Category Archives: North Carolina Stem Cells

An Israeli company that specializes in 3D-printed lab-grown meat with non-GMO animal cells is currently building the worlds largest commercial-scale production facility in North Carolina.

Believer Meat, formerly known as Future Meat Technologies, is building its facility with an initial planned investment of$123.35 million located in Wilson County, North Carolina, which covers a site of 200,000-square-foot.

BELIEVER Meats, a leading pioneer of the cultivated meat industry, officially broke ground today on its first U.S. commercial facility inWilson, North Carolina, the company said in a statement Wednesday.

Once operational, the 200,000-square-foot facility will be the largest cultivated meat production center in the world with the capacity to produce at least 10,000 metric tons of cultivated meat, without the need to slaughter a single animal. This is a watershed moment for the cultivated meat industry that will allow BELIEVER Meats to meet growing demand for decades to come.

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Were pleased to welcome Believer Meats toNorth Carolina, said GovernorRoy Cooper (D-NC).

The facilitys groundbreaking is the latest in a series of developments as the company prepares to introduce its products to consumers, including its rebranding from Future Meat Technologies to BELIEVER Meats, its R&D breakthrough with cultivating lamb, and the creation of a global executive team.

According to its press release in November, the company was the first to immortalize animal cells without genetic modification.

The company opened the worlds first cultivated meat production line in Israel in 2021, becoming the first company to immortalize animal cells without any genetic modification and has pioneered a culture medium recycling technology that can reduce production costs and waste. Believer is establishing cultivated meat as the new standard around the worldleading a bold change in how meat is produced in our global food system, it stated.

Our name change speaks to our confidence in our mission to make it possible for all future generations to eat meat. Our team has created a revolutionary technology that blazed ahead of the field in terms of cost, safety and product experience, said Prof. Yaakov Nahmias, President, Founder and Chief Science Officer of Believer.

As the demand for meat continues to grow in coming decades, the current conventional meat industry wont be able to meet the supply needed, he continued.

In an interview with Interesting Engineering, Nahmias explained what non-GMO production is.

Believer utilizes fibroblasts instead of traditional stem cells. Fibroblasts are robust connective tissue cells that grow efficiently, even in complex environments. They undergo a process termed spontaneous immortalization in which cells rearrange their chromosomes and start growing indefinitely without genetic intervention. Thus, Believers cell stock for chicken, lamb, beef, and pork is non-GMO.

The Gateway Pundit reported that the US Food and Drug Administration on November approved lab-grown meat, a product grown from animal cells, for human consumption for the first time.

The FDAannounced that laboratory-grown chicken developed by Upside Food, is safe to eat, clearing the way for the California-based company that creates cell-cultured chickens to begin selling its products.

To manufacture its meat, Upside Foods harvests cells from live animals, chicken tissue, and uses the cells to grow meat in stainless-steel tanks known as bioreactors.

The agencyissued a statementannouncing it evaluated Upside Foods production and cultured cell material and has no further questions about the safety of its cultivated chicken filet.

The world is experiencing a food revolution, stated FDA Commissioner Robert M. Califf. Advancements in cell culture technology are enabling food developers to use animal cells obtained from livestock poultry, and seafood in the production of food with these products expected to be ready for the US market in the near future.

The FDAs goal is to support innovation in food technologies while always maintaining as our first priority the safety of the foods available to US consumers, he added.

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Israeli-Based 3D-Printed Lab-Grown Meat Company is Building World's ...

A protein that helps make neurons also works to reprogram scar tissue cells into heart muscle cells, especially in partnership with a second protein, according to a study led by Li Qian, PhD, at the UNC School of Medicine.

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. Scientists at the UNC School of Medicine have made a significant advance in the promising field of cellular reprogramming and organ regeneration, and the discovery could play a major role in future medicines to heal damaged hearts.

In a study published in the journal Cell Stem Cell, scientists at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill discovered a more streamlined and efficient method for reprogramming scar tissue cells (fibroblasts) to become healthy heart muscle cells (cardiomyocytes). Fibroblasts produce the fibrous, stiff tissue that contributes to heart failure after a heart attack or because of heart disease. Turning fibroblasts into cardiomyocytes is being investigated as a potential future strategy for treating or even someday curing this common and deadly condition.

Surprisingly, the key to the new cardiomyocyte-making technique turned out to be a gene activity-controlling protein called Ascl1, which is known to be a crucial protein involved in turning fibroblasts into neurons. Researchers had thought Ascl1 was neuron-specific.

Its an outside-the-box finding, and we expect it to be useful in developing future cardiac therapies and potentially other kinds of therapeutic cellular reprogramming, said study senior author Li Qian, PhD, associate professor in the UNC Department of Pathology and Lab Medicine and associate director of the McAllister Heart Institute at UNC School of Medicine.

Scientists over the last 15 years have developed various techniques to reprogram adult cells to become stem cells, then to induce those stem cells to become adult cells of some other type. More recently, scientists have been finding ways to do this reprogramming more directly straight from one mature cell type to another. The hope has been that when these methods are made maximally safe, effective, and efficient, doctors will be able to use a simple injection into patients to reprogram harm-causing cells into beneficial ones.

Reprogramming fibroblasts has long been one of the important goals in the field, Qian said. Fibroblast over-activity underlies many major diseases and conditions including heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, liver disease, kidney disease, and the scar-like brain damage that occurs after strokes.

In the new study, Qians team, including co-first-authors Haofei Wang, PhD, a postdoctoral researcher, and MD/PhD student Benjamin Keepers, used three existing techniques to reprogram mouse fibroblasts into cardiomyocytes, liver cells, and neurons. Their aim was to catalogue and compare the changes in cells gene activity patterns and gene-activity regulation factors during these three distinct reprogrammings.

Unexpectedly, the researchers found that the reprogramming of fibroblasts into neurons activated a set of cardiomyocyte genes. Soon they determined that this activation was due to Ascl1, one of the master-programmer transcription factor proteins that had been used to make the neurons.

Since Ascl1 activated cardiomyocyte genes, the researchers added it to the three-transcription-factor cocktail they had been using for making cardiomyocytes, to see what would happen. They were astonished to find that it dramatically increased the efficiency of reprogramming the proportion of successfully reprogrammed cells by more than ten times. In fact, they found that they could now dispense with two of the three factors from their original cocktail, retaining only Ascl1 and another transcription factor called Mef2c.

In further experiments they found evidence that Ascl1 on its own activates both neuron and cardiomyocyte genes, but it shifts away from the pro-neuron role when accompanied by Mef2c. In synergy with Mef2c, Ascl1 switches on a broad set of cardiomyocyte genes.

Ascl1 and Mef2c work together to exert pro-cardiomyocyte effects that neither factor alone exerts, making for a potent reprogramming cocktail, Qian said.

The results show that the major transcription factors used in direct cellular reprogramming arent necessarily exclusive to one targeted cell type.

Perhaps more importantly, they represent another step on the path towards future cell-reprogramming therapies for major disorders. Qian says that she and her team hope to make a two-in-one synthetic protein that contains the effective bits of both Ascl1 and Mef2c, and could be injected into failing hearts to mend them.

Cross-lineage Potential of Ascl1 Uncovered by Comparing Diverse Reprogramming Regulatomes was co-authored by Haofei Wang, Benjamin Keepers, Yunzhe Qian, Yifang Xie, Marazzano Colon, Jiandong Liu, and Li Qian. Funding was provided by the American Heart Association and the National Institutes of Health (T32HL069768, F30HL154659, R35HL155656, R01HL139976, R01HL139880).

Media contact: Mark Derewicz, 919-923-0959

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Scientists Discover Protein Partners that Could Heal Heart Muscle | Newsroom - UNC Health and UNC School of Medicine

Synthetic Stem Cells Market

Synthetic stem cells are very fragile and need careful storage, typing, and characterization before use. Synthetic stem cells operate in a very similar way to that deactivated vaccines. The membranes of the synthetic stem cells let them bypass the immune response. Nevertheless, synthetic stem cells can't amplify themselves. Therefore, we benefit from stem cell therapy without risks. The synthetic stem cells are more durable than human stem cells and can withstand severe freezing and thawing. Additionally, these cells are not derived from the patient's individual cells. Synthetic stem cells offer better therapeutic benefits as compared to natural stem cells. Furthermore, these cells have improved preservation stability and the technology is also generalized to other types of stem cells.

The increasing incidents and significant prevalence of several cardiovascular ailments around the world are accentuating the research in varied synthetic kinds of cardiac stem cells. The evolving focus on synthetic stem cell engineering has augmented the growth of the global synthetic stem cell market.

The better stability during preservation and a generalized technology for various types of stem cells are benefits that impart a large momentum to the growth of the synthetic stem cells market. However, the regulatory landscape for the development and approval of synthetic stem cells is very stringent, which poses a genuine challenge to companies hoping for rapid commercialization of the synthetic stem cells market.

The global synthetic stem cells market is divided into applications for neurological disorders, cardiovascular disease, and others (cancer, musculoskeletal disorders, gastrointestinal, and diabetes).

