Stem Cell Update from Panama 3 Years Later
I had my first stem cell treatment for Multiple Sclerosis in November 2008. After much research and education, I decided to leave the US and go to Cell Medicine in Costa Rica at the time. 3 years later the clinic has grown and consolidated their lab and facilities to Panama City. The treatment wasn #39;t a cure, but it worked amazingly well for me and gave me a second chance at life. My MS is progressive and I will continue to turn to stem cells for ongoing treatment of my disease. Hopefully one day very soon with continuing discussions with Gov. Rick Perry and others, we will see stem cell treatments more widely available in the United States. iLoveMyNewStemCells!From:Holly HuberViews:1636 12ratingsTime:05:28More inPeople Blogs

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Future Health Biobank Arabic video tour
Learn more about the services offered at Future Health: http://www.fhbb.ae Europe #39;s first accredited family stem cell bank and UK Queen #39;s Award winner, Future Health Biobank, is celebrating 10 years as a pioneer in the collection and cryopreservation of stem cells for potential future medical use with the news that it is opening a second laboratory in Switzerland to complement its established UK facility. The company, which is headquartered in Nottingham in the UK, was established to process and store cord blood stem cell samples for families in 2002 at a time when the idea of stem cell medicine was still more likely to be read about in science fiction books than in our daily newspapers and magazines. Future Health started by storing cord blood stem cells in 2003 and within four years it had stored its 10000th sample. Another five years on and the company #39;s purpose built cryogenic storage facility has over 50000 stem cell samples for families from more than 50 countries in its care. A cord tissue storage service was added in 2009 and now services to capture stem cells from other sources identified for potential medical use have been introduced. Future Health have also put time and resources into research. In the last four years the company have invested in a number of important study areas which could have an impact on the future effectiveness and use of stem cells in medical treatments. These include finding the optimum cryopreservation methods which maintain stem cell ...From:FHBioBankViews:140 0ratingsTime:13:05More inScience Technology

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Future Health Biobank Arabic video tour - Video

Cord Blood Registry: Cord blood banking for peace of mind
Learn more about how cord blood is changing medicine here: cordbloodregistry.com As an expecting parent today, you have access to a medical resource our parents only dreamed of. Saving or "banking" your newborn #39;s cord blood and cord tissue is a one-time opportunity that may be lifesaving or life-changing for your family. Cord blood stem cells are used to treat many life-threatening diseases, such as leukemia and other cancers. In addition, cord blood is showing potential in research and clinical trials to treat conditions that have no cure today. This exciting new area of medicine is called regenerative medicine, where scientists are evaluating the use of a child #39;s own cord blood stem cells in experimental treatments for brain injury, cerebral palsy, and hearing loss. Only CBR consistently gives our client families first opportunities to participate in new areas of cord blood stem cell medicine. This includes four FDA-regulated clinical trials offered exclusively to CBR clients: bull; Hearing loss bull; Traumatic brain injury bull; Cerebral Palsy bull; Juvenile diabetes You can learn more about CBR #39;s role in advancing stem cell research through our Center for Regenerative Medicine, cordbloodregistry.com Ask your doctor about banking your baby #39;s cord blood with CBR today or call 1-888-932-6568 to speak with a Cord Blood Education Specialist. Use of cord blood stem cells will be determined by the treating physician. There is no guarantee that treatments being studied in the laboratory or ...From:cordbloodregistryViews:400 3ratingsTime:00:16More inPeople Blogs

