Japanese Stem Cell Scientist Turn Stem Cells into Platelets
A Japanese research team headed by University of Tokyo Professor Hiromitsu Nakauchi announced this week that they had turned human stem cells into platelets.

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VIDEO: Source of cancer stem cells' resistance to radiation discovered at Stanford
Much to the dismay of patients and physicians, cancer stem cells are relatively resistant to the ionizing radiation often used as therapy for these conditions.

VIDEO: Super-Resolution Microscopy Takes on a Third Dimension
The shapes of some of the tiniest cellular structures are coming into sharper focus from a new imaging technology that produces the best three-dimensional resolution ever seen with an optical microscope.

University of Minnesota Researchers Find Master Gene Behind Blood Vessel Development
Using genetically engineered mice, researchers were able to identify a protein, Nkx2-5, which activates a certain gene, and in turn, determines the fate of a group of cells in a developing embryo.

Stem Cells in Hair Follicles Point to General Model of Organ Regeneration
New research from Rockefeller University reveals that a structure at the base of each strand of hair, the hair follicle, uses a two-step mechanism to activate its stem cells and order them to divide.

Damaged Mice Spines Improved with iPS Cells
A team of researchers at Keio University has succeeded in improving spinal cord damage in mice by transplanting into them neural stem cells produced with human induced pluripotent stem cells.

Hierarchical Maintenance of MLL Myeloid Leukemia Stem Cells Employs a Transcriptional Program Shared with Embryonic Rather Than Adult Stem Cells
The genetic programs that promote retention of self-renewing leukemia stem cells at the apex of cellular hierarchies in acute myeloid leukemia were explored in this study.

The Influence of Three-dimensional Nanofibrous Scaffolds on the Osteogenic Differentiation of Embryonic Stem Cells
In this study, the researchers examine the effects of nanofibrous architecture and biochemical cues on the osteogenic differentiation of embryonic stem cells compared to the more traditional architecture without the nanofibrous features in two dimensions (thin matrix or flat films) and three dimensions (scaffolds) in vitro.

Telomeres Acquire Embryonic Stem Cell Characteristics in Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells
The researchers try to determine whether telomere chromatin acquires the same characteristics as embryonic stem cells in iPS cells that have been recently derived from older patients.

Pluristem Receives Deficiency and Compliance Notice from Nasdaq
Pluristem Therapeutics Inc. recently announced that on February 5, 2009, it had received a Nasdaq Staff Notification of Deficiency and Compliance Letter indicating that the Company had violated the shareholder approval rules under Nasdaq Marketplace Rule 4350(i)(1)(D)(ii).

Hwang-Style Stem Cell Proposal Gets Thumbs Down
The National Consultative Ethics Committee for Life recently decided not to approve an application by a research team from the College of Medicine at Pochon Cha University for embryonic research.

Sebelius Near Top for Health Post
Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius was near the top of President Barack Obama's list of candidates to head the Health and Human Services Department, a senior administration official said Saturday.

Stem Cell Critics Sue Over Missouri Ballot Measure
Critics of embryonic stem cell research have accused three top Missouri officials of conspiring to prepare an unfair ballot summary for a proposal to bar use of public funds for abortion and human cloning.