A member of the governing board of the
$3 billion California stem cell agency is weighing in on an item on
the California Stem Cell Report that called for public disclosure of the financial interests of the scientific reviewers, who make 98
percent of the decisions on awards by the agency.

“ It seems to me there's a bit
of 'damned if we do and damned if we don't' here. If the ICOC (the
agency governing board) decides to listen to some of the members of
the public who come to our meetings and overrule a recommendation of
the Grants Working Group(GWG), we're slammed for letting emotion trump
science, or bowing to special interests. If we just accept the
rankings of the GWG and approve all their recommendations, we're
criticized for not being truly independent.  I think we don't do
it often (for good reason) but should and do retain the right to look
at other factors besides those our scientific reviewers do, and make
our own decisions about funding. We are ultimately responsible, not
the scientific reviewers. 

“As for the issue of their
disclosure of personal conflicts of interest, from what I've read of
the NIH processes, ours are no less strict. The NIH requires that
reviewers disclose any conflicts to their institutions which I
believe must disclose them to the NIH, but I have not seen anything
requiring them to disclose all their personal financial & other
interests publicly, as we (ICOC members) have to.  When we were
assembling our group of reviewers initially, the fear was that many
of the best scientists would turn us down if we required them to make
the kind of personal disclosures we have to. I don't know how many we
might actually lose if that were the case, but as you know we do
require them to disclose to CIRM, and they have to leave the room
when any application for which they have a conflict is discussed.”

Source:
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/uqpFc/~3/OlA8vhJTIsA/cirm-director-prieto-on-disclosure-of.html

State Controller John Chiang has posted
a useful, side-by-side comparison of critiques of the $3 billion
California stem cell agency, including the Institute of Medicine(IOM)
study, along with the responses from the agency.

Source:
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/uqpFc/~3/Yb7Eb9xPMvo/california-stem-cell-agency-comparing.html

Early next month, the state of
California will sell $2.7 billion in bonds, a tiny fraction of which will go
towards the California stem cell agency.

“CIRM’s funding needs now are met
via the issuance of commercial paper (CP).  They’re authorized
a certain amount of CP periodically.  Then we work with them on
a regular basis to issue the commercial paper on an as-needed basis. 
Last fall, they were authorized $160 million of CP.  We will
issue the first $27 million under that authorization (this) week. 
This spring, CIRM is scheduled to receive another $100 million
authorization. The Department of Finance , consulting with CIRM
officials, determined the $100 million would be needed to meet CIRM’s
funding requirements through the end of 2013.

“Now, here’s where it gets a little
complicated.  The state pays down the CP with bond proceeds. 
The March ....bond sale includes $60 million of stem
cell bonds.  Those proceeds won’t provide new money for CIRM,
but will pay down the CP proceeds CIRM already has used.”

Source:
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/uqpFc/~3/GGDUJVY45VQ/california-stem-cell-agency-bonds-on.html

The Farrier #39;s Role with Stem Cell Therapy
At the 2013 International Hoof-Care Summit in Cincinnati, Ohio, Frank Reilly, DVM, talks about the farrier #39;s role in the use of stem cells.

By: AFJTV

Originally posted here:
The Farrier's Role with Stem Cell Therapy - Video

WASHINGTON, March 1, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ --Family Research Council (FRC) Senior Fellow Dr. David Prentice, a native Kansan, congratulated the Kansas state senate for passing S.B. 199, a bill that would establish the Midwest Stem Cell Therapy Center, a regional hub to advance and deliver adult and cord blood stem cell therapies to patients and serving as a resource for adult and cord blood stem cells for therapies. The Center would also inform professionals and the public about such therapies.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20080930/FRCLOGO)

Dr. Prentice, a cell biologist who was selected by George W. Bush's Council on Bioethics to write a comprehensive review of adult stem cell research in 2004, testified before the Kansas Senate Committee on Public Health and Welfare in support of S.B. 199 on Feb. 25. Dr. Prentice additionally serves as adjunct professor of molecular genetics at the John Paul II Institute at the Catholic University of America, and formerly served as professor of life sciences at Indiana State University and adjunct professor of medical and molecular genetic at Indiana University School of Medicine.

