Newswise Bethesda, MDOctober 1, 2012 Listed below are the selected highlights for the October 2012 issue of the Genetics Society of Americas journal, GENETICS. The October issue is available online at http://www.genetics.org/content/current. Please credit GENETICS, Vol. 192, October 2012, Copyright 2012.

Please feel free to forward to colleagues who may be interested in these articles.

ISSUE HIGHLIGHTS

Energy-dependent modulation of glucagon-like signaling in Drosophila via the AMP-activated protein kinase, pp. 457466 Jason T. Braco, Emily L. Gillespie, Gregory E. Alberto, Jay E. Brenman, and Erik C. Johnson How organisms maintain energetic homeostasis is unclear. These authors show that the actions of a known cellular sensor of energythe AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK)cause release of a glucagon-like hormone in Drosophila. They further show that AMPK regulates secretion of adipokinetic hormone. This suggests new roles and targets for AMPK and suggests metabolic networks are organized similarly throughout Metazoa.

The relation of codon bias to tissue-specific gene expression in Arabidopsis thaliana, pp. 641649 Salvatore Camiolo, Lorenzo Farina, and Andrea Porceddu This article reports systematic differences in usage of synonymous codons in Arabidopsis thaliana genes whose expression is tissue specific. The authors propose that codon bias evolves as an adaptive response to the different abundances of tRNAs in different tissues. Integrity and function of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae spindle pole body depends on connections between the membrane proteins Ndc1, Rtn1, and Yop1, pp. 441455 Amanda K. Casey, T. Renee Dawson, Jingjing Chen, Jennifer M. Friederichs, Sue L. Jaspersen, and Susan R. Wente Budding yeast face an unusual challenge during cell division: they must segregate their chromosomes while the nuclear envelope remains intact. Consequently, mitosis begins with insertion of the duplicated spindle pole body (a.k.a. centrosome) into the nuclear envelope, a process that parallels the generation of new nuclear pore complexes. These authors report data that suggest new mechanisms for linking nuclear division and transport.

Cellular memory of acquired stress resistance in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, pp. 495505 Qiaoning Guan, Suraiya Haroon, Diego Gonzlez Bravo, Jessica L. Will, and Audrey P. Gasch Cells can retain memory of prior experiences that influence future behaviors. Here, the authors show that budding yeast retains a multifaceted memory of prior stress treatment. Cells pretreated with salt retain peroxide tolerance for several generations after removal of the initial stressor. This is due to long-lived catalase, produced during salt treatment and distributed to daughter cells. These cells also display transcriptional memory dependent on the nuclear pore subunit Nup42 that functions to promote reacquisition of stress tolerance in future stress cycles.

Genomic variation in natural populations of Drosophila melanogaster, pp. 533598 Charles H. Langley, Kristian Stevens, Charis Cardeno, Yuh Chwen G. Lee, Daniel R. Schrider, John E. Pool, Sasha A. Langley, Charlyn Suarez, Russell B. Corbett-Detig, Bryan Kolaczkowski, Shu Fang, Phillip M. Nista, Alisha K. Holloway, Andrew D. Kern, Colin N. Dewey, Yun S. Song, Matthew W. Hahn, and David J. Begun This article greatly extends studies of population genetic variation in natural populations of Drosophila melanogaster, which have played an important role in the development of evolutionary theory. The authors describe genome sequences of 43 individuals taken from two natural populations of D. melanogaster. The genetic polymorphism, divergence, and copy-number variation revealed in these data are presented at several scales, providing unprecedented insight into forces shaping genome polymorphism and divergence.

Estimating allele age and selection coefficient from time-serial data, pp. 599607 Anna-Sapfo Malaspinas, Orestis Malaspinas, Steven N. Evans, and Montgomery Slatkin The relative importance of the four fundamental processes driving evolutiongenetic drift, natural selection, migration, and mutationremains undetermined. These authors propose a new approach to estimate the selection coefficient and the allele age of time serial data. They apply their methodology to ancient sequences of a horse coat color gene and demonstrate that the causative allele existed as a rare segregating variant prior to domestication. This illuminates the debate on the relative importance of new vs. standing variation in adaptation and domestication. DNA replication origin function is promoted by H3K4 di-methylation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, pp. 371384 Lindsay F. Rizzardi, Elizabeth S. Dorn, Brian D. Strahl, and Jeanette Gowen Cook What defines a DNA replication origin? It is becoming increasingly apparent that post-translational modifications of nucleosomes near replication origins help mark them and control their activity. The genetic analysis presented in this article implicates di-methylated histone H3 lysine 4 (stimulated by histone H2B monoubiquitination) as part of the definition of active replication origins. Since these histone modifications are highly conserved, these findings are relevant to genome organization in other eukaryotes.

Comparative oncogenomics implicates the Neurofibromin 1 gene (NF1) as a breast cancer driver, pp. 385396 Marsha D. Wallace, Adam D. Pfefferle, Lishuang Shen, Adrian J. McNairn, Ethan G. Cerami, Barbara L. Fallon, Vera D. Rinaldi, Teresa L. Southard, Charles M. Perou, and John C. Schimenti This study of a mouse model of genomic instability indicates that NF1 (Neurofibromin 1) deficiency can drive breast cancer. ~ 63,000 people in the United States annually will develop breast cancer with an NF1 deficiency. Together with evidence that NF1 depletion confers resistance of human breast cancer cells to tamoxifen, these findings suggest therapeutic strategies for patients with NF1-deleted tumors.

ABOUT GENETICS: Since 1916, GENETICS (http://www.genetics.org/) has covered high quality, original research on a range of topics bearing on inheritance, including population and evolutionary genetics, complex traits, developmental and behavioral genetics, cellular genetics, gene expression, genome integrity and transmission, and genome and systems biology. GENETICS, a peer-reviewed, peer-edited journal of the Genetics Society of America is one of the world's most cited journals in genetics and heredity.

See the rest here:
GENETICS Journal Highlights for October 2012

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

Consumer Genetics Conference 2012 Kicks Off This Week in Boston Featuring Preeminent Leaders in Industry, Academia, Medicine and Government to Examine Advancements, Applications, Issues and Challenges in Personal Genomics and 21st Century Healthcare

~Harvards Professor of Genetics George Church to Discuss his New Book During Keynote~ ~X PRIZE Foundation Special Announcement on Day One~ ~Three Days of Presentations, Panel Discussions and Lively Interchange at this Highly Interactive and Unique Forum Expected To Help Shape and Guide This Emerging Industry ~

Newswise Boston, MA, October 1, 2012 -- The 4th Annual Consumer Genetics Conference takes place this week, October 3-5 at the Boston Seaport Hotel. This unique interactive forum, will highlight three major themes regarding this burgeoning industry: Technology (Day 1), Business & Translation (Day 2) and Applications (Day 3). Presentations will specifically cover a variety of topics including: personal genomics, next and third generation sequencing, molecular diagnostics, industry funding and investment, and the current and future applications of genomics in clinical practices and as well as in nutrition, food genetics and cosmetics.

Along with program presentations and panel sessions, there are several notable keynote addresses and a few major news announcements: Day One will open with Lee Silver, Professor of Molecular Biology and Public Affairs of Princeton University presenting: Self-Discovery in the Age of personal Genomics (8:45 a.m.). This presentation will explore how consumer genetics has blossomed from infancy to adolescence with an array of consumer-facing products. It will also examine how this cottage industry is still struggling with growing pains as it faces a mix of regulators, restless innovators, and demanding and empowered patients.

Day One will also highlight: A keynote by George Church, Professor of Genetics and Director of the Center for Computational Genetics at Harvard Medical School and Father of the Personal Genome Project, will be given at the close of Day One (5:20 p.m.) with Professor Church providing a candid assessment of new sequencing technologies, current trends in personal genomics and projections on the future path of genomics in medicine. This address will come in the wake of his new book launch: Regenesis: How Synthetic Biology Will Reinvent Nature and Ourselves. Professor Church will be available for conversations and interviews following his presentation. A welcome reception will take place at 6:00 p.m.

There will also be a special X PRIZE Foundation announcement at the Consumer Genetics Conference about the Archon Genomics X PRIZE presented by Express Scripts in the afternoon at the Conference on October 3rd. This announcement will be consistent with X Prizes overall mission which is to bring about radical breakthroughs for the benefit of humanity. In this case, the news is expected to usher in a new era of personalized medicine through whole genome sequencing. [More information can be obtained by contacting Grant Company, Senior Director & Prize Lead for the Genomics X PRIZE, who will be in attendance at the conference in Boston.]

The featured presentation on Day 2 will be delivered by Marc Salit, Group Leader, National Institute of Standards and Technology, where he will present: Genome-in-a Bottle: Reference Materials and Methods for Confidence in Whole Genome Sequencing. In this presentation, he will explore the need for reference materials, methods and data to measure results for sound, reproducible research and regulated applications of whole genomic sequencing in the clinic.

Also on Day Two there will be two notable panel presentations: VC and Investment Banking panel (10:45 a.m.) focused on the corporate criteria they look for when funding companies involved in genomics, and the metrics that guide their decisions. A Physicians Perspective on deploying genomics and sequencing data in preventative and clinical care (1:45 p.m.)

