bioethics.net News Update - Stem Cell Research

California awards $271 million for stem cell research

Thu, 08 May 2008 11:40:58 EDT

It's the biggest disbursement to date of money from the state's $3 billion stem cell research fund. The money will go toward building 12 research centers around the state.

iPS cells used to create heart cells in mice

Wed, 30 Apr 2008 11:25:51 EDT

Researchers from UCLA report in the journal Stem Cell Express that they got mouse iPS cells to differentiate into two types of heart cells as well as hematopoietic cells.

Menstrual blood might be capable of heart repairs

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 11:26:30 EDT

Researchers report in the journal Stem Cell that they were able to get stem cell-like cells from menstrual blood to differentiate into cells that resemble heart muscle. Tests in rats indicated the cells were capable of improving post-heart attack function.

Human ES cells used to create heart cells

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 12:42:19 EDT

Researchers report in Nature that they've turned human embryonic stem cells into three different types of heart cells. The first use for the cells may be in pharmaceutical testing.

Stem cells at the makeup counter

Mon, 21 Apr 2008 09:27:46 EDT

The latest skin creams are looking to ride the wave of stem cell hype. But do they actually do what they hint at? The answer appears to be no.

Regrowing lost limbs

Fri, 18 Apr 2008 12:15:35 EDT

The Pentagon is participating in a $250 million research institute focused on regenerating tissues and whole limbs. The Army's surgeon general says he can see a future in which stem cells taken from soldiers will be used to replace limbs lost during combat.

Toward embryonic stem cell therapy trials

Thu, 10 Apr 2008 10:59:47 EDT

The FDA is holding hearings this week about how the agency might go about regulating treatments that use embryonic stem cells.

Stem cell pioneer: research opponents' position "not acceptable"

Thu, 10 Apr 2008 12:39:32 EDT

The comments from Martin Evans, one of the scientists who first isolated embryonic stem cells, come as the UK debates legislation that would govern research on embryos. Evans said opposition to such research is a knee-jerk reaction motivated by the "yuck factor."

iPS cells reportedly used to treat Parkinson's-like condition in mice

Tue, 08 Apr 2008 12:24:57 EDT

Researchers report in PNAS that they used induced pluripotent stem cells to create dopamine-producing neurons which were then implanted in mice brains. They say the demonstration is proof-of-principle that the iPS cells can be used for such therapies.

Questions about fetal cell transplant therapy for Parkinson's

Sun, 06 Apr 2008 11:26:20 EDT

Letters in Nature Medicine report that the transplanted cells can survive in patients' brains for more than a decade. But the transplanted cells also seem to eventually take on the same damage as the already-present cells.

Team reports using ES cells to treat Parkinson's in mice

Sun, 23 Mar 2008 10:06:00 EDT

The researchers at Memorial Sloan Kettering report in Nature Medicine that they used cloned mouse embryonic stem cells to create dopamine-producing neurons. They say they have plans to attempt the same with iPS cells.

Two more of Wisconsin's stem cell patents upheld

Wed, 12 Mar 2008 12:08:27 EDT

The US Patent and Trademark Office has now upheld all three of WARF's key embryonic stem cell patents. The public interest groups that filed the appeals vowed to keep fighting.

Catholic high school pulls out of fundraiser to help JDRF

Sun, 09 Mar 2008 12:00:00 EST

A Chicago-area Catholic high school didn't participate in a charity parade because funds from the event were going to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, which in turn funds embryonic stem cell research. Other Catholic organizations did take part. And the JDRF says it would have been no problem to direct the funds raised toward non-ES cell research.

First of three Wisconsin stem cell patents upheld

Thu, 28 Feb 2008 10:50:38 EST

The trio of patents, held by the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation, cover human embryonic stem cells and the techniques used to isolate them. The patent office has yet to rule on challenges to the other two patents.

Support grows for public cord blood banks

Wed, 27 Feb 2008 11:16:26 EST

State legislatures are passing bills to fund new public banks and mandate cord blood donation education.