Research and Development: April 2007 Archives

From a few institutes two years back, today over 30 institutions are involved in stem cell research, and India too has joined the ranks. "The Government has invested $8 million on stem cell research over the last two years. Now several Government agencies too are supporting this," says Dr Alka Sharma, Principal Scientific Officer, Department of Biotechnology, Government of India, New Delhi.

<a href="http://www.expresshealthcaremgmt.com/200704/coverstory03.shtml">Stem Cell Research: The Art of the Possible</a> (expresshealthcaremgmt.com)

A man's vision has been restored by a corneal patch grown from adult stem cells by a team at the University of Melbourne's Centre for Eye Research Australia (CERA) and the Bernard O'Brien Institute of Microsurgery (BOBIM).

<a href="http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2007/apr/07041803.html">Adult Stem cell patch restores vision</a> (lifesite.net)

Baxter International Inc. (BAX.N: Quote, Profile, Research), a pioneer in intravenous drips, is quietly entering the complex, but promising field of stem cell research.

Though Baxter Chief Executive Robert Parkinson characterizes the trial as a "wild card," the ability to coax stem cells to grow into healthy heart tissue represents a $1 billion market opportunity that could transform the 75-year-old hospital products company.

<a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/health-SP/idUSN1344003720070418">Baxter moves from drips to stem cell research</a> (reuters.com)

A new network to coordinate and promote the UK's stem cell science effort has been launched today. The UK National Stem Cell Network (UKNSCN) aims to bring new coordination and coherence to national and regional stem cell research efforts. By improving the coordination of research across the various disciplines of UK stem cell research, and by acting as a focus and a voice for the UK stem cell research community, the UKNSCN aims to enhance basic research and to help speed its translation into clinical applications.

<a href="http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2007-04/babs-nnl041807.php">New network launches to keep UK at forefront of stem cell science</a> (eurekalert.org)

Deep in the labs on the east side of campus, a select few UCSB scientists are focusing their research on stem cells - probing the controversial technology for answers on how to treat currently untreatable diseases.

<a href="http://www.dailynexus.com/article.php?a=13804">Campus Stem Cell Research Grows</a> (dailynexus.com)

Maryland’s Stem Cell Commission is considering about 90 applications for state stem cell research grants. In addition to research institutions such as Johns Hopkins Medical Institutes and University of Maryland School of Medicine, a handful of private companies are playing with the building blocks of life. Some, like sister companies Cognate Bioservices and Theradigm Inc., of Baltimore, work together on different aspects of stem cell production or research.

<a href="http://www.examiner.com/a-680177~Stem_Cell_Commission_weighing_applicants_for_research_grants.html">Stem Cell Commission weighing applicants for research grants</a> (examiner.com)

An expert in stem cell research will be guest speaker at a public debate at Churchill next month.

Professor Alan Trounson is a prominent public advocate for therapeutic cloning for stem cell research.

He is currently the director of the Monash University Immunology and Stem Cell Laboratories.

<a href="http://www.abc.net.au/news/items/200704/1900475.htm?gippsland">Stem cell research expert to speak in Churchill</a> (abc.net.au)

Australian mother Sonya Smith from Brisbane who was paralysed in a car accident claims she is ‘walking’ after receiving stem cell treatment in India.

She even claims to have recovered ‘deep sensation’ in her thighs and feet and has regained bowel and bladder control.

<a href="http://stemcell.taragana.net/archive/indian-stem-cell-treatment-help-paralysed-australian-mother-walk-again/">Indian Stem Cell Treatment Help Paralysed Australian Mother Walk Again</a> (stemcell.taragana.net)

Ariff Bongso has spent years studying days-old human embryos created through test-tube fertilization.

In the early 1990s, Bongso, a National University of Singapore scientist, figured out how to help these embryos grow for days outside the womb. That discovery almost doubled the success rate of the procedure.

<a href="http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/business/biotech/20070416-9999-1n16bongso.html">Embryonic stem cell pioneer chose to publish, not patent </a> (signonsandiego.com)

The American Diabetes Association today issued the following statement in response to the passage by the Senate of the "Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act" (S.5), which will accelerate stem cell research by easing existing funding restrictions and supporting research that uses embryonic stem cells, while maintaining strict ethical guidelines. Darlene Cain, Chair of the Board of the American Diabetes Association, made the statement on behalf of the Association.