On Day 3, the keynote will be presented by Kenneth Chahine of Ancestry.com, which has the worlds largest online resource for family history with an extensive collection of over 10 billion historical records. This keynote will focus on their new direct-to-consumer genealogical DNA test that delivers (i) prediction of identity-by-descent and a test that allows customers to find genetic relatives , and (ii) the individuals admixture to provide a predicted genetic ethnicity.

Highlights on Day Three will also include:

More here:
Consumer Genetics Conference 2012 Kicks Off This Week in Boston

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

Public release date: 1-Oct-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Phyllis Edelman pedelman@genetics-gsa.org 301-634-7302 Genetics Society of America

Bethesda, MDOctober 1, 2012 Listed below are the selected highlights for the October 2012 issue of the Genetics Society of America's journal, GENETICS. The October issue is available online at http://www.genetics.org/content/current. Please credit GENETICS, Vol. 192, October 2012, Copyright 2012.

Please feel free to forward to colleagues who may be interested in these articles.

ISSUE HIGHLIGHTS

Energy-dependent modulation of glucagon-like signaling in Drosophila via the AMP-activated protein kinase, pp. 457 Jason T. Braco, Emily L. Gillespie, Gregory E. Alberto, Jay E. Brenman, and Erik C. Johnson How organisms maintain energetic homeostasis is unclear. These authors show that the actions of a known cellular sensor of energythe AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK)cause release of a glucagon-like hormone in Drosophila. They further show that AMPK regulates secretion of adipokinetic hormone. This suggests new roles and targets for AMPK and suggests metabolic networks are organized similarly throughout Metazoa.

The relation of codon bias to tissue-specific gene expression in Arabidopsis thaliana, pp. 641 Salvatore Camiolo, Lorenzo Farina, and Andrea Porceddu This article reports systematic differences in usage of synonymous codons in Arabidopsis thaliana genes whose expression is tissue specific. The authors propose that codon bias evolves as an adaptive response to the different abundances of tRNAs in different tissues.

Integrity and function of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae spindle pole body depends on connections between the membrane proteins Ndc1, Rtn1, and Yop1, pp. 441 Amanda K. Casey, T. Renee Dawson, Jingjing Chen, Jennifer M. Friederichs, Sue L. Jaspersen, and Susan R. Wente Budding yeast face an unusual challenge during cell division: they must segregate their chromosomes while the nuclear envelope remains intact. Consequently, mitosis begins with insertion of the duplicated spindle pole body (a.k.a. centrosome) into the nuclear envelope, a process that parallels the generation of new nuclear pore complexes. These authors report data that suggest new mechanisms for linking nuclear division and transport.

Cellular memory of acquired stress resistance in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, pp. 495 Qiaoning Guan, Suraiya Haroon, Diego Gonzlez Bravo, Jessica L. Will, and Audrey P. Gasch Cells can retain memory of prior experiences that influence future behaviors. Here, the authors show that budding yeast retains a multifaceted memory of prior stress treatment. Cells pretreated with salt retain peroxide tolerance for several generations after removal of the initial stressor. This is due to long-lived catalase, produced during salt treatment and distributed to daughter cells. These cells also display transcriptional memory dependent on the nuclear pore subunit Nup42 that functions to promote reacquisition of stress tolerance in future stress cycles.

Genomic variation in natural populations of Drosophila melanogaster, pp. 533 Charles H. Langley, Kristian Stevens, Charis Cardeno, Yuh Chwen G. Lee, Daniel R. Schrider, John E. Pool, Sasha A. Langley, Charlyn Suarez, Russell B. Corbett-Detig, Bryan Kolaczkowski, Shu Fang, Phillip M. Nista, Alisha K. Holloway, Andrew D. Kern, Colin N. Dewey, Yun S. Song, Matthew W. Hahn, and David J. Begun This article greatly extends studies of population genetic variation in natural populations of Drosophila melanogaster, which have played an important role in the development of evolutionary theory. The authors describe genome sequences of 43 individuals taken from two natural populations of D. melanogaster. The genetic polymorphism, divergence, and copy-number variation revealed in these data are presented at several scales, providing unprecedented insight into forces shaping genome polymorphism and divergence.

See the article here:
Genetics Society of America's GENETICS journal highlights for October 2012

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

SMi is delighted to welcome: Carlos Camozzi, Vice President & Chief Medical Officer at uniQure, to their inaugural Orphan Drugs & Rare Diseases conference taking place next week on 8th & 9th October 2012 in London. Dr. Camozzi will be joining leading leaders in gene therapy and rare diseases.

(PRWEB UK) 1 October 2012

Jrn Aldag, chief executive of UniQure, says that the announcement from the EMA is an overdue signal to the gene-therapy community that things are changing. It unlocks the potential, he says, quoted in Nature. You will see more investment coming.*

Perhaps as important is UniQures pioneering annuity approach to reimbursement, staggering payments over the five years for which treatment has been proved to work. As highlighted by the Financial Times, such financial innovation may prove as important as the scientific breakthroughs that led to the treatment in the first place**.

Other keynote speakers presenting at this outstanding event include:

Visit http://www.smi-online.co.uk/goto/orphandrugs-event38.asp to secure your place now!

Alternatively, contact Alternatively Contact Fateja Begum on telephone +44 (0) 20 7827 6184 or email on fbegum@smi-online.co.uk

** Healthcare: Uncommon complaints. Financial Times, July 25th, 2012, p.9.

About SMi Group

The SMi Group is a world leader in business to business information. With nearly two decades in the business, thousands of senior executives from blue chip companies have already benefitted from SMis highly targeted conferences, workshops and publications. For more information visit:

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Orphan Drugs & Rare Diseases conference

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

MARLBOROUGH, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Advanced Cell Technology, Inc. (ACT; OTCBB: ACTC), a leader in the field of regenerative medicine, announced today that its chief scientific officer, Robert Lanza, M.D. and Anthony Atala, M.D., W.H. Boyce Professor and Director of the Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine, have released the second edition of Handbook of Stem Cells (Academic Press/Elsevier), the widely-recognized definitive resource in the field of stem cells. It includes a Forward by Professor Sir Martin Evans, Ph.D., FRS, co-winner of the Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine in 2007. Sir Martin is credited with discovering embryonic stem cells and is considered one of the chief architects of the field of stem cell research. The two-volume set also includes contributions from dozens of stem cell pioneers, including James Thomson, Shinya Yamanaka, Doug Melton, Janet Rossant, and Robert Langer (a member of ACTs board of directors), among others, as well as patient advocate Mary Tyler Moore.

Handbook of Stem Cells, Second Edition follows a very successful edition published in 2004. The first edition was the first comprehensive body of work dedicated entirely to the stem cell field. The two-volume set quickly became the most relevant textbook in the stem cell arena. Now, several years later, major advances have occurred, with entirely new classes of stem cells being described. The description of induced pluripotent cells in the last few years brought many more avenues of research and discovery. In 2012, the first paper reporting results of two patients treated with human embryonic stem cells was published by ACT and its collaborators. It might seem that we have waited too long to finally see pluripotent stem cells in the clinic. However, this has been accomplished with incredible speed when it is considered that hESCs were first isolated just 14 years ago. Handbook of Stem Cells integrates this exciting area, combining in two volumes the requisites for a general understanding of both adult and embryonic stem cells. Organized in two volumes, Pluripotent Stem Cells and Adult & Fetal Stem Cells, this work contains contributions from the world's experts in stem cell research to provide a description of the tools, methods, and experimental protocols needed to study and characterize stem cells and progenitor populations as well as a the latest information of what is known about each specific organ system.

The Handbook of Stem Cells, edited by Robert Lanza and colleagues, is an ambitious new text that achieves extraordinary completeness and inclusiveness, wrote Steve Goldman of University of Rochester Medical Center in NATURE CELL BIOLOGY about the first edition. [...] the editors have succeeded in putting together a reference that is broad enough in scope, but sufficiently detailed and rigorous, to be of real interest to both new and seasoned investigators in the field [...] In providing this treatise, which covers the history, biology, methods and applications of stem cells, the editors and authors have succeeded in establishing a conceptual framework and a common language for the field. In so doing, they have ensured that this two-volume set will serve as a benchmark reference in stem cell biology for years to come.

Writing about the first edition in the Times Higher Education Supplement, Ian Wilmut added, These books make an invaluable contribution to the education of researchers and clinicians both of the present day and of the future. They should be available in libraries of all biology and medical schools as well as those of companies and research institutions.

About Advanced Cell Technology, Inc.

