TOP STORIES

One Small Step for Neurons, One Giant Leap for Nerve Cell Repair
A new study is the first to show that nerve cells will grow and make meaningful, functional contacts, or synapses with an artificial component. [McGill University, Montreal]

Animal Protein-Free Feeder-Independent Maintenance Medium for hESCs & hiPSCs by STEMCELL Technologies     WATCH THE TeSR™2 VIDEO

SCIENCE NEWS

Webinar: Feeder-independent growth of hESCs & hiPSCs using TeSR^TM2

STEMCELL Technologies Inc. Announces Release of Defined, Animal-Protein Free Maintenance Medium for hESCs and hiPSCs

Carnegie Mellon Scientists Develop Method to Make Cortical Neuronal Firing More Efficient
Biologists have found that firing reliability in the cerebral cortex can be significantly improved through pattern sensory activation, indicating that this unreliability isn't a necessary component for cortical function. [Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh]

Study Pinpoints Key Mechanism in Brain Development, Raising Questions About Use of Anti-seizure Drug
Researchers have identified a key molecular player in guiding the formation of synapses - the all-important connections between nerve cells - in the brain. [Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford]

Retinal Neurons Do Double Duty
Scientists have identified a new neural circuit in the retina responsible for the detection of approaching objects. [Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, Basel]

When Physics Meets Biology - the Holographic Neuron Stimulator
The Holographic Neuron Stimulator works by immersing a sample of living neurons in a solution containing neurotransmitters, "caged" such that it only becomes active (or "uncaged") in the presence of a strong light field. [The Australian National University, Canberra]

New Findings about Brain Proteins Suggest Possible Way to Fight Alzheimer's
The action of a small protein that is a major villain in Alzheimer's disease can be counterbalanced with another brain protein. [UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas]

Genetics of Patterning the Cerebral Cortex: How Stem Cells Yield Functional Regions in "Gray Matter"
Scientists report that they have identified the first genetic mechanism that determines the regional identity of progenitors tasked with generating the cerebral cortex. [Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla]

Merkel Cell Originates From Skin, Not the Neural Crest
A team of researchers have found that Merkel cells originate in the skin, not the neural crest lineage, as previously speculated. [Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland]

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CURRENT PUBLICATIONS

Fgf10 Regulates Transition Period of Cortical Stem Cell Differentiation to Radial Glia Controlling Generation of Neurons and Basal Progenitors
The researchers here show that the morphogen Fgf10 is transiently expressed by neuroepithelial cells coincident with the transition period of NC differentiation into RG. Targeted deletion of Fgf10 delays radial glia differentiation, whereas over-expression has opposing effects. [Neuron]

Nuclear Power for Axonal Growth
Moore et al. show that the regenerative capacity of certain central nervous system neurons is suppressed by Krüppel-like factor-4 (KLF4), thus increasing the repertoire of transcription factors that regulate axonal growth. [Neuroscience]

Adult Rat Mesenchymal Stem Cells Differentiate into Neuronal-like phenotype and Express a Variety of Neuro-regulatory Molecules in Vitro
This paper re-evaluates the phenomenon of neuronal trans-differentiation of marrow stromal stem cells and compares the expression levels of neurotrophins in rMSCs and neuronal-like phenotypes derived from rMSCs. [Neurosci Res]

A Human Neuron Injury Model for Molecular Studies of Axonal Regeneration
The researchers here describe the use of human embryonic stem cell-derived neurons as a novel model for studying neuronal responses to axonal injury. [Exp Neurol]

IL-10 Promotes Neuronal Survival Following Spinal Cord Injury
In the current study, researchers used a herpes simplex virus (HSV)-based vector to express IL-10, a gene involved with NF-KB transcription Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL activation, in spinal cord in vivo. [Exp Neurol]

INDUSTRY NEWS

Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine Researchers Receive $1.25M from NIMH to Study Schizophrenia
Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine has received $1.25 million from the National Institutes of Mental Health using iPS induced neural cells to study Schizophrenia.

Mass. Biotech Firms Urged to Remain Independent
Industry leaders warned that the old model of forming a biotech company, shepherding a drug through development and years of clinical trials, and then selling the company to a pharmaceutical buyer may be played out.

POLICY NEWS

A Clear Line on Stem Cells
The Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2009 will be introduced shortly codify Mr. Obama's executive order permitting federal funding of such research within guidelines established by the NIH.

NHLBI Awards $170 Million to Fund Stem Cell Research
The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, one of the National Institutes of Health, has awarded $170 million to be paid over seven years to 18 teams of research scientists to develop the high-potential field of stem and progenitor cell tools and therapies.

NIH Awards Grants to Examine Factors Influencing Women's Careers in Science
The National Institutes of Health announced today that it will fund 14 grants focusing on factors that influence the careers of women in biomedical and behavioral science and engineering.

EVENTS

Neuropeptides
October 14-16, 2009
Chicago, United States

Neuroscience 2009
October 17-21, 2009
Chicago, United States
Visit STEMCELL Technologies at Booth 816 at Neuroscience 2009.

Restoration of Neural Tissue and Function Workshop
Novemer 4, 2009
Washington DC, United States

The Biology and Pathology of Tau and its Role in Tauopathies
7-8 January, 2010
Cambridge, United Kingdom

Alzheimer's Disease Beyond Abeta
January 10-15, 2010
Copper Mountain, United States

Molecular Medicine Tri-Conference 2010
February 3-5, 2010
San Francisco, United States

Keystone Symposium B4 Stem Cell Differentiation and Dedifferentiation
February 15 - 20, 2010
Keystone, United States

ISSCR 8th Annual Meeting
June 16-19, 2010
San Francisco, United States

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