In this issue:  Science   |  Abstracts  |  Industry News   |  Policy Subscribe   |   Unsubscribe    TOP STORIES Breakthrough Method Produces Parkinson's Disease Patient-specific Stem Cells Free of Harmful Reprogramming Genes Whitehead Institute researchers have developed a novel method to remove potential cancer-causing genes during the reprogramming of skin cells from Parkinson's disease patients into an embryonic-stem-cell-like state. SCIENCE BrainStorm's Stem Cell Technology Demonstrates Efficacy in an Experimental Model of Parkinson's Disease Recent on-line publication by scientists demonstrate that human-derived adult Stem Cells may be induced to differentiate in vitro into neural-like cells and, once injected into the brain, improve impaired motor behavior in an experimental model of Parkinson's disease. Turn Back, Wayward Axon To a growing axon, the protein RGMa is a "Wrong Way" sign, alerting it to head in another direction as Hata et al. demonstrates. Nanofiber Diameter can Direct Stem Cell Growth Hopkins researchers show the influence of the fiber diameter of electrospun substrates on neural stem/progenitor cell differentiation and proliferation. What Drives Brain Changes in Macular Degeneration? How deprived neurons begin responding to visual input from another spot on the retina was unknown, but a new MIT study sheds light on the underlying neural mechanism. Studies in Animals Demonstrate AMPAKINE Molecules Reverse Memory Loss in Huntington's Disease Cortex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced that preclinical studies demonstrated that AMPAKINE molecules show promise in the treatment of memory loss in Huntington's disease. How Yeast is Helping us to Understand Parkinson's Disease Teams of scientists from Australia and the United States have used yeast and mammalian cells to discover a connection between genetic and environmental causes of Parkinson's disease. TriMark Point of Care Testing Conference 2009 May 11, 2009  |  San Diego, California Enter "CONNEXON" at checkout and receive 10% off registration. Visit here to register today. Visit our events page to stay up to date with the latest events in the cell, gene and immunotherapy community. ABSTRACTS Molecules Involve in the Self-protection of Neurons Against Glucose-oxygen-serum Deprivation-induced Cell Damage Results showed that early induction of cyclooxygenase-2, leptin, transforming growth factor-B1, glial-cell-line-derived neurotrophic factor and neurotrophin-3 all played a compensatory role in the protection of neurons against GOSD. Expression of the Repulsive Guidance Molecule Repulsive Guidance Molecule and its Receptor Neogenin after Spinal Cord Injury in Sea Lamprey To explore the role of additional chemorepulsive axonal guidance molecules during regeneration, we examined the expression of the repulsive guidance molecule and its receptor neogenin. The TRIM-NHL Protein TRIM32 Activates MicroRNAs and Prevents Self-Renewal in Mouse Neural Progenitors This study shows that the TRIM-NHL protein TRIM32 regulates protein degradation and microRNA activity to control the balance between those two daughter cell types. INDUSTRY Stemcells, Inc. to Aquire Cell-based Drug Discovery Platforms and Related Businesses of Stem Cell Sciences plc for US$4.8 Million Stem Cell Sciences plc recently announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement with StemCells, Inc. for the sale of the Trading Subsidiaries of the Company and certain ancillary agreements, assets, properties and rights for a maximum total consideration of approximately US$4,849,000. The California Institute for Regenerative Medicine Completes Briefing Visit to Stemedica Cell Technologies Stemedica Cell Technologies is seeking approval from the California Department of Health to begin the production of adult stem cells for Phase I and II clinical trials at its facility in San Diego, US. Promising New Treatment for Alzheimer's Disease Licensed Sanomune Inc. has licensed a new treatment method that allows medication to bypass the protective blood-brain barrier and enter the brain directly. Profs Weigh Leaving Harvard over Allston Slowdown The University's  plan to deal with the slowdown by re-assigning cellular biology laboratory space to stem cell researchers has raised concerns that basic biology research is being de-prioritized in the current financial crisis, according to several professors. POLICY Obama to Sign Stem Cells Order on Monday President Barack Obama, who opposes limits on federal funding of stem cell research, will sign an executive order about stem cells on Monday, an administration official said on Friday. Obama Is Leaving Some Stem Cell Issues to Congress The officials, who provided details of the announcement Mr. Obama will make Monday at the White House, said the president would leave it to Congress to determine whether the long-standing legislative ban on federal financing for human embryo experiments should also be overturned. Biotech Impact from Obama Plan Muted Most of President Barack Obama's budget will have little impact on large biotechnology companies, according to a Citi analyst, though several will have to prepare for potential competition from copies of their treatments.  Learn more about Neural Cell News:  Archives  |  Events   |  Subscribe   |  Contact Us This email was sent by: Connexon Creative 400-570 W. 7th Avenue Vancouver, British Columbia V5Z 1B3 Canada