cells require hypoxia-inducible transcription factor-competent vessel wall progenitors to initiate vasculogenesis in vivo and to bypass hypoxia-induced apoptosis. [PLoS One] Full Article

Inhibition of TGF-β Signaling in Genetically Engineered Tumor Antigen-Reactive T Cells Significantly Enhances Tumor Treatment Efficacy
Investigators sought to enhance tumor immunotherapy using genetically modified antigen-specific T cells by interfering with transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) signaling. [Gene Ther] Abstract

Feeder-Free Derivation of Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells with Messenger RNA
Researchers accelerated the messenger RNA reprogramming process through stepwise optimization of the reprogramming factor cocktail and leveraged these kinetic gains to establish a feeder-free, xeno-free protocol which slashes the time, cost and effort involved in induced pluripotent stem cells derivation. [Sci Rep]
Full Article | Press Release

RNAi-Based Nanomedicines for Targeted Personalized Therapy
Through evaluating the recent reported studies in the field, scientists introduce the progress in designing targeted nano-scaled strategies that are anticipated to overcome the delivery drawbacks and along with the exciting “omics” discipline to personalize RNA interference (RNAi)-based therapeutics. [Adv Drug Deliv Rev] Abstract

Cardiac Stem Cell Therapy to Modulate Inflammation upon Myocardial Infarction
This review focuses on the potential use of mesenchymal stem cell therapy for post-myocardial infarction inflammation. [Biochim Biophys Acta] Abstract

Sangamo BioSciences Announces Presentation of Clinical Data from ZFP Therapeutic^® for HIV/AIDS
Sangamo BioSciences, Inc. announced data from its Phase I clinical programs to develop SB-728-T. SB-728-T treatment resulted in an unprecedented and durable increase in CD4+ cells. Analysis showed that this was primarily due to the expansion of CD4+ T-cell types that are vital for the successful reconstitution of the immune system in HIV-infected individuals – the central and transitional memory cells. [Press release from Sangamo BioSciences, Inc. discussing research presented at the 52^nd Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy (ICAAC), San Francisco] Press Release

Dicerna Presents Data on RNA Interference Therapeutic Programs
Dicerna Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced results from the company’s hepatocellular cancer program. [Press release from Dicerna Pharmaceuticals, Inc. discussing research presented at the International Liver Cancer Association (ILCA) Annual Conference, Berlin] Press Release

Proof of Concept Study in Well-Accepted Pre-Clinical Model Shows 90% Survival Benefit with Atu111 in Combination with Antibiotics
Silence Therapeutics plc announced that recent data in pre-clinical models demonstrated the efficacy of Atu111 in acute lung injury. Atu111 targets the endothelial expression of Angiopoietin-2, which is implicated in progressing endothelial dysfunction in the context of disease pathogenesis for acute lung injury or sepsis. [Silence Therapeutics plc] Press Release

Sequestration Would Cut U.S. Science Budgets by 8.2%, White House Estimates
U.S. government science funding programs would see their budgets cut by 8.2% in 2013 unless Congress agrees on a plan to trim budget deficits by the start of the new year. [White House, United States]
Press Release

South Asian Academies to Boost Science Cooperation
The first summit of South Asian science academies agreed to set up a regional network to foster science collaboration on common challenges related to infectious diseases, the environment and science education. [Summit of South Asian Academies, India] Press Release

European Union Battles Over Research Billions
Tens of billions of euros are at stake as negotiations ramp up to shape Europe’s next seven-year research program. The discussions will cover familiar divisions over applied versus basic research and conflicting national agendas, but the continent’s ongoing financial problems will add an extra measure of anxiety. [European Commission, European Union] Press Release

NIH Awards $12 Million for Gene Therapy Work
Seattle Children’s Research Institute and partner organizations have been awarded more than $12 million over the next five years from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases of the National Institutes of Health to develop foamy virus gene replacement therapy for patients who suffer from Severe Combined Immunodeficiency. [Seattle Children’s Hospital, Research and Foundation] Press Release

$8.7 Million Awarded to Stem Cell Researchers in Clinical & Basic Biology Grants from the State Stem Cell Agency
Nelson’s Early Translational award and the two Basic Biology IV grants, totaling $8.7 million, continue efforts by the California Institute of Regenerative Medicine to support research designed to take stem cell science from the laboratory to the clinic. [Eli and Edythe Broad Stem Cell Research Center at UCLA] Press Release

California’s Stem Cell Agency Boosts Heart Disease Research at Sanford-Burnham
The California Institute for Regenerative Medicine has awarded a $1.58 million grant to Huei-Sheng Vincent Chen, PhD, associate professor at Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute (Sanford-Burnham). This new funding will allow Chen and his team to develop personalized models of inherited heart conditions using stem cells derived from patients’ own skin cells. They will also use these models to develop new therapies. [EurekAlert!] Press Release

