May 12, 2017 by Grant Hill Credit: NIH

University of Dundee scientists have solved a mystery concerning one of the most fundamental processes in cell biology, in a new discovery that they hope may help to tackle cancer one day.

The process by which cells copy their own chromosomes and then make new cells is vital to all of life. Chromosomes contain the genetic blueprint that makes us what we are and this information must be copied perfectly for new cells to survive and carry out their function. When the copying process goes wrong, it can lead to cancer as abnormal cells are created.

Proteins in the cell combine to build a molecular 'machine' called the replisome, which plays a vital role in copying the double helix of DNA that is at the heart of each chromosome. The replisome is only built once during the life of each cell, and is then disassembled to ensure that cells just make one single copy of each chromosome.

Professor Karim Labib and colleagues in the School of Life Sciences at Dundee had previously studied this process in yeast, which is just one cell and is much easier to work with than human cells. They have now found that things are more complicated in animals, which have at least two different disassembly mechanisms. Importantly, the gene needed for one of these processes is lost in a number of human cancers, suggesting a new approach by which these particular tumours could be treated.

"Ever since Watson and Crick first described the structure of DNA we have known that cells copy chromosomes, but we are still learning how it works," said Professor Labib.

"By looking at yeast, which is very similar genetically to humans, we discovered that one of the many components of the replisome undergoes a change called 'ubiquitylation', after the chromosomes have been copied, which marks the replisome for disassembly by the cell's recycling machinery. This is a good thing, as genetic studies show that if the replisome is not taken apart but instead remains glued to the chromosomes, then this can lead to major problems.

"What we have now discovered is that the machinery that marks the yeast replisome for destruction doesn't exist in animals, so there had to be something else driving this process. By studying a small worm called Caenorhabditis elegans we found that animals actually have two different mechanisms for replisome dissassembly. If one pathway fails to do its job then the second kicks in as a back-up.

"What makes this particularly interesting is that a gene required for the second mechanism is known to be mutated in a variety of human cancers, including some lymphomas, glioblastomas and myelomas. Our work with this gene in worms suggests a new way to treat the corresponding cancers in humans.

"If we partially inactivate the genes involved in either the first or the second pathway for replisome disassembly then worms are fine, but inhibiting both at the same time is lethal. Translating this idea to humans, a drug that inhibits the first pathway should specifically kill tumour cells that lack the second pathway, without hurting the rest of the body."

The work is another significant step towards understanding the processes at the heart of human cells, which is vital for developing new treatments to tackle diseases. In almost all instances of cancer development, errors in the chromosome copying machinery can be seen in the early stages.

"One of the goals in cancer research is to understand the normal biology that goes wrong in cancer cells, because only then can we look for better ways to kill cancer cells without hurting the rest of our body," continued Professor Labib. "This area of chromosome replication has been of major interest for the last couple of decades, as we uncover more and more about how it works.

"Copying chromosome badly leads to mutations and mutations lead to cancer. Cells divide when shouldn't and lose identity, leading to them breaking off and floating round our bodies in blood and the lymphatic system metastasis occurs.

"The challenge in treating cancer is to find a way to kill part of you without killing all of you. The goal is to find cleverer forms of chemotherapy that kills cancer cells but not healthy ones. The problem is that have the same DNA, as you so what we need to do is find out what makes them different and target any Achilles heel we think we can find."

The paper is published in the latest edition of the journal Nature Cell Biology.

Explore further: Scientists have discovered a code of signals that regulates genome duplication

More information: Remi Sonneville et al. CUL-2LRR-1 and UBXN-3 drive replisome disassembly during DNA replication termination and mitosis, Nature Cell Biology (2017). DOI: 10.1038/ncb3500

Three years ago, the research team directed by scar Fernndez-Capetillo, head of the Genomic Instability Group at the Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO), obtained, for the first time, a panoramic view of the ...

Aneuploidy is a condition in which cells contain an abnormal number of chromosomes, and is known to be the cause of many types of cancer and genetic disorders, including Down Syndrome. The condition is also the leading cause ...

Scientists have uncovered how tumours are able to grow despite significant damage to the structure and number of their chromosomes - the storage units of DNA - according to two new studies published in Cancer Cell and Cancer ...

Scientists at the University of Dundee have discovered that "molecular scissors" that repair damaged and abnormal DNA are critical for keeping cancers at bay.