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Science U!: Science and Aging
Tinabeth Pina explores how advances in science and medicine are contributing to all of us living longer lives. Lisa Beth Kovetz investigates stem cell medicine and its cutting edge breakthroughs in helping to cure disease and slow down aging. Marlene Peralta has the latest on the scientific advances in treating Parkinson #39;s disease. Carol Anne Riddell explains why exercise is one of the most effective things we can do for healthy aging. Ernabel Demillo looks at aging pets - and how we can help them through the process and learn something about our own aging. For More Information: STEM CELL RESEARCH (Lisa Beth Kovetz) http://www.us.penguingroup.com http://www.amazon.com PARKINSON #39;S DISEASE (Marlene Peralta) http://www.pdf.org http://www.brooklynparkinsongroup.org EXERCISE (Carol Anne Riddell) workout911.com http://www.cdc.gov http://www.cdc.gov AGING DOGS (Ernabel Demillo) http://www.hopevet.com http://www.humanesocietyny.org CAREGIVER INFORMATION http://www.aarp.org http://www.nyc.gov Taped: 10-23-12 Science U! explores the world of science, taking the headlines and information you need and showing its importance in our everyday life. From technology, research and health to kids, humor and the arts each program explores these topics in clear, concise and engaging presentations designed for audiences of all backgrounds and ages! Watch more Science U! at http://www.cuny.tv/show/scienceanduFrom:cunytv75Views:113 1ratingsTime:29:38More inScience Technology

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FAQ-6 of 19: In Stem Cell Therapy How Soon Do Stem Cells Start to Work?
youtu.be When you choose stem cell therapy, and your board-certified doctor okays you for stem cell therapy, how soon can you expect effects? There #39;s no one-best-answer-fits-all, but this video gets across the gist of stem cell therapy. For more personalized information or more FAQ on stem cell therapy at the only licensed clinic in Thailand, visit StemCell-Asia.infoFrom:VeteransRecallViews:0 0ratingsTime:01:26More inEducation

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FAQ-9 of 19: In Stem Cell Therapy Are There Any Contraindications for Stem Cells?
youtu.be There ARE some times and ways that stem cells should NOT be used, and this short video outlines them. For more personalized information, visit bit.ly or StemCell-Asia.info now.From:John PepperViews:0 0ratingsTime:00:54More inEducation

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FAQ-9 of 19: In Stem Cell Therapy Are There Any Contraindications for Stem Cells? - Video

By Philip C. Tubeza Philippine Daily Inquirer

Stem cell therapy might provide a remedy for acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) after it was used on an HIV patient in Germany, the first person known to have been cured of the disease, a Department of Health (DOH) official said Tuesday.

Dr. Gerald Belimac, program manager of the DOH National AIDS/Sexually Transmitted Infection Prevention and Control Program, said American Timothy R. Brown, the so-called Berlin Patient who had been infected with the human immunodeficiency virus, was cured after getting stem cells in 2007 from a donor who was genetically resistant to the virus that caused AIDS.

However, he said that this procedure was very complex and was still under study.

It takes the right person, the right recipient, the right donor, for a stem cell transplantation particularly on HIV to be successful, Belimac said.

If it comes from other donors, there is really a high chance that the recipient would reject it, she added.

Brown was infected with HIV in 1995 and was later diagnosed with leukemia, or cancer of the blood.

He underwent a transplant of stem cells for the leukemia and it turned out that those stem cells had genes that were resistant to HIV, Belimac said.

Medical research has shown that almost 5 percent of Caucasians are genetically resistant to HIV, he said, but there are still no studies showing Filipinos having similar genes.

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A first: Stem cell therapy cures HIV patient in Germany

ETF Daily News (blog)

Look For A Potential Short Entry In The iShares Nasdaq Biotechnology ETF (IBB ... ETF Daily News (blog) As we have been saying the past few days, our focus is now on finding ETFs that are breaking down, then looking for short selling entry points on a substantial bounce into resistance. In yesterday's ETF newsletter commentary, we pointed out PowerShares ... ETF Mid-Day Update: Markets Mostly Lower After Disappointing Results From ...NASDAQ all 150 news articles »

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BURLINGAME, Ca. – For the first
time, a Big Pharma company has hooked into the $3 billion California
stem cell agency, a move that the agency described as a “watershed”
in its efforts to commercialize stem cell research.

“When the commercial funding avenues
have become much more risk averse, CIRM support (has ensured) that
promising, innovative cell therapy technologies are fully explored.”

Source:
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/uqpFc/~3/Jt1JalGURys/california-stem-cell-agency-first-big.html

BURLINGAME, Ca. -- The president of the $3 billion California stem cell agency, Alan Trounson, will be working half-time while living in Australia during January and February of next year.