Funding for Stem Cell Treatment of Compartment Syndrome
America Stem Cell won an Advanced Technology Small Business Technology Transfer Research grant from the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute to evaluate the use of its ASC-101 stem technology in combination with the Wake Forest Institute of Regenerative Medicine’s amniotic fluid-derived stem cells in an experimental model of compartment syndrome. [Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News] Press Release

Multicenter Investigator-Sponsored Cell Therapy Study for Peripheral Artery Disease Approved in Japan
Cytori Therapeutics announced that a 40-patient, multi-center investigator-sponsored and funded clinical study in Japan using the Celution® System has been approved under the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare Guidelines on Clinical Research Using Human Stem Cells. The study will investigate the use of patients’ own adipose-derived stem and regenerative cells processed by the Celution® System for peripheral artery disease or arteriosclerosis obliterans. [Cytori Therapeutics, Inc.] Press Release

Opexa Initiates Late Stage Clinical Study of Tcelna in Patients with Secondary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis (SPMS)
Opexa Therapeutics, Inc., a company developing Tcelna™, a novel T-cell therapy for multiple sclerosis, announced the initiation of a Phase IIb clinical trial of Tcelna in patients with SPMS. [Opexa Therapeutics, Inc.] Press Release

ReNeuron Files Two New Clinical Trial Applications Ahead of Plan in Stroke and Critical Limb Ischemia as Its Stem Cell Programs Advance
ReNeuron reported that it has submitted an application to the UK regulatory authority to commence a multi-site Phase II clinical trial to examine the efficacy of its ReN001 stem cell therapy in patients disabled by an ischemic stroke. [ReNeuron Group plc] Press Release

NeoStem Subsidiary, Amorcyte, Announces Significant Expansion in Its Claims Granted to Protect the Use of CD34+ Cells
Amorcyte, LLC, a subsidiary of NeoStem, Inc., announced a significant expansion in its claims granted to protect the use of CD34+ cells, acquired from blood or bone marrow, to impart a therapeutic benefit to tissue sustaining an ischemic injury. [NeoStem, Inc.] Press Release

Coronado Biosciences Granted First U.S. Patent Covering CNDO-109
Coronado Biosciences, Inc. announced the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has granted a key patent for CNDO-109, licensed by Coronado Biosciences from the University College London Business PLC, for its natural killer cell therapy program. [Coronado Biosciences, Inc.] Press Release

Pearl Meister Greengard Prize to be Awarded to Pioneering RNA Researcher Joan Steitz
Joan A. Steitz, a pioneer in the field of RNA biology whose discoveries involved patients with a variety of autoimmune diseases, will be awarded the 2012 Pearl Meister Greengard Prize from The Rockefeller University. [The Rockefeller University] Press Release

Center for Scientific Review; Notice of Closed Meetings (FR Doc No: 2012-22481)

Center for Scientific Review; Notice of Closed Meetings (FR Doc No: 2012-22770)

Center for Scientific Review Notice of Closed Meetings (FR Doc No: 2012-22285)

National Cancer Institute; Notice of Closed Meetings (FR Doc No: 2012-22384)

National Cancer Institute; Notice of Closed Meetings (FR Doc No: 2012-22287)

Developing Gene Therapy for Cancers Using Virus Vectors

September 20-21, 2012: Blood Products Advisory Committee Meeting: Draft Agenda

Food and Drug Administration (United States)

Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection; Comment Request; Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988 Waiver Applications (FR Doc No: 2012-22660)

Science Board to the Food and Drug Administration: Request for Nominations (FR Doc No: 2012-22210)


Therapeutic Goods Administration (Australia)

Revising the Code of GMP for Blood and Tissues

NEW The Jackson Laboratory: Making Sense of Mouse Nomenclature and Promoting Genetic Stability
September 20, 1:00PM (ET in US)
Webinar

NEW Fraunhofer Life Science Symposium Leipzig ²⁰¹²
November 29-30, 2012
Leipzig, Germany

Visit our events page to see a complete list of events in the cell, gene and immunotherapy community.

Scientific Communications & Publishing Coordinator (STEMCELL Technologies, Inc.)

Quality Control Operations Coordinator (STEMCELL Technologies, Inc.)

Research Technologist – Research and Development (STEMCELL Technologies, Inc.)

Research Technologist – Media Development (STEMCELL Technologies, Inc.)

Postdoctoral Position – Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Research (University of Washington)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Preclinical Group (BN ImmunoTherapeutics)

Postdoctoral Positions – Immunity and Inflammation (CNRS & University of Toulouse, France)

Postdoctoral Position – Pathophysiology of Brain Tumors (UMR 6301 ISTCT)

Research Associate – Quality Assurance (University of California)

Scientist, Postdoctoral and Research Associate Positions (University of Miami – Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center)


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