A recent research study at The Hormel Institute, University of Minnesota is providing insight into the regulation of chromosome segregation and the mechanisms used by cells to prevent them from forming tumors.

Bowel cancer cells missing one of three genes can rapidly reshuffle their genetic 'pack of cards' the chromosomes that hold the cell's genetic information. This reshuffling has been previously shown to render tumours ...

University of Dundee scientists have solved a mystery concerning one of the most fundamental processes in cell biology, in a new discovery that they hope may help to tackle cancer one day.

Leading hospital "superbugs," known as the enterococci, arose from an ancestor that dates back 450 million yearsabout the time when animals were first crawling onto land (and well before the age of dinosaurs), according ...

A recent research paper in the Journal of Heredity reveals that there are three sub-species of snow leopard. Until now, researchers had assumed this species, Panthera uncia, was monotypic.

Adult stem cells have the ability to transform into many types of cells, but tracing the path individual stem cells follow as they mature and identifying the molecules that trigger these fateful decisions are difficult in ...

In their quest to replicate themselves, viruses have gotten awfully good at tricking human cells into pumping out viral proteins. That's why scientists have been working to use viruses as forces for good: to deliver useful ...

A UCLA study has found that a common strain of Caenorhabditis elegansa type of roundworm frequently used in laboratory research on neural developmenthas a pair of genes that encode both a poison and its antidote. The ...

Please sign in to add a comment. Registration is free, and takes less than a minute. Read more

Continue reading here:
Scientists unlock secret of chromosome copier - Phys.Org

The global cell culture protein surface coating market to grow at a CAGR of 13.20% during the period 2017-2021.

The report, Global Cell Culture Protein Surface Coating Market 2017-2021, has been prepared based on an in-depth market analysis with inputs from industry experts. The report covers the market landscape and its growth prospects over the coming years. The report also includes a discussion of the key vendors operating in this market.

One trend in market is increasing preference for 3D cell culture over 2D cell cultures. The improvement in different cell culture techniques has created a great opportunity for drug discovery and life sciences. 3D cell cultures are increasingly adopted as they have the potential to overcome the challenges of 2D cell culture. Biological cells in a 3D cell culture are grown under controlled conditions, where cells can interact with their surroundings in all three dimensions. This type of culture is widely used in tissue engineering, drug development, regenerative medicine, and clinical trials.

Many vendors are intensively focusing on research to introduce innovative 3D cell culture systems and related products. Here, 3D cell culture protein surface coatings play a vital role in the R&D of drugs as they provide a natural environment for culturing cells. Also, these are extensively used for cell biology studies, molecular biology research, and genetic engineering applications as they provide better adhesion for cells and facilitate precise analysis. For instance, 3D cell culture is widely used in determining drug testing results before human or animal clinical trials, when compounds that are most likely used to work or fail early in the drug testing process. These better results will help save millions of dollars in the drug development process, which will reduce the number of animals utilized in drug testing process.

Key Market Trends:

Key vendors

Other prominent vendors

Key Topics Covered:

PART 01: Executive summary

PART 02: Scope of the report

PART 03: Research Methodology

PART 04: Introduction

PART 05: An overview: Cell culture surfaces

PART 06: Market landscape

PART 07: Market segmentation by product type

PART 08: Geographical segmentation

PART 09: Decision framework

PART 10: Drivers and challenges

PART 11: Market trends

PART 12: Vendor landscape

PART 13: Key vendor analysis

For more information about this report visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/5677c6/global_cell

Media Contact:

Laura Wood, Senior Manager press@researchandmarkets.com

For E.S.T Office Hours Call 1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call 1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900

U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716

To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/global-cell-culture-protein-surface-coating-market---analysis-technologies--forecasts-to-2021---increasing-preference-for-3d-cell-culture-over-2d-cell-cultures---research-and-markets-300455839.html

SOURCE Research and Markets

http://www.researchandmarkets.com

See the original post here:
Global Cell Culture Protein Surface Coating Market - Analysis, Technologies & Forecasts to 2021 - Increasing ... - PR Newswire (press release)

Stem cells are recognized for their therapeutic promise in regenerative medicine. A contributor looks at how they are also used to save endangered species.

