Category Archives: Stem Cell Research

Research Round Table 2012 - Caroline Tanner, MD, PhD, Director of Clinical Research, TPI
Here at The Parkinson #39;s Institute, we don #39;t only have a nationally-recognized clinic and treat thousands of patients a year, but we also have exciting laboratories that work directly with Parkinson #39;s disease and are discovering new things about the disease every day. From stem cell research to genetic mutations, hear from each of our labs about the latest findings from our brilliant scientists.From:ParkinsonInstituteViews:0 0ratingsTime:15:25More inScience Technology

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Research Round Table 2012 - Caroline Tanner, MD, PhD, Director of Clinical Research, TPI - Video

Research Round Table 2012 - Birgitt Schuele, MD, Assistant Professor, Clinical Molecular Geneticist
Here at The Parkinson #39;s Institute, we don #39;t only have a nationally-recognized clinic and treat thousands of patients a year, but we also have exciting laboratories that work directly with Parkinson #39;s disease and are discovering new things about the disease every day. From stem cell research to genetic mutations, hear from each of our labs about the latest findings from our brilliant scientists.From:ParkinsonInstituteViews:0 0ratingsTime:12:06More inScience Technology

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Research Round Table 2012 - Birgitt Schuele, MD, Assistant Professor, Clinical Molecular Geneticist - Video

Research Round Table 2012 - Question and Answer Session
Here at The Parkinson #39;s Institute, we don #39;t only have a nationally-recognized clinic and treat thousands of patients a year, but we also have exciting laboratories that work directly with Parkinson #39;s disease and are discovering new things about the disease every day. From stem cell research to genetic mutations, hear from each of our labs about the latest findings from our brilliant scientists.From:ParkinsonInstituteViews:0 0ratingsTime:16:16More inScience Technology

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Research Round Table 2012 - Question and Answer Session - Video

Research Round Table 2012 - Jeremy Nichols, PhD, Principal Investigator, LRRK2 Research
Here at The Parkinson #39;s Institute, we don #39;t only have a nationally-recognized clinic and treat thousands of patients a year, but we also have exciting laboratories that work directly with Parkinson #39;s disease and are discovering new things about the disease every day. From stem cell research to genetic mutations, hear from each of our labs about the latest findings from our brilliant scientists.From:ParkinsonInstituteViews:0 0ratingsTime:19:40More inScience Technology

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Research Round Table 2012 - Jeremy Nichols, PhD, Principal Investigator, LRRK2 Research - Video

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Oct 29, 2012) - Stem Cell Therapeutics Corp. (TSX VENTURE: SSS) ("the Company"), a life sciences development company for stem cell-based medicines, today reported its admission to the Centre for Commercialization of Regenerative Medicine''s (CCRM) industry consortium.

"We are the only public Canadian company to be part of CCRM''s twenty-member consortium of international leaders in the regenerative medicine arena, a consortium designed to bridge business and scientific expertise to translate stem cell-based and regenerative medicine discoveries into commercial products and therapies," said David Allan, Executive Chairman of Stem Cell Therapeutics Corp. "Participating in this consortium links us to one of the key hubs in Canada for the commercialization of this country''s extraordinary output in stem cell-based science."

The corporate objectives for repositioning the Company include the now-announced involvement with CCRM, the identification and acquisition of additional technologies that will serve to attract capital to revitalize our organization, and striving to extract value from the important patented approaches for the stimulation of endogenous stem cells from Dr. Sam Weiss on which this Company was founded. Stem Cell is pleased to announce this involvement with CCRM as well as the receipt of US$175,000 of a $250,000 arrangement with NeuroNova AB, a Swedish private company developing new therapeutics for ALS and Parkinson''s. The full payment will settle a patent interference case initiated by the United States Patent and Trademark Office under which Stem Cell has withdrawn certain pending and issued patents to treat Parkinson''s disease.