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By region, North America is expected to lead the global synthetic stem cells market over the forecast time period due to the presence of a leading stakeholder-North Carolina State University in the region. The Asia Pacific will experience rapid changes in the compound annual growth rate of the synthetic stem cells market and is anticipated to be one of the major shareholders globally due to the extensive research and development activities witnessed in Zhengzhou University situated in China.

With widespread research and development work being conducted in Europe, the region is expected to trail the Asia Pacific and North America. Latin America and the Middle East and Africa are expected to develop considerably in the future due to the emerging research and development works in this field.

Some key players in the global synthetic stem cells market are North Carolina State University and Zhengzhou University.

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Neurological DisordersCardiovascular DiseaseOthers (Cancer, Musculoskeletal Disorders, Gastrointestinal, and Diabetes)

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Global Synthetic Stem Cells Market Is Expected To Reach Around USD 42 Million By 2025 - openPR

A metabolic condition with numerous etiological factors is diabetes mellitus. High blood sugar and chronic aberrations in the carbohydrate, lipid, and protein metabolism are its defining characteristics. These defects in insulin action or release, or occasionally both, are to be blamed. [1]. They are linked to the emergence of the unique microvascular consequences of retinopathy, including neuropathy, nephropathy, and kidney failure, which can result in blindness [2]. The latter entails the danger of autonomic neural malfunction, foot ulceration, and amputation. A heightened incidence of the macrovascular disease is also linked to diabetes. Thirst, frequent urination, blurred eyesight, and losing weight are typical clinical manifestations, which may result in hyperosmolar nonketotic coma or ketoacidosis. Generally, presentations are minimal or nonexistent, and minor hyperglycemia can last for years while causing tissue damage, even when a person is symptom-free [3].

Diabetes mellitus affects a comparatively substantial portion of the global population. Type II diabetes accounts for 90% of patients, and type I diabetes accounts for 5-10% of the total cases. For patients with type I diabetes mellitus, providing Insulin is crucial; however, type II diabetic patients may administer it in the later stages [4]. Insulin, its delivery, and its future are the subjects of this review. Before prescribing, distributing, or administering insulin, a clinical diagnosis of hyperglycemia should be verified. For all patients having type I diabetes mellitus, insulin is the first-line treatment [5]. The main varieties of insulin therapy are long, ultra-long, intermediate-acting insulin, and rapid or short-acting insulin [6]. The differences in types of insulin are given in Table 1.

In the past, pigs' and cows' pancreas were used to make early formulations of insulin, but it was hard to procure appropriate glycemic regulation due to leftover impurities ahead of the purification method [8]. The fresher, finer animal insulin is more readily handled and may reach a point of glycemic regulation identical to artificial human insulin. Statistically notable variation in hypoglycemia between human and animal insulin also seems comparable. The objective of insulin replacement therapy is always to replicate natural insulin production and avoid causing severe hypoglycemic levels. There are several insulin formulations available, each with a distinct spectrum of activity attainable to accomplish the same: insulin analogs that respond quickly (around three hours), neutral protamine, soluble insulin Hagedorn (NPH) insulin that work for 12 to 18 hours, long-running insulin (12-18 hours), and the Lente insulin(12-24 hours). The skin should be pinched to reduce the risk of muscle injection when giving insulin, and the fold should remain for 5 to 10 seconds after the injection has been given perpendicular to the skin. It would be best if you injected at a 90-degree angle or use a short needle to avoid injecting insulin repeatedly between the skin layers. Thanks to this, you can use a right angle with no issues [9].

Three approaches have been used to genetically engineer insulin. First, efforts were made to directly separate and purify it from the human cadaver pancreas. However, there has never been significant adequacy of human tissue to make this procedure effective in enough quantity. The "semi-synthesis" method chemically transforms swine insulin into the human insulin sequence by substituting just one amino acid variance in the target coding sequence. Human insulin therapy did not generally become accessible before the 1980s until the advent of recombinant genetic modification. The human genetic code must be inserted into the host organism cell to produce insulin, usually baker's yeast or the bacterium Escherichia coli [10].

Many physicians oversee the administration of injectable or infusion therapy to diabetic patients, but there are not many printed recommendations to assist these caregivers. The critical point in the guidelines is the prevention of intramuscular injections, particularly long-acting insulin analogs, since they can lead to a severe hypoglycemic state. Currently, short needles, such as the 4-mm pen and 5-mm needles, are secure and efficient, and cause less pain; hence, they should be among the first options for all classes of people. Lipohypertrophy is one of the standard treatment complications that affect insulin absorption. Therefore, injection or infusion should not be administered in such lesions, and appropriate site changes will be of use. Improper disposal of consumed sharp objects increases the danger of infection with blood-borne microorganisms; however, this risk can be reduced with proper guidance and training, sensible disposal methods, and use of protective equipment [11]. These guidelines were created and reviewed by 183 diabetes specialists from 54 nations in Forum for Injection Technique and Therapy: Expert Recommendations (FITTER) in Rome, Italy, in the year 2015. The new insulin administration guidelines, just published in Mayo Clinic Proceedings 2016, are by far the most recent in a line of recommendations made by international specialists [12].

Diabetic patients administer dosages of insulin on their own with multiple daily injections (MDIs) by using syringes, pens, as well as patches. In this approach, people with diabetes routinely inject themselves with long-lasting dosages, which can be supplemented with added fast-acting insulin dosages to regulate their blood glucose levels. Multiple injections are required throughout the day to maintain normoglycemia; hence, the method of delivery should lessen injection pain to improve patient compliance with therapy [13]. In subcutaneous continuous insulin infusion, a single subcutaneous site is used by insulin pumps to infuse insulin continuously; this site is changed, on average, every three days. The only type of insulin utilized is rapid-acting, and analog insulins have become more widespread than conventional insulin for this application [14]. Compared to MDIs or traditional continuous subcutaneous infusion of insulin, sensor-augmented pump (SAP) therapy, which integrates insulin pump therapy and real-time continuous glycaemic monitoring, has enhanced metabolic control and has lowered the incidence of hypoglycemia in patients having type I diabetes mellitus [15]. There are numerous insulin pen models and brands available in market. Most of them can be divided into reusable and disposable. A prefilled insulin cartridge is used in a disposable pen. The entire pen device is discarded after a single use. A reusable insulin cartridge is located inside the pen. When the insulin-filled cartridge is empty, we can remove it and put a new one. After each insulin injection, a new disposable needle must be used. Reusable insulin pens can be used for several years with proper maintenance [16]. Omnipod DASH insulin management system by Insulet Corporation is a pod therapy that provides a tubeless, wearable insulin pump that is impervious to water and can carry up to 200 units of insulin and provide 72 hours of continuous insulin therapy using adjustable basal rates and bolus quantity. Insulin "bolus" dosages are given during meals or for correcting high blood sugar levels, whereas basal insulin dosages help maintain your blood sugar constant over time [17]. V-Go is an insulin delivery system available only through prescription for patients with type II diabetes who need to take insulin to maintain their blood glucose levels. V-Go is a practical substitute for needles and syringes for administering insulin multiple times a day, just like a conventional insulin pump, but with one significant distinction, i.e., V-Go is a debit card sized patch that attaches to the skin, as opposed to typical pumps, which contain an insulin reservoir (a device of roughly the size of a small cellphone) that is connected to the body by tubing [18].

The newer insulin, known as "smart insulin," reacts to fluctuating blood glucose levels automatically [19]. A larger or smaller quantity of insulin is released, linked to the glycemic levels in circulation. The hormone insulin, whether supplied orally or intravenously, maintains steady blood sugar levels all day, which helps eliminate carb counting, several regular injections, hypoglycemia, and high blood sugar. Todd Zio, anMassachusetts Institute of Technology expert, launched a firm named SmartCells Inc. in 2003, quickly receiving support from Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation as it attempted to create GRI (glucose-responsive insulin) [20]. This effort was one of the initial intelligent insulin efforts. With more money available recently, more groups are experimenting with ways to distribute intelligent insulin molecules, often made to circulate in the bloodstream longer than conventional insulin [21]. For many years, scientists in North Carolina have been developing an intelligent insulin patch. Researchers said in 2015 that this patching, worn on the body's exterior, utilizes a network of tiny needles for detecting high blood levels of glucose and provides the right amount of insulin. A year later, the patch was improved to include living beta-cells, which can stabilize increasing blood sugar levels for about 10 hours at a stretch. There is no chance that the body's immune system of patients with type I diabetes will reject the beta-cells because they are confined inside the patch on the exterior of the body. Animal trials have been ongoing since about 2016; however, it will take some time before human clinical trials occur [22].

