Integrated Chemical Genomics Reveals Modifiers of Survival in Human Embryonic Stem Cells
In this study, the researchers identified novel small molecules that improve survival by inhibiting either Rho-kinase (ROCK) or Protein kinase C (PKC).

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Close Encounters with 3-D Cell Growth
MIT engineers have built a device that gives them an unprecedented view of three-dimensional cell growth and migration, including the formation of blood vessels and the spread of tumor cells.

VIDEO: Improving Imaging
Nicholas Fang explains how superlenses can enable scientists to use standard microscopes to view individual molecules inside living cells.

Development of Human Nervous Tissue Upon Differentiation of Embryonic Stem Cells in Three Dimensional Culture
In this study, the researchers report an air/liquid interface-based culture of human ESC that allows three-dimensional cell expansion and neural differentiation in the absence of added growth factors.

Lineage Restriction and Differentiation of Human Embryonic Stem Cells into Hepatic Progenitors and Zone 1 Hepatocytes
A novel strategy has been developed to derive early hepatocytic lineage stages from hES cells using four sequential inducing steps lasting 16 days.

Embryonic Stem Cell-derived Cardiomyocytes: a Good Candidate for Cell Therapy Applications
The focus in this study is on human embryonic stem cells, using methods to induce their differentiation to cardiomyocytes in vitro.

Scaffold-Free Human Cardiac Tissue Patch Created from Embryonic Stem Cells
Here the researchers report a novel and scalable method to generate scaffold-free human cardiac tissue patches.

For Biotech, a Tax Break Spells Hope
Biotechnology industry executives plan to visit Congress on Wednesday to ask for a temporary change in the tax law that would let money-losing companies get cash from the government now, in exchange for tax credits they would pledge not to take if they eventually become profitable.

BioLife Solutions Granted European Biopreservation Patent
BioLife Solutions Inc. recently announced that it has been granted a European patent for an application that includes claims related to protecting cells from injury and death caused by cold temperatures used in biopreservation.

Daschle Will Oversee Health Reform Office
Former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle will pull double duty in the Obama administration, where he will serve not only as the Health and Human Services secretary but also oversee a new White House Office of Health Reform.

Critics Top Shortlist for FDA Head
A doctor who once denounced Pfizer Inc. for holding a marketing event in a pool hall is leading President-elect Barack Obama's team formally assessing the troubled Food and Drug Administration, boosting his chances of becoming the next FDA commissioner.

Klein Will Get Paid to Head California Institute for Regenerative Medicine
California's stem cell agency has agreed to start paying a salary to Chairman Robert Klein, who has served unpaid since the institute began four years ago.

Schwarzenegger Nominates San Diegan as Stem Cell Institute Vice Chair
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger on Tuesday nominated Duane Roth, a San Diego biotechnology industry veteran and board member of the state stem cell institute, to serve as the institute's vice chairman.

ISSCR Releases New Guidelines for the Clinical Translation of Stem Cells
Recently, the ISSCR released new guidelines that examine the scientific, clinical, regulatory, ethical and societal issues that must be addressed to ensure that basic stem cell research is responsibly transitioned into appropriate clinical applications.

Vatican Issues Instruction on Bioethics
The Vatican issued its most authoritative and sweeping document on bioethical issues in more than 20 years on Friday, taking into account recent developments in biomedical technology and reinforcing the church's opposition to in vitro fertilization, human cloning, genetic testing on embryos before implantation and embryonic stem cell research.