Researchers at UT Southwestern have developed methods to keep sperm precursor cells from differentiating into sperm, allowing them to freeze and thaw the cells. This breakthrough could lead to alternative sources for embryonic stem cells and enable the development of new male contraceptives. The study's findings also pave the way for g...
A Florida State University research team has developed a biomedical device called a perfusion bioreactor that allows for the large-scale growth of adult stem cells from bone marrow. The device mimics the body's circulatory system and delivers nutrients to stem cells, enabling controlled differentiation into various tissue types.
Researchers will focus on understanding human stem cells, transplanting them into patients for leukemia and lymphoma treatment, and using natural killer cells to fight cancer. The funding also aims to apply what has been learned about the use of natural killer cells in fighting diseases including leukemia and breast cancer.
Researchers at the University of Toronto have identified a key component blocking stem cell growth and developed a system to expand cord blood stem cells, potentially treating adult patients with leukemia. The discovery may lead to clinical trials within the next year.
A new stem cell technology allows HLA-mismatched and haploidentical donors into the donor pool, improving stem cell transplantation outcomes. Researchers identified genetic risk factors for acquired aplastic anemia affecting immune response and hematopoietic cell number and function.
Scientists have successfully developed a proof-of-concept for Altered Nuclear Transfer (ANT), an alternative to somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) that enables the creation of genetically altered embryos without implantation. The method uses RNA interference to disable genes in donor nuclei, producing stem cells with disabled Cdx2 fu...
A recent survey of over 2,200 Americans found broad support for human embryonic stem cell (ESC) research, with two-thirds approving or strongly approving its use. The study's findings contradict the deeply polarized debate seen in Congress and newspapers, highlighting a more nuanced public opinion landscape.
Researchers at the University of Minnesota have successfully generated natural killer cells from human embryonic stem cells that can target and destroy cancer cells. The breakthrough research suggests a potential new approach to treating cancers such as leukemia and lymphoma, and may also lead to treatments for infections.
Researchers at EPFL discover that stem cells within hair follicles can develop into various cell types needed for hair growth and follicle replacement. This breakthrough has significant implications for regenerative medicine and could potentially be used to regenerate hair on patients with severe burns.
The National Stem Cell Bank (NSCB) will provide comprehensive characterization of human embryonic stem cell lines and distribute them to investigators at a lower cost. This move aims to increase the use of stem cells in research and potentially lead to therapies for diseases, with WiCell handling technical support and training.
A study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology found that patients who underwent stem-cell transplantation have similar rates of hospitalization, diseases, and psychological health as those who did not receive a transplant. However, they reported higher incidence of musculoskeletal problems and poor long-term sexual health.
The Gladstone Institutes will develop a core curriculum of required and elective courses spanning various stem cell research disciplines. The CIRM Scholars Training Program aims to advance regenerative medicine by focusing on understanding the fundamental mechanisms related to stem cells.
The Keck School's grant will train graduate students and post-doctoral fellows across 27 departments, developing courses on bioethics and cutting-edge gene-transfer technology. The program aims to create a pipeline of highly trained researchers for CIRM-funded projects.
A team of researchers has identified three key transcription factors that enable human embryonic stem cells to maintain pluripotency. By understanding the regulatory circuitry controlling these cells, scientists can now develop strategies to coax them into specific cell types for regenerative medicine applications.
Researchers have made significant progress in understanding stem cells and their role in reproduction and the nervous system. Studies suggest that therapeutic cloning may become unnecessary once body cells can be re-programmed into stem cells.
Researchers found that most human embryonic stem cell lines exhibit gross genetic changes after a year to three years of growth in the lab. These changes can affect chromosome numbers, gene expression, and mitochondrial DNA sequences. The study highlights the need for close monitoring and further investigation into the effects of these...
Scientists have devised a new technique for creating human stem cells by fusing somatic cells with embryonic stem cells. The hybrid cells exhibit characteristics of human embryonic stem cells and can be induced to mature into various specialized cell types. However, technical hurdles remain before this method can be widely adopted.
A trans-Atlantic team of researchers has successfully created embryonic-like stem cells from umbilical cord blood, a breakthrough that could revolutionize the treatment of serious diseases. The new cell type shares characteristics with both adult and embryonic stem cells, making it an attractive alternative for stem cell therapies.
A new study by Christof Westenfelder's team found that stem cells improve kidney function and reduce tissue injury in acute renal failure. The benefits are primarily mediated by paracrine mechanisms, not differentiation, and are induced by the release of growth factors and cytokines.