Year 2021 marks the 100th anniversary of insulin's discovery. Insulin has emerged as one of the most acceptable glucose-lowering treatments for diabetes which is given to patients through syringes, pens, and pumps. But, some people feel it is inconvenient to administer insulin injections numerous times in a day. Experts at Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna and physicians at the University of Pisa are included in this movement to create closed-loop insulin delivery systems entirely internal to our body [23]. U.K. researchers have started developing an intelligent insulin pill. The innovative new initiative from the University of Birmingham may permit people with type 1 diabetes to get rid of routine insulin injections. When blood glucose levels rise, these intelligent capsules rest in the body and release insulin. The capsules include particles that adhere to glucose; when blood glucose levels are high, these particles in the capsules melt away, releasing the insulin. Making patients' lives better is the team's first aim, according to Dr. John Fossey, a senior lecturer in Birmingham's School of Chemistry. They are attempting to develop a mechanism to deliver more insulin if blood sugar levels are high [24]. There are two types of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) systems: professional devices, which patients wear without being able to view glucose values until their doctor download data retrospectively during an office visit, and personal systems, which allow for both real-time and retrospective review of entire profile by patients at home, doctors in health center, or remotely (Figure 1) [25].

Regular human insulin and rapid-acting manufactured insulin are the two kinds of insulin used by the jet injector group [26]. Insulin jet injectors come with either a compressed gas cartridge or a compressed spring to create the desired pressure required to propel insulin through the jet injector into the skin. Compressed springs are used more often, and these gadgets are light, compact, durable, and affordable. The jet is loaded by filling its adapter with insulin, and once it is loaded, the gauge is set according to the calibrated insulin dosage. The device is placed against the skin, usually in the fat-rich part. The stomach, the anterior aspect or side of the thigh, and the upper or outer portion of your buttocks can be suitable locations [27]. Insulin is administered with the help of the InsuJetTM system, which was created for people with diabetes. The device's essential component is its innovative, needle-free nozzle. A very narrow stream of insulin that is easily penetrated via the skin is produced by pressing insulin through the nozzle aperture. The insulin then spreads uniformly in the subcutaneous tissue layer by following the path of least resistance. The use of jet injectors to give various live and inactivated vaccinations for viral and bacterial infections has been documented to be effective and safe [28].

Discovery of Foxo

Identifying a family of insulin-responsive transcriptional proteins called Foxo proteins in nematodes marked a turning point in insulin action research. As claimed by the American Diabetes Association, the capacity of insulin to simultaneously regulate numerous genes through a transcription factor provides the best explanation for its integrated effects on various cellular activities. Although the impact of glucagon and insulin on the expression of genes was well understood, their metabolic outcome was not thoroughly understood until it became clear that diabetes could be reversed by inhibiting Foxo1 [29]. Additionally, Fox's capacity to connect a standard signal (Akt phosphorylation) to various transcriptional targets across multiple cell types is crucial for diversifying insulin signaling in different organs. It has made it possible for the two critical characteristics of diabetes (insulin resistance and pancreatic-cell dysfunction) to be combined under a single Foxo-dependent methodology [30].

Inceptor

Insulin resistance beta-cells of the pancreas lead to overt diabetes in rats; hence, the treatment that sensitizes beta-cells to insulin may shield diabetic patients from beta-cell failure. Experts have identified an inhibitor of the insulin receptor, i.e., INSR and IGF1 receptor (IGF1R) signaling in beta-cells of rats, named insulin inhibitory receptor (inceptor; encoded by the Iir gene). Inceptor has a cysteine-rich region similar to INSR and IGF1R and a mannose 6-phosphate receptor region (found in the IGF2 receptor-IGF2R). Rats deficient in the receptor inceptor present hyperinsulinemia and hypoglycemia and live only for a bit after birth [31]. Hence, we can conclude that Inceptor reduces insulin's effect and acts against its signaling (countereffect) in beta-cells to control glycemic levels [32].

Ultrastable Insulin

Weiss (Indiana University School of Medicine) believes that the development that might occur the quickest relates to ultrastable insulins to eliminate the requirement of cold chain. Now, we must prevent insulin from being revealed, even briefly, to temperatures over 30-35 degrees Celsius. Delivering insulin internationally and globally would be made possible by making it less expensive and its current distribution infrastructure less complicated, which hinders the treatment of the diabetes pandemic in underdeveloped nations [33].

This Might be the End of Insulin

We are getting closer to a cure for diabetes (which was unavailable to date) because of new research. Diabetes treatment was introduced a century ago. Five experts (University of Alberta) aim to eradicate insulin treatments. If this research is successful, insulin might gradually become obsolete with the passage of time. If pushed in the appropriate direction, stem cells can differentiate into any cell. Shapiro and his team are trying to genetically modify a person's biological blood cells to transform them into stem cells and then reprogram them to form insulin-producing islet cells. The islets will then be implanted into the same person's liver, and insulin will be produced there. The "super-liver" will take over the routine duties of the pancreas. There is no requirement for the anti-rejection medications that are given along with conventional transplantation procedures since the donor and the receiver are the same person [34]. But, if the donor and receiver are not the same people, then anti-rejection medications will be needed, which can raise the chance of malignant changes and renal deterioration [35].

Effective glycemic management is crucial due to the high rates of morbidity and death caused by diabetes and the high expenses of treating it. Traditional syringe/vial insulin administration is accompanied by patient and clinician hurdles, including psychological insulin resistance, patients' anxiety about the consequences and harmful effects of insulin, and necessary dietary modifications or restrictions. Despite research showing that many type 2 diabetic patients cannot maintain their blood sugar levels with just oral medication, some doctors are still hesitant to start insulin treatment. Over the past several years, improvements in insulin delivery have been concentrated on enhancing patient convenience and glycemic control. The more recent insulin delivery methods include transdermal patches, inhalable devices, continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion pumps, insulin pens, and insulin injection ports.

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A Look Into the Next Century After 100 Years of Insulin - Cureus

Grafting and budding are horticultural techniques used to join parts from two or more plants so that they appear to grow as a single plant. In grafting, the upper part (scion) of one plant grows on the root system (rootstock) of another plant. In the budding process, a bud is taken from one plant and grown on another.

Although budding is considered a modern art and science, grafting is not new. The practice of grafting can be traced back 4,000 years to ancient China and Mesopotamia. As early as 2,000 years ago, people recognized the incompatibility problems that may occur when grafting olives and other fruiting trees.

Since grafting and budding are asexual or vegetative methods of propagation, the new plant that grows from the scion or bud will be exactly like the plant it came from. These methods of plant reproduction are usually chosen because cuttings from the desired plant root poorly (or not at all). Also, these methods give the plant a certain characteristic of the rootstock - for example, hardiness, drought tolerance, or disease resistance. Since both methods require extensive knowledge of nursery crop species and their compatibility, grafting and budding are two techniques that are usually practiced only by more experienced nursery operators.

Most woody nursery plants can be grafted or budded, but both processes are labor intensive and require a great deal of skill. For these reasons they can be expensive and come with no guarantee of success. The nurseryman must therefore see in them a marked advantage over more convenient propagation techniques to justify the time and cost.

Clones or varieties within a species can usually be grafted or budded interchangeably. For example, Pink Sachet dogwood can be budded or grafted onto White Flowering dogwood rootstock and vice versa. Bradford pear can be grafted or budded onto Callery pear rootstock and vice versa. However, Pink Sachet dogwood cannot be grafted or budded onto Callery pear.

Grafting and budding can be performed only at very specific times when weather conditions and the physiological stage of plant growth are both optimum. The timing depends on the species and the technique used. For example, conditions are usually satisfactory in June for budding peaches, but August and early September are the best months to bud dogwoods. Conversely, flowering pears can be grafted while they are dormant (in December and January) or budded during July and August.

Budding and grafting may increase the productivity of certain horticultural crops because they make it possible to do the following things:

When to GraftUnlike budding, which can be performed before or during the growing season, most grafting is done during winter and early spring while both scion and rootstock are still dormant. Containerized plants may be moved indoors during the actual grafting process; after grafting, these plants are placed in protected areas or in unheated overwintering houses. Field-grown stock, of course, must be grafted in place. Some deciduous trees are commonly grafted as bare rootstock during the winter and stored until spring planting. Indoor winter grafting is often referred to as bench grafting because it is accomplished at a bench.

Selecting and Handling Scion WoodThe best quality scion wood usually comes from shoots grown the previous season. Scions should be severed with sharp, clean shears or knives and placed immediately in moistened burlap or plastic bags. It is good practice during the harvesting of scions and the making of grafts to clean the cutting tools regularly. This may be done by flaming or immersing them in a sterilizing solution. Isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol also works well as a sterilant, although it evaporates quite readily. An alternative sterilizing solution may be prepared by mixing one part household bleach with nine parts water (by volume). However, this bleach solution can be highly corrosive to certain metals.

For best results, harvest only as much scion wood as can be used for grafting during the same day. Select only healthy scion wood that is free from insect, disease, or winter damage. Be sure the stock plants are of good quality, healthy, and true to type. Scion wood that is frozen at harvest often knits more slowly and in lower percentage. If large quantities of scion wood must be harvested at one time, follow these steps:

NOTE: In grafting, as well as budding, the vascular cambium of the scion or bud must be aligned with the vascular cambium of rootstock. In woody plants the cambium is a very thin ribbon of actively dividing cells located just below the bark. The cambium produces conductive tissue for the actively growing plant (Figure 1). This vascular cambium initiates callus tissue at the graft and bud unions in addition to stimulating tissue growth on the basal ends of many vegetative cuttings before they have rooted.

Types of GraftsNurserymen can choose from a number of different types of grafts. This section describes only those basic types of grafts used on nursery crop plants.