Advanced Cell Technology, Inc., is a biotechnology company applying cellular technology in the field of regenerative medicine. For more information, visit http://www.advancedcell.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements in this news release regarding future financial and operating results, future growth in research and development programs, potential applications of our technology, opportunities for the company and any other statements about the future expectations, beliefs, goals, plans, or prospects expressed by management constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Any statements that are not statements of historical fact (including statements containing the words will, believes, plans, anticipates, expects, estimates, and similar expressions) should also be considered to be forward-looking statements. There are a number of important factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements, including: limited operating history, need for future capital, risks inherent in the development and commercialization of potential products, protection of our intellectual property, and economic conditions generally. Additional information on potential factors that could affect our results and other risks and uncertainties are detailed from time to time in the companys periodic reports, including the report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011. Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, opinions, and expectations of the companys management at the time they are made, and the company does not assume any obligation to update its forward-looking statements if those beliefs, opinions, expectations, or other circumstances should change. Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, opinions, and expectations of the companys management at the time they are made, and the company does not assume any obligation to update its forward-looking statements if those beliefs, opinions, expectations, or other circumstances should change. There can be no assurance that the Companys clinical trials will be successful.

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New Edition of Definitive (Two-Volume) Resource in Stem Cells Released Today

Recommendation and review posted by simmons

SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Medistem Inc (Pink Sheets:MEDS) announced today the initiation of a collaboration with Superview Biotechnology Co. Ltd, a subsidiary of Yinhuan Holding Co from Yixing, China. The joint work will be aimed at using proprietary stem cell lines developed by Medistem for screening of monoclonal antibodies for therapeutic activity in the area of regenerative medicine. As part of the collaboration, the two companies will evaluate various candidates jointly, as well as apply for grants and share research data.

To date, the majority of stem cell companies are focusing on the stem cell itself being a product. By collaborating with Superview Biotechnology, we aim to assess the feasibility of developing antibodies that can modulate the activity of stem cells that already exist in the body, said Thomas Ichim, CEO of Medistem. This approach not only provides methods of activating stem cells but also allows for the development of stem cell adjuvant therapies that could be used to resurrect stem cell candidates that failed in clinical trials.

Superview Biotechnology has developed proprietary methods of rapidly generating monoclonal antibodies to esoteric protein targets. Medistem has a history of success in the area of stem cells, being the only company to take a stem cell product from discovery to FDA clearance in the short span of 4 years.

One of the significant driving forces behind our company is to develop innovative targets for our monoclonal antibodies. Although monoclonal antibodies have generated sales of billions of dollars in areas ranging from rheumatoid arthritis, to cancer, to preventing blindness, we feel that the potential of this therapeutic tool is only beginning to be recognized, said Jiong Wu, CEO of Superview Biotechnology. Our opinion is that the barriers to entry for monoclonal antibody-based therapies modulating endogenous stem cells is lower than stem cell based therapies. We are eager to work with the Medistem team at exploring this hypothesis.

A joint grant is expected to be filed with the National Natural Science Foundation of China to support part of the proposed collaboration by end of October, 2012.

Cautionary Statement

This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of our securities. This press release may contain certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, some of which cannot be predicted or quantified. Future events and actual results could differ materially from those set forth in, contemplated by, or underlying the forward-looking information. Factors which may cause actual results to differ from our forward-looking statements are discussed in our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Excerpt from:
Medistem and Superview Biotechnology Co. Ltd. Initiate Collaboration on Therapeutics Development Using Antibody and ...

Recommendation and review posted by simmons

By Sharmistha Banerjee - September 25, 2012 | Tickers: NBS, OSIR, PSTI | 0 Comments

Sharmistha is a member of The Motley Fool Blog Network -- entries represent the personal opinions of our bloggers and are not formally edited.

Far-reaching accomplishments in the biotechnology sector meet its most ambitious expectations, stem cell therapy. The birth of this new industry has boosted the enthusiasm and energy of investors and has brought unprecedented capability and optimistic predictions. New developments in regenerative medicine are bringing about exciting, novel approaches to create therapies for hard to treat diseases. The biotechnology industry has been soaring in 2012 as companies both large and small have shown impressive growth.

The cell therapy space has seen relatively small companies making strides in the right direction with increased government support. Osiris Therapeutics (NASDAQ: OSIR) a leading stem cell company is currently the only company with an approved cell therapy. The approval is more of a first step in a long walk for Osiris. Reuters reported that shares of Osiris Therapeutics rose 15% on May 30, 2012, after U.S. health regulators said the stem cell technology company's wound treatment was eligible for reimbursement when used in hospitals in out-patient settings or in ambulances. The company carries over a $300 million market capitalization and trades at $9.50 per share, primarily on the strength of a recent Canadian approval for its stem cell drug for graft-versus-host disease. Osiris Therapeutics has a 1-year low of $4.12 and a 1-year high of $14.46. The company has a market cap of $311.3 million and a price-to-earnings ratio of 90.98. Investors are impressed and optimistic with Osiris progress in cell-based therapies. They currently have a $9.75 target price on the stock. Despite having to negotiate a more challenging regulation process the company has continued to show investors strong gains in 2012.With a current ratio of 8.51 and debt equity of (0.00%) the company boasts of a financially secure position in the market.

Pluristem Therapeutics (NASDAQ: PSTI) a small firm with a market cap of less than $180 million has been concentrating on its placenta-based cell therapies, is considered one of the more advanced in the cell therapy arena, and unlike OSIR, its lead candidates treat diseases that could potentially return significant revenue. The upside for PSTI is lower costs, quicker healing time, ease of administration, and most importantly, it can grow vessels and provide the possibility of a cure, which has led to optimism surrounding the stock. Shares of Pluristem Therapeutics are up over 3.98% and most likely headed higher in the days ahead. It has traded higher by 85% during the last three months and is now valued at $200 million. Pluristem may actually beat OSIR in the race to become the first U.S. approved cell therapy with its bone marrow therapy, in which it has recently applied for approval. Pluristem is a company that I think is showing great promise. From the stock's action in the last several months, it is clear investors recognize that Pluristem's unique platform technology has the potential for tremendous value in a lucrative range of medical markets both the very large and the very small. The company wins both ways. Its clinical segment is creating candidates with large revenue potential, with analysts projecting peak sales of $700 million for AMR-001, which treats patients following acute myocardial infarction. The company is reasonably well funded with around $42 million in cash and cash equivalents.

NeoStem (NYSEMKT: NBS) is by far the leader in regards to the manufacturing business, and no other company comes close. In addition, its stock has returned the most over in the last three months, with a 100% gain. NeoStem stocks looks promising as a biotechnology investment. First, the company is focusing on several promising areas of new stem cell treatment development. Second, its contract manufacturing business brings in revenues to offset some of its drug development expenditures. Third, the contract manufacturing business could earn substantial royalties if any of the products on which it works with customers proves to be a commercial success. NeoStem's manufacturing segment which is also known as PCT, is well positioned to return larger gains over the next 24 months with several late stage candidates under development. a $110 million company that has increased in value by 70% during the last three months, In addition to the PCT business, NeoStem's most promising therapy is aimed at preventing major cardiac problems following acute myocardial infarction (AMI), an area that is potentially a multibillion-dollar business. NeoStem's therapy is meeting endpoints never before reached,

The three companies discussed above are showing much potential for growth and each present a significant upward shift in the current stock prices while contributing greatly to the advances of cell therapy.

Osiris is the closest to generating substantial revenue by already having two approvals, and is currently testing its therapy on other diseases, thereby leaving open the possibility of future gains. Pluristem has candidates to treat diseases in potentially large markets, and is expanding with its manufacturing facility. Although Stem Cells is in the early phases of development, it still has a very innovating therapy that, if proven effective, could advance the space even further. NeoStem possesses all the benefits of an innovating technology, a diversified pipeline, and is a candidate with significant revenue potential.

At this point, it appears that the entire space is moving forward and has lifted observers' expectations by making rapid progress. It makes sense that these three stocks would trade with such considerable gains, as investors can now identify the benefits of cell therapies. And as more approvals occur, it could be a space that trades considerably higher regardless of the market's indecisiveness. With the sector growing and maturing, investing in biotech stocks seems a promising choice in future.

SharmisthaB has no positions in the stocks mentioned above. The Motley Fool has no positions in the stocks mentioned above. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.If you have questions about this post or the Fools blog network, click here for information.

Read more from the original source:
Stem Cell Therapy—Breakthrough in Health Paradigm

Recommendation and review posted by simmons

DENVER--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

MPEG LA announced today that Librassay, a landmark collaboration with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and other leading healthcare innovators (listed below), is now providing one-stop worldwide access to diagnostic discoveries for personalized medicine.

Uncertainties surrounding access to patented technologies have imperiled healthcare advances, said Larry Horn, MPEG LA President and CEO. Just as MPEG LAs origination of patent pools provided a market-based solution for accessing consumer electronics, video and information technologies, now MPEG LAs Librassay introduces a similar solution to the healthcare market with the potential for profound cost savings and quality of life benefits. We applaud the pioneering foresight and efforts of the worlds leading research institutions demonstrating a commitment to their understanding that making world class medical technology widely available is as important as inventing it.

The NIHs policy is to disseminate its technologies as broadly as possible to promote commercialization and improve public health, stated Mark Rohrbaugh, Director of the NIH Office of Technology Transfer. This agreement promotes our policy by permitting MPEG LA and Librassay to pool patented technologies contributed by NIH with complementary technologies from other sources, and to grant non-exclusive, commercial licenses from the pool for in vitro diagnostics and personalized medicine.

