Press Releases from AlphaMed Press

New production method could fill major need for new sources of MSCs

Durham, NC – Stem cell scientists from the University of Queensland Centre for Clinical Research (UQCCR) in Australia have discovered a new method for producing mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs) from human iPSCs that substantially improves on current methods and speeds up conversion time. The research, published today in STEM CELLS Translational Medicine, reveals that treating iPSCs with the transforming growth factor-ß pathway inhibitor SB431542 leads to rapid and uniform MSC conversion of pluripotent stem cells without the need for embryoid body formation or feeder cell co-culture.

Study shows cardiac stem cells outperform bone marrow stem cells in treating heart attacks

Durham, NC – A new study by collaborating researchers at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine and L’Institut du Thorax in Nantes, France, indicates that stem cells derived from cardiac tissue are far more effective in repairing damage caused by a heart attack than therapies using stem cells taken from bone marrow. The study, published today in STEM CELLS Translational Medicine, suggests that human fetal cardiac-derived c-kit+ stem cells (CSCs) can be 30 times more potent than bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) for treating a heart attack.

Regenerating Eyes Using Cells From Hair: Journal STEM CELLS Awards Pioneering Research into limbal stem cell deficiency

Dr. Ewa Meyer-Blazejewska Wins Annual Young Investigator Award in Serbia

Durham, NC & Serbia, October 2011 – A young scientist who led research into the use of stem cells from hair follicles to treat the ocular surface disease has been named the winner of the Young Investigator Award by the journal STEM CELLS. Dr. Ewa Meyer-Blazejewska will be presented with her award at The Stem Cell Symposium, hosted by the University of Kragujevac in Serbia on October 15, 2011. The $10,000 prize is awarded annually to a young scientist whose paper has been judged to be of worldwide significance by a global jury.

Reprogramming Stem Cells to a More Basic Form Results in More Effective Transplant, Study Shows

Durham, NC November 2011 – Chinese stem cell scientists have published new research that improves the survival and effectiveness of transplanted stem cells. The research led by Dr Hsiao Chang Chan, from the Chinese University of Hong Kong, is published in STEM CELLS.

Research into differentiation has led to a variety of breakthroughs as stem cell researchers harvest cells from one part of the body and genetically adapt them to fulfill a specialized role. However, if the implanted cells are too much like the cells of the targeted area they may not have the plasticity to engraft and repair the injured tissue.

New Evidence for Spinal Membrane as a Source of Stem Cells May Advance Treatment of Spinal Cord Injuries

Press Release from Stem Cells

Durham, NC October 2011 – Italian and Spanish scientists studying the use of stem cells for treating spinal cord injuries have provided the first evidence to show that meninges, the membrane which envelops the central nervous system, is a potential source of self-renewing stem cells. The research, published in STEM CELLS, develops the understanding of cell activation in central nervous system injuries; advancing research into new treatments for spinal injuries and degenerative brain disorders.

The team focused their research on spinal cord injuries, caused when the spinal cord is damaged by trauma rather than disease. Depending on the severity a spinal injury can lead from pain to full paralysis, with high social and medical care costs. As the spinal cord lacks the ability to regenerate, the potential for patient recovery is severely limited.

Announcing the first stem cell translational journal

Durham, NC, April 2011 – AlphaMed Press announces the launch of a major peer-reviewed journal, STEM CELLS Translational Medicine (SCTM), answering an acknowledged need within the research and clinical communities for comprehensive coverage of stem cell science, stem cell-based regenerative medicine and tissue engineering, stem cell-based predictive toxicology, and cancer stem cell investigation.

STEM CELLS Translational Medicine will publish high-impact, peer-reviewed articles that will significantly advance the clinical utilization of stem cell molecular and cellular biology by bridging stem cell research and clinical trials. In addition to original manuscripts, case studies, and commentaries this unique journal will encourage researchers to submit data from their negative clinical trials for publication to rapidly share results that other researchers may find valuable.

Hearing with your Nose: How Nasal Stem Cells Could Tackle Childhood Hearing Problems

Durham, NC – Stem Cell scientists in Australia have found that patients suffering from hearing problems which began during infancy and childhood could benefit from a transplant of stem cells from their nose. The research, published today in STEM CELLS, reveals that mucosa-derived stem cells can help preserve hearing function during the early-onset of sensorineural hearing loss.

Sensorineural hearing loss is caused by the loss of sensory cells or neurons in the cochlea, the sensory organ of the inner ear responsible for hearing. The condition can have genetic causes, often arising during infancy and childhood, hindering cognitive development and leading to speech and language problems.

New Study into Bladder Regeneration Heralds Organ Replacement Treatment

Durham, NC (November 2010) - Researchers in the United States have developed a medical model for regenerating bladders using stem cells harvested from a patient’s own bone marrow. The research, published in STEM CELLS, is especially relevant for paediatric patients suffering from abnormally developed bladders, but also represents another step towards new organ replacement therapies.

The research, led by Drs. Arun Sharma and Earl Cheng from the Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University, focused on bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) taken from the patient. Previously studies into the regenerative capacity of cells in bladders have focused on animal models, but these have translated poorly in clinical settings.