Four hours north of Nairobi, closely safeguarded by armed security, the last remaining northern white rhinoceros are waiting for extinction. Only three animals are left, all three of them living in a 700-acre enclosure within the Ol Pejeta Conservancy Park: there is Sadu, a 43 year-old male, the 27-year-old female Najin and her 16-year-old daughter Fatu. Once roaming great parts of Eastern and Central Africa, heavy poaching diminished their number to just a handful of individuals.

The last successful birth of a northern white rhinoceros was in 2000, with all following reproduction efforts in captivity staying unsuccessful. Natural reproduction is sadly out of reach for the last three individuals, with Sadu having a low sperm count, a difficult leg injury of Najin and a uterine disorder in Fatu that prevents her from becoming pregnant.

The sad truth is that many more species will share this dark prospect with the three rhinos. With largely human-made threats ranging from excessive poaching, loss of habitat, climate change and disease, many species are simply not capable of adapting fast enough to endure the ever increasing environmental pressure they are facing. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species is providing detailed information on the conservation status of endangered species for the past 50 years (video).

White rhinos

Currently it is listing 11,316 vulnerable, 7781 endangered and 5210 critically endangered species, with prominent examples such as the Eastern Gorilla, the cheetah and as one of the latest additions, the giraffe. Similar to the northern white rhinos situation, even the most ambitious conservation efforts will come too late for many of them. Conventional conservation strategies, including breeding programs in the wild or in captivity often remain ineffective (especially in captivity) and facilitated methods such as In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) have not been achieved or even tried in most species.

An additional lack ofknowledge about the reproductive cycle of most animals makes any breeding efforts a difficult undertaking. And even if breeding efforts were successful, the low diversity in gene pools of bred populations, together with the shrinkage of natural habitats would make the successful establishment of a self-sustaining population extremely difficult.

Amidst this dark prospect, recent milestones in stem cell and reproductive technologies spark new hope among scientists. In November last year, a group of scientists underKatsuhiko Hayashi at Kyushu University in Japan has achieved one of the holy grails in reproductive biology: engineering artificial egg cells from reprogrammed mouse skin cells, entirely in a dis.

Eastern Gorilla

The foundation for this success originates in earlier work that Hayashi did as student, where he succeeded in converting reprogrammed stem cells into primordial germ cells (PGCs), the precursor cells for both sperm and egg cells. When injected into ovaries or testis of living mice these artificially derived cells gave rise to fertile sperm and egg cells.

Now leading his own lab, Hayashi proved that the last maturation step in a living mammal is in fact not necessary but can be completely achieved in vitro. The derived egg cells were successfully used to give birth to pups which themselves were healthy and fertile. With a similar strategy Chinese researchers recently announced the generation of rudimentary sperm cells in a dish.

With the prospect of reconstituting the entire male and female germ line cycle in a dish, scientists hope to translate this success story to other fields of public interest. While some dream of the eradication of human infertility and the possibility of offspring for same sex couples, it also offers a completely new avenue for species conservation and with that the rescue of the northern white rhino.

In case you were wondering, this is how a giraffe eats.

Zoo Dvr Krlov in the Czech Republic the official owner of the last three northern white rhinoceroses has now assembled a consortium of mostly European research institutions to make the impossible possible. Members include wildlife and reproduction biology experts from the Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research in Berlin (IZW), stem cell experts from the Max Delbrck Center for Molecular Medicine in Berlin (MDC), the Helmholtz Institute of Stem Cell Research in Munich (ISF), Dr. Hayashis lab in Japan, as well as Avantea, an Italian biotech company specialized in Assisted Reproduction services.

Under the title, Conservation by Cellular Technologies, the consortium members released an ambitious road map plan early last year, where they sketched out a dual strategy, involving both the collection of natural gametes and inspired by Hayashis success in mice the generation of artificial ones.

For the collection of natural gametes first trials have been pursued in the closest relative of the northern white rhino, the southern white rhino. By now, oocytes from several females have been successfully retrieved by Dr. Thomas Hildebrandt, head of the Department of Reproduction Management at the IZW. The collected eggs were then shipped to Avantea, an Italian company with renowned expertise in cloning and assisted reproduction of large animals such as horses, cattle and pigs.

Cheetah cub

Here the collected eggs were fertilized and successfully developed into early embryos ready for transfer into potential surrogate animals. First results were presented early this March at a two-day meeting of the European Northern White Rhino Working Group at Zoo Dvr Krlov. Encouraged by the first results, members aim to harvest gametes from the two remaining female northern white rhinos as early as this year.