Before Librassay, obtaining licenses to medical diagnostic inventions was an ordeal, added Kristin Neuman, Librassay Executive Director. Now Librassay offers one place where diagnostic developers and service providers can obtain assured and affordable access to patent rights, and patent holders have the opportunity for wider adoption of their technologies in combination with others, reasonable compensation for their research investments and the incentive to invest more.

Initial contributors to Librassay include

Starting with some 400 patents, Librassay makes worldwide medical diagnostic patent rights from the worlds leading research institutions available to everyone through a one-stop license. Librassay is expected to be of particular benefit in connection with emerging multiplexed diagnostic tests for disease and other health conditions, including whole genome sequencing, for which patent rights belonging to many different parties may be needed.

MPEG LA welcomes other patent holders to join Librassay. For information, please go to LicensorInfo-Librassay@mpegla.com.

To access the on-line Librassay store, or request a copy of the Librassay Patent Portfolio License, please go to http://www.librassay.com.

MPEG LA, LLC

More here:
MPEG LA’s Librassay® Removes Patent Barriers to Diagnostics for Personalized Medicine

Recommendation and review posted by sam

UC PhD student doing world first research on spinal cord injuries

September 27, 2012

A University of Canterbury (UC) PhD student is carrying out world first research on spinal cord injuries using the Feldenkrais method to provide people the chance to recover movement and stability.

In the 1940s, Israeli physicist Dr Moshe Feldenkrais combined his knowledge of martial arts, biomechanics, neurophysiology, anatomy, learning theory, child development, systems theory, physics and psychology to develop the Feldenkrais Method, a form of sensory motor education.

Research has provided evidence of benefits including reduced pain, fatigue, stress and medical costs; and improved mobility, stability, coordination and breathing. However there has been no research done with spinal cord injury.

UC PhD student Cindy Allison was drawn to the Feldenkrais method because of her own pain and loss of movement and sensation. For her PhD she is developing the first Feldenkrais programme in the world for people with spinal cord injury and is currently looking for participants.

``Rather than isolating muscles and working hard in an attempt to restore movement, Feldenkrais encourages expanding body awareness, and paying attention to the quality of movement and the effect that the movement has on the coordination of the whole body.

``You stay within your comfort zone; it is process oriented and fun. The focus is also on learning how to learn. Clients grow to understand biomechanics and learning principles, they are eventually able to improve their movement independently of the practitioner.

``I was so impressed with the method that I began researching its potential for people with spinal cord injury. Some of the worlds top neuroscientists advocate the method. I have people around the world with spinal cord injury discovering significant improvement using Feldenkrais principles despite negative prognoses.

Kevin Hitchcock, a former director of news and Channel Ten in Sydney was told he would be paralysed from the neck down for the rest of his life, she said.

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UC student doing world first research on spinal cord injury

Recommendation and review posted by sam

This segment is part of the IEEE Spectrum series The New Medicine

Susan Hassler: Every time you move your arm or even think about doing it, your brain generates electrical signals. Scientists are now trying to decode those signals and use them to move artificial limbs. A technology like this could make a world of difference to amputees or those who are paralyzed. And it has been tested for the first time on someone with a spinal cord injury. Prachi Patel visited the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center to find out more.

[ambient sound; wheelchair whirring; Tim Hemmes talking to girlfriend]

Prachi Patel: Tim Hemmes was 23 when he broke his spinal cord in a motorcycle accident. He was paralyzed from the neck down. That was eight years ago. Last fall, surgeons at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center placed a small sensor on the surface of his brain. Four weeks later, Hemmes could move a robotic arm with his thoughts.

[ambient sound; robotic arm moving]

Prachi Patel: A video shows him concentrating intensely. The metal hand moves with erratic bursts and finally touches a researchers palm.

[ambient sound; All right! There you go Yay! Nice!]

Tim Hemmes: To have Wei standing there and to reach out to him, that was what Ive been working for seven years. Whether it was robotic, whether it was metal and plasticmy mind, my thought process, put that there.

Prachi Patel: In 2008, the Pittsburgh team had shown that monkeys could feed themselves treats by controlling a robotic arm with their minds. Hemmes is the first human to have tried the technology. Michael Boninger, the lead physician on the research trial, shows me the sensor that was used to read Hemmess brain signals.

Michael Boninger: You can see theres a bunch of tiny, like 1-millimeter silver spots. Those are the electrodes. And its through this small pad thats the size of one of those designer postage stamps were able to record the electrical signals. The only thing were doing is recording the electrical signal that the brain normally produces when someone thinks.

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Brain-Computer Interface for Spinal Cord Injury

Recommendation and review posted by sam

Video will begin in 5 seconds.

Professor Nadia Rosenthal discusses regeneration in The Zone.

[WHO] Professor Nadia Rosenthal, founding director of the Australian Regenerative Medicine Institute [WHAT] A revolutionary way to treat disease and offset the inevitable decline of our bodies [HOW] Globally groundbreaking research into ageing

There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle. ALBERT EINSTEIN

I PREFER the latter, and find one of the most miraculous and thrilling things is the pace of change. We are living at a time of unprecedented global acceleration of knowledge. Technology is facilitating the spread of ideas and there is a self-perpetuating explosion of creativity that holds the promise of solving some of humanity's most profound problems.

Nadia Rosenthal. Photo: Simon Schluter

The smartphones billions of us carry and take for granted contain more computing power than was imaginable only a generation ago and deliver instant access to a stupendous wealth of information.

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Advances in medical research appear to be mirroring the exponential progress in computing and are, of course, leveraged by it. Today's guest in The Zone is at the forefront of one of the most exciting and potentially beneficial emerging fields of science - regenerative medicine. This is defined as ''the process of replacing or regenerating human cells, tissues or organs to restore or establish normal function.'' Another way of putting it is that the fountain of youth is moving from the realm of science fiction to potential reality.

Professor Nadia Rosenthal is a global leader in what she describes as a revolution being fuelled by the unravelling of the human genome - the molecular genetic blueprint for all life.

Here is the original post:
Go forth and regenerate

Recommendation and review posted by sam

Video will begin in 5 seconds.

Professor Nadia Rosenthal discusses regeneration in The Zone.

[WHO] Professor Nadia Rosenthal, founding director of the Australian Regenerative Medicine Institute [WHAT] A revolutionary way to treat disease and offset the inevitable decline of our bodies [HOW] Globally groundbreaking research into ageing

There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle. ALBERT EINSTEIN

I PREFER the latter, and find one of the most miraculous and thrilling things is the pace of change. We are living at a time of unprecedented global acceleration of knowledge. Technology is facilitating the spread of ideas and there is a self-perpetuating explosion of creativity that holds the promise of solving some of humanity's most profound problems.

Nadia Rosenthal. Photo: Simon Schluter

The smartphones billions of us carry and take for granted contain more computing power than was imaginable only a generation ago and deliver instant access to a stupendous wealth of information.

Advertisement

Advances in medical research appear to be mirroring the exponential progress in computing and are, of course, leveraged by it. Today's guest in The Zone is at the forefront of one of the most exciting and potentially beneficial emerging fields of science - regenerative medicine. This is defined as ''the process of replacing or regenerating human cells, tissues or organs to restore or establish normal function.'' Another way of putting it is that the fountain of youth is moving from the realm of science fiction to potential reality.

Professor Nadia Rosenthal is a global leader in what she describes as a revolution being fuelled by the unravelling of the human genome - the molecular genetic blueprint for all life.

See more here:
Go forth and multiply — and regenerate

Recommendation and review posted by sam

MARLBOROUGH, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Advanced Cell Technology, Inc. (ACT; OTCBB: ACTC), a leader in the field of regenerative medicine, announced today that its chief scientific officer, Robert Lanza, M.D. and Anthony Atala, M.D., W.H. Boyce Professor and Director of the Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine, have released the second edition of Handbook of Stem Cells (Academic Press/Elsevier), the widely-recognized definitive resource in the field of stem cells. It includes a Forward by Professor Sir Martin Evans, Ph.D., FRS, co-winner of the Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine in 2007. Sir Martin is credited with discovering embryonic stem cells and is considered one of the chief architects of the field of stem cell research. The two-volume set also includes contributions from dozens of stem cell pioneers, including James Thomson, Shinya Yamanaka, Doug Melton, Janet Rossant, and Robert Langer (a member of ACTs board of directors), among others, as well as patient advocate Mary Tyler Moore.

Handbook of Stem Cells, Second Edition follows a very successful edition published in 2004. The first edition was the first comprehensive body of work dedicated entirely to the stem cell field. The two-volume set quickly became the most relevant textbook in the stem cell arena. Now, several years later, major advances have occurred, with entirely new classes of stem cells being described. The description of induced pluripotent cells in the last few years brought many more avenues of research and discovery. In 2012, the first paper reporting results of two patients treated with human embryonic stem cells was published by ACT and its collaborators. It might seem that we have waited too long to finally see pluripotent stem cells in the clinic. However, this has been accomplished with incredible speed when it is considered that hESCs were first isolated just 14 years ago. Handbook of Stem Cells integrates this exciting area, combining in two volumes the requisites for a general understanding of both adult and embryonic stem cells. Organized in two volumes, Pluripotent Stem Cells and Adult & Fetal Stem Cells, this work contains contributions from the world's experts in stem cell research to provide a description of the tools, methods, and experimental protocols needed to study and characterize stem cells and progenitor populations as well as a the latest information of what is known about each specific organ system.

