Category Archives: Stem Cells

A small, stripy fish about the length of a Brazil nut may hold the key to treating human vision loss, following a discovery by the universitys Allison Lab that could see fish stem cells helping humanity.

Zebrafish can selectively repair light-sensitive cells in their retinas. These cells, called cones, are what humans rely on for daytime vision and colour perception. Unlike humans, zebrafish have specialized stem cells in their eyes that allow them to repair these cones when necessary.

Alternatively, when humans suffer retinal damage their eyes cannot recuperate something that could change in light of this new research.

Understanding how to make cones out of stem cells will facilitate therapies to prevent and/or reverse vision loss, explained Michle DuVal, a graduate student and team member at the Allison Lab, in an email interview.

The regenerative response that naturally occurs in zebrafish eyes is incredibly refined.

But the move from tiny fish to humans can get complicated. Limited industry involvement, scant funding and the difficulty of running clinical trials all pose threats to the future of stem cell research especially on the national level.

There are a lot of things going on very actively in other corners of the world, and not so much in Canada, said Tania Bubela, an associate professor at the School of Public Health who has studied stem cells.

One of the impediments is the availability of good manufacturing practice (GMP) materials to actually put into patients.

The increased focus on moving from animal models to clinical trials signals a positive change in the field of stem cell research, according to Timothy Caulfield, Canada Research Chair in Health Law and Policy and research director in the Law Faculty.

When stem cells first emerged in the late 90s, the focus ... was around the controversial nature of embryonic stem cell research, Caulfield said.

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Fish stem cells could light the way to optical breakthroughs

A new study in the current issue of STEM CELLS Translational Medicine demonstrates how human stem cells can successfully engraft, survive and differentiate into mature neurons in the spinal cord of a rat with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The results offer new hope for those suffering from this disease, which generally ends in death within three to five years after diagnoses.

Durham, NC (PRWEB) February 14, 2013

ALS (commonly known as Lou Gehrigs disease) is characterized by the degeneration and death of the bodys motor neurons, leading to muscle atrophy, paralysis and death due to failure of the respiratory muscles. Despite studies that have improved our understanding of how ALS develops, there are no effective treatments. However, stem cell based-therapies have emerged as a potential solution.

The transplantation of stem-cell derived neural progenitors may have beneficial effect not only for the replacement of motor neurons already lost, but also in counteracting degeneration and death of motor neurons, said Roland Pochet, Ph.D., of the Universit libre de Bruxelles, Belgium. He headed up the research team that included scientists from INSERM et Universit Paris-Sud, and the Pasteur Institute, also in Paris, and Hannover Medical School in Germany.

Spinal motor neurons have been successfully generated from various sources such as embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and neural stem cells (NSCs). Studies also have evaluated the therapeutic potential of bone marrow-derived human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and human umbilical cord blood cells (UCBCs), but modest or no therapeutic benefit was obtained when transplanted in ALS patients.

In theory, induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) derived from patients with neurodegenerative diseases, such as ALS, could be used to reverse the diseases. However, no report had yet described the fate of transplanted iPSCs into an ALS environment.

In the current study, the team wanted to learn how human-induced pluripotent stem cell- (iPSc) derived neural progenitors might affect ALS. The idea was inspired by a previous study in which they injected ALS rats with NSCs derived from other rats. Although these cells undergo a massive apoptosis, after a few days of injection several survived, crossed the blood-brain barrier, differentiated and engrafted into the animals spinal cords, Dr. Pochet explained.

Sixty days after transplantation, the iPSc-derived cells had efficiently engrafted in the rats spinal cord and were surviving, the team reported. Different neural progenitor, tissue and neuronal markers indicated that, over time, the transplanted cells differentiated into cells displaying a neuronal phenotype, the team learned.

Our results, Dr. Pochet said, demonstrate proof-of-principle of survival and differentiation of human iPSc-derived neural progenitors in in vivo ALS environment, offering perspectives for the use of iPSc-based therapy in ALS.

This report of the ability of iPSCs to survive and differentiate in an ALS environment is certainly encouraging, said Anthony Atala, MD, Editor of STEM CELLS Translational Medicine and director of the Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine. The results suggest the potential of cell therapy for the field of neurobiology and disease treatment.

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New Study Shows Stem Cells’ Promise as Future ALS Treatment

TUCSON, Ariz., Feb. 14, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --Thanks to the Newborn Possibilities Program by Cord Blood Registry (CBR), families facing serious medical conditions with few options may have access to family cord blood stem cell banking services at no cost. This program enables access to genetically related newborn stem cells for future treatment. A group of families who participated in the Tucson Medical Center pilot of the Newborn Possibilities Program have participated in clinical trials using their own stem cells. One Tucson mom, Jessica Schaefer, had a difficult pregnancy with complications that qualified her for this program when she delivered her son, Logan. Logan's cord blood stem cells were processed and stored in CBR's state-of-the-art stem cell processing and storage facility at nocost and provided a therapeutic option for him.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120216/AQ54476LOGO)

"I am blown away that this program was available to me when I delivered Logan," says Schaefer. "I am so grateful to CBR for the chance to have my son participate in the Medical College of Georgia's clinical trial for cerebral palsy. We feel blessed to have the unique opportunity to possibly help Logan lead a happier life, while also helping to advance the science of stem cell therapies."