To complement this first strategy, stem cell experts from the MDC Berlin and the Helmholtz Institute in Munich are working closely together with Dr. Hayashi to attempt the production of artificial gametes. For this the scientists rely on frozen tissue material which has formerly been collected from eleven deceased northern white rhinos and is now stored at zoological biobanks, primarily at the San Diego Zoo and the IZW.

Similar to in mice and humans, it was shown that these adult tissue cells can be converted into induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), thereby providing a potentially indefinite sourceof artificial rhinoceros gametes. Currently, the scientists work on a protocol to differentiate the iPSC lines into primordial germ cells, which may then be matured into egg and sperm cells.

With the consortium road map underway, how realistic is the rescue of the northern white rhino? According to Dr. Hildebrand from the IZW, the first delivery of a northern white rhino may be possible within the next decade, assuming the outlined approach proves fruitful.This groundbreaking work would not only be the last chance to save the (sub)species of northern white rhinos but would also shift paradigms as to what is currently considered possible in todays species conservation.

Christina studied Cell Biology and Molecular Medicine with special focus on Stem Cell Research and (Epi)genomics. During her PhD she worked at the Harvard Stem Cell Institute und Broad Institute in Cambridge, USA. Currently she is working as Post Doc at the Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics in Berlin.

Read the original here:
Stem Cells for Zoos: Conservation with Cellular Technologies - Labiotech.eu (blog)

May 10, 2017 Eye stem cells. Credit: University of Southampton

Reported in Nature today, one of the largest sets of high quality human induced pluripotent stem cell lines from healthy individuals has been produced by a consortium involving the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute. Comprehensively annotated and available for independent research, the hundreds of stem cell lines are a powerful resource for scientists studying human development and disease.

With collaborative partners from King's College London, the European Bioinformatics Institute, the University of Dundee and the University of Cambridge, the study also investigates in unprecedented detail the extensive variation between stem cells from different healthy people.

Technological advancements have made it possible to take an adult cell and use specific growth conditions to turn back the clock - returning it to an early embryonic state. This results in an induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC), which can develop into any type of cell in the body. These iPSCs have huge scientific potential for studying the development and the impact of diseases including cancer, Alzheimer's, and heart disease.

However, the process of creating an iPSC is long and complicated and few laboratories have the facilities to characterise their cells in a way that makes them useful for other scientists to use.

The Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Initiative (HipSci) project used standardised methods to generate iPSCs on a large scale to study the differences between healthy people. Reference sets of stem cells were generated from skin biopsies donated by 301 healthy volunteers, creating multiple stem cell lines from each person.

The researchers created 711 cell lines and generated detailed information about their genome, the proteins expressed in them, and the cell biology of each cell line. Lines and data generated by this initiative are available to academic researchers and industry.

Dr Daniel Gaffney, a lead author on the paper, from the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, said: "We have created a comprehensive, high quality reference set of human induced pluripotent stem cell lines from healthy volunteers. Each of these stem cell lines has been extensively characterised and made available to the wider research community along with the annotation data. This resource is a stepping stone for researchers to make better cell models of many diseases, because they can study disease risk in many cell types, including those that are normally inaccessible."

By creating more than one stem cell line from each healthy individual, the researchers were able to determine the similarity of stem cell lines from the same person.

Prof Fiona Watt, a lead author on the paper and co-principal investigator of HipSci, from King's College London, said: "Many other efforts to create stem cells focus on rare diseases. In our study, stem cells have been produced from hundreds of healthy volunteers to study common genetic variation. We were able to show similar characteristics of iPS cells from the same person, and revealed that up to 46 per cent of the differences we saw in iPS cells were due to differences between individuals. These data will allow researchers to put disease variations in context with healthy people."

The project, which has taken 4 years to complete, required a multidisciplinary approach with many different collaborators, who specialised in different aspects of creating the cell lines and characterising the data.

Dr Oliver Stegle, a lead author on the paper, from the European Bioinformatics Institute, said: "This study was only possible due to the large scale, systematic production and characterisation of the stem cell lines. To help us to understand the different properties of the cells, we collected extensive data on multiple molecular layers, from the genome of the lines to their cell biology. This type of phenotyping required a whole facility rather than just a single lab, and will provide a huge resource to other scientists. Already, the data being generated have helped to gain a clearer picture of what a typical human iPSC cell looks like."