The Handbook of Stem Cells, edited by Robert Lanza and colleagues, is an ambitious new text that achieves extraordinary completeness and inclusiveness, wrote Steve Goldman of University of Rochester Medical Center in NATURE CELL BIOLOGY about the first edition. [...] the editors have succeeded in putting together a reference that is broad enough in scope, but sufficiently detailed and rigorous, to be of real interest to both new and seasoned investigators in the field [...] In providing this treatise, which covers the history, biology, methods and applications of stem cells, the editors and authors have succeeded in establishing a conceptual framework and a common language for the field. In so doing, they have ensured that this two-volume set will serve as a benchmark reference in stem cell biology for years to come.

Writing about the first edition in the Times Higher Education Supplement, Ian Wilmut added, These books make an invaluable contribution to the education of researchers and clinicians both of the present day and of the future. They should be available in libraries of all biology and medical schools as well as those of companies and research institutions.

About Advanced Cell Technology, Inc.

Advanced Cell Technology, Inc., is a biotechnology company applying cellular technology in the field of regenerative medicine. For more information, visit http://www.advancedcell.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements in this news release regarding future financial and operating results, future growth in research and development programs, potential applications of our technology, opportunities for the company and any other statements about the future expectations, beliefs, goals, plans, or prospects expressed by management constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Any statements that are not statements of historical fact (including statements containing the words will, believes, plans, anticipates, expects, estimates, and similar expressions) should also be considered to be forward-looking statements. There are a number of important factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements, including: limited operating history, need for future capital, risks inherent in the development and commercialization of potential products, protection of our intellectual property, and economic conditions generally. Additional information on potential factors that could affect our results and other risks and uncertainties are detailed from time to time in the companys periodic reports, including the report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011. Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, opinions, and expectations of the companys management at the time they are made, and the company does not assume any obligation to update its forward-looking statements if those beliefs, opinions, expectations, or other circumstances should change. Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, opinions, and expectations of the companys management at the time they are made, and the company does not assume any obligation to update its forward-looking statements if those beliefs, opinions, expectations, or other circumstances should change. There can be no assurance that the Companys clinical trials will be successful.

Originally posted here:
New Edition of Definitive (Two-Volume) Resource in Stem Cells Released Today

Recommendation and review posted by sam

NORTHRIDGE, CA and CAMBRIDGE, UNITED KINGDOM--(Marketwire - Sep 28, 2012) - Regenerative medicine company Avita Medical Ltd. ( ASX : AVH ), ( OTCQX : AVMXY ) announced that it has been awarded a grant of an additional US$880K in support for its on-going pivotal US FDA trial for the use of ReCell Spray-On-Skin in the treatment of burn injuries.

The award, supplementing the $1.75 million provided in prior funding, underscores the commitment by the US Department of Defense, the US Army, and the US Armed Force Institute for Regenerative Medicine (AFIRM) to bringing the 'revolutionary' ReCell technology through the FDA approval process and cleared for sales in the US, thereby having it available for the military and civilian population.

The AFIRM program, established in March 2008, is dedicated to bringing 'transformational technologies' in regenerative medicine to wounded soldiers by developing clinical therapies and advanced treatment options. AFIRM has a special interest in using the most advanced regenerative medicine for its wounded soldiers and recognises Avita's innovative treatment for burns and other skin injuries has the benefits of using the patient's own skin, yields improved healing, reduced scar formation, and reintroduction of pigmentation into the skin.

As a first of its kind, the FDA-approved study is rigorous and highly conservative in its design. Each patient in the study receives both the standard-of-care graft treatment and the new ReCell treatment consisting of sprayed autologous cell suspension, with a host of separate assessments beyond standard care required for each enrolled patient. The study design requires similarity across patients, and, within patients, two comparable wounds for treatment, which although necessary for a randomized controlled clinical trial, imposes tight inclusion and exclusion criteria and therefore constrains the use to a particular (and small) subset of burn patients.

The approved FDA protocol permits the Company to treat 106 patients with partial-thickness thermal injuries; patients are assessed for healing and pain on a weekly basis during the initial four weeks post-treatment; at weeks 8, 12, 16, 24 and 52 the treatment site will be assessed for healing and aesthetic outcomes. Clinical data at the 16 week follow-up will be reported to the FDA in support of an application to market ReCell in the US. Approximately 75% of the required subjects have been enrolled in the study.

"We are pleased and grateful for the continued support of the US Department of Defense and AFIRM program," said Dr William Dolphin, Avita Medical's CEO. "As a first-of-its-kind study the patient selection criteria and protocol for the FDA study are stringent, requiring significant commitment from the participating surgeon and their team. AFIRM has recognized the difficulty of the protocol -- reflected in the slower than hoped for enrollment -- and, following close scrutiny and careful review, have provided additional funding in support of the study -- further indication of the importance of this innovative technology. ReCell has shown the potential to provide significant benefits over current options in the treatment of burns and other acute and chronic wounds and for a wide range of skin defects."

Dr James H. Holmes IV, Director of the Wake Forest Baptist Medical Burn Center and Program Leader for the Wake Forest-Pittsburgh Consortium of AFIRM, said, "AFIRM views the ReCell FDA study as a high priority project and recognizes ReCell as a potential game-changer in the treatment of burns and acute wounds. The AFIRM program managers have acknowledged that this is an extremely difficult study and are backing their assessment of the importance of the ReCell technology with additional funding at a time of tight budgetary constraints."

About Avita Medical Ltd.

Avita Medical (http://www.avitamedical.com/) develops and distributes regenerative and tissue-engineered products for the treatment of a broad range of wounds, scars and skin defects. Avita's patented and proprietary tissue-culture, collection and application technology provides innovative treatment solutions derived from a patient's own skin. The company's lead product, ReCell Spray-On Skin, is used in a wide variety of burns, plastic, reconstructive and cosmetic procedures. ReCell is patented, CE-marked for Europe, TGA-registered in Australia, and SFDA-cleared in China. ReCell is on market and generating early revenues. ReCell is not available for sale in the United States; in the U.S. ReCell is an investigational device limited by federal law to investigational use. A Phase III FDA trial is in process.

About Avita

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Avita Medical Secures Additional Funding From US Department of Defense

Recommendation and review posted by sam

Public release date: 24-Sep-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: David Eve celltransplantation@gmail.com Cell Transplantation Center of Excellence for Aging and Brain Repair

Putnam Valley, NY. (Sept. 24, 2012) Two studies in the current issue of Cell Transplantation (21:6), now freely available on-line at http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/cog/ct/, demonstrate how the use of magnetic particles are a factor that can positively impact on the targeted delivery of transplanted stem cells and to also provide better cell retention.

A research team from the University of British Columbia used focused magnetic stem cell targeting to improve the delivery and transport of mensenchymal stem cells to the retinas of test rats while researchers from Cedars-Sinai Heart Institute (Los Angeles) injected magnetically enhanced cardiac stem cells to guide the cells to their target to increase cell retention and therapeutic benefit in rat models of ischemic/reperfusion injury.

According to study co-author Dr. Kevin Gregory-Evans, MD, PhD, of the Centre for Macular Degeneration at the University of British Columbia, degeneration of the retina - the cause of macular degeneration as well as other eye diseases - accounts for most cases of blindness in the developed world. To date, the transplantation of mensenchymal stem cells to the damaged retina has had "limited success" because the cells reaching the retina have been in "very low numbers and in random distribution."

Seeking to improve stem cell transplantation to the retina, the researchers magnetized rat mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) using superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs). Via an externally placed magnet, they directed the SPION enhanced cells to the peripheral retinas of the test animals.

"Our results showed that large numbers of blood-borne magnetic MSCs can be targeted to specific retinal locations and produce therapeutically useful biochemical changes in the target tissue," explained Gregory-Evans. "Such an approach would be optimal in focal tissue diseases of the outer retina, such as age-related macular degeneration."

Contact:

Dr. Kevin Gregory-Evans, Centre for Macular Research, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of British Columbia, 2550 Willow St., Vancouver, BC, Canada, V5Z 3N9 Tel. + 1-604-671-0419 Fax. + 1-604-875-4663 Email: kge30@interchange.unc.ca

Citation: Yanai, A.; Hfeli, U. O.; Metcalfe, A. L.; Soema, P.; Addo, L.; Gregory-Evans, C. Y.; Po, K.; Shan, X.; Moritz, O. L.; Gregory-Evans, K. Focused Magnetic Stem Cell Targeting to the Retina Using Superparamagnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticles. Cell Transplant. 21(6):1137-1148; 2012.

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Therapeutic impact of cell transplantation aided by magnetic factor

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

(SACRAMENTO, Calif.) - Deborah K. Lieu, a stem cell scientist in cardiovascular medicine at UC Davis Health System, has received a $1.3 million research grant from the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) to develop stem cells that could serve as a biological alternative to the electronic pacemakers that people now use to regulate heart rhythm.

