Hebrew University of Jerusalem-Hadassah Medical Scientists Succeed Through Stem Cell Therapy in Reversing Brain Birth Defects
Scientists at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem have succeeded in reversing brain birth defects in animal models, using stem cells to replace defective brain cells.

Visit our events page to stay up to date with the latest events in the cell, gene and immunotherapy community.

Embryonic Stem Cells from Rats Derived
University of South Carolina researchers, for the first time, have derived authentic embryonic stem cells from rats. This breakthrough finding will enable scientists to create far more effective animal models for the study of a range of human diseases.

Gladstone Scientists Uncover Potential Mechanism of Memory Loss in Alzheimer's Disease
Researchers at the Gladstone Institute of Neurological Disease and Baylor College of Medicine have discovered a mechanism by which the protein Amyloid-ß may impair neurological functions in Alzheimer's disease.

Patient-derived Induced Stem Cells Retain Disease Traits
Svendsen and colleagues at UW-Madison and the University of Missouri-Columbia created disease-specific stem cells by genetically reprogramming skin cells from a patient with spinal muscular atrophy, or SMA.

New 'Smart' Materials for the Brain
The research shows that carbon nanotubes, which, like neurons, are highly electrically conductive, form extremely tight contacts with neuronal cell membranes and can create shortcuts between the distal and proximal compartments of the neuron, resulting in enhanced neuronal excitability.

Brain Starvation as We Age Appears to Trigger Alzheimer's
A slow, chronic starvation of the brain as we age appears to be one of the major triggers of a biochemical process that causes some forms of Alzheimer's disease.

VIDEO: Fusing Embryonic Stem Cells with Adult Cells Using Highly Efficient New Fusing System
MIT engineers have developed a new, highly efficient way to pair up cells so they can be fused together into a hybrid cell, for example, fusing an adult cell and an embryonic stem cell allows researchers to study the genetic reprogramming that occurs in such hybrids.

Spatiotemporal Recapitulation of Central Nervous System Development by Murine Embryonic Stem Cell-Derived Neural Stem/Progenitor Cells
The researchers demonstrate that they can recapitulate the spatiotemporal regulation of central nervous system development in vitro by using a neurosphere-based culture system of embryonic stem cell-derived NS/PCs.

Real-Time Imaging of Astrocyte Response to Quantum Dots:  In Vivo Screening Model System for Biocompatibility of Nanoparticles
This study shows a real-time imaging of primary cortical cultures and assessment of QD-induced activation of astrocytes in the brains of transgenic mice with the luciferase gene driven by the murine astrocyte promoter.

Infiltration of CD4+ Lymphocytes into the Brain Contributes to Neurodegeneration in a Mouse Model of Parkinson Disease
Parkinson disease is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by a loss of dopamine-containing neurons. Mounting evidence suggests that dopaminergic cell death is influenced by the innate immune system.

Level and Localization of Polysialic Acid is Critical for Early Peripheral Nerve Regeneration
In order to investigate the impact of polySia, the most striking post-translational modification of the neural cell adhesion molecule, on regeneration processes of myelinated axons, we examined mouse mutants retaining only one functional sialyltransferase allele. In the absence of ST8SiaII, quantification of myelinated axons revealed a significant decrease in number and size of regenerated fibers without impairment of remyelination.

Neuralstem Files FDA Application for First ALS Stem Cell Trial
Neuralstem, Inc. announced recently that it has filed an Investigational New Drug application with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to begin a clinical trial to treat amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

VistaGen and WARF Sign License Agreement for Human Embryonic Stem Cell Technology
VistaGen Therapeutics and the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation have signed a license for human embryonic stem cell patents for the development and commercialization of stem cell-based research tools.

University of Iowa Brain Researchers Win Major Neuroscience Award
Thanks to an award from the McKnight Endowment Fund for Neuroscience, University of Iowa scientists plan to develop imaging techniques to measure and understand the influence of pH on normal brain function and disease.

California Stem Cell Agency Faces Cash Freeze
The global financial crisis may do what opponents of California's $3 billion state-sponsored stem cell research experiment could not: dry up funding.

Missouri Group Refiles Initiative to Ban Using Taxes for Abortion, Human Cloning
Missouri Roundtable for Life seeks a November 2010 vote on a proposed state constitutional amendment saying "it shall be unlawful to expend, pay, or grant any public funds for abortion services, human cloning or prohibited human research."

Democrats Debate Methods to End Stem Cell Ban
Thwarted by President Bush in their efforts to expand federal spending on embryonic stem cell research, Democrats are now debating whether to overturn federal restrictions through executive order or by legislation when they assume full control of the government this month.