Stem Cell Headlines: Friday, 12/18

Celgene Shares Jump on Revlimid Test Success - 12.18.09

• Celgene (CELG) shares gained 10% Friday after a late-stage study of Revlimid, its blood cancer drug, was stopped because of strong evidence of the drug's effectiveness.
• Celgene’s Surprising New Hope for Blood Cancer

 

Neuralstem Receives Approval To Commence First ALS Stem Cell Trial at Emory ALS Center - 12.18.09

• Neuralstem, Inc. (NYSE Amex: CUR) today announced that its Phase I trial to treat Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS or Lou Gehrig's disease) with its spinal cord stem cells has been approved by the Institutional Review Board (IRB) at Emory University in Atlanta, GA. The trial, which was approved by the FDA in September, will take place at the Emory ALS Center, under the direction of Dr. Jonathan Glass M.D., Director of the Emory ALS Center, who will serve as the site Principal Investigator (PI).

 

CNN: Stem cell therapies for hearts inching closer to widespread use - 12.18.09

• An intravenous method of injecting stem cells into patients who had experienced heart attacks within the previous 10 days suggested that this method works to repair -- not just manage -- heart damage, a recent study found.

 

A $1.4 million grant will help train Cal State students to work with stem cells - 12.18.09

• The university will use its $1.1 million to fund 10 six-month internships for students in the 2010-11 academic year, campus spokesman Joe Gutierrez said. "We want to attract students interested in stem cell research to our campus."

 

Medical society announces publication of largest stem cell safety study to date - 12.18.09

• The International Cellular Medicine Society, a physician professional organization dedicated to the advancement of safe and effective adult stem cell therapies as the practice of medicine, announces the publication of the largest adult stem cell therapy safety study to date.

 

The top 5 People of 2009 - 12.18.09

• Francis Collins: Since taking control of the NIH, Collins has been pushing an agenda focused on personalized medicine and stem cell research, backing the efforts by approving 40 new human embryonic stem cell lines as eligible for federal funding. Collins has also found time to be a much more public figure than previous NIH directors, taking time out to rock with Aerosmith's Joe Perry and joke around with Stephen Colbert.

 

Scientist Is Crucial to the Bay Area’s Role in Stem Cell Research - 12.18.09

• Today, at 47, Dr. Yamanaka is a leading member of the 21st-century fraternity of stem cell alchemists. Three years ago, he showed he could transform ordinary cells from skin into stem cells, those rare packets of microscopic life that can convert into almost any tissue in the body. His discovery transformed the entire field. It has already changed the focus of research and is likely to steer billions of dollars in future research grants in a new directions. “He is the rock star of stem cell science,” said Dr. Deepak Srivastava, the director of the Gladstone Institute of Cardiovascular Disease. “Everybody now recognizes that he transformed the stem cell field, almost single-handedly.”