According to Lieu, each year 350,000 cardiology patients with abnormal heart rhythms receive electronic pacemakers to maintain a normal heart beat. The devices, while effective, have several disadvantages, including limited battery life and poor response to changing heart rates, such as when a person is exercising. Lieu, who is working with colleague Nipavan Chiamvimonvat, the Roger Tatarian Endowed Professor of Cardiovascular Medicine at UC Davis, plans to examine ways to improve the generation of pacemaking cells using human-induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs), potentially creating what she calls a "biopacemaker."

"There are more than 3 million patients around the country who are dependent on electronic pacemakers," said Lieu. "Each one costs about $58,000 to implant and requires follow-up surgery about every 5 to 10 years to change batteries. Creating a biopacemaker from stem cells would avoid the burden of battery replacement and provide the physiological benefit of enabling a person's heart to naturally adapt to a rising heart rate during activities such as exercise."

Lieu's grant was among more than two dozen projects that received support from state stem cell agency's governing board last week as part of CIRM's Basic Biology awards program. The funding focuses on basic research projects that can provide a better understanding about the fundamental mechanisms of stem cell biology and move researchers closer to knowing how best to use stem cells to help patients.

To create the pacemaking cells, Lieu and her colleagues plan to manipulate an ion channel (the SK channels in cardiac myocytes) to alter the calcium signaling mechanisms during hiPSC differentiation. Stem cell scientists create hiPSCs - typically from an adult cell such as a skin cell - by inducing a "forced" expression of specific genes. Once reprogrammed, the cells take on a variety of capabilities (becoming pluripotent) and offer a range of stem cell treatment possibilities.

Development of a biopacemaker could also benefit the one-in-20,000 infants and premature babies suffering from congenital heart-rhythm dysfunction who currently are not suitable candidates for electronic pacemakers. Infants are physically too small for the device. A biological pacemaker could fit with their small stature and then grow as the infant grows.

Collaborating with Lieu and Chiamvimonvat on the research project will be Jan Nolta, director of the UC Davis Institute for Regenerative Cures; Donald Bers, chair of the UC Davis Department of Pharmacology; and James Chan, assistant professor in the Department of Pathology and affiliated with the NSF Center for Biophotonics Science and Technology at UC Davis.

UC Davis is playing a leading role in regenerative medicine, with nearly 150 scientists working on a variety of stem cell-related research projects at campus locations in both Davis and Sacramento. The UC Davis Institute for Regenerative Cures, a facility supported by the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM), opened in 2010 on the Sacramento campus. This $62 million facility is the university's hub for stem cell science. It includes Northern California's largest academic Good Manufacturing Practice laboratory, with state-of-the-art equipment and manufacturing rooms for cellular and gene therapies. UC Davis also has a Translational Human Embryonic Stem Cell Shared Research Facility in Davis and a collaborative partnership with the Institute for Pediatric Regenerative Medicine at Shriners Hospital for Children Northern California. All of the programs and facilities complement the university's Clinical and Translational Science Center, and focus on turning stem cells into cures. For more information, visit http://www.ucdmc.ucdavis.edu/stemcellresearch.

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Pacemaker from Stem Cells Receives Research Funding

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

A 10-year-old boy has been infused with stem cells harvested from the bone marrow of his brother to treat him for thalassaemia a disorder caused by destruction of red blood cells. Called allogeneic transplantation of stem cells, this was done at Kovai Medical Center and Hospital.

D. Dhanush may not have to undergo expensive and excruciating blood transfusion anymore if his body accepts the donor cells. But his condition will have to be evaluated very minutely for the next two years to confirm that the cells donated by his brother have been received well and adapted him.

Presenting the boy before media persons, Clinical Haematologist and Head of the Bone Marrow Transplant Unit T. Rajasekar explained that transplantation was of two types autologous and allogeneic.

The autologous procedure involves harvesting of stem cells from the patients themselves (those suffering from thalassaemia or leukaemia). The extracted cells are frozen and stored for high dose treatment.

After being treated, these are infused into the patient through a vein. This procedure was done for one person suffering from myeloma (cancer of plasma cells or white blood cells that produce anti-bodies that help fight infections/diseases) and another with a relapsed lymphoma (cancer of the lymphocytes cells that are part of immune system).

Under the allogeneic procedure, matching stem cells from a donor are used. Mostly, these cells are from siblings or a close relative as they need to pass the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) matching test. HLA matching is required, or the cells will be rejected by the recipient. Ideally, it is sibling whose cells will match because he or she will have the HLA from both parents. It is the combination of HLAs from both parents that are found in the children.

The cells can be harvested from the marrow or from the blood. In the case presented on Tuesday, Dr. Rajasekar said the cells were brought out of the bone marrow in Dhanushs brother and into his blood, from where these were harvested.

Chairman of the hospital Nalla G. Palaniswami said the tough procedure was performed by the new Comprehensive Cancer Centre, which was gradually bringing in specialists of all sub-specialities of cancer care. Only then can this be called a comprehensive centre, he said.

The hospital would form a KMCH Foundation, which would use funds from donors to treat poor children suffering from cancer and some other disorders that required expensive treatment.

The stem cell transplantation that Dhanush, the son of a police head constable, underwent cost Rs.12 lakh. Of this, Rs.9 lakh was provided by a donor, Dr. Palaniswami said. Dean of the hospital V. Kumaran and Head of Department of Interventional Radiology Mathew Cherian spoke on how the cancer centre was established and how developments were being made.

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Stem cell transplantation for boy with thalassaemia

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

GRAND FORKS The goal of a Grand Forks start-up is to get customers to prepare for a future in which todays medical breakthroughs based on stem cells are commonplace.

You would ordinarily think this is science fiction, said Vin Singh, founder of Next Healthcare, based at UNDs Center for Innovation.

Singh is referring to developments in regenerative medicine in which researchers have used stem cells to re-grow lung, cornea and trachea cells and create other types of human tissue. These advances point to a future when replacing organs will become a common medical procedure.

And he wants people to act now.

Singhs business, which he has been building since 2009 and launched this past spring, is a cell bank, storing samples of clients skin, blood and bone marrow cells for future use when regenerative treatments are improved and widespread.

We know some of them are going to work, and were betting that youre going to be able to use some of your cells, Singh said. If and when those therapies come on line, you will have that healthy seed.

Betting on future

Singhs resume lists a number of companies in the biomedical field. But the basis of his new business is essentially storage, freezing samples of clients tissue that could be used by doctors to treat future health problems.

Clients doctors collect their tissue samples and send them to Next Healthcare in Grand Forks, where they are stored frozen. The company is based in UNDs REAC building, which provides biocontainment facilities. Next Healthcare also has a second storage facility in North Dakota at an undisclosed location, Singh said.

The key to therapies that Singhs company is betting on and wants prospective customers to bet on are advances within the past decade that have manipulated non-stem cells from skin or blood to mimic stem cells ability to grow into different types of tissues.

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Grand Forks firm stores human cells for future treatments

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

Public release date: 28-Sep-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Charles Casey charles.casey@ucdmc.ucdavis.edu 916-734-9048 University of California - Davis Health System

(SACRAMENTO, Calif.) UC Davis investigators have found new evidence that a promising type of stem cell now being considered for a variety of disease therapies is very similar to the type of cells that give rise to cancer. The findings suggest that although the cells -- known as induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) -- show substantial promise as a source of replacement cells and tissues to treat injuries, disease and chronic conditions, scientists and physicians must move cautiously with any clinical use because iPSCs could also cause malignant cancer.

The article, "Induced pluripotency and oncogenic transformation are related processes," is now online in the journal, Stem Cells and Development.

"This is the first study that describes the specific molecular pathways that iPSCs and cancer cells share from a direct comparison" said Paul Knoepfler, associate professor of cell biology and human anatomy, and principal investigator of the study. "It means that much more study is required before iPSCs can be used clinically. However, our study adds to a growing knowledge base that not only will help make stem cell therapies safer, but also provide us with new understandings about the cancer-causing process and more effective ways to fight the disease."

Since 2007, cell biologists have been able to induce specialized, differentiated cells (such as those obtained from the skin or muscle of a human adult) to become iPSCs. Like embryonic stem cells, iPSCs are a type of stem cell that is able to become any cell type. This "pluripotent" capability means that iPSCs have the potential of being used in treatments for a variety of human diseases, a fundamentally new type of clinical care known as regenerative medicine.

iPSCs are considered particularly important because their production avoids the controversy that surrounds embryonic stem cells. In addition, iPSCs can be taken from a patient's own skin and induced to produce other needed tissues, thereby evading the possibility of immunologic rejection that arises when transplanting cells from a donor to a recipient. In contrast to therapies based on ES cells, iPSCs would eliminate the need for patients to take immunosuppressive drugs.

Earlier research indicated that both ES cells and iPSCs pose some health risks. Increasing evidence suggests that pluripotency may be related to rapid cellular growth, a characteristic of cancer. iPSCs, as well as embryonic stem cells, are well known by scientists to have the propensity to cause teratomas, an unusual type of benign tumor that consists of many different cell types. The new UC Davis study demonstrates for the first time that iPSCs -- as well as ES cells -- share significant similarities to malignant cancer cells.