The bill will now go to the Kansas House of Representatives for consideration.

In his testimony Dr. Prentice said:

"There are significant opportunities right now for Kansas to benefit from the establishment of a center of excellence specializing in the application of adult stem cell therapies for certain diseases, as well as educating physicians as well as the public about the advantages and availability of stem cell treatments.

"Kansas is moving forward as a potential leader in the area of adult and cord blood stem cell therapies. Estimates are that KU Med has done over 1,000 adult stem cell transplants, from bone marrow as well as a growing number from umbilical cord blood. These include stem cell transplants for various cancers and leukemias, but also initiating clinical trials to treat heart damage. Much more is possible.

"Kansas is well-positioned to become a leader in this area, and a global resource. The potential benefits for patients are incalculable. I urge you to support S.B. 199."

To read Dr. Prentice's testimony, click here: http://www.frc.org/testimony/testimony-of-dr-david-prentice-before-the-committee-on-public-health-and-welfare-kansas-senate

SOURCE Family Research Council

Read more here:
FRC's Dr. David Prentice Congratulates Kansas Senate for Passing Ethical Stem Cell Therapy Bill

Public release date: 28-Feb-2013 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Karen Richardson krchrdsn@wakehealth.edu 336-716-4453 Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. Feb. 28, 2013 Researchers at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center and colleagues have identified a special population of adult stem cells in bone marrow that have the natural ability to migrate to the intestine and produce intestinal cells, suggesting their potential to restore healthy tissue in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

Up to 1 million Americans have IBD, which is characterized by frequent diarrhea and abdominal pain. IBD actually refers to two conditions ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease in which the intestines become red and swollen and develop ulcers, probably as the result of the body having an immune response to its own tissue.

While there is currently no cure for IBD, there are drug therapies aimed at reducing inflammation and preventing the immune response. Because these therapies aren't always effective, scientists hope to use stem cells to develop an injectable cell therapy to treat IBD.

The research findings are reported online in the FASEB Journal (the journal of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology) by senior researcher Graca Almeida-Porada, M.D., Ph.D., professor of regenerative medicine at Wake Forest Baptist's Institute for Regenerative Medicine, and colleagues.

The new research complements a 2012 report by Almeida-Porada's team that identified stem cells in cord blood that are involved in blood vessel formation and also have the ability to migrate to the intestine.

"We've identified two populations of human cells that migrate to the intestine one involved in blood vessel formation and the other that can replenish intestinal cells and modulates inflammation," said Almeida-Porada. "Our hope is that a mixture of these cells could be used as an injectable therapy to treat IBD."

The cells would theoretically induce tissue recovery by contributing to a pool of cells within the intestine. The lining of the intestine has one of the highest cellular turnover rates in the body, with all cell types being renewed weekly from this pool of cells, located in an area of the intestine known as the crypt.

In the current study, the team used cell markers to identify a population of stem cells in human bone marrow with the highest potential to migrate to the intestine and thrive. The cells express high levels of a receptor (ephrin type B) that is involved in tissue repair and wound closure.

See the article here:
Research supports promise of cell therapy for bowel disease

SALT LAKE CITY, Feb. 28, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --Discgenics announces the successful completion of an animal study demonstrating safety and efficacy of its novel therapy for reducing back pain caused by degenerative disc disease. This product, known as Injectable Discosphere Cell Therapy (IDCT), features Discgenics' patented, allogeneic, human disc-derived stem cell technology. The study showed that after one injection of IDCT in degenerated discs there was a restoration of disc height and tissue architecture, while noting no inflammatory response.

Discgenics CEO Flagg Flanagan said, " We are very encouraged by the results of the small animal pilot study as it shows the initial safety and efficacy of IDCT, which is produced from adult human disc-derived stem cells.We are optimistic that these early results will be indicative of our therapy's performance in further animal studies and will accelerate us toward human clinical studies and, ultimately, to an FDA cleared product.We believe this technology will revolutionize the way back pain is treated." Discgenics is currently conducting further studies of safety and efficacy in multiple animal species to support future scientific publications and for use in gaining regulatory clearance.