Dr Michael Dunn, Head of Genetics and Molecular Sciences at Wellcome, said: "This is the fantastic result of many years of work to create a national resource of high quality, well-characterised human induced pluripotent stem cells. This has been a significant achievement made possible by the collaboration of researchers across the country with joint funding provided by Wellcome and the MRC. It will help to provide the knowledge base to underpin a huge amount of future research into the effects of our genes on health and disease. By ensuring this resource is openly available to all, we hope that it will pave the way for many more fascinating discoveries."

Explore further: Stem cell consortium tackles complex genetic diseases

More information: Helena Kilpinen et al, Common genetic variation drives molecular heterogeneity in human iPSCs, Nature (2017). DOI: 10.1038/nature22403

http://www.yourgenome.org/facts/what-is-a-stem-cell

Reported in Nature today, one of the largest sets of high quality human induced pluripotent stem cell lines from healthy individuals has been produced by a consortium involving the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute. Comprehensively ...

Over the last decade, it has made good sense to study the genetic drivers of cancer by sequencing a tiny portion of the human genome called the exome - the 2% of our three billion base pairs that "spell out" the 21,000 genes ...

Scientists have discovered the genetic mutation that causes the rare skin disease, keratolytic winter erythema (KWE), or 'Oudtshoorn skin', in Afrikaners.

Men and women differ in obvious and less obvious waysfor example, in the prevalence of certain diseases or reactions to drugs. How are these connected to one's sex? Weizmann Institute of Science researchers recently uncovered ...

Salk Institute scientists have developed a novel technology to correct disease-causing aberrations in the chemical tags on DNA that affect how genes are expressed. These types of chemical modifications, collectively referred ...

Scientists are closer to understanding the genetic causes of type 2 diabetes by identifying 111 new chromosome locations ('loci') on the human genome that indicate susceptibility to the disease, according to a UCL-led study ...

Please sign in to add a comment. Registration is free, and takes less than a minute. Read more

See original here:
Scientists unveil the UK's largest resource of human stem cells from healthy donors - Medical Xpress

Virginia Western Community College is one of 15 institutions in the United States to become part of the 10th cohort to participate in the Howard Hughes Medical Institutes (HHMI) Science Education Alliance Phage Hunters Advancing Genomics and Evolutionary Science project (SEA-PHAGES). The project is intended to spark an interest in science among students by teaching them to creatively and critically use the scientific method to address real-world issues.

Thus far, 142 colleges and universities, including Carnegie Mellon, James Madison University, Virginia Tech and Johns Hopkins University, have participated in SEA-PHAGES. Virginia Western is the only community college in Virginia that has been selected to participate. Training for Virginia Western faculty begins this summer and the project will be available to students as part of a two-semester course of study starting Fall Semester 2017.

This is an exciting opportunity for students at Virginia Western to be introduced to the scientific method while significantly contributing and connecting to the larger scientific community, says Amy White, Dean of STEM. Our aim, along with HHMIs mission, is to contribute to the scientific body of knowledge and inspire future scientists.

Open enrollment for Virginia Westerns Fall Semester will begin on June 21; returning students may enroll now. To learn more about course offerings and enroll, visit http://www.virginiawestern.edu or call 1-855-874-6690.

The SEA-PHAGES program at Virginia Western will be incorporated into an Introductory Biology (BIO-101) course in Fall Semester 2017 and continues into Spring Semester 2018 in Cell Biology. Students will begin by isolating novel bacteriophage viruses from local soil. They will then use various microbiological technologies to characterize the bacteriophage as well as isolate and sequence the viral DNA. The continuation of the program into Cell Biology shows students how to annotate the vial genome and learn about bioinformatics. After Spring Semester, a faculty member and student representatives will present their findings at the SEA Symposium, a scientific conference hosted by HHMI. Last year the symposium had more than 3,400 students from 84 different colleges and universities participate.

Students who complete the SEA-PHAGES program acquire many skills currently utilized in the scientific community. Students learn to maintain proper laboratory notebooks, perform many standard laboratory techniques such as polymerase chain reaction and gel electrophoresis, and employ software used for genome annotation and bioinformatics analysis. Additionally, students gain meaningful research experience early in their academic career, which connects them to the larger scientific community and instills a true sense of discovery.