The Company further advises that two additional patient have now been enrolled in its ongoing trial in Traumatic Brain Injury at Calgary''s Foothills Hospital. These patients bring the trial to the midpoint of enrollment, restoring the prospect of the trial to meet the original timelines anticipated by the investigators after enduring a slow initial recruitment period. The Company continues to concentrate its efforts on the conclusion of its remaining objectives.

About Stem Cell Therapeutics:

Stem Cell Therapeutics Corp. (TSX VENTURE:SSS) is a Canadian commercialization receptor company in the business of developing stem cell-based therapeutics through partnerships with research institutions or technology transfer organizations. The Company''s corporate objectives include the analysis and acquisition of additional stem cell-related development opportunities and securing capital for the advancement of the licensed or acquired products. SCT has extensive expertise and experience in the stem cell biotechnology sector based on the intellectual property of Dr. Samuel Weiss in stem cell research. SCT proposes to build upon this existing pipeline of stem cell technologies by acquiring new early-stage clinical or late-stage preclinical candidates. SCT''s Traumatic Brain Injury product, NTx-428, is currently in a Phase II clinical trial. For more information, visit: http://www.stemcellthera.com

Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Information:

Certain statements contained in this press release constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian provincial securities legislation (collectively, the "forward-looking statements"). These forward-looking statements relate to, among other things, SCT''s objectives, goals, targets, strategies, intentions, plans, beliefs, estimates and outlook, and can, in some cases, be identified by the use of words such as "believe," "anticipate," "expect," "intend," "plan," "will," "may" and other similar expressions. In addition, any statements that refer to expectations, projections or other characterizations of future events or circumstances are forward-looking statements. These statements reflect management''s current beliefs and are based on information currently available to management. Certain material factors or assumptions are applied in making forward-looking statements, and actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from these expectations include, among other things: uncertainties and risks related to, the availability of capital, changes in capital markets, uncertainties related to clinical trials and product development, rapid technological change, uncertainties related to forecasts, competition, potential product liability, unproven markets for technologies in development, the cost and supply of raw materials, management of growth, effects of payers'''' willingness to pay for products, risks related to regulatory matters and risks related to intellectual property matters. Additional information about these factors and about the material factors or assumptions underlying such forward-looking statements may be found in the body of this news release, as well as under the heading "Risk Factors" contained in SCT''s 2010 annual information form. SCT cautions that the foregoing list of important factors that may affect future results is not exhaustive.

When relying on SCT''s forward-looking statements to make decisions with respect to SCT, investors and others should carefully consider the foregoing factors and other uncertainties and potential events. Such forward-looking statements are based on a number of estimates and assumptions which may prove to be incorrect, including, but not limited to, assumptions regarding the availability of financing for research and development companies in addition to general business and economic conditions. These risks and uncertainties should be considered carefully and investors and others should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements. Although the forward-looking statements contained in this press release are based upon what management believes to be reasonable assumptions, SCT cannot provide assurance that actual results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements. SCT undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement.

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Stem Cell Therapeutics Announces Admission to Centre for Commercialization of Regenerative Medicine (CCRM) Consortium

Research Round Table 2012 - Yanping Li, PhD, Assistant Professor, Transgenic Models
Here at The Parkinson #39;s Institute, we don #39;t only have a nationally-recognized clinic and treat thousands of patients a year, but we also have exciting laboratories that work directly with Parkinson #39;s disease and are discovering new things about the disease every day. From stem cell research to genetic mutations, hear from each of our labs about the latest findings from our brilliant scientists.From:ParkinsonInstituteViews:0 0ratingsTime:05:03More inScience Technology

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Research Round Table 2012 - Yanping Li, PhD, Assistant Professor, Transgenic Models - Video

KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 29): The Health Ministry has no intention of introducing a Stem Cell Act as the current guidelines are believed to be sufficient to regulate the research being carried out in this growing field.

Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said his ministry has taken the lead to regulate this field by producing four guidelines that provide framework for researchers, clinicians and companies involved in research, clinical trials as well as manufacturing of stem cells.

These four guidelines and standards cover haemopoietic stem cell therapy; cord blood banking and transplantation; stem cell transplantation; and stem cell research and therapy.

Liow stressed that these guidelines, which were introduced in December 2006, with a second edition in July 2009, serve as standards to which practitioners and scientists must abide to in order to ensure no harm is done to the patient.

As such, he said there was no need to table a Stem Cell Bill in Parliament to monitor research and transplants in this field.

Liow said the ministry set up a National Sub-Committee for Ethics in Stem Cell Research and Therapy (NSCERT) as an oversight body for all stem cell research in the country, and religious authorities were consulted while drafting the guidelines.

When asked, Liow said that a fatwa was issued by National Fatwa Council to allow researchers to use the excess embryos, produced through IVF, that have been stored by Muslim couples for research.

In addition, all the stem cell therapy must be tested before use on human body.

Liow also gave some statistics on stem cell transplants in the country.

In 2009, a total of 213 haemopoietic stem cell transplants were performed and registered in this country, with 87.7% performed in public or university hospitals. The Ampang Hospital is the largest centre for this type of transplant and currently, there are 11 such centres in Malaysia.

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'Adequate guidelines for stem cell industry'

Posted on October 30, 2012, Tuesday

KUALA LUMPUR: The Health Ministry did not have plans to introduce a stem cell Act at the moment, said the minister, Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai.

He said, the ministrys four guidelines on stem cell research sufficiently served as standards to which practitioners and scientists involved in stem cell research and therapy should adhere to, ensured patients were out of harms way.

The guidelines would provide a framework for researchers, clinicians and companies involved in research, clinical trials and manufacture of stem cells, he noted.

There is no stem cell act in this country. But the guidelines alone are sufficient to provide the grounds and ethical environment to carry out their work, Liow told reporters after launching the 1st National Stem Cell Congress here yesterday.

The four guidelines are National Standards For Haemopoietic Stem Cell Therapy, National Standards For Cord Blood Banking and Transplantation, National Standards For Stem Cell Transplantation and Guidelines On Stem Cell Research and Therapy.

Liow said: Before we came up with the guidelines, we formed a committee to discuss the details of the research. The committee also included Jakim and religious officials for their views.

He said the use of cell-based therapies should be done strictly under clinical trials.

Prior to the clinical trials, there must be sufficient evidence to show safety, quality and efficacy.

Meanwhile, Liow said stem cell therapy in Malaysia was developing well in government, as well as university hospitals, noting that the number of patients receiving bone marrow and stem cell transplantation for leukaemia and solid tumours was on the rise.

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Liow: No plans for stem cell law at the moment

SANTA BARBARA Biomedical research at UC Santa Barbara has catapulted to a position of leadership in the arena of stem cell biology, offering progress toward cures for vision diseases such as macular degeneration. Stem cell research has the potential to transform the practice of medicine, by replacing diseased tissue with healthy new cells. Interdisciplinary teams of UC Santa Barbara researchers including world-renowned faculty members recruited from the U.S. and Britain are leading the charge. The university's newly renovated lab space is critical to the mission.

The latest research holds the promise of developing stem cells from skin, called induced pluripotent stem cells, which could eventually replace the use of human embryonic stem cells. The hope is to find cures for diseases including macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy and Alzheimer's.

Campus leaders, dignitaries, scientists, and engineers gathered at UC Santa Barbara on Friday (Oct. 26) to celebrate the completion of a dream: 10,000 square feet of renovated laboratory space devoted to stem cell research. This was the grand opening ceremony and ribbon-cutting in celebration of UC Santa Barbara's Center for Stem Cell Biology and Engineering, part of the Neuroscience Research Institute. The California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) contributed to the renovation with a $3.2 million grant that was matched by $3.2 million from the university. The top-flight new laboratories are a magnet for attracting new talent.