About Discgenics, Inc.

Discgenics is a privately funded spinal therapeutics company that is utilizing adult human disc stem cells within a tissue engineering approach to treat patients debilitated by degenerative disc disease. News and other information on the company are available at: http://www.discgenics.com.

Read more:
Discgenics Successfully Completes Pilot Efficacy Study of Injectable Discosphere™ Cell Therapy

Durham, N.C. People with heart disease have more treatment options than ever. However, sometimes nothing gets rid of continued chest pain known as angina. Researchers say they are looking at a special stem cell therapy to help those patients.

Danny Darden, 49, has heart disease and frequent chest pain despite two years worth of every treatment, surgery and medication available to stop it.

If I walk around the block, I give out and have chest pains, he said.

Duke cardiologist Dr. Tom Povsic included Darden in a phase 3 trial looking for benefits of a special stem cell therapy to stimulate the growth of new vessels feeding blood to the heart.

In certain patients, the arteries can no longer be fixed, or bypass surgery can't be used to fix the arteries. And in those patients, novel therapies are sorely needed, Povsic said. So, the stem cells in this particular case are obtained from the patient themselves.

The cells, originating in the bone marrow, are stimulated and released into the blood stream, extracted and then administered directly into the heart through a special catheter.

Last week, I was injected with the stem cells, Darden said. I'm excited to be in it, because I feel it's going to work, and even if it (doesnt) work for me, it's going to work for other people.

The study is blind, meaning Darden may have received a fake infusion. Participants are followed for two years. A smaller previous study showed promising results.

The benefit that was seen in the early study far exceeds what was seen with many medicines that are approved for angina relief, Povsic said.

Researchers say if the stem cell therapy benefits are confirmed in patients with angina, it could also be studied in patients dealing with stroke, heart attack or heart failure.

Here is the original post:
Duke doctor: Stem cell therapy might help heart disease patients

Stem Cell Therapy Boston - New England Center for Hair Restoration
At New England Center for Hair Restoration, our Boston area specialists are working with stem cell therapy in a research environment to discover the many ways it can assist in treating hair loss. We expect to see phenomenal results, as we have already discovered many reasons as to why stem cells can be effective as a hair loss solution. If you are interested in learning more about stem cell therapy, or any other hair loss treatments available at our Boston hair restoration center, please visit http://www.nehair.com. You may contact our hair loss center at 465 S. Washington Street North Attleborough, MA 02760 (855) 563-4247, (855) 5 NE HAIR http://www.nehair.com

By: Ryan Welter

See the rest here:
Stem Cell Therapy Boston - New England Center for Hair Restoration - Video

Stem Cell Therapy Bio1103 Group 29 AM
Peyton Manning and Stem Cell Research

By: megmitchell93

See original here:
Stem Cell Therapy Bio1103 Group 29 AM - Video

Group 52AM- Stem Cell Therapy
Group 52 (BIOL1103/11:00AM) clearly illustrates the topic of Stem Cell Therapy through a class project based on a member of their own group who is considering Stem Cell Therapy.

By: Savannah Kelley

Follow this link:
Group 52AM- Stem Cell Therapy - Video

Age-Related Macular Degeneration and Retinal Stem Cell Therapy
The problems of AMD and its potential treatment with Retinal Stem Cell Therapy BIO 1103 at UGA

By: grayson3447

Continue reading here:
Age-Related Macular Degeneration and Retinal Stem Cell Therapy - Video

Manila: A Philippine-based group has aired concern over the dangers of stem cell treatment as it warned of the possibility that materials being used for such procedures could have been extracted from hapless donors, particularly human foetuses.

Dr Leo Olarte, spokesman of the Philippine Society for Stem Cell Medicine, said they were alarmed over reports coming locally and from abroad that some stem cell materials were being taken from the unborn.

