Category Archives: Stem Cell Research

World News Videos | US News VideosCopy A stem cell research breakthrough might someday allow same-sex couples to have their own biological children. Researchers at Cambridge University in England have taken the first steps towards creating artificial sperm and eggs by reprogramming skin cells from adults and converting them into embryonic-like stem cells. The team then compared the engineered stem cells with human cells from fetuses to confirm they were in fact, identical. The researchers published their findings in the journal Cell earlier this week, stressing that its early days for this type of research. We have succeeded in the first and most important step of the process, Dr. Jacob Hanna, an investigator with the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel, told ABC News. Hanna said the team will now attempt to complete the process by creating fully developed artificial sperm and eggs, either in a dish or by implanting them in a rodent. Once this is achieved, the technique could become useful for any individual with fertility problems, he said, including couples of the same sex. "It has already caused interest from gay groups because of the possibility of making egg and sperm cells from parents of the same … Continue reading →

8 hours ago The therapeutic promise of human stem cells is indisputably huge, but the process of translating their potential into effective, real-world treatments involves deciphering and resolving a host of daunting complexities. Writing in the February 25 online issue of the journal PLOS ONE, researchers at University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, with collaborators from The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI), have definitively shown for the first time that the culture conditions in which stem cells are grown and mass-produced can affect their genetic stability. "Since genetic and epigenetic instability are associated with cancers, we worry that similar alterations in stem cells may affect their safety in therapeutic transplants. Certain mutations might make transplanted stem cells more likely to form tumors, introducing the risk of cancer where it didn't exist before," said co-corresponding author Louise Laurent, MD, PhD, assistant professor and director of perinatal research in the Department of Reproductive Medicine at UC San Diego School of Medicine. "This study shows the importance of quality control," added Jeanne F. Loring, PhD, professor and director of the Center for Regenerative Medicine at TSRI, and adjunct professor in the UC San Diego Department of Reproductive Medicine and the study's other … Continue reading →

DUBLIN, Feb. 24, 2015 /PRNewswire/ --Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/wjbvsf/global_cell) has announced the addition of the "Global Cell Culture Protein Surface Coating Market 2015-2019" report to their offering. The Global Cell Culture Protein Surface Coating market to grow at a CAGR of 12.91% over the period 2014-2019 Cell culture protein surface coating is a procedure in which the cell culture surfaces are coated with proteins or extracellular matrix components to enhance the adhesion and proliferation of the cells in vitro. The following are the different types of available proteins: human-derived proteins, animal-derived proteins, plant-derived proteins, and synthetic proteins. Proteins such as fibronectin, laminin, collagen, vitronectin, and osteopontin are used for cell culture protein surface coating. Protein surface coating helps in the growth of various types of cells such as endothelial, epithelial, fibroblasts, leukocytes, myoblasts and muscle cells, neurons, and CHO cell lines. Cell culture protein surface coating provides improved adhesion, proliferation, and rapid growth of cells during isolation and cultivation. The growing use of animal-free synthetic protein surface coatings is one key trend emerging in this market. The demand for animal-free synthetic protein surface coatings has increased because of their importance in the production of biopharmaceuticals and other therapeutic applications. According … Continue reading →

Researchers from Cambridge University and Israels Weizmann Institute of Science are claiming a stem cell research breakthrough that would allow a baby to be created from the skin cells from two adults, no matter their gender. This potentially allows for infertile couples to have their own children without resorting to sperm or egg donors, and may provide the means for same sex couples to produce their own babies. Previously only successful in experiments on mice, the new research has been conducted on human cells for the first time. In this study, the researchers paired stem cell lines from embryos with the skin of a range of different adults, with the resultant cells compared to aborted fetuses to determine an identical match. Techniques devised to create same-sex offspring are not new. Some experiments involve the manipulation of fibroblasts in mice resulting in offspring with the genetic traits of multiple male mice, whilst others have used bone marrow stem cells extracted from males to trigger spermatogonia. However, in this latest research, stem cells and adult human skin have been combined for the first time to create an entire new germ-cell line (that is, cells that will become embryos). Derived from ten different … Continue reading →

