New Device To Grow Bone Marrow Stem Cells Announced

New Device To Grow Bone Marrow Stem Cells Announced

Researchers at Florida State University announced in a press release that they have designed a “a biomedical device that will allow stem cells derived from adult bone marrow to be grown in sufficient quantities to permit far more research - and allow faster growth of tissues that can be transplanted into patients.” The perfusion bioreactor simulates the body’s circulatory system and bathes stem cells in nutrient-rich proteins. The stem cells can live up to 40 days in the bioreactor. The researchers hope that by controlling what nutrients the stem ells receive, they may be able to control the differentiation of the cells.

One of the major limits with using adult bone marrow stem cells has been the scarcity; only one cell per 100,000 blood cells is a stem cell, according to the release. By creating an environment where stem cells can grow rapidly, the use of adult stem cells derived from bone marrow becomes more feasible in tissue and organ regeneration.

Happenings in Asia

Happenings in Asia

Asia continues to push forward as a leader in stem cell research. About 150 researchers met at the Asian Reproductive Biotechnology Conference held from November 2-7 in Bangkok, and approximately 500 scientists have been meeting at the Keystone Symposia in Singapore. A short article in Nature on the Bangkok conference reports that some European and American labs have trouble with the technology that is being used in Asian labs. On the other hand, because some Asian labs lack electricity supplies taken for granted by westerner, the Asian scientists have been forced to improvise creative solutions to problems such as storage of biological materials at room temperature. Asian scientists are eager to collaborate and share with each other.

Meanwhile in Singapore, research on cancer treatment is “in hyperdrive,” according to an article in The Straits Times. The Genome Institute of Singapore (GIS) is working on identifying genes that cause cancer, and the Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB) is doing research on killing the stem cells that cause cancer, rather than on the cancer cells which are incapable of proliferating. While things look promising, however, the scientists agreed that there is a lot of research yet to be done. Research dollars are an issue everywhere.

Bone Marrow Stem Cell Trials in Ischemia to Start

Bone Marrow Stem Cell Trials in Ischemia to Start

A news release from Case Western University reports that the University will begin a study to evaluate the safety of using adult stem cells from bone marrow to treat chronic ischemia, a serious form of heart disease in which blood flow to the heart is restricted by narrowed arteries. The FDA gave its approval to the Phase I safety trial. The stem cells will be injected into the coronary arteries of the patients. The stem cells will be harvested from the patients’ own bone marrow.

The initial study is limited; three to four patients will be assigned to one of three groups to receive preset doses of the stem cells. To participate in the trials, patients must meet the following criteria: Participants must have coronary artery blockages identified by cardiac catheterization that cannot be treated with balloon angioplasty, stent, or other standard therapies. An electronic form is available on the University Health Hospital Systems website (http://www.uhhs.com), or you can call HealthMatch at (216) 844-5000.