Cleft GraftOne of the simplest and most popular forms of grafting, cleft grafting (Figure 2), is a method for top working both flowering and fruiting trees (apples, cherries, pears, and peaches) in order to change varieties. Cleft grafting is also used to propagate varieties of camellias that are difficult to root. This type of grafting is usually done during the winter and early spring while both scion and rootstock are still dormant. Cleft grafting may be performed on main stems or on lateral or scaffold branches.The rootstock used for cleft grafting should range from 1 to 4 inches in diameter and should be straight grained. The scion should be about 14-inch in diameter, straight, and long enough to have at least three buds. Scions that are between 6 and 8 inches long are usually the easiest to use.

NOTE: The temperature of grafting wax is critical. It must be hot enough to flow but not so hot as to kill plant tissue. Recently, paint-like sealants have replaced wax in many areas because they are easier to use and require no heating.

Bark GraftBark grafting (Figure 3) is used primarily to top work flowering and fruiting trees. In contrast to cleft grafting, this technique can be applied to rootstock of larger diameter (4 to 12 inches) and is done during early spring when the bark slips easily from the wood but before major sap flow. The rootstock is severed with a sharp saw, leaving a clean cut as with cleft grafting.

Side-Veneer GraftAt one time the side-veneer graft (Figure 4) was a popular technique for grafting varieties of camellias and rhododendrons that are difficult to root. Currently, it is the most popular way to graft conifers, especially those having a compact or dwarf form. Side-veneer grafting is usually done on potted rootstock.

Splice GraftSplice grafting (Figure 5) is used to join a scion onto the stem of a rootstock or onto an intact rootpiece. This simple method is usually applied to herbaceous materials that callus or "knit" easily, or it is used on plants with a stem diameter of 12-inch or less. In splice grafting, both the stock and scion must be of the same diameter.

Whip and Tongue GraftThe whip and tongue technique (Figure 6) is most commonly used to graft nursery crops or woody ornamentals. Both the rootstock and scion should be of equal size and preferably no more than 12-inch in diameter. The technique is similar to splice grafting except that the whip on the rootstock holds the tongue of the scion in place (and vice versa). This leaves both hands free to wrap the joint.

For the whip and tongue graft, make similar cuts on both the stock and scion. These cuts should be made with a single draw of the knife and should have a smooth surface so that the two can develop a good graft union. Up to this point, rootstock and scion are cut the same as for a splice graft.

Saddle GraftSaddle grafting (Figure 7) is a relatively easy technique to learn and once mastered can be performed quite rapidly. The stock may be either field-grown or potted. Both rootstock and scion should be the same diameter. For best results, use saddle grafting on dormant stock in mid- to late winter. Stock should not be more than 1 inch in diameter.

All of the preceding techniques are used to top work horticultural crops for a particular purpose. Occasionally, however, grafting is used to repair injured or diseased plants. Two common techniques available for this purpose are bridge grafting and inarch grafting.

Bridge GraftBridge grafting (Figure 8) is used to "bridge" a diseased or damaged area of a plant, usually at or near the base of the trunk. Such damage commonly results from contact with grading or lawn maintenance equipment, or it may be caused by rodents, cold temperatures, or disease organisms. The bridge graft provides support as well as a pipeline that allows water and nutrients to move across the damaged area.

Bridge grafts are usually done in early spring just before active plant growth begins. They may be performed any time the bark on the injured plant "slips."

Inarch GraftInarching, like bridge grafting, is used to bypass or support a damaged or weakened area of a plant stem (Figure 9). Unlike bridge grafting, the scion can be an existing shoot, sucker, or watersprout that is already growing below and extending above the injury. The scion may also be a shoot of the same species as the injured plant growing on its own root system next to the main trunk of the damaged tree. With the inarching technique, the tip of the scion is grafted in above the injury using the same method as for bark or bridge grafting.

Figure 1. Cross section of a woody plant stem.

Figure 2. Cleft graft.

Figure 3. Bark graft.

Figure 4. Side veneer graft.

Figure 5. Splice graft.

Figure 6. Whip and tongue graft.

Figure 7. Saddle graft.

Figure 8. Bridge graft.

Figure 9. Inarch graft.

Budding is a grafting technique in which a single bud from the desired scion is used rather than an entire scion containing many buds. Most budding is done just before or during the growing season. However some species may be budded during the winter while they are dormant.

Budding requires the same precautions as grafting. Be sure that the scion and rootstock are compatible, that the scion has mature buds, and that the cambia of the scion and rootstock match. Be especially careful to prevent drying or contamination of grafting materials. With practice, the speed with which the process can be performed and the percentage of successful grafts those that "take" - should equal or surpass those of other grafting techniques used on the same species. Generally, deciduous fruit and shade trees are well suited to budding.

Preparing the RootstockRootstock can be grown in the field where it will be budded, or dormant liners can be transplanted into the field and then allowed to grow under moderate fertility until they reach the desired 316- to 716-inch caliper. Since budding is generally done less than 4 inches above the soil surface, leaves and side branches must be removed from this portion of the rootstock to create a clean, smooth working area. To avoid quickly dulling the knife, remove any soil from the rootstock where the cut will be made just before actual budding takes place. The stem can be cleaned by brushing or rubbing it gently by hand or with a piece of soft cloth.

Preparing the BudwoodCollect scion or budwood early in the day while temperatures are cool and the plants are still fully turgid. The best vegetative buds usually come from the inside canopy of the tree on the current season's growth. Mature buds are most desirable; discard terminal and younger buds because they are often not mature. To keep budwood from drying out, getting hot, or freezing (depending on the season), place it into plastic bags or wrap it in moist burlap as it is collected. Then move to a shaded or sheltered area to prepare the buds. Place budwood of only one variety in each labeled bag.

Budsticks are usually prepared in a cool, shaded area. Remove the leaves but keep the petioles (leaf stem) intact to serve as handles when inserting a bud into the rootstock. Then cut the sticks to a convenient length, leaving three to six buds per stick. Budsticks that will not be used immediately should be bundled, labeled, and stored in moisture-retaining containers such as plastic bags or waxed cardboard boxes and kept cool (32 to 45F). The longer budwood is stored, the less likely it is to "take." Generally, budwood stored for more than a few days should be discarded.

When budwood is taken to the field, equal precautions against drying should be taken. Storing budwood in a picnic cooler with ice will help keep it cool and moist. Individual bundles of scions carried by budders are often wrapped in moist burlap or kept in dark (not clear) plastic.

Budding Techniques

T-BuddingT-budding is most commonly used for summer budding of apples, crabapples, dogwoods, peaches, and pears. T-budding must be one when the bark will "slip." Slipping means that, when cut, the bark easily lifts or peels in one uniform layer from the underlying wood without tearing. The exact time when this condition occurs depends on soil moisture, temperature, and time of year. It varies with species and variety. Dry or excessively hot or cold weather can shorten the period when bark slips. Irrigation can be valuable in extending the T-budding season. The best time for budding in North Carolina usually occurs at about these times (earlier in the East, later in the mountains):

Peach - Memorial Day to July 1Apple - June 22 to August 1Pear - July 4 to September 15Dogwood - July 15 to September

Since budding is usually done during the warm summer months, two other precautions are commonly taken to ensure success. First, buds should not be added when the air temperature exceeds 90F. Second, buds should be inserted on the cooler north or east sides of stems.

Preparing the Stock. Budding knives usually have a curved tip (Figure 10), making it easier to cut a T-shaped slit. First, insert the point of the knife and use a single motion to cut the top of the T. Then without removing the point of the knife, twist it perpendicularly to the original cut and rock the blade horizontally down the stem to make the vertical slit of the T. If bark is slipping properly, a slight twist of the knife at the end of this cut will pop open the flaps of the cut and make it easier to insert the bud. In practice, the top of the T is usually slanted slightly (Figure 11).

This same type of cut can be made using two separate strokes, one vertical and one horizontal, and then using the back of the budding knife tip to pry up the flaps slightly. Although much slower, this technique may be easier.

Removing Buds from the Budstick. The bud to be inserted is often just a shield of bark with a bud attached or a very thin layer of wood with both the bark shield and bud attached (Figure 12). Various techniques can be used to make these cuts, but the shape of the cut remains the same.

Begin the first scion cut about 12-inch below the bud and draw the knife upward just under the bark to a point at least 14-inch above the bud. Grasp the petiole from the detached leaf between the thumb and forefinger of the free hand. Make the second cut by rotating the knife blade straight across the horizontal axis of the budstick and about 14 inch above the desired bud. This cut should be deep enough to remove the bud, its shield of bark, and a thin sliver of wood.

A variation often used with dogwood is to slant the first upward cut so that it goes about halfway through the budstick. Then make the top cut and bend the budstick by applying gentle but constant finger pressure behind the bud. The bark should lift and peel off to the side, yielding bark and bud but no wood. Caution: Straight lifting rather than the sideward motion will separate the bud from the bark rather than keeping it intact. Shields removed this way are useless!

The cut surface of the rootstock and bud must stay clean. Do not touch these parts with your fingers. Also, do not set buds down or put them in your mouth.