Research has shown that students introduced early to meaningful research work are inspired to continue their education and scientific careers. Whereas, students introduced to meaningful research later in their careers see the work as validating to their choice and look to their peers ahead of them for inspiration. Early-exposure to active participation in authentic research is contributing significantly to science and shaping career choices.

For more information about the HHMI and SEA-PHAGES, visit: https://www.hhmi.org/news/science-education-alliance-begins-its-tenth-year.

Submitted by Josh Meyer

See more here:
Virginia Western joins international project to provide biology students with hands-on research - Roanoke Times

Iran is expanding investment in stem cell research and its application in various therapies, particularly for hard-to-treat diseases, through the Office of the Vice- Presidency for Science and Technology. As a result of the increase in the number of companies active in the domain of stem cells in the past three years, more than 400 products are processed in the country, indicating a multifold growth compared with the eight-year tenure of previous administration when there were fewer than 50 knowledge-based firms in total.

There are over 40 knowledgebased firms in the field of stem cell and regenerative medicine alone in Iran today, said Amir Ali Hamidiyeh, secretary of the Headquarters for Development of Stem Cell Science and Technology (HDSCST). He made the statement at a press briefing for the second National Festival and International Congress on Stem Cell Sciences and Technologies and Regenerative Medicine to be held July 13- 15 in Tehran, Mehr News Agency reports. According to the conference secretariat, 1,444 people have signed up to attend the event from across the world, including from Iraq, India, Pakistan, Jordan, Russia, Australia, Germany, China, Britain and South Korea. They all are among their countrys respected figures in centers with high academic standing.

The congress is co-sponsored by the Vice-Presidency for Science and Technology and Council on Development of Stem Cell Sciences and Technology. So far, eight stem-cell therapy products for use in hospitals have been produced at the HDSCST laboratories. Manufacturinglicenses have been granted for anadditional number, while others are on thewait list.

Prior to 2014, only 25 knowledgebased companies had applied to operate in this field, of which only one was actively producing quality stem cell products, Hamidiyeh pointed out.

But since then, over 25 workgroups have been formed in cooperation with experts in the specific sciences. Stem cells are cells that have the ability to divide and develop into many different cell types in the body during early life and growth. Stem-cell therapy is the use of stem cells to treat or prevent a disease or condition. Bone marrow transplant is the most widely used stem-cell therapy, but some therapies derived from umbilical cord blood are also in use.

Future of Medicine in Stem

Cells The future of medicine is interrelated with stem cell therapy and the treatment ofrefractory and incurable diseases is in this field of medicine, according to Dr. Ahmad Vosouq Dizaj, the clinical deputy of Royan Institute. Having access to engineering sciences as well as the combination of biology and medicine can play a crucial role in redressing health problems, he said. Stem cells have the ability to replace damaged cells and treat disease. They can also be used to study diseases and provide a resource for testing new medical treatments. The use of stem cells reduces the risk of viral diseases transmission and incidence of Graft Versus Host Disease (GVHD). The ability to perform organ transplants is among the benefits ofumbilical cord blood transfusion.Using stems cells is also one of thebest ways to treat blood diseases sincethe method has a success rate of 70%worldwide.

Storage of stem cells is a valuable investment. So far, 27 cord blood banks have been launched across the country. There are two types: public and private banks for stem cell storage. The former does not charge a fee for storage. But in the latter, the cost of collection and genetictesting is about $645 and the annualcharge for storage is $33, according toISNA.Iran is a leading country in biomedicalresearch. Researchers and physicians have been successfully performing bone marrow transplants during the past fewyears.Irans stem cell research is centeredat the Royan Institute for ReproductiveBiomedicine, Stem Cell Biology andTechnology, located in northern Tehran.

Original post:
Growth in Stem Cell Research - Financial Tribune

David Piper, PhD Director of Research and Development, Cellular Biology, Thermo Fisher Scientific and Mark Kennedy, Ph.D. R&D Scientist at Thermo Fisher Scientific, Cell Biology ADME/Tox group

Yorba Linda, Ca (PRWEB) May 10, 2017

As part of the SyncD3 webinar series and virtual event, Thermo Fisher Scientific will discuss cutting-edge tools and topics in the fields of drug discovery & development. These tolls and topics include HCS/phenotypic assays, functional genomics & drug metabolism, 3D models/organoids, diseased models, CRISPR and stem cells.