At the same time he called on the Department of Health to carefully watch stem cell treatment practitioners. The Catholic Church, he said, should unite with health practitioners and put an end to such practices.

Olarte was quoted as saying in reports that allogenic stem cells from aborted foetuses of humans were being exported to the Philippines.

Article continues below

We cannot stand by and merely watch how they exploit people in poverty just to profit while allowing others who are economically well off to benefit from this, he said.

He said there were reports that human stem cells from foetuses and female egg cells were being used in anti-ageing procedures and other medical treatments.

Olarte is also concerned over the sale of supposedly stem cell products that come in the form of injectibles and even soaps.

Dont patronise those products. An example is the stem cell soap. It is unfair that stem cell therapy becomes a quackery, he said.

Earlier, Department of Health Secretary Enrique Ona led a national convention participated in by doctors to discuss the truth behind stem cell therapy.

Originally posted here:
Philippine-based group warns on stem cell medicine

Group 62AM Alzheimer #39;s Stem Cell Therapy
Group 62AM #39;s video for Biology 1103 at UGA

By: Brooke Dillard

View original post here:
Group 62AM Alzheimer's Stem Cell Therapy - Video

USDA announces movement of biotechnology approvals Agri-Pulse 22, 2013— U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) today announced several biotechnology regulatory actions sent to the Federal Register for publication. According to APHIS, the agency is making the ... USDA ANNOUNCES AVAILABILITY OF BIOTECHNOLOGY REGULATORY ...PoliticalNews.me (press release) all 2 news articles »

Source:
http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNGItb8CPDo8aln_ETSidmR43EaxTA&url=http://www.agri-pulse.com/USDA-announces-movement-of-biotechnology-approvals-02222013.asp

Crop biotechnology: A 'continuing success' globally Business Mirror CROP biotechnology has been achieving “continuing success” globally as the number of farmers who use it and the farms planted to biotech crops are increasing, recording 17.3 million farmers who planted the crops in 170.3 hectares in 28 countries in ...

Source:
http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNH5c-bz4XoUn1VtX2iS5PX9czgpPg&url=http://businessmirror.com.ph/index.php/features/science/9670-crop-biotechnology-a-continuing-success-globally

HispanicBusiness.com

Biotechnology Competition: Winners HispanicBusiness.com Business, law, science and medical students from top universities around the nation converged at the Wake Forest University Schools of Business on February 8-9 for the 4th Annual Biotechnology Conference and Case Competition. The eight student teams ...

Source:
http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNEGGYZHrXDIpqD7AK1HCgMkw_Ikng&url=http://www.hispanicbusiness.com/2013/2/21/biotechnology_competition_winners.htm

Irish Times

Never a better time to eat a burger Irish Times There has never been a better time to dust down your CV if you have experience in animal or molecular genetics. DNA testing laboratories, such as Identigen in Dublin, cannot keep up with the demand for testing from the industry and regulators. DNA ... and more »

Source:
http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNHSHrKdwI1V_nmTokhXM-KRQ6pIZw&url=http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/weekend/2013/0223/1224330397694.html

W.Va. fisheries biologists using new methods San Francisco Chronicle "With the techniques developed in the field of molecular genetics, we are able to tell why some strains of fish do better than others. It started in the early 1980s when people started studying Florida-strain largemouth bass, and it just exploded from ... and more »

Source:
http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNG3qhVsBhJ19qrl1mFUvzL_YQlUiA&url=http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/W-Va-fisheries-biologists-using-new-methods-4300492.php

Horsetalk

Concerns over spread of antibiotic resistant genes Horsetalk ... known as ARGs, some at levels 192 to 28,000 times higher than the control samples, said study co-author James Tiedje, Michigan State University Distinguished Professor of microbiology and molecular genetics and of plant, soil and microbial sciences.

Source:
http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNGNDK3Tfd1-6kcMbxngayIUibNTFQ&url=http://horsetalk.co.nz/2013/02/23/concerns-spread-antibiotic-resistant-genes/