Inserting the Bud. Insert the bud shield into the T flaps of the stock and slide it down to ensure that it makes intimate contact with the rootstock (Figure 13).

Securing the Bud. Pull the cut together by winding a 4- or 5-inch long budding rubber around the stem to hold the flaps tightly over the bud shield and prevent drying (Figure 14). Secure the budding rubber by overlapping all windings and tucking the end under the last turn. Do not cover the bud.

Chip BuddingChip budding is a technique that may be used whenever mature buds are available. Because the bark does not have to "slip," the chip-budding season is longer than the T-budding season. Species whose bark does not slip easily without tearing - such as some maples - may be propagated more successfully by chip budding than by T-budding.

Preparing the Stock and the Scion Bud. Although all the basics in handling budwood and stock are the same for chip budding and Tbudding, the cuts made in chip budding differ radically. The first cut on both stock and scion is made at a 45 to 60 downward angle to a depth of about 18-inch (Figure 15). After making this cut on a smooth part of the rootstock, start the second cut about 34-inch higher and draw the knife down to meet the first cut. (The exact spacing between the cuts varies with species and the size of the buds.) Then remove the chip.

Cuts on both the scion (to remove the bud) and the rootstock (to insert the bud) should be exactly the same (Figure 16). Although the exact location is not essential, the bud is usually positioned one-third of the way down from the beginning of the cut. If the bud shield is significantly narrower than the rootstock cut, line up one side exactly.

Securing the Bud. Wrapping is extremely important in chip budding. If all exposed edges of the cut are not covered, the bud will dry out before it can take. Chip budding has become more popular over the past 5 years because of the availability of thin (2-mil) polyethylene tape as a wrapping material. This tape is wrapped to overlap all of the injury, including the bud (Figure 17), and forms a miniature plastic greenhouse over the healing graft.

Budding Aftercare

When irrigation is available, apply water at normal rates for plants that bud before August 1. Ornamental peaches and pears often will break bud and grow the same year they are budded. Dogwoods and most other species budded after August 1 should be irrigated at a normal rate for only two to three weeks after budding except during extreme drought. Following these irrigation practices will enable buds to heal completely with no bud break before frost.

Although budding rubbers and polyethylene tape reportedly decompose and need not be removed, studies show that unless they are taken off, binding or girdling of fast-growing plants like Bradford pear may occur within a month. Summer buds should take in two to three weeks.

On species budded in early summer, it may be desirable for the buds to break and grow during the same season. In this case, either remove the stock tops entirely or break them over within a few weeks of budding to encourage the scion buds to break. Once the buds have broken, completely remove the stock above the bud or keep a few leaves intact but remove the terminals, depending upon the species.

For dogwoods and other plants budded in late summer, remove the tops just before growth starts the following spring. A slanting cut away from the bud is preferred (Figure 18). If possible, set up stakes or other devices to insure that straight growth will occur before the buds break. Straight shoots, however, are so essential to the growth of high-quality grafted and budded stock that stakes should be set as they are needed.

To insure a top-quality plant, it is essential to remove unwanted sprouts. These sprouts should be "rubbed" off as soon as they are visible so that they do not reduce the growth and quality of the budded stock. If they are removed regularly and early, large scars or "doglegs" can be avoided.

Figure 10. Budding knives.

Figure 11. T-shaped cut on rootstock.

Figure 12. Removing the bark shield with the bud attached.

Figure 13. Bark shield with bud inserted into T cut.

Figure 14. Wrapped bud.

Figure 15. Rootstock cut for T budding.

Figure 16. Removing chip from budstick.

Figure 17. Chip bud wrapped with plastic tape.

Figure 18. Budded plant after pruning.

Grafting and budding techniques combine the science and the art of horticulture. The scientific aspects include comparability, timing, disease and insect resistance, drought, tolerance, and hardiness. Information on these topics may be found in have a broad working knowledge of a variety of texts and pamphlets. Acquiring practical skills in the art of grafting and budding, on the other hand, requires hours and even years of practice to perfect. Usually the careful supervision of a trained propagator is required for the serious student of budding and grafting to learn this art.

From this publication it should be clear that many types of budding and grafting techniques are available. Individual propagators usually have a broad working knowledge of all of these techniques but a high degree of skill in only two or three.

These budding and grafting techniques can be used successfully, especially on a commercial basis, to propagate clonal plant materials. In fact, perpetuating many of our horticultural clones depends on the successful application of these techniques.

Tools and Supplies for Budding and Grafting

KnivesGrafting and budding knives are designed specifically for these purposes and should not be used for carving and whittling wood. They are available in either left- or right-handed models. The blade is beveled on only one side, unlike conventional knives, which have blades that bevel on both sides down to the cutting edge. Grafting and budding knives must be kept razor sharp so they will cut smoothly.

Pruning and Lopping ShearsPruning and lopping shears should be the scissors or sliding blade type rather than the blade and anvil type. If used to harvest scion wood or budsticks, blade and anvil pruner will crush plant tissue. As with knives, pruning and lopping shears should be kept razor sharp to give clean, close cuts.

Grafting ToolsA special device known as a grafting tool has been designed for making the cleft graft. It is used when the rootstock's diameter is greater than 1 inch. The wedge-shaped blade is used to split the stock, and the flat pick opens the cleft so that the scions can be inserted. Once in place, the flat pick is removed and the cleft comes together to hold the scions in position.

Wax MelterWax melters are used to heat the wax for sealing graft and bud junctions. They are usually made by modifying kerosene lanterns. The chimney is replaced by a small tin pot that serves as a receptacle for the wax. When the flame is kept low, the wax is melted without burning and can be kept at a suitable temperature.

Grafting and Budding Terms

The specialized terms listed here are often used in discussing grafting and budding. The drawings in Figure 19, Figure 20, Figure 21 and Figure 22 will help in understanding these terms.

Adventitious buds - buds that can produce roots or shoots at an unusual location on the plant if environmental conditions are favorable.

Bark - all tissues lying outward from the vascular cambium.

Bud - an immature or embryonic shoot, flower, or inflorescence.

Budding rubber - a strip of pliable rubber 316- to 38-inch wide by 4 to 8 inches long and 0.01 inch thick used to hold a bud in proper position until the plant tissue has knitted together.

Callus - undifferentiated (parenchyma) tissue formed at a wounded surface.

Cambium - a thin layer of living cells between the xylem (outer sapwood) and phloem (inner bark) that is responsible for secondary growth. Because cambium cells divide and make new cells, the cambia of two different but related plant will grow together if they are fixed and held firmly in contact.

Compatible - plant parts (scion and rootstock) that are capable of forming a permanent union when grafted together.

Double-worked plant - a plant that has been grafted twice, usually to overcome incompatibility between scion and rootstock; it consists of a rootstock, interstock, and scion.

Graft - a finished plant that comes from joining a scion and a rootstock.

Graft or bud union - the junction between a scion or bud and its supporting rootstock.

Grafting paint - A mixture used like warm grafting wax to cover wounds and prevent drying. It requires no heating before use and dries to a moisture-proof seal when exposed to air. Unlike conventional paints, it does not damage plant tissue.

Grafting strip - a rubber strip used to hold scions in place until knitting has occurred. Grafting strips are thicker and less pliable than budding rubber.

Grafting twine - treated jute or raffia used to wrap graft junctions to keep scions in place and cambia properly aligned.

Incompatible - plants whose parts will not form a permanent union when grafted together.

lnterstock - an intermediate plant part that is compatible with both the scion and the rootstock. Used in cases where the scion and rootstock are not directly compatible with each other or where additional dwarfing and cold or disease resistance is desired.

Parafilm - registered tradename for a nonsticky, self-adhering parafin film. Can be stretched over a bud or graft to hold the bud or scion in position as well as to seal the junction. Used in place of a rubber strip or twine.

Polarity - a condition where stems grow shoots at the apical or terminal end and roots at the basal end.

Raffia - One of several materials available for securing scions or buds to the rootstock, A natural fiber from the fronds of the raphia plam, raffia is one of the oldest materials in use. It should be graded for uniform size and length and moistened just before use to make it pliable.

Rootstock - the portion of a grafted plant that has (or will develop) the root system onto which the scion is grafted.

Scion - a plant part that is grafted onto the interstock or the rootstock. The scion usually has two or more buds.

Link:
Grafting and Budding Nursery Crop Plants - North Carolina State University

The summer has come and gone, and the fleeting school break is a reminder of the great weight that teachers carry throughout the year. Weve seen a noteworthy rise in stress levels among teachers and school level leaders, twice that of the general population of working adults according to a recent RAND Corporation survey; and though the summer months may appear to alleviate some level of stress, the burden is never fully relieved from our teacher force.

That is why we should take every opportunity to honor and uplift teachers for what they deliver to students and the broader school community all year long. In that spirit, here is a bright spot in the roundup of the 2021-2022 school year: an introduction to four of the dozen-odd educators in the Teach For America network in North Carolina awarded Teacher of the Year in their respective schools. Their commitment, creativity, and perseverance truly exemplify great teaching, and their stories are sure to inspire us all to meet their efforts with appreciation and support.