<a href="http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=67865">American Diabetes Association Lauds Senate For Passage Of Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act</a> (medicalnewstoday.com)

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has upheld challenges by consumer advocates to
three over-reaching patents on human embryonic stem cells and rejected
patent claims by the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF), the
Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights (FTCR) said today.

"This is a great day for scientific research," said John M. Simpson,
FTCR stem cell project director. "Given the facts, this is the only
conclusion the PTO could have reached. The patents should never have been
issued in the first place."

<a href="http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/04-02-2007/0004558361&EDATE=">PTO Rejects Human Stem Cell Patents at Behest of Consumer Groups </a> (prnewswire.com)

One is a pioneer in bioengineering. Others include a leukemia specialist and a doctor who runs an in-vitro fertilization clinic. Those three are among the 19 San Diego scientists who will dive into human embryonic stem cell research thanks to the first round of grants issued under California’s $3 billion stem cell initiative.

Known as the Leon Thal SEED Grants, $46 million will be distributed over two years to 74 scientists in California to quickly broaden the talent pool and push the boundaries in the controversial, still-nascent field.

<a href="http://www.surrogacyissuesblog.com/?p=74">Stem Cell Research Article - Very Interesting from Union Tribune in San Diego </a> (surrogacyissuesblog.com)

Jenna Gopilan ’07 familiarized herself with the scientific research environment during her freshman year as a work study student. As a sophomore, she shadowed graduate students to learn their techniques. Now, as a senior, the neuroscience and behavior major had the opportunity to present her own research project to the Media and Legislative Briefing at the State Capitol in Hartford.

<a href="http://www.wesleyan.edu/newsletter/campus/2007/0407gopilan.html">Student Presents Stem Cell Research at International Symposium</a> (wesleyan.edu)

Embryonic stem cells are thought by most scientists and researchers to hold potential cures for spinal cord injuries, multiple sclerosis, diabetes, Parkinson's disease, cancer, Alzheimer's disease, heart disease, hundreds of rare immune system and genetic disorders and much more.

<a href="http://usliberals.about.com/od/stemcellresearch/i/StemCell1_2.htm">Pros & Cons of Embryonic Stem Cell Research</a> (usliberals.about.com)

The European Commission on Thursday agreed to spend about $1.3 million over three years to create a registry of human embryonic stem cell lines, Xinhuanet reports (Xinhuanet, 3/29). Ministers of E.U. member nations in July 2006 agreed to continue funding through 2013 certain human embryonic stem cell research projects but not activities that destroy embryos. All projects have to be approved by independent experts and will be subject to strict ethical reviews, according to the agreement. Stem cell research will receive less than $38 million of the European Union's $65 billion research budget for 2007 through 2013, according to Janez Potocnik, E.U. commissioner for science and research (Kaiser Daily Women's Health Policy Report, 7/26/06).

<a href="http://www.kaisernetwork.org/daily_reports/rep_index.cfm?DR_ID=43976">European Commission Agrees To Create Embryonic Stem Cell Line Registry</a> (kaisernetwork.org)

There are almost half-million frozen embryos stored in fertility clinic freezers across the country. Most couples attempting to have children through in-vitro fertilization keep their unused frozen embryos indefinitely.

Eventually, most of those embryos are destroyed.

The University of Minnesota is offering couples choice â€" to donate their unused embryos for research on stem cells.

<a href="http://stemcell.taragana.net/archive/you-may-donate-unused-embryos-for-stem-cell-research/">You May Donate Unused Embryos for Stem Cell Research</a> (stemcell.taragana.net)

Yi Zhang Ph.D. HHMI and Professor in Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Yi Zhang is a leader in the burgeoning field of epigenetics. His lab recently has made a series of important ground discoveries for understanding the interactions between the chromatin modifications and the control of gene expressions.

<a href="http://biomedicalsciencesblog.blogspot.com/2007/04/best-stem-cell-research-labs-in-us-9.html">Best Stem Cell Research Labs in US-#9 </a> (biomedicalsciencesblog.blogspot.com)