The Newborn Possibilities Program is a corporate initiative from Cord Blood Registry designed to ensure that families with an identified medical need and babies born after high-risk deliveries have a free option to save cord blood stem cells in the event they may be used in future treatment and potentially provide access to clinical trials. Nearly 3,000 physicians have collected units for the Newborn Possibilities Program and CBR has stored nearly 5,000 units under the program since its inception.

Stem Cell Collection Pilot Paves Path to Clinical Trial Enrollment"We created the Newborn Possibilities Program as a catalyst for medical researchers to advance clinical trials involving newborn stem cells," says Geoffrey Crouse, chief executive officer of CBR. "At the same time, we help identify families with a diagnosed condition who might directly benefit from family banking through a transplant."

Cherie Lennex has also enrolled her son, Nathan, in the cord blood stem cell trial for cerebral palsy in Georgia. She had learned about her options for saving cord blood, but could not fit private storage in her budget at the time. Her pregnancy was routine, but Nathan came early, qualifying her for the Newborn Possibilities Program Tucson Medical Center pilot.

"When representatives from the program called for a routine follow-up to check on Nathan's development, we confirmed he was missing milestones and might be at risk for developing cerebral palsy," noted Lennex. "Nathan was my first child and I hadn't really considered that something might be wrong with his development. Once he was diagnosed with cerebral palsy and we were informed of the study in Georgia, it became immensely clear just how fortunate we are to have his stem cells stored. We are very grateful."

In less than two years under the Newborn Possibilities Program Tucson Medical Center pilot, cord blood stem cells were collected and stored at no cost from more than 1,100 babies who demonstrated signs of potential neurologic damage based upon predetermined criteria. Following the cord blood collection, CBR program managers contact the families on a regular basis to track the children's medical and developmental status. Of those who have been evaluated to date, early assessments helped CBR identify seven children within one year of their birth, with conditions where stem cells are being investigated as potential treatments. Three of those children have enrolled in clinical trials and more than 60 children have been identified at this early stage as being at risk for developmental delays by 24 months of age, which can be an indicator of neurological damage.

Please visit http://www.cordblood.com to learn more about the Newborn Possibilities Program or http://www.cordbankingbasics.com for an interactive experience that helps expectant parents and others make informed choices about saving cord blood stem cells.

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Cord Blood Stem Cells Stored at No Cost to Families with an Identified Medical Need Provide Therapeutic Options

Silicon Beach: Howard Leonardt discusses innovations with Stem Cells
Silicon Beach interviews Howard Leonhardt. Appointed by Startup America Partnership as spokesperson for the Jobs Act and Crowd Funding in their Startup California region.

By: M Jude Belanger

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Silicon Beach: Howard Leonardt discusses innovations with Stem Cells - Video

Already revolutionizing manufacturing, 3D printing technology also promises to revolutionize the field of biotechnology. While scientists have previously had success in 3D printing a range of human stem cell cultures developed from bone marrow or skin cells, a team from Scotland's Heriot-Watt University claims to be the first to print the more delicate, yet more flexible, human embryonic stem cells (hESCs). As well as allowing the use of stem cells grown from established cell lines, the technology could enable the creation of improved human tissue models for drug testing and potentially even purpose-built replacement organs.

The scientists printed embryonic human stem cells in laboratory conditions using a new valve-based technique developed by Dr Will Wenmiao Shu and his colleagues at Heriot-Watt's Biomedical Microengineering group. The hESCs were drawn from two separate reservoirs in the printer using pneumatic pressure and deposited onto a plate in a pre-programmed, uniformed pattern through the opening and closing of a microvalve. Dr Shu says that the amount of cells dispensed can be precisely controlled by changing the nozzle diameter, the inlet air pressure and the opening time of the valve.

After the hESCs were printed, the researchers conducted tests to see if the hESCs were still alive and if they were still able to differentiate into different types of cells. The accuracy of the valve-based printing method was also assessed by examining the concentration, characterization and distribution of the printed hESCs.

We found that the valve-based printing is gentle enough to maintain high stem cell viability, accurate enough to produce spheroids of uniform size, and, most importantly, the printed hESCs maintained their pluripotency the ability to be differentiated into any other cell type, said Dr Shu. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that hESCs have been printed. The generation of 3D structures from hESCs will allow us to create more accurate human tissue models which are essential for in vitro drug development and toxicity-testing. Since the majority of drug discovery is targeting human disease, it makes sense to use human tissues.