Daeja is a second-year special education teacher in Tarboro and joined Teach For America upon earning her bachelors degree from Hampton University. She takes every day as a middle school educator with a sense of humor. Looking back on the year, she is most proud of the growth of what she calls her exceptional children.

At the start of the school year, Daeja says, we had a student who struggled with adjusting to the setting of middle school and often would have tantrums run, hide, yell, and cry whenever they felt a big emotion they couldnt explain. By the end of the year, they would go to one of their safe spaces when they realized they were close to a boiling point. They would share their emotions verbally and by using a plushy.

This student also inspired Daeja to begin an art wall, decorated by students just like this one. Whatever it takes! Daeja says.

In part, she attributes her success to the opportunity to step into leadership, serving as co-chair of her department and learning more about school-level operations along the way. In this new position, she came to more deeply value relationships with students parents and families, and in May was recognized as Beginning Teacher of the Year at her school.

By the end of the 2021-2022 school year, Daeja fulfilled her corps member commitment. As for her future plans, shes chosen to remain in her placement school and will move into chair of her department.

No matter what I choose later, Daeja says, I know that, at the start of my career, my goal was to make a difference. Thats what I am going to continue to do.

Meghan has been a middle school STEM educator in Charlotte for four years, and in that time she has gained a reputation for her classrooms engaging science labs.

Fun-Lab Fridays are days all my students look forward to, and theyre some of my favorite memories from this year, Meghan says. For many students it was their aha moment, connecting all the work we did throughout the week to something tangible and real.

A specific lab we did was creating edible cells, where students would model a cell out of food items. The students worked with partners to create incredible pieces to demonstrate their understanding. And yes they did get to eat it all!

Meghan was recognized as Teacher of the Year in January, but continued to demonstrate resilience throughout the school year by embracing change. There were so many times the course of the year changed, from COVID procedures to grading standards, she says. When I was able to take a step back, look at the bigger picture, and follow those changes, I found more success. It led to more collaboration and communication with my team and deeper connections with students.

Since graduating from UNC-Wilmington and joining Teach For America in 2017, Robert has been an elementary school teacher primarily third and fourth grade in Guilford and Durham counties. When asked, he names the greatest reward of being a teacher is seeing the community of a classroom come together, where each student can let their freak flag fly and be themselves.

He attributes his success this year to the joint effort of his team while serving as a grade-level chair.

It was my first time in this position and it proved to be a sink or swim moment. My new teammates had greater experience, and perhaps better reason, to be in the leadership position, Robert says. However, Im proud of myself for building a team that was centered in honesty and collaboration. Every step of the way, every success and failure, we were in it together. By the end of the year, it became clear that not only was third grade the most fun team, but we were the most connected.

Robert intends to continue teaching and expanding his service to his school community.I really enjoy my current role, and I cant think of a greater honor than being a public school teacher, Robert says. It remains the professional joy of my life, and I cant wait to continue the work.

Rub has been a middle school English/language arts teacher in Charlotte for five years, and is currently pursuing her masters of education in literacy. As a proud Latina leader in a school district with few other Latinx educators, she also plans to pursue National Board certification and eventually a position in school administration. I rarely ever see Latinx educators in this role, so representation is needed. I have also always thought about becoming a principal, but we will see!

Rubs love for her students is evident in her generous spirit and indefatigable effort. Not only did her classroom have the highest proficiency growth in her school for the past two years, but she has taken special care to tutor students falling behind in their literacy. She cites being proud of her students for their growth in skill and confidence.

Her favorite moment from her classroom this year was an assignment based on Summer of the Mariposas, in which students were charged to write their own Mexican folklore narrative and create a website on which to publish them.

When I first presented them with this assignment, they looked at me like I was crazy for assigning this task, says Rub. There was some pushback and hesitation from them, and me because I was nervous about how to deliver this lesson but I was trusting the process. The websites they submitted left me speechless. As their teacher, I had the privilege to witness the incredible creativity that came from my students in that lesson.

In our organizations conversations with diverse leaders across the state, the consensus remains that teachers deserve more than a one-time celebration for all of their efforts day to day, semester to semester, year to year. They deserve sustained action and support, to ensure that they have access to improved benefits and compensation as well as relevant development and fewer financial barriers to advancement.

Teach For America is committed to supporting educators not only during their first two years in the classroom, but also for the remainder of their career in education by investing in professional programming that advances alumni of our program toward their goals. This is a critical component of our program if we are to reach our mission of achieving excellent and equitable education for all students.

Teachers like Daeja, Meghan, Robert, and Rub are the reason that, through all of the challenges of our current education landscape, we should remain hopeful about our future and be emboldened to partner with them in ensuring that all children can thrive.

Sarah Holder is the director of communications for Teach for America, North Carolina.

Read the original:
Lifting up NC Teachers of the Year and TFA alumni - EdNC

Cell-cultured seafood startup Pearlita Foods has successfully created the worlds first plant-based oyster prototype that looks and tastes just like a traditional oyster. The prototype is made using plant-based and cell-based technologies with a proprietary mushroom and seaweed base as well as Pearlitas novel flavor mixture that gives the oyster a pure, delicate, and authentic ocean taste and texture. The startup also plans to create biodegradable oyster shells that will impart the same experience as traditional oysters but remove the need for shucking, making it easier for consumers to serve and eat.

Earlier this year, Pearlita embarked on producing an alternative to oysters in an effort to meet the demand for ocean-derived delicacies using plant-based and cell-based technologies without harming the oceans. The startup will begin by rolling out its hybrid product while it continues to develop its cell lines for a line of fully cultured oysters. To cultivate oysters, Pearlita isolates cells from an oyster tissue sample, and with it, the startup is able to produce thousands of cultivated oysters.

While the startup continues its research and development on cultured oysters and biodegradable shells, Pearlita will debut its hybrid plant-based oyster using recycled oyster shells for its showcasing and tastings. In North Carolina, where Pearlita is headquartered, many coastal communities offer shell recycling drop-off locations to build new oyster reefs instead of disposing of the shells in landfills.

Pearlita Foods

According to Pearlita, over 85 percent of wild oyster reefs have been lost globally due to overfishing. Pearlita wants to change the seafood industry and it is striving to make cultivated oysters and other cell-based seafood commonplace so that traditional oysters can remain in the oceans and contribute to healthy ecosystems. Additionally, according to government advisories from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, ocean-derived bivalve shellfish such as clams, geoducks, mussels, scallops, and oysters can transmit norovirus to the people who eat them. These illness outbreaks are most often linked to oysters and can be deadly.

The startup aims to produce oysters with no reliance on the ocean or live animals, by using stem cells and bioreactors to produce cell-based oysters that are rich in flavor and nutrition. And because they are produced in a sterile environment, cultivated seafood is devoid of bacteria and virus contamination. Going forward, Pearlita plans to develop squid and scallop prototypes as well and work on scaling up production.

The cellular aquaculture startup recently secured investment from investment firm CULT Food Science to help scale its prototype. We are impressed by and proud of Pearlitas successful production of its first cultivated oyster prototype. Pearlitas commitment to making the world a better place and doing its part to increasing the worlds food security is encouraging as we possess the same goals, Lejjy Gafour, Chief Executive Officer of CULT, said in a statement. Pearlita is taking great steps to advance the production of cultured seafood on a mass scale. We are energized by the positive contributions that their team is making to the cellular agriculture industry.

Finless Foods

While Pearlita is focusing on developing ethical and sustainable seafood alternatives to ocean delicacies such as oysters, other food technology companies are tackling fish species such as tunawhich is the most consumed fish in the United States. Finless Foods is taking a similar approach to Pearlita by using plants and cultivated cells to make sustainable seafood, starting with tuna which will be available to restaurants and foodservice channels this year.

Earlier this year, Finless Foods showcased its plant-based tuna as part of a poke bowl and tacos served to guests at the Food Network & Cooking Channel South Beach Wine & Food Festival in Miami. The product is made from a blend of nine proprietary, plant-based ingredients that together mimic the texture and taste of sushi-grade tuna while also being able to withstand the addition of citrus and marinades.

Tuna plays an important role in ocean health and has historically been a difficult species for aquaculture, Finless Foods co-founder Brian Wyrwas said in a statement. We felt that developing viable alternatives would yield the greatest net impact for our ocean.

Other competitors in the cellular aquaculture space include San Diego-based BlueNalu, which is working to develop cell-based alternatives to fish, including yellowtail amberjack which it sampled in a private-tasting in 2019. In San Francisco, cellular aquaculture startup Wild Type is also working on growing sushi-grade meat made from a small amount of fish cells. Its pilot facility became operational in 2021 and Wild Type hopes to open an adjacent tasting restaurant where its cultivated fish can be showcased in traditional (but more sustainable) sushi preparations.

Over in Singapore, the countrys first cell-based seafood startup, Shiok Meats, is creating cultivated crab and lobster. Currently, Singapore is the only country in the world that allows the sale of cultivated meat. There, cultivated chicken made by GOOD Meat (a subsidiary of Eat Just) was approved for sale in December 2020.