In this webinar, attendees will gain a better understanding of where these areas intersect, the impact on drug discovery and development, as well as the future of the industry during a live panel discussion. They will learn from real field scientists and researchers who are working in the ADME/Tox and Drug Discovery fields.

The speakers for this event will be Dr. David Piper, director of research and development of Cellular Biology at Thermo Fisher Scientific, and Dr. Mark Kennedy, Scientist at Thermo Fisher Scientific, serving in the Cell Biology ADME/Tox group.

Dr. Piper earned a doctorate in neuroscience from the University of Utah. He has led teams at Thermo Fisher Scientific for more than 10 years in the development of products and services, and now as an R&D Director for the Cell Biology and Synthetic Biology businesses, he leads teams that provide molecular biology and cellular biology services.

Dr. Kennedy received his Ph.D. from Memorial University. Now in his current role at Thermo Fisher Scientific, Kennedy is part of a team that focuses on the development of new in vitro 3D cell culture models. His ongoing work focusses on the utilization of human embryonic stem cells, iPSCs and primary cells, and their application in spheroids, organoids and co-culture systems.

LabRoots will host the event May 16, 2017, beginning at 9:00 a.m. PDT, 12:00 p.m. EDT. To learn more about this event or to register for free, click here.

ABOUT THERMO FISHER SCIENTIFIC Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. is the world leader in serving science, with revenues of $17 billion and more than 50,000 employees in 50 countries. Our mission is to enable our customers to make the world healthier, cleaner and safer. We help our customers accelerate life sciences research, solve complex analytical challenges, improve patient diagnostics and increase laboratory productivity. Through our premier brands Thermo Scientific, Applied Biosystems, Invitrogen, Fisher Scientific and Unity Lab Services we offer an unmatched combination of innovative technologies, purchasing convenience and comprehensive support. For more information, please visit http://www.thermofisher.com

ABOUT LABROOTS LabRoots is the leading scientific social networking website, which provides daily scientific trending news, as well as produces educational virtual events and webinars, on the latest discoveries and advancements in science. Contributing to the advancement of science through content sharing capabilities, LabRoots is a powerful advocate in amplifying global networks and communities. Founded in 2008, LabRoots emphasizes digital innovation in scientific collaboration and learning, and is a primary source for current scientific news, webinars, virtual conferences, and more. LabRoots has grown into the worlds largest series of virtual events within the Life Sciences and Clinical Diagnostics community.

Share article on social media or email:

See the rest here:
Thermo Fisher Scientific Furthers the Discussion on Disease Models in New Webinar - PR Web (press release)

A drug used to treat bipolar disorder and other forms of depression may help preserve brain function and prevent nerve cells from dying in people with a traumatic brain injury.

Scientists discovered that lithium and rapamycin, a treatment for some forms of cancer, protect nerve cells in the brain and stop the chemical glutamate from sending signals to other cells and creating further brain cell damage.

Many medications now used for those suffering with traumatic brain injury focus on treating the symptoms and stopping the pain instead of protecting any further damage from occurring, says lead author Bonnie Firestein, professor of cell biology and neuroscience at Rutgers University-New Brunswick. We wanted to find a drug that could protect the cells and keep them from dying.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major cause of death and disability in the United States with an estimated 1.7 million people sustaining an injury every year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About 30 percent of all deaths due to injury are due, in part, to a TBI.

TBI symptoms can include impaired thinking or memory, personality changes, and depression, as well as vision and hearing problems. The CDC reports that every day 153 people in the US die from injuries that include a TBI, with children and older adults at the highest risk.

When a TBI occurs, a violent blow to the head can result in the release of abnormally high concentrations of glutamate, which under normal circumstances is an important chemical for learning and memory. But an overproduction of glutamate, Firestein says, causes toxicity which leads to cell damage and death.

The research, reported in Scientific Reports, shows that when these two FDA-approved medications were added to damaged cell cultures in the laboratory, the glutamate was not able to send messages between nerve cellswhich stopped cell damage and death.

Further research needs to be done, in animals and humans, to determine if these drugs could help prevent brain damage and nerve cell death in humans after a traumatic brain injury.

The most common traumatic brain injury that people deal with every day is concussion which affects thousands of children each year, Firestein says. Concussions are often hard to diagnose in children because they are not as vocal, which is why it is critical to find drugs that work to prevent long-term damage.