Neural stem cells in the subventricular zone of the forebrain give rise to malignant astrocytoma in genetically engineered mice. The study challenges current dogma that tumors arise from glial cells throughout the brain.
The Mount Sinai School of Medicine has been awarded significant NIH funding to support its stem cell research efforts. Researchers will focus on developing methods to genetically modify stem cells and studying the molecular signals that cause them to differentiate into red blood cells.
The National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) has funded three new Exploratory Centers for Human Embryonic Stem Cell Research. The centers will establish core facilities to support scientists and advance fundamental knowledge of human embryonic stem cell properties and functions.
The Burnham Institute was selected by NIH to receive a $3M grant for exploratory center in hESC research. The center will support pilot projects, core facilities, and training for scientists.
A recent study found that circulating stem cells contribute less than 1% to lung repair, while most contributions come from lung-resident stem cells. The study also suggests a link between the number of Y-chromosome containing pneumocytes and acute cellular rejection in lung tissue.
Researchers discovered that the protein CrebA single-handedly controls the entire set of events leading to secretion in the fruit fly's salivary gland, improving understanding of how cells become specialized for secretion. This finding could potentially help fix problems with pancreatic cells in juvenile (type I) diabetes.
Researchers at University of Cincinnati have developed a new chemical compound that can accelerate adult stem cell mobilization, enabling easier harvesting. The findings reveal the RAC GTPase family plays a crucial role in regulating stem cells' movement into bone marrow and blood stream.
Research involving human stem cells in nonhuman primate brains may be necessary and effective, but oversight boards must consider six key factors to ensure ethics are maintained. The number of human cells used and animal brain size are among the factors considered.
A panel of experts published recommendations to minimize the risk of altering non-human primates' cognitive capacity, focusing on grafting human stem cells into their brains. The panel concluded that healthy adult members of species distantly related to humans are least likely to experience morally significant changes.
The American Academy of Neurology has supported a bill that would expand funding scope for National Institutes of Health support of embryonic stem-cell research. This move is expected to significantly advance the field while ensuring strong ethical safeguards.
Researchers at U of MN identified 14 genes that regulate blood stem cell development, which could lead to new treatments for blood disorders and cancers. The discovery provides insight into understanding how to stimulate blood stem cells to multiply in the laboratory.
A new method identified by Sean J. Morrison and colleagues distinguishes hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) from other progenitor cells using specific SLAM family receptors. The technique enables the purification of HSCs before transplantation, potentially leading to safer transplants.
Researchers have successfully grown mesenchymal stem cells from human skin, which can be differentiated into three vital tissues: bone, muscle, and fat. This breakthrough could provide a valuable resource for tissue repair and organ regeneration, overcoming problems with immune rejection and tissue shortage.
Researchers discovered that some abnormal embryos can self-correct in laboratory culture, producing high-quality stem cells. This breakthrough offers an alternative to creating embryos specifically for stem cell research, potentially resolving ethical concerns.
Researchers used SPECT imaging to evaluate the effectiveness of stem cell therapy in patients with coronary heart disease. The study found that stem cells improved damaged heart function, surpassing improvements from increased blood flow to the affected area.
Researchers have identified a novel type of lung cell that can divide into fresh copies and specialized types, suggesting these cells may contribute to the development of most common lung cancers. The discovery could lead to earlier diagnosis and potentially more effective treatments for lung cancer.
Researchers find that stabilizing a protein called â-catenin drives hair follicle development by reducing the threshold for stem cell activation. Key genes controlling this process are identified, providing new insights into promoting hair growth.
Researchers found that microRNAs play a crucial role in regulating gene expression and enabling stem cells to pass from the normal stop phase to the stage of replicating their DNA for later division. The discovery suggests that microRNAs may also control cell division in cancer cells, encouraging proliferation.
Dr. Andras Nagy at Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto has developed Canada's first embryonic stem cell lines, which hold promise for regenerating damaged tissues and treating various diseases. The lines will be freely available to Canadian scientists to research potential treatments.
The Tri-Institutional Stem Cell Initiative aims to decipher molecular codes responsible for human cellular diversity and design cell-based therapies. This collaboration will bring together researchers from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medical College, and The Rockefeller University to explore stem cell biology.