The researchers believe the technology could also be used to create artificial organs and tissues that incorporate a patients own stem cells, thereby reducing the risk of the patient rejecting the organ and the need for immune suppression. This would also help address the global shortage of organ donors.

To commercialize the 3D printing technology, Dr Shus group has teamed with Scotland-based stem cell technology company Roslin Cellab. While the development of more accurate human tissue models for reliable, animal-free drug-testing is the initial goal, the longer term aim is to use the technology to create artificially created organs and tissues that incorporate a patients own stem cells. This would reduce the risk of organ rejection and the need for immune suppression and help address the global shortage of organ donors.

The team's findings are reported in the journal Biofabrication.

Source: Heriot-Watt University

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Human embryonic stem cells arranged using 3D printing technique

Featured Article Academic Journal Main Category: Bones / Orthopedics Also Included In: Stem Cell Research;Biology / Biochemistry Article Date: 11 Feb 2013 - 13:00 PST

Current ratings for: Broken Bones Mended With Stem Cells And Plastic

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The degradable polymer material is the result of a seven-year collaboration between the Universities of Southampton and Edinburgh. The researchers report their work in a paper published in the journal Advanced Functional Materials.

In their background information they note how bone tissue regeneration is often needed after trauma, where "substantial bone or cartilage loss may be encountered", and this drives researchers to develop new biomaterials, especially those that can form a 3D structure.

Their new material is "strong enough to replace bone and is also a suitable surface upon which to grow new bone," says study author Mark Bradley, a professor in the University of Edinburgh's School of Chemistry, in a statement.

Using what the statement describes as a "pioneering technique", Bradley and colleagues created and experimented with hundreds of candidates before settling on a material that was robust, lightweight, and able to support bone stem cells.

The new technique, called "solvent blending", is a process that "avoids complications associated with conventional thermal or mechanical polymer blending or synthesis, opening up large areas of chemical and physical space, while potentially simplifying regulatory pathways towards in vivo application," they write.

The material they finally settled on is a polymer blend of three types of manmade and natural plastics and can be inserted into broken bones to encourage real bone to re-grow.

The polymer blend is like a scaffold made of honeycomb that allows blood to flow through it. Stem cells from the patient's bone marrow that are in the blood attach themselves to the scaffold and grow new bone tissue.

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Broken Bones Mended With Stem Cells And Plastic

Fearing that unscrupulous use may hijack this promising field, stakeholders are racing to regulate its applications. Are they swift enough?

Image: Mallikarjun Katakol for Forbes India

Stempeutics Researchs CEO BN Manohar: While we work till science matures, others [stem -cells clinics] are making money from day one

We dont do clinical trials, we provide commercial stem-cell therapy, says an executive of a Pune-based company on the phone when we inquire about participating in one to avail the treatment that its website boldly speaks of. If you cant come in person, send us your case study in email and well advise you how many infusions of stem cells your patient would require, he suggests.

The companys website says it has provided 1,000 infusions to patients and is a leader in stem-cells therapy. The so-called therapy costs upwards of Rs 2-3 lakh, the executive discloses on persuasion.

This Pune clinic is only one among the many that peddle the unproven stem-cell therapy. They are supposed to enrol patients under a proper clinical trial; instead they get by with merely adding the word experimental to their offerings. You wont find these clinics on the clinical trial registry of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), where they must enlist.

Now, contrast this liberally-delivered, unregulated treatment with what Stempeutics Research in Bangalore is trying to do. For seven years, the startup, promoted by the Manipal Group and led by chief executive BN Manohar, has been at the bench studying stem cells in its labs in India and Malaysia. With a series of clinical trials, government approvals, 24 patents, 41 journal publications and Rs 125 crore in investment, the company is finally close to launching one of its threethe least regulated one at thatstem cells-based products in 2013.

These two starkly opposite sides of how this new field of regenerative medicine is developing in India point to two problems that could derail the entire thing: 1. Regulatory hurdles that hit the growth of a nascent industry: The science behind it is advancing rapidly and the medical and commercial prospects are so promising that experts fear the regulatory gaps and delays are hurting the level playing field for entrepreneurs and investors who are fleeing to countries like Malaysia and Singapore. (While it takes just 60-90 days to get regulatory clearances in Malaysia, it may take 12-18 months in India.)

Says Nitin Deshmukh, chief executive of Kotak Private Equity and an executive member of the biotech industry body, ABLE (Association of Biotechnology Led Enterprises) council: Many of our companies are shifting their research and development and IP registration to Malaysia and Singapore. They even want to license outside India. Visibly angry and disappointed, he says he has stopped investing in life sciences companies as they have no future in India. Clinical trial is the bedrock of this industry; if that is not streamlined how will companies progress?

The regulatory gaps and delays in life sciences have come to such a frustrating state that ABLE has sent a representation, rather an SOS, to the government in the new year.

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Stem Cells Industry: The Battle Within