The investigators compared iPSCs to a form of malignant cancer known as oncogenic foci that are also produced in laboratories; these cell types are used by medical researchers to create models of cancer, particularly sarcoma. Specifically, the scientists contrasted the different cells' transcriptomes, comprised of the RNA molecules or "transcripts." Unlike DNA analysis, which reflects a cell's entire genetic code whether or not the genes are active, transcriptomes reflect only the genes that are actively expressed at a given time and therefore provide a picture of actual cellular activity.

From this transcriptome analysis, the investigators found that the iPSCs and malignant sarcoma cancer cells are unexpectedly similar in several respects. Genes that were not expressed in iPSCs were also not expressed in the cancer-generating cells, including many that have properties that guide a cell to normally differentiate in certain directions. Both cell types also exhibited evidence of similar metabolic activities, another indication that they are related cell types.

Here is the original post:
Researchers find multiple similarities between cancer cells and induced pluripotent stem cells

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

ScienceDaily (Sep. 28, 2012) UC Davis investigators have found new evidence that a promising type of stem cell now being considered for a variety of disease therapies is very similar to the type of cells that give rise to cancer. The findings suggest that although the cells -- known as induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) -- show substantial promise as a source of replacement cells and tissues to treat injuries, disease and chronic conditions, scientists and physicians must move cautiously with any clinical use because iPSCs could also cause malignant cancer.

The article, "Induced pluripotency and oncogenic transformation are related processes," is now online in the journal, Stem Cells and Development.

"This is the first study that describes the specific molecular pathways that iPSCs and cancer cells share from a direct comparison" said Paul Knoepfler, associate professor of cell biology and human anatomy, and principal investigator of the study. "It means that much more study is required before iPSCs can be used clinically. However, our study adds to a growing knowledge base that not only will help make stem cell therapies safer, but also provide us with new understandings about the cancer-causing process and more effective ways to fight the disease."

Since 2007, cell biologists have been able to induce specialized, differentiated cells (such as those obtained from the skin or muscle of a human adult) to become iPSCs. Like embryonic stem cells, iPSCs are a type of stem cell that is able to become any cell type. This "pluripotent" capability means that iPSCs have the potential of being used in treatments for a variety of human diseases, a fundamentally new type of clinical care known as regenerative medicine.

iPSCs are considered particularly important because their production avoids the controversy that surrounds embryonic stem cells. In addition, iPSCs can be taken from a patient's own skin and induced to produce other needed tissues, thereby evading the possibility of immunologic rejection that arises when transplanting cells from a donor to a recipient. In contrast to therapies based on ES cells, iPSCs would eliminate the need for patients to take immunosuppressive drugs.

Earlier research indicated that both ES cells and iPSCs pose some health risks. Increasing evidence suggests that pluripotency may be related to rapid cellular growth, a characteristic of cancer. iPSCs, as well as embryonic stem cells, are well known by scientists to have the propensity to cause teratomas, an unusual type of benign tumor that consists of many different cell types. The new UC Davis study demonstrates for the first time that iPSCs -- as well as ES cells -- share significant similarities to malignant cancer cells.

The investigators compared iPSCs to a form of malignant cancer known as oncogenic foci that are also produced in laboratories; these cell types are used by medical researchers to create models of cancer, particularly sarcoma. Specifically, the scientists contrasted the different cells' transcriptomes, composed of the RNA molecules or "transcripts." Unlike DNA analysis, which reflects a cell's entire genetic code whether or not the genes are active, transcriptomes reflect only the genes that are actively expressed at a given time and therefore provide a picture of actual cellular activity.

From this transcriptome analysis, the investigators found that the iPSCs and malignant sarcoma cancer cells are unexpectedly similar in several respects. Genes that were not expressed in iPSCs were also not expressed in the cancer-generating cells, including many that have properties that guide a cell to normally differentiate in certain directions. Both cell types also exhibited evidence of similar metabolic activities, another indication that they are related cell types.

"We were surprised how similar iPSCS were to cancer-generating cells," said Knoepfler. "Our findings indicate that the search for therapeutic applications of iPSCs must proceed with considerable caution if we are to do our best to promote patient safety."

Knoepfler noted, for example, that future experimental therapies using iPSCs for human transplants would most often not involve implanting iPSCs directly into a patient. Instead, iPSCs would be used to create differentiated cells -- or tissues -- in the laboratory, which could then be transplanted into a patient. This approach avoids implanting the actual undifferentiated iPSCS, and reduces the risk of tumor development as a side effect. However, Knoepfler noted that even trace amounts of residual iPSCs could cause cancer in patients, a possibility supported by his team's latest research.

Excerpt from:
Multiple similarities discovered between cancer cells and induced pluripotent stem cells

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

September 30, 2012

April Flowers for redOrbit.com Your Universe Online

A research team from the University of California, Davis, has found evidence that a promising type of stem cell being considered for a variety of disease therapies is very similar to the type of cells that cause cancer. The cells, known as induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) show promise as a source of replacement cells and tissues to treat injuries, diseases and chronic conditions. Although the iPSCs have the potential for such good, scientists have to move cautiously because they could also cause malignant cancer, according to the teams study published online in the journal Stem Cells and Development.

This is the first study that describes the specific molecular pathways that iPSCs and cancer cells share from a direct comparison said Paul Knoepfler, associate professor of cell biology and human anatomy. It means that much more study is required before iPSCs can be used clinically. However, our study adds to a growing knowledge base that not only will help make stem cell therapies safer, but also provide us with new understandings about the cancer-causing process and more effective ways to fight the disease.

Cell biologists have been able to induce specialized, differentiated cells such as those obtained from the skin or muscle of adult humans to become iPSCs since 2007. Like embryonic stem cells, iPSCs are pluripotent, meaning they can become any type of cell and have the potential for being used in treatments for a variety of human diseases. This is a fundamentally new type of clinical care known as regenerative medicine.

The production of iPSCs avoids the controversy that surrounds embryonic stem cells (ES), making them particularly important. They can also be taken from a patients own skin and induced to produce other needed tissues, making the chances of immunologic rejection extremely low, eliminating the need to take immunosuppressive drugs.

Earlier studies indicate that both ES and iPSCs pose some health risks. There is an increasing amount of evidence that suggests pluripotency may be related to rapid cellular growth, which is a characteristic of cancer. Both types of stem cells are well known by scientists to have the propensity to cause teratomas, a benign tumor that consists of many different cell types. This new study from UC Davis demonstrates that iPSCs as well as ES cells share significant similarities to malignant cancer cells.

The research team compares iPSCs to a form of malignant cancer known as oncogenic foci that are also produced in laboratories. These are used by scientists to create models of cancer, particularly sarcoma. The scientists contrasted the different cells transcriptomes, comprised of the RNA molecules or transcripts. Transcriptomes reflect only the genes that are actively expressed at a given time and therefore provide a picture of actual cellular activity, unlike DNA analysis, which reflects a cells entire genetic code whether or not the genes are active.

By analyzing the transcriptomes, the team found that the iPSCs and malignant sarcoma cancer cells are unexpectedly similar. Genes not expressed in iPSCs are also not expressed in the cancer-generating cells, including many that have properties that guide a cell to normally differentiate in certain directions. Both cell types also exhibited similar metabolic activities. This is another indication that they are related cell types.

We were surprised how similar iPSCS were to cancer-generating cells, said Knoepfler. Our findings indicate that the search for therapeutic applications of iPSCs must proceed with considerable caution if we are to do our best to promote patient safety.

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Researchers Find Similarities Between Cancer Cells And Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

CARLSBAD, CA--(Marketwire - Sep 25, 2012) - International Stem Cell Corporation ( OTCQB : ISCO ) (www.internationalstemcell.com) ("ISCO" or "the Company") a California-based biotechnology company, today announced that the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has granted the Company a patent for a method of creating pure populations of definitive endoderm, precursor cells to liver and pancreas cells, from human pluripotent stem cells.This patent is a key element of ISCO's metabolic liver disease program and allows the Company to produce the necessary quantities of precursor cells in a more efficient and cost effective manner.

The patent, 8,268,621, adds to the Company's growing portfolio of proprietary technologies relating to the development of potential treatments for incurable diseases using human parthenogenetic Stem Cells (hpSC).Human parthenogenetic stem cells are unique pluripotent stem cells that offer the possibility to reduce the cost of health care while avoiding the ethical issues that surround the use of fertilized human embryos.Aside from the Company's current liver disease program, this new patented method can be used as a route to create pancreatic and endocrine cells that could be used in future studies of diabetes and other metabolic disorders.

ISCO currently has the largest collection of hpSC including cell lines which immune match the donor, as is the case with induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS), and cell lines which immune-match millions of individuals and potentially reduce tissue rejection issues.The Company is focusing its therapeutic development efforts on three clinical applications where cell and tissue therapy is already proven but where there currently is an insufficient supply of safe and efficacious cells: Parkinson's disease, inherited/metabolic liver diseases and corneal blindness.