ALAMEDA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--ESI BIO, the stem cell products division of BioTime, Inc., providing stem cells and stem cell research reagents world-wide, and Pivotal Scientific Ltd, a company specializing in developing the international growth of biotech enterprises, announced an alliance agreement to develop business opportunities and manage ESI BIOs growing network of new international distributors. ESI BIOs (esibio.com) research products are used by stem cell researchers around the world and include clinical and research grade human embryonic stem cells from ES Cell International (ESI) and HyStem hyaluronan-based hydrogel extracellular matrices. ESI BIO also provides unique PureStem embryonic progenitors, antibodies, and small molecules for stem cell differentiation and reprogramming. Under the new agreement, Pivotal Scientific will use its experience and contacts in the biologic research field to develop opportunities for ESI BIO and will handle a network of new distributors for ESI BIO products. ESI BIO has a lot to offer researchers, said James Mosedale, Business Development Director, at Pivotal, not just in terms of excellent products, but their focus on clinically-relevant products is a novel selling point, especially as researchers are looking to treat and cure disease. Were looking forward to doing our best to get these products into the hands … Continue reading →

Stem Cell Research and Christian Responses - Scott Rae Jamie Dew sits down with Scott Rae to talk about stem cell research. By: Exploring Hope … Continue reading →

PM visits Institute for Stem Cell Research at National Centre for Biological Sciences, Bengaluru The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi visiting the Institute for Stem Cell Research, at the National Centre for Biological Sciences, in Bengaluru on February 18, 2015. By: Narendra Modi … Continue reading →

Negotiating the Mine Field in the Quest for a Parkinsons Disease Cell Therapy - Jeanne Loring Rejuvenation Biotechnology 2014 Parkinson's Disease Session (August 22, 2014, 1:00pm) "Negotiating the Mine Field in the Quest for a Parkinson's Disease Cell Therapy" Presenter: Jeanne Loring,... By: SENS Foundation … Continue reading →

Since the inception of stem cell research, controversy has unfortunately dominated much of the debate without properly considering the potential benefit it may bring to humanity. Stem cell research involves the manipulation and transfer of undesignated cells in hopes of regenerating other body cells that have been affected by general degeneration. This includes organ failure, tissue damage and even specific ailments like cancer, diabetes and Parkinsons disease. A stem cell may be used to create additional cells for skin, bone, liver, muscle, fat and even nerves. They are all crucial to the development and maintenance of the human bodys immune system. This research also occasionally utilizes cells from human embryoswhich is where most of the moral debate stems from. Critics of stem cell research typically condemn the practice for ethical reasons. Opponents claim it destroys life and physicians play God in terms of deciding the fate of a lab-grown human embryo. Without truly lending credence to the wonders of advanced medicine, anti-stem cell critics arent realizing that this research could potentially be Gods work. After all, such procedures unequivocally lead to the extension and increased protection of human life. Moral obligations aside, the arguments against stem cell research on the … Continue reading →

DALLAS, February 19, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- The Global Cell Culture Protein Surface Coating Market 2015-2019 research report available with LifeScienceIndustryResearch.com provides information on the usage of different types of proteins derived from various sources for cell culture protein surface coating: Animal-derived protein, Human-derived protein, Synthetic protein and Plant-derived protein. The Global Cell Culture Protein Surface Coating Market is expected to post 12.91% CAGR from 2014-2019, thanks to the wide range of applications for protein surface coatings include improved adhesion of cells, better proliferation and growth of cells, receptor-ligand binding studies, cell matrix studies, signal transduction studies, morphogenesis studies, differentiation of individual cell types, genetic engineering, metabolic pathway studies and drug screening. The high potential of stem cells in the treatment of severe diseases, including neurodegenerative diseases, cardiac diseases, and even diabetes, has resulted in demand for advanced cell culture products for stem cell production and study. Cell culture protein surface coating products help researchers improve the adhesion, proliferation, and growth of cultured cells. Complete report is available at http://www.lifescienceindustryresearch.com/global-cell-culture-protein-surface-coating-market-2015-2019.html . Biopharmaceuticals are protein-based products such as vaccines, somatic cells, allergenics, and recombinant therapeutic proteins that are derived through cell culture. There has been increased demand for biopharmaceuticals, since they can … Continue reading →