Trounson told the governing board of the agency of his plans at the beginning of its meeting here morning. He said he needs to spend more time with his family, which lives in Melbourne.

Trounson has an 11-year-old son with whom Trounson said he hasn't spend much time in the last 18 months.  Trounson said he intends to teach his son to surf. Trounson's daughter also will be getting married in February.

Meanwhile, directors are currently discussing approval of grants in its $20 million-plus strategic partnership round.

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OAKLAND, Ca. – Meeting against a
backdrop from Texas that involves conflicts of interest and mass
resignations of grant reviewers, a task force of the $3 billion
California stem cell agency today began a partial examination of its
own grant approval process, specifically focusing on appeals by
rejected applicants.

“The
process has gotten a little out of hand.”

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UConn Advance (blog)

New Biotechnology Intern Program Offers Students Real-World Lab Experience UConn Advance (blog) Two TIP companies, Chondrogenics Inc. and Synbody Biotechnology Inc., hosted the students participating in the new intern program, offering them hands-on lab experience alongside a mentor. The interns were able to see how a startup company works, ...

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Proactive Investors UK

Angel Biotechnology warns on 2012 earnings MarketWatch LONDON--Angel Biotechnology Holdings PLC , a biopharmaceutical manufacturing company, Friday warned it anticipates an adverse impact on earnings in the current year as it expects that a contract with TransGenRx Inc. will be delayed. MAIN FACTS: ... Angel Biotechnology warns on full-year earningsBusiness7 Angel earnings warning sends share price downHerald Scotland Angel Biotech sees upturn in volumes despite earnings warningProactive Investors UK Stock Market Wire all 5 news articles »

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U.S. News & World Report

Biotechnology on the Ballot Wall Street Journal Daisy is only the latest example of the tremendous benefits of biotechnology. Last month, scientists reported in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition that "golden rice"—a strain of rice genetically modified to produce more beta-carotene—is more ... Cabinet of Ministers creates institute for GMO issuesKyiv Post California to vote on GM food labelingChannel News Asia Proposition 37 could have impact on farmers across the countryHigh Plains Journal Huffington Post all 105 news articles »

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CIRM: “To support and advance stem cell research and regenerative medicine under the highest ethical and medical standards for the discovery and development of cures, therapies, diagnostics and research technologies to relieve human suffering from chronic disease and injury.”

CIRM: For-profit entities have been and currently are eligible for CIRM funding covering stages of research which range from basic biology programs (in which industry has shown little interest) through Phase II clinical trials. Of these programs, 13% have been awarded to companies thus far. Having built 12 state of the art stem cell facilities and having seeded  the field with training and other types of grants of similar purpose, CIRM is now focusing on funding translational and clinical programs.  

This is where companies' primary interests are and we expect greater company participation in our translation and clinical Request for Application. The translation and clinical awards programs provide for much larger awards as compared to the basic research and the overall amount of later stage funding is significantly larger than the earlier basic research awards. The number of awards made in the translational and clinical development funding rounds is much less than in the basic science area. 

CIRM’s Strategic Partnership Funding Program is a cornerstone of our efforts to fund industry.   We expect to make awards through this program approximately every six months to assist companies whose financing demands is frequently at shorter intervals than academic institutions. These awards will be made following a robust peer review process ensuring that awards are made to projects that are based on sound scientific data and have a reasonable chance of success.

CIRM: Four clinical trials that were fostered by CIRM funds are already in clinical trials for cancer and blood disorders. We expect one or more CIRM-funded projects to join that list in the next year. This includes projects that are in clinical trial already for which we have funded and are funding the follow on studies.

CIRM: Yes, we have recently held the first round of applications for our Strategic Partnership Awards that are designed specifically to attract applications from industry and include significant leveraged funding from multinational biopharmaceutical companies and/or venture capital. The first of these awards will be announced at an upcoming meeting of our governing board, the Independent Citizens Oversight Committee. Industry also accesses CIRM funding through the Disease Team awards, which include teams comprised of both academic researchers and industry as partners, consultants and advisors. 

CIRM: No. We have awarded more basic research grants in numbers, but those grants are much smaller in dollars than those in our translational portfolio. That translational portfolio includes 75 projects that have been awarded nearly $600 million, well over half of the research dollars committed.