The Rockefeller University and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center are collaborating on stem cell research to understand the biology of stem cells. Researchers are working together to identify cancer stem cells and develop cell-based therapeutic strategies for diseases like Parkinson's.
Stem cells can be made specific to patients regardless of age or sex, showing promise for treating devastating diseases and injuries. The research yields patient-specific cellular models of human disease, paving the way for more precise study and potential cure.
Women donating eggs for stem cell research face unique risks and lack adequate protections. Stanford bioethicists advocate for a new category of research subjects and set of guidelines to ensure informed consent. The proposed changes aim to promote ethical egg donation practices.
Researchers used disabled retroviruses to discover genes that increase the multiplication rate of stem cells, which could improve regenerative medicine. The study found that these genes can be used to enhance the fitness of stem cells, potentially leading to new treatments for inherited blood disorders.
Patients who survived at least two years post-transplant showed reduced risk of death each year after the fifth anniversary. Mortality not related to relapse was increased in patients with specific chemotherapy regimens and stem cell sources.
A study published in Developmental Cell identifies two genes, HES-1 and HLF, that regulate human blood stem cell behavior. These genes enhance cell-cycle progression and inhibit premature cell death in hematopoietic stem cells.
The university's new regenerative medicine program aims to translate basic stem cell science into therapies for degenerative diseases. The program will draw on faculty from five Medical School departments and be supported by $700,000 in annual funding.
Researchers have isolated embryo-quality stem cells from adult blood for the first time using a physical characteristic of each cell's stretchiness. This breakthrough technique could revolutionize medical research and treatment by providing an alternative to embryonic stem cells.
Researchers at Indiana University have successfully transformed adult bone marrow stem cells into auditory neurons, offering new hope for treating deaf patients. The breakthrough involves the use of Sonic hedgehog and retinoic acid molecules to stimulate the growth of nerve cells in patients with profound hearing loss.
Researchers at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) have developed an animal-free culture medium that can maintain human embryonic stem cells in a continuous undifferentiated state. The study's findings provide a new way to generate human stem cell lines without contamination by animal cells or products.
Scientists have successfully grown functional fat cells in a laboratory using a new microscopic three-dimensional scaffolding. The discovery may lead to breakthroughs in treating type II diabetes and could provide a source of transplantable organs.
Researchers at UCLA's new $20 million Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Medicine are exploring various approaches to combat HIV, cancer and neurological disorders. The institution aims to harness the power of embryonic and adult stem cells to develop revolutionary new treatments.
Researchers from the Forsyth Institute and University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio describe successful experiments in bioengineering mineralized tissues, including periodontal tissues and replacement tooth phenotypes. This breakthrough is supported by the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research.
Researchers have developed stem-cell generated natural tissue implants that retain their shape and size over time, avoiding issues like implant rupture or cancer detection interference. This approach could eliminate the need for extensive surgery and provide a more natural-looking solution for reconstructive surgeries.
Researchers at Karolinska Institutet have developed a stem cell therapy that improves motor function and sensory function below spinal injury levels. The treatment inhibits the development of astrocytes, which stimulate pain axon growth, allowing for greater production of oligodendrocytes and myelin-coated nerve fibers.
Researchers at UCF have found a compound that improves adult human stem cells' ability to develop into brain cells, offering hope for treating Alzheimer's and other neurological diseases. The study's findings also suggest potential for improving vision in patients with glaucoma.
Researchers have identified a new source of mesenchymal progenitor cells in the human umbilical cord's Wharton's Jelly, which can be harvested to generate an abundant supply of stem cells. This discovery has the potential to greatly improve bone marrow transplantation success rates, currently ranging from 30-40%. The new stem cell sour...
Researchers find that adult stem cells are maintained by local environment signals that block gene expression, preventing differentiation. The microenvironment captures cells and prevents them from becoming other types of cells.
Researchers at Duke University Medical Center discovered regulatory genes in niche cells instruct stem cells to determine their future path, involving proteins acting as 'on-off' switches for stem cell division. This understanding is crucial for developing stem cell therapies and addressing disorders like infertility and cancer.
Researchers found that human embryonic stem cells contain a non-human sialic acid called Neu5Gc, which is incorporated from animal-derived culture materials. The discovery poses a safety concern for the potential therapeutic use of these cells in humans.
Researchers have developed a way to distinguish and separate specific brain cell subtypes for genetic analysis using DNA microarrays. This technique will aid in understanding the development and function of the brain, potentially leading to new treatments for neurological disorders such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.