Chancellor Henry T. Yang commented: "We think UCSB can make important contributions to stem cell research at the interface of biology, neuroscience, and engineering. The future is very bright as we continue to grow and add more top-notch researchers and faculty to this area. These new laboratories will make this possible."

Kenneth S. Kosik, physician and Harriman Chair in the Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, and co-director of the Neuroscience Research Institute, remarked on this watershed moment in UCSB's stem cell research. "This is a momentous event," said Kosik. "It's a big milestone for UCSB to have come from a premier engineering institute to a place where we are doing world-class work in another entire area, in stem cell biology. With that triumph, that success, we are moving into world-class ranks here."

Leading stem cell biologist Dennis Clegg, center executive director of strategy, planning and operations, and co-principal director of the California Project to Cure Blindness, has directed the center since its inception, and also directed strategy for UC Santa Barbara's specific contribution to stem cell biology.

"We realized that we have a tremendous collection of expertise in bioengineering, basic molecular biology, and neuroscience," said Clegg. "Those groups together, working together collaborating across normal interdisciplinary lines make for a powerful combination of expertise. And we've been able to address some of the key problems in stem cell research, like how to deliver the cells, how to get the cells pure, how to monitor the cells after transplantation, using this combination of bioengineering and molecular biology.

"This has been a long process to complete this renovation for the stem cell center," Clegg said. "It started back in 2007, with our application to CIRM for a major facilities grant. It involved a large number of people on campus scientists, design and construction, administrators.

"We spent many hours figuring out how to come up with matching funds and how to raise money for the stem cell center. It really is a realization of our dream to expand stem cell research on campus. We think we have a lot more to offer. The trajectory is upward; we are really making progress. This will allow us to hire new people, new faculty, bring them in and collaborate with the group of stellar scientists that we've already assembled."

One of the new center directors, Peter Coffey, was hired with a CIRM recruitment grant earlier this year. Coffey, who holds the Garland Chair and is the center's executive director of translation, is considered a star in the world of stem cell science. While at the University College London, he started a group called the London Project to Cure Blindness, which will begin clinical trials early next year. Coffey hopes to bring a part of this project to California.

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New lab space for stem cell research

A Cambridge University technology team that developed a way to generate liver cells from skin cells has formed a new company to supply stem cell products to the drug discovery and regenerative medicine sectors.

DefiniGEN is based on the research of Dr Ludovic Vallier, Dr Tamir Rashid and global stem cell guru Professor Roger Pedersen of the Anne McLaren Laboratory of Regenerative Medicine.

DefiniGEN is based in Cambridge and has been funded by a group led by Cambridge Enterprise, the Universitys commercialisation arm, along with members of Cambridge Angels and Cambridge Capital Group.

Prof Pedersen is one of the coveted brains of stem cell research. He moved to Cambridge to escape a puritan US approach to stem cell research and has resisted attempts to woo him back across the Atlantic.

The potential therapeutic applications of stem cells such as regenerating damaged tissues or organs have generated a great deal of interest over the past decade. While these types of applications are exciting, it is a long journey from lab to clinic.

The most immediate impact of stem cells on human health will most likely come from their use in the development of new drugs. The ability to generate stem cells by reprogramming cells from patients skin has revolutionised human stem cell research.

These cells, known as human induced pluripotent stem cells (hIPSC), can be differentiated into almost any cell type, allowing the opportunity to have a ready source of human cells for testing new therapies.

DefiniGEN has developed the technology to generate human liver cells (hepatocytes) in a highly reproducible and scalable manner for commercial use. This represents a major breakthrough in the costly and time-consuming process of developing new therapies.

The technology has also been used to effectively model a diverse range of inherited liver diseases and has the potential to accelerate the development of new therapies for these conditions.

The liver is the key organ for metabolising drugs and removing toxins from the body. Consequently, it is often affected by toxic compounds.

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Pedersen creates stem cell drug powerhouse