For the latest vegan news, read:Chipotle Invested a $150 Million Funding Round For Vegan Steak StartupNavy Will Test Vegan Meat on at Least 2 US BasesCountry Crocks First Whipping Cream Is Made From Lentil Milk

Nicole Axworthy is the News Editor at VegNews and author of the cookbook DIY Vegan.

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Vegan Oysters in Shells? This Startup Just Developed a Prototype to Save the Oceans - VegNews

(CNN) - Shrooms, Alice, tweezes, mushies, hongos, pizza toppings, magic mushrooms -- everyday lingo for psychedelic mushrooms seems to grow with each generation. Yet leading mycologist Paul Stamets believes it's time for fans of psilocybin mushrooms to leave such childish slang behind.

"Let's be adults about this. These are no longer 'shrooms.' These are no longer party drugs for young people," Stamets told CNN. "Psilocybin mushrooms are nonaddictive, life-changing substances."

Small clinical trialsthat have shown thatone or two doses of psilocybin, given in a therapeutic setting, can make dramatic and long-lasting changes in people suffering from treatment-resistant major depressive disorder, which typically does not respond to traditional antidepressants.

Based on this research, the US Food and Drug Administration has described psilocybin as abreakthrough medicine, "which is phenomenal," Stamets said.

Psilocybin, which the intestines convert into psilocin, a chemical with psychoactive properties, is also showing promise in combatingcluster headaches,anxiety,anorexia,obsessive-compulsive disorderand various forms ofsubstance abuse.

"The data are strong from depression to PTSD to cluster headaches, which is one of the most painful conditions I'm aware of," said neurologist Richard Isaacson, director of the Alzheimer's Prevention Clinic in the Center for Brain Health at Florida Atlantic University.

"I'm excited about the future of psychedelics because of the relatively good safety profile and because these agents can now be studied in rigorous double-blinded clinical trials," Isaacson said. "Then we can move from anecdotal reports of 'I tripped on this and felt better' to 'Try this and you will be statistically, significantly better.'"

Classic psychedelics such as psilocybin and LSD enter the brain via the same receptors as serotonin, the body's "feel good" hormone. Serotonin helps control body functions such as sleep, sexual desire and psychological states such as satisfaction, happiness and optimism.

People with depression or anxiety often have low levels of serotonin, as do people with post-traumatic stress disorder, cluster headaches, anorexia, smoking addiction and substance abuse. Treatment typically involves selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs, which boost levels of serotonin available to brain cells. Yet it can take weeks for improvement to occur, experts say, if the drugs even work at all.

With psychedelics such as psilocybin and LSD, however, scientists can see changes in brain neuron connectivity in the lab "within 30 minutes," said pharmacologist Brian Roth, a professor of psychiatry and pharmacology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

"One of the most interesting things we've learned about the classic psychedelics is that they have a dramatic effect on the way brain systems synchronize, or move and groove together," said Matthew Johnson, a professor in psychedelics and consciousness at Johns Hopkins Medicine.

"When someone's on psilocybin, we see an overall increase in connectivity between areas of the brain that don't normally communicate well," Johnson said. "You also see the opposite of that -- local networks in the brain that normally interact with each other quite a bit suddenly communicate less.

"It creates a "very, very disorganized brain," ultimately breaking down normal boundaries between the auditory, visual, executive and sense-of-self sections of the mind -- thus creating a state of "altered consciousness," said David Nutt, director of the Neuropsychopharmacology Unit in the Division of Brain Sciences at Imperial College London.

And it's that disorganization that is ultimately therapeutic, according to Nutt: "Depressed people are continually self-critical, and they keep ruminating, going over and over the same negative, anxious or fearful thoughts.

"Psychedelics disrupt that, which is why people can suddenly see a way out of their depression during the trip," he added. "Critical thoughts are easier to control, and thinking is more flexible. That's why the drug is an effective treatment for depression."

There's more. Researchers say psychedelic drugs actually help neurons in the brain sprout new dendrites, which look like branches on a tree, to increase communication between cells.

"These drugs can increase neuronal outgrowth, they can increase this branching of neurons, they can increase synapses. That's called neuroplasticity," Nutt said.

That's different from neurogenesis, which is the development of brand new brain cells, typically from stem cells in the body. The growth of dendrites helps build and then solidify new circuits in the brain, allowing us to, for example, lay down more positive pathways as we practice gratitude.

"Now our current thinking is this neuronal outgrowth probably doesn't contribute to the increased connectivity in the brain, but it almost certainly helps people who have insights into their depression while on psilocybin maintain those insights," Nutt said.

"You shake up the brain, you see things in a more positive way, and then you lay down those positive circuits with the neuroplasticity," he added. "It's a double whammy.

"Interestingly, SSRIs also increase neuroplasticity, a fact that science has known for some time. But in a 2022 double-blind phase 2randomized controlled trialcomparing psilocybin to escitalopram, a traditional SSRI, Nutt found the latter didn't spark the same magic.

"The SSRI did not increase brain connectivity, and it actually did not improve well-being as much as psilocybin," Nutt said. "Now for the first time you've got the brain science lining up with what patients say after a trip: 'I feel more connected. I can think more freely. I can escape from negative thoughts, and I don't get trapped in them.' "Taking a psychedelic doesn't work for everyone, Johnson stressed, "but when it works really well it's like, 'Oh my god, it's a cure for PTSD or for depression.' If people really have changed the way their brain is automatically hardwired to respond to triggers for anxiety, depression, smoking -- that's a real thing.

"How long do results last? In studies where patients were givenjust one doseof a psychedelic "a couple of people were better eight years later, but for the majority of those with chronic depression it creeps back after four or five months," Nutt said.

"What we do with those people is unknown," he added. "One possibility is to give another dose of the psychedelic -- we don't know if that would work or not, but it might. Or we could put them on an SSRI as soon as they've got their mood improved and see if that can hold the depression at bay.

"There are all sorts of ways we could try to address that question," Nutt said, "but we just don't know the answer yet."

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How psilocybin, the psychedelic in mushrooms, may rewire the brain to ease depression, anxiety and more - KYMA

DetailsCategory: DNA RNA and CellsPublished on Saturday, 02 July 2022 13:59Hits: 289

MORRISVILLE, NC, USA I June 30, 2022 I Inceptor Bio, a biotechnology company advancing cell therapies for difficult-to-treat cancers, today announced a collaboration with University of Minnesota. The aim of this collaboration is to build a novel induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) platform that will accelerate Inceptor Bio's best-in-class next-generation cell therapies platforms. Under the terms of the agreement, Inceptor Bio will receive an exclusive license to the technology developed under this collaboration.

Inceptor Bio plans to advance multiple cell therapy products into clinical studies incorporating the iPSC platform into its proprietary K62 platform for CAR-M therapy, which increases the phagocytic capabilities of macrophages and supports an M1 anti-tumor phenotype, as well as its novel co-stimulatory domain, M83, for CAR-NK therapies.

"iPSC-derived cell therapies have the potential to enable the next frontier of cell therapies. We are excited to work with Dr. Beau Webber at University of Minnesota and his team to develop this unique platform," said Mike Nicholson, Ph.D., President and Chief Operating Officer at Inceptor Bio.

"The team at University of Minnesota is confident that Inceptor Bio is the right partner for building a differentiated iPSC platform to advance novel cell therapies," saidBeau Webber, Ph.D., Assistant Professor in the Department of Pediatrics, Division of Hematology and Oncology. "We are deeply encouraged by Inceptor Bio's progress in the cell therapy arena, and we look forward to being part of future developments to help cure difficult-to-treat cancers."

"This partnership is an important step in continuing to execute on our strategy of advancing cell therapies to bring a more positive prognosis and quality of life to patients with difficult-to-treat cancers," said Abe Maingi, Vice President, Business Development at Inceptor Bio. "We are thrilled to be able to develop and deliver on the promise of iPSC-derived cell therapies."

About Inceptor Bio

Inceptor Bio is a biotechnology company developing multiple next-generation cell therapy platforms to deliver cures for underserved and difficult-to-treat cancers. Inceptor Bio is building platforms in CAR-T, CAR-M, and CAR-NK. Inceptor Bio is headquartered in Morrisville, North Carolina. More information is available at http://www.inceptor.bio.

SOURCE: Inceptor Bio

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Inceptor Bio Announces Strategic Collaboration with University of Minnesota to Develop Novel iPSC Platform for the Advancement of Next-Generation...

WINSTON-SALEM Human organ transplants became possible in 1954 when a kidney became the first organ to be transplanted successfully, eventually earning Boston physician Joseph Murray the Nobel Prize.

Today, its also possible to receive a transplanted heart, lungs, liver, pancreas or intestines, as well as tissues including skin, bone, corneas, tendons, ligaments and blood vessels.

A record-high number of organ transplants 41,354 were performed in the United States in 2021, according to the United Network for Organ Sharing, a nonprofit organization that supports the nations transplant system. It was the first year that organ transplants exceeded 40,000.

Despite the progress made in organ transplantation over the last seven decades, the demand for organs still greatly out-strips the supply, a trend unlikely to reverse.