When CIRM funding was initiated in late 2006, there was a need to build intellectual and facility capacity because doubts about support from federal sources had limited the entry of scientists into the field and there was a need for “safe harbor facilities. “ Research into stem cells was also at an early stage and so it made sense for us to focus on the discovery phase of basic biology and pre-clinical work to enable more effective utilization of the potential that was evident.

Increasingly however we are moving towards clinical science, to enable a proper assessment of the value of cell therapies and related approaches for advancement of human medicine.

Our focus has always included all stem and progenitor cells. Pluripotential stem cells are immortal and develop into all cells of the body, so the potential is large and the available funding outside CIRM has been modest. We have concentrated on human rather than animal model cells because this is where the need has been greatest. Our goal is to fund transformational research with the highest potential benefit to patients, regardless of the stem cell type they utilize.

As for infrastructure, we spent $271 million in major facilities grants to help create new, state-of-the-art safe harbor research facilities in California which are essential for  delivering  the goals of CIRM. That investment was used to leverage almost $900 million in additional funds from private donors and institutions to help pay for those facilities. Each facility  attracted new researchers to the state,  employed local construction workers  and created expanded research facilities that will now be able to offer long-term employment for the high tech innovators in stem cell research, transformative new medicines  for intractable disease and deliver economic benefit for Californians.

CIRM: Yes, our focus in our new Strategic Plan does just that, emphasizing the increased focus on translation and clinical trials. As described above, we are investing strongly in this sector. But we firmly believe that advancement in medicine is dependent on the science that underpins the medical strategies. We will also  continue to support high quality basic science that can transform medical opportunities.  

CIRM: We are required by our statute to fund in those areas that are under-invested. Otherwise we are agnostic to cell type. We expect a mixture of embryonic (induced pluripotent stem cells as well when they are ready for clinical studies), fetal, adult, cancer stem and progenitor cells, as well as small molecules, biologics and other approaches, evolving from stem cell assays and research. We are most concerned with the ability to produce results for patients.

Yes, we have appointed a Vice President with business development responsibilities and are further strengthening this capacity with key staff. We are actively working with industry to develop sustainable partnerships in research, we hold webinars and face to face meetings with the FDA to better equip industry with the tools that can aid in their investigational new drug (IND) submissions . We also assist industry to better understand what they need to do to successfully apply for CIRM funding.

We have also made changes to our intellectual property regulations and loan regulations to make it even more attractive for companies  to partner with us in research.

Our focus has been in moving promising research through the "Valley of Death" phase, from the lab through Phase 1 and 2 clinical trials. We are working with major industry and financial institutions to inform them of our developing portfolio with the belief that they will be interested in taking many of these products to the market place. We are probably unable to afford to do these late stage clinical trials alone and feel it is likely that commercial interests will provide the follow on funding. 

CIRM: We are always interested in proposals that will enhance our mission. While this hypothetical has not been put to us we would have to assess the proposal on its merits and our available finances. 

CIRM:  In our RFA’s we have provided guidance as to what entities qualify for CIRM funding.  Future requirments  are presently under review by our General Counsel. Certainly, companies will need to show genuine steps at the time of application  towards relocation of a significant component of their research activities to California in addition to establishing a California operation with California employees. CIRM funding would be largely limited to in-state  activities.

http://www.celltherapyblog.com hosted by http://www.celltherapygroup.com

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The Press Release from the Nobel Assembly at Karolinska Institute

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Source:
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Biotime, Inc., and two men who were
leading players in history of Geron Corp. today made a surprise,
public bid for the stem cell assets of their former firm.

Michael West West photo

Tom Okarma AP file photo

“Geron would transfer its stem cell
assets to BAC(a new subsidiary of Biotime headed by Okarma), in
exchange for which you along with the other Geron shareholders would
receive shares of BAC common stock representing approximately 21.4%
of the outstanding BAC capital stock. BioTime would contribute to BAC
the following assets in exchange for the balance of outstanding BAC
capital stock:

• “$40 million in BioTime common
  shares;
• “Warrants to purchase BioTime
  common shares (“BioTime Warrants”);
• “Rights to certain stem cell
  assets of BioTime, and shares of two BioTime subsidiaries engaged in
  the development of therapeutic products from stem cells.”