The New Jersey Commission on Brain Injury Research funded the work. The commission is funded, in part, by traffic tickets for moving violations like speeding, using a cell phone, or driving without a license, and provides $1 to the fund from every ticket issued.

Source: Rutgers University

More:
Lithium may save nerve cells after brain injury - Futurity - Futurity: Research News

Cara Pekarcik, 2018 Massachusetts Teacher of the Year, stood amid her grateful and applauding students on Tuesday.

QUINCY As students took their seats in the bleachers and the pep band played, it felt like a homecoming rally.

But instead of cheering on the Red Raiders of North Quincy High School, students had gathered to thank their teachers for their hard work and dedication.

Advertisement

In honor of National Teacher Appreciation Day, the 2018 Massachusetts Teacher of the Year was announced here Tuesday. The winner was kept secret, and speculation was running wild. But when Cara Pekarciks name was called, it didnt come as a surprise.

I apologize to anyone I had to lie to over the past few days, said Pekarcik, a biology teacher. Without a doubt, my biggest thanks goes to students here at North Quincy High. There is kindness, respect, and empathy in this group of students.

Get Fast Forward in your inbox:

Forget yesterday's news. Get what you need today in this early-morning email.

Kennex Lam, 17, said science had always been her weakest subject before she took Pekarciks class. At the start, she found cell biology really confusing. But Pekarcik would stay after school to tutor her, Lam said.

She is never one to deny her students help, Lam said.

Before becoming a teacher, Pekarcik had worked as a biologist, and students praised her ability to make biology seem fun and relevant.

Advertisement

Everyday she makes the class interesting, she just brings it to life, said Maria Zraizaa, 16. She actually cares about people, and you can tell that she cares about what you do. Shes just so passionate about everything.

Talia Viera, 16, said Pekarcik made her look forward to science class, something she didnt think likely.

I used to not like science as much, but now its not one of the classes I go to just to get it over with, she said. I go and I actually enjoy being there. She really makes what we learn interesting.

Elizabeth DiMattio, 17, who took Pekarciks class last year, said she often turned to Pekarcik for guidance.

There was one time I was absolutely freaking out about an essay, she just sat me down and was like You need to calm down. She guided me through it, DiMattio said.

After the assembly, Pekarcik said she was thrilled by the honor. She said she often tells her students they can take an interest in science without being an expert.

Continued here:
North Quincy High instructor named Mass. Teacher of the Year - The Boston Globe

A drug used to treat bipolar disorder and other forms of depression may help preserve brain function and prevent nerve cells from dying in people with a traumatic brain injury.

Scientists discovered that lithium and rapamycin, a treatment for some forms of cancer, protect nerve cells in the brain and stop the chemical glutamate from sending signals to other cells and creating further brain cell damage.

Many medications now used for those suffering with traumatic brain injury focus on treating the symptoms and stopping the pain instead of protecting any further damage from occurring. We wanted to find a drug that could protect the cells and keep them from dying,

says lead author Bonnie Firestein, professor of cell biology and neuroscience at Rutgers University-New Brunswick.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major cause of death and disability in the United States with an estimated 1.7 million people sustaining an injury every year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About 30 percent of all deaths due to injury are due, in part, to a TBI.

TBI symptoms can include impaired thinking or memory, personality changes, and depression, as well as vision and hearing problems. The CDC reports that every day 153 people in the US die from injuries that include a TBI, with children and older adults at the highest risk.

When a TBI occurs, a violent blow to the head can result in the release of abnormally high concentrations of glutamate, which under normal circumstances is an important chemical for learning and memory. But an overproduction of glutamate, Firestein says, causes toxicity which leads to cell damage and death.

The research shows that when these two FDA-approved medications were added to damaged cell cultures in the laboratory, the glutamate was not able to send messages between nerve cells which stopped cell damage and death.

Further research needs to be done, in animals and humans, to determine if these drugs could help prevent brain damage and nerve cell death in humans after a traumatic brain injury.

The most common traumatic brain injury that people deal with every day is concussion which affects thousands of children each year, Firestein says. Concussions are often hard to diagnose in children because they are not as vocal, which is why it is critical to find drugs that work to prevent long-term damage.

The New Jersey Commission on Brain Injury Research funded the work.

Image: Dr David Furness, Wellcome Images

See the rest here:
Lithium May Protect Nerve Cells After Traumatic Brain Injury - ReliaWire