Even though organ transplants are out there, the challenge is that more patients are dying every day from organ failure, and the numbers are fairly shocking actually, saidAnthony Atala, M.D., an internationally acclaimed urologist, researcher and professor at the Wake Forest University School of Medicine. So thats where regenerative medicine comes in.

Atala is director of theWake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine(WFIRM), a translational research organization devoted to bringing new treatments and cures to patients with diseased or damaged organs or tissues. He highlighted WFIRMs activities and impact as the keynote speaker at Triad BioNight, a dinner and awards event held June 23 at High Point University and sponsored by the North Carolina Biotechnology Center.

Piedmont Triad bioscience leaders honored with awards at Triad BioNight

Atalas appearance at the event reinforced the mutual admiration between him and NCBiotech that dates back to his arrival at the Triad university in 2004. The Biotech Center has awarded numerous grants to various members of his lab over the years, and Atala has also served on the NCBiotech board of directors.

NCBiotech has provided $352,476.32 in grants to Wake Forest University for regenerative medicine-associated research during Atalas 18 years at the university. The Center has awarded an additional $75,883.62 in meeting, event, and educational grants for regenerative medicine-related programming during the same time, including an active $10,000 award for an upcoming meeting.

It is clear to see how over time, this regional effort has global impact, said Nancy Johnston, executive director of NCBiotechs Piedmont Triad Office. New initiatives underway indicate there is power in partnerships and place; value in investing in innovation; and the top talent it takes in this emerging field of regenerative medicine.

Regenerative Medicine The Driving Force for Dr. Anthony Atala

Atala told the crowd of nearly 400 attendees that WFIRMs scientists, technicians and physicians are working on regenerative medicine therapies for about 40 different organs and tissues, building on 15 applications that have been used in patients to date.

We have an amazing team over 450 people all working together to bring these technologies from the bench to the bedside, Atala said.

WFIRM is based in a five-story building spanning about 200,000 square feet in Winston-SalemsInnovation Quarter, a downtown district devoted to research and technology enterprises.

We do everything here, from the idea, to the concepts, to the proof of principle at the benchtop, to the preclinical work, all the way to the manufacturing of the product in an FDA-compliant facility right in this building, Atala said.

WFIRM scientists and physicians made history in 1999 when they were the first in the world to implant laboratory-grown organs into humans.Seven children with spina bifida and severely malfunctioning bladders received grafts of rudimentary bladders engineered in Winston-Salem.

Today WFIRMs multidisciplinary work uses cells, bioreactors, tissue engineering, biomaterials, 3D bioprinting, small molecules, gene editing, body-on-a-chip technologies and personalized medicine approaches to innovate new therapies and diagnostics.

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Cell therapy the use of harvested and cultured cells to restore tissues and organs is a major thrust of WFIRMs work. The technology offers a great advantage over donated organs and tissues because it typically uses a patients own cells, thereby avoiding rejection by the bodys immune system.

Working with cell media in the Atala lab.

Work is under way at WFIRM to use skeletal muscle cells to restore lost muscle function in patients with urinary incontinence and in patients undergoing rotator cuff repair surgery.

In both cases, skeletal muscle cells are collected from a tissue sample smaller than a postage stamp, are multiplied in the lab, and are then injected into the body to build muscle.

Researchers are also working with a type of stem cell taken from the amniotic fluid or placenta after a woman gives birth. WFIRM scientists were the first in the world to identify and characterize stem cells derived from amniotic fluid in 2007 and since then have developed techniques for isolating and expanding the cells.

These cells are very powerful, Atala said. They can grow into all three different major categories of cells that lead to every cell in your body.

WFIRM is investigating the use of these cells as potential therapies for patients with chronic kidney disease.

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Cell therapy often involves the use of biomaterials that can be shaped into scaffolds that mimic the shape of a tissue or organ. Different materials can be mixed and matched for various tissue reconstruction.

One application is for helping patients with a damaged urethra, the duct that drains urine from the bladder. A tubular-shaped scaffold is coated inside and outside with muscle cells that are taken from the patient and multiplied, then the scaffold is placed in an oven-like device to encourage cell growth.

Its very much like baking a layer cake, Atala said, eliciting chuckles from the audience. Once its completed you actually put it back into the patient.

The implanted scaffold biodegrades in the body after six months, but the cells remain viable indefinitely.You end up with your very own cells, your very own bridge and your very own organ, Atala said.

WFIRM researchers have successfully engineered replacement tissues and organs of all four shapes found in the body flat structures, tubular tissues, hollow organs and solid organs.

Federal grant will boost training opportunities for students in regenerative medicine

WFIRM is also a pioneer in 3D bioprinting, the use of printer-like devices to deposit layers of living cells in three-dimensional patterns. The invention, inspired by desktop ink jet printers, brings precision and automation to the construction of tissues and organs.

Last year two teams of scientists from WFIRM used 3D bioprinting to win first and second place in NASAsVascular Tissue Challenge, a national competition to accelerate tissue engineering innovations that might benefit people on Earth today and space explorers in the future.

The WFIRM teams created lab-grown human liver tissues that were strong enough to survive and function in ways similar to those inside the body. They each used a varied 3D printing technique to construct a cube-shaped tissue about one centimeter thick and capable of functioning for 30 days in the lab.

That was a major challenge, Atala said, because anything over the size of a pinhead will not get nutrition.

Tissues in the body rely on blood vessels to supply cells with nutrients and oxygen and remove metabolic waste. Recreating this process in engineered tissue is difficult, so NASA asked teams to develop and test strategies for making tissues with functional artificial blood vessels.

Wake Forest researchers win NASA challenge to develop lab-grown human vascular tissue

The winning teams used 3D printing to create gel-like molds with a network of channels designed to maintain sufficient oxygen and nutrient levels to keep the constructed tissues alive.

The two teams collectively won $400,000 while no other team in the national competition qualified for third place.

Another WFIRM application of 3D bioprinting is body-on-a-chip technology, which applies cells onto a computer chip to mimic organs.

We can create miniature hearts, lungs, blood vessels, kidneys and brains, put them all together on a chip and actually start to screen drugs over time, Atala said.

The technology can also be used to create tumors on a chip for personalized medicine. Tumor cells harvested from tissue biopsied at the time of a patients cancer diagnosis are applied to a chip and then tested against various chemotherapy drugs so we can best predict what the best treatment is for that patient, before that patient gets the treatment, Atala said.

The cell therapy, 3D bioprinting and body-on-a-chip technologies are just a sampling of WFIRMs work, and we have a lot of things going on, Atala said.

Our mission is to bring these technologies to patients, to improve patients lives through regen med, he said. Our vision is to lead a global transformation from treatments to cures.

Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine leads new $20M effort (+ video)

Beyond its own research, WFIRM has become a major influencer and resource in regenerative medicine nationally and globally.

It has over 400 research collaborations with scientists across the United States and around the world.

Specialized containers for cell processing.

For most of these collaborations, WFIRM is the one thats providing materials, reagents, cells and know-how, trying to disseminate this information to a global scale, Atala said.

WFIRM also helps prepare the next generation of regenerative medicine scientists through education and training programs for high school students, undergraduates, graduate students and post-doctoral fellows. It also sponsors conferences and workshops, provides content and materials for museum exhibits around the world and publishes textbooks.

The institute has spurred new initiatives and entities in Winston-Salem to advance regenerative medicine nationally and globally. This ecosystem, called the Regenerative Medicine Hub, includes the nonprofit RegenMed Development Organization (ReMDO), a research partner with WFIRM that sponsors several programs to advance the field nationwide, including the Regenerative Manufacturing Innovation Consortium and the Regenerative Medicine Manufacturing Society.

Startup Spotlight: RegeneratOR Test Bed in W-S aims to boost startups focusing on regenerative medicine

Through its RegeneratOR initiative, ReMDO sponsors three programs to support startup and growth companies in regenerative medicine:

These and other resources in the Regenerative Medicine Hub have attracted about30 bioscience companiesto Winston-Salems Innovation Quarter, ranging from local start-ups to multinational corporations.

The latest company to establish a presence at ReMDOs Innovation Accelerator is Houston-basedAxiom Space, developer of the first commercial space station that will supplement and eventually replace the International Space Station.

Axiom will partner with WFIRM and ReMDO to focus on innovations in regenerative medicine manufacturing in space. Research done on the new space station, in low orbit 250 miles above Earth, will be free from the constraints of gravity, providing potential benefits.

Space station builder to lease space in Winston-Salem regenerative medicine accelerator

WFIRM and Winston-Salem have staked an early claim in a promising industry that appears destined for robust growth.

Various consultants reports predict the global market for regenerative medicine will expand at a compound annual growth rate ranging from 9 to 23% during this decade. By 2030 the market will be worth up to $150 billion, according to a report by Verified Market Research of Jersey City, N.J.

Driving that growth are an aging population battling chronic diseases, rising investments in regenerative medicine research, and advances in new technologies and therapies such as those being developed by WFIRM.

Regenerative medicine is an emerging field, Atala said. Were still trying to figure out what is the best next thing that we can do to advance these technologies.

NCBiotech Center

Link:
W-S organization working on regenerative therapies for 40 organs, tissues - WRAL TechWire