Source:
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/uqpFc/~3/v1bas6eGZF0/biotime-makes-bid-for-gerons-stem-cell.html

The Los Angeles Times this
morning carried a column about the “charmed relationship” between
StemCells, Inc., its “powerful friends” and the $3 billion
California stem cell agency.

“What was the company's
secret? StemCells says it's addressing 'a serious unmet medical need'
in Alzheimer's research. But it doesn't hurt that the company also
had powerful friends going to bat for it, including two guys who were
instrumental in getting CIRM off the ground in the first place.”

“But private enterprise
is new territory for CIRM, which has steered almost all its grants
thus far to nonprofit institutions. Those efforts haven't been
trouble-free: With some 90% of the agency's grants having gone to
institutions with representatives on its board, the agency has long
been vulnerable to charges of conflicts of interest. The last thing
it needed was to show a similar flaw in its dealings with private
companies too.”

“(Weissman) has also
been a leading beneficiary of CIRM funding, listed as the principal
researcher on three grants worth a total of $24.5 million. The agency
also contributed $43.6 million toward the construction of his
institute's glittering $200-million research building on the Stanford
campus.”

“The problem is that
StemCells doesn't have $20 million in spare funds. Its quarterly
report for the period ended June 30 listed about $10.4
million in liquid assets, and shows it's burning about $5 million per
quarter. Its prospects of raising significant cash from investors
are, shall we say, conjectural.

“As it happens, within
days of the board's vote, the
firm downplayed any pledge 'to raise a specific amount of
money in a particular period of time.' The idea that CIRM 'is
requiring us to raise $20 million in matching funds' is a
'misimpression,' it said. Indeed, it suggested that it might count
its existing spending on salaries and other 'infrastructure and
overhead' as part of the match. StemCells declined my request that it
expand on its statement. 

“CIRM spokesman Kevin
McCormack says the agency is currently scrutinizing StemCells'
finances 'to see what it is they have and whether it meets the
requirements and expectations of the board.' The goal is to set
'terms and conditions that provide maximum protection for taxpayer
dollars.' He says, 'If we can't agree on a plan, the award will
not be funded.'"

“The agency shouldn't be
deciding on the spot what does or doesn't qualify as matching funds.
It should have clear guidelines in advance.

“Nor should the board
overturn the judgment of its scientific review panels without
clear-cut reasons....The record suggests that the handling of the
StemCells appeal was at best haphazard and at worst redolent of
cronyism.” 

Source:
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/uqpFc/~3/6qvBfSLP3RE/los-angeles-times-stemcells-inc-award.html

Directors of the California stem cell
agency are set to give away $20 million next Thursday and authorize
a handsome addition to their signature disease team effort, bringing
its total to $543 million.

Source:
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/uqpFc/~3/1gFmBSDEYCU/california-stem-cell-agency-boosting.html

The move by the $3 billion California
stem cell agency to curtail its free-wheeling grant appeal process
will undergo its first public hearing next week.

“A material dispute of fact should
meet five criteria:(1) An applicant disputes the accuracy of a
statement in the review summary;(2) the disputed fact was significant
in the scoring or recommendation of the GWG(grant review group); (3) the dispute pertains
to an objectively verifiable fact, rather than a matter of scientific
judgment or opinion;(4) the discrepancy was not addressed through the
Supplemental Information Process and cannot be resolved at the
meeting at which the application is being considered; and
(5) resolution of the dispute could affect the outcome of the board’s
funding decision."

“New information should: (1)be
verifiable through external sources; (2) have arisen since the
Grants Working Group(grant review group) meeting at which the application
was considered; (3) respond directly to a specific criticism or
question identified in the Grants Working Group’s review; and (4)
be submitted as part of an extraordinary petition filed five business
days before the board meeting at which the application is
being considered."

Source:
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/uqpFc/~3/6sbxGqQJ77Y/researcher-alert-stem-cell-agency-to.html