About International Stem Cell Corporation

International Stem Cell Corporation is focused on the therapeutic applications of human parthenogenetic stem cells (hpSCs) and the development and commercialization of cell-based research and cosmetic products.ISCO's core technology, parthenogenesis, results in the creation of pluripotent human stem cells from unfertilized oocytes (eggs) hence avoiding ethical issues associated with the use or destruction of viable human embryos.ISCO scientists have created the first parthenogenetic, homozygous stem cell line that can be a source of therapeutic cells for hundreds of millions of individuals of differing genders, ages and racial background with minimal immune rejection after transplantation. hpSCs offer the potential to create the first true stem cell bank, UniStemCell. ISCO also produces and markets specialized cells and growth media for therapeutic research worldwide through its subsidiary Lifeline Cell Technology (www.lifelinecelltech.com), and stem cell-based skin care products through its subsidiary Lifeline Skin Care (www.lifelineskincare.com). More information is available at http://www.internationalstemcell.com.

To receive ongoing corporate communications via email, visit: http://www.b2i.us/irpass.asp?BzID=1468&to=ea&s=0

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Safe harbor statement

Statements pertaining to anticipated developments, the potential use of technologies to develop therapeutic products and other opportunities for the company and its subsidiaries, along with other statements about the future expectations, beliefs, goals, plans, or prospects expressed by management constitute forward-looking statements. Any statements that are not historical fact (including, but not limited to statements that contain words such as "will," "believes," "plans," "anticipates," "expects" or "estimates") should also be considered to be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation, risks inherent in the development and/or commercialization of potential products and the management of collaborations, regulatory approvals, need and ability to obtain future capital, application of capital resources among competing uses, and maintenance of intellectual property rights. Actual results may differ materially from the results anticipated in these forward-looking statements and as such should be evaluated together with the many uncertainties that affect the company's business, particularly those mentioned in the cautionary statements found in the company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings. The company disclaims any intent or obligation to update forward-looking statements.

Excerpt from:
International Stem Cell Corp Granted Key Patent for Liver Disease Program

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

By Sharmistha Banerjee - September 25, 2012 | Tickers: NBS, OSIR, PSTI | 0 Comments

Sharmistha is a member of The Motley Fool Blog Network -- entries represent the personal opinions of our bloggers and are not formally edited.

Far-reaching accomplishments in the biotechnology sector meet its most ambitious expectations, stem cell therapy. The birth of this new industry has boosted the enthusiasm and energy of investors and has brought unprecedented capability and optimistic predictions. New developments in regenerative medicine are bringing about exciting, novel approaches to create therapies for hard to treat diseases. The biotechnology industry has been soaring in 2012 as companies both large and small have shown impressive growth.

The cell therapy space has seen relatively small companies making strides in the right direction with increased government support. Osiris Therapeutics (NASDAQ: OSIR) a leading stem cell company is currently the only company with an approved cell therapy. The approval is more of a first step in a long walk for Osiris. Reuters reported that shares of Osiris Therapeutics rose 15% on May 30, 2012, after U.S. health regulators said the stem cell technology company's wound treatment was eligible for reimbursement when used in hospitals in out-patient settings or in ambulances. The company carries over a $300 million market capitalization and trades at $9.50 per share, primarily on the strength of a recent Canadian approval for its stem cell drug for graft-versus-host disease. Osiris Therapeutics has a 1-year low of $4.12 and a 1-year high of $14.46. The company has a market cap of $311.3 million and a price-to-earnings ratio of 90.98. Investors are impressed and optimistic with Osiris progress in cell-based therapies. They currently have a $9.75 target price on the stock. Despite having to negotiate a more challenging regulation process the company has continued to show investors strong gains in 2012.With a current ratio of 8.51 and debt equity of (0.00%) the company boasts of a financially secure position in the market.

Pluristem Therapeutics (NASDAQ: PSTI) a small firm with a market cap of less than $180 million has been concentrating on its placenta-based cell therapies, is considered one of the more advanced in the cell therapy arena, and unlike OSIR, its lead candidates treat diseases that could potentially return significant revenue. The upside for PSTI is lower costs, quicker healing time, ease of administration, and most importantly, it can grow vessels and provide the possibility of a cure, which has led to optimism surrounding the stock. Shares of Pluristem Therapeutics are up over 3.98% and most likely headed higher in the days ahead. It has traded higher by 85% during the last three months and is now valued at $200 million. Pluristem may actually beat OSIR in the race to become the first U.S. approved cell therapy with its bone marrow therapy, in which it has recently applied for approval. Pluristem is a company that I think is showing great promise. From the stock's action in the last several months, it is clear investors recognize that Pluristem's unique platform technology has the potential for tremendous value in a lucrative range of medical markets both the very large and the very small. The company wins both ways. Its clinical segment is creating candidates with large revenue potential, with analysts projecting peak sales of $700 million for AMR-001, which treats patients following acute myocardial infarction. The company is reasonably well funded with around $42 million in cash and cash equivalents.

NeoStem (NYSEMKT: NBS) is by far the leader in regards to the manufacturing business, and no other company comes close. In addition, its stock has returned the most over in the last three months, with a 100% gain. NeoStem stocks looks promising as a biotechnology investment. First, the company is focusing on several promising areas of new stem cell treatment development. Second, its contract manufacturing business brings in revenues to offset some of its drug development expenditures. Third, the contract manufacturing business could earn substantial royalties if any of the products on which it works with customers proves to be a commercial success. NeoStem's manufacturing segment which is also known as PCT, is well positioned to return larger gains over the next 24 months with several late stage candidates under development. a $110 million company that has increased in value by 70% during the last three months, In addition to the PCT business, NeoStem's most promising therapy is aimed at preventing major cardiac problems following acute myocardial infarction (AMI), an area that is potentially a multibillion-dollar business. NeoStem's therapy is meeting endpoints never before reached,

The three companies discussed above are showing much potential for growth and each present a significant upward shift in the current stock prices while contributing greatly to the advances of cell therapy.

Osiris is the closest to generating substantial revenue by already having two approvals, and is currently testing its therapy on other diseases, thereby leaving open the possibility of future gains. Pluristem has candidates to treat diseases in potentially large markets, and is expanding with its manufacturing facility. Although Stem Cells is in the early phases of development, it still has a very innovating therapy that, if proven effective, could advance the space even further. NeoStem possesses all the benefits of an innovating technology, a diversified pipeline, and is a candidate with significant revenue potential.

At this point, it appears that the entire space is moving forward and has lifted observers' expectations by making rapid progress. It makes sense that these three stocks would trade with such considerable gains, as investors can now identify the benefits of cell therapies. And as more approvals occur, it could be a space that trades considerably higher regardless of the market's indecisiveness. With the sector growing and maturing, investing in biotech stocks seems a promising choice in future.

SharmisthaB has no positions in the stocks mentioned above. The Motley Fool has no positions in the stocks mentioned above. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.If you have questions about this post or the Fools blog network, click here for information.

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Stem Cell Therapy—Breakthrough in Health Paradigm

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

Scientists are hoping recent developments in the usage of stem cell therapy to treat common health problems can be transferred to diabetes.

Researchers from the University of Adelaides Robinson Institute say stem cells harvested from bone marrow have been shown to work magic when injected into inflamed joints.

These cells can convert themselves into a cartridge and give relief to the joint, Professor Andrew Zannattino told 7News.

Stem cells have also been proven to do a similar thing to other bones, even those damaged by severe injury or cancer.

These cells start stimulating the blood vessels to come into those sites and they can form bone itself, Professor Stan Gronthos said.

A trial on heart attack patients has also delivered promising results.

The heart muscle actually becomes re-oxygenated with new blood so it actually repairs the heart, Professor Grontos said.

They say the next step is seeing if stem cell therapy has an effect on diabetes.

It is hoped stem cells will eventually be able to be administered with a simple needle or intravenously, and researchers are hoping a therapy will be readily available in hospitals within five years.

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Hopes stem cell therapy can help diabetes sufferers

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

WEDNESDAY, Sept. 26 (HealthDay News) -- A colorectal gene database will help further research into the disease, a new study suggests.

The CRCgene database gathers all genetic association studies on colorectal cancer. It allows researchers to accurately interpret the risk factors of the disease and provides insight into the direction of further research, according to Julian Little, with the department of epidemiology and community medicine at the University of Ottawa, and colleagues.

To determine the genetic factors associated with colorectal cancer, they analyzed data from all published genetic association studies on colorectal cancer.

The researchers identified 16 independent gene variants with the strongest links to colorectal cancer, among 23 variants, a number lower than expected. Unfortunately, the researchers say, this reduces the feasibility of combining variants as a profile in a prediction tool to identity people who are at increased risk for colorectal cancer and who should be screened for the disease.

Even so, the analysis "provides a resource for mining available data and puts into context the sample sizes required for the identification of true associations," the researchers wrote in the Sept. 27 issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

About 950,000 new cases of colorectal cancer are diagnosed each year, according to a journal news release. Risk factors for the disease include age, diet, lifestyle and possibly genetics.

-- Robert Preidt

Copyright 2012 HealthDay. All rights reserved.

SOURCE: Journal of the National Cancer Institute, news release, Sept. 27, 2012

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Colon Cancer Gene Database May Assist Research Efforts

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith