Scientist uses stem cells to rebuild bone
In the move to use induced pluripotent stem cells to both repair and replace damaged bone tissue in patients, recent research by scientist Darja Marolt has helped advance the field in a major way.
Compounds may combat cancers by reversing p53 mutation
Scientists at the Cancer Institute of New Jersey and the Institute for Advanced Study have identified a class of compounds--known as thiosemicarbazones--that appears in early testing to correct p53's mutation in mice. Treated with the compounds, tumors either stopped growing so quickly or shrank.
How do you make a deaf mouse hear? Emory University tries gene therapy
Researchers at the Emory University School of Medicine are part of the way toward figuring out a method that could eventually work.
Preclinical breakthrough: Scientists beat rare skin cancer tumors
A husband and wife team of scientists at the University of Pittsburgh tested an experimental drug called YM155 in lab mice infested with the rare cancer, and found that the drug beat back tumor growth in lab mice without being toxic.
Researchers cure Type 1 diabetes in mice
A dose of antibodies, a bone marrow transplant and treatment with pancreas growth factor helped cure late-stage Type 1 diabetes in mice, researchers have found.
Transplanted mouse fetal cells morph into viable rat kidneys
Japanese researchers at the Jikei University School of Medicine, Jichi Medical University and elsewhere have taken the generation of new organs and transplantation to a whole new level. As the newspaper The Mainichi reports, the scientists grew rat kidneys from cells transplanted from mouse fetuses.
Researchers find key to premature aging syndrome
Inhibiting the protein known as Sun1 helps prolong the lives of mice with the rare genetic condition known as premature aging syndrome, researchers in Singapore, Taiwan and the U.S. have determined.
Honeybee substance freezes prostate cancer growth (Hint, it's not honey)
The substance is called caffeic acid phenethyl ester, or CAPE, something derived from the resin known as propolis that bees use to patch hive holes.
Controversial bird flu study details revealed
A lab-engineered bird flu strain spread easily among mammals, and the Nature article that reports the findings remains part of a hot debate in science about whether to guard details from research that could be used in the wrong hands to do harm.
Stem cells grown from skin treat muscular dystrophy in mice
Scientists claim plenty of firsts, but this one may be worth watching. We apparently have a first-time success in using human adult stem cells to successfully treat muscular dystrophy, at least in mice.
University of Miami gains $10M to expand stem cell R&D
The Starr Foundation is giving the university's Miller School of Medicine and its Interdisciplinary Stem Cell Institute a $10 million grant to help boost its pipeline of stem cell discoveries in development as future treatments.
Bioterrorism concerns vanquished, Nature publishes bird flu paper
After U.S. government efforts to restrict publication of research involved in building variations of the H5N1 bird flu virus, the journal Nature has published the first of two of the controversial papers involved in the dust-up, Reuters reports.
Stem cell/gene therapy holds HIV at bay in mouse trials
Scientists have successfully transplanted anti-HIV stem cells into mice that served as surrogates for infected patients. Bigger still, however, the process successfully expanded and safeguarded HIV-resistant immune cells, and the cells themselves kept growing even when confronted with the virus.
Potential Alzheimer's treatment disrupts amyloid protein formation
Another potential new Alzheimer's treatment is in the works--a group of compounds that appeared, in the lab, to disrupt the formation of those ominous clumps of amyloid protein many blame for propelling the mental decline in patients with the deadly disease.
Cleveland Clinic researcher seeks funds to advance breast cancer vaccine into human trials
Nearly two years after a Cleveland Clinic immunologist generated promising results in mice with a potential preventative breast cancer vaccine, local residents and businesses are trying to help him raise enough money so that he can proceed to human clinical trials.
U.K. scientists map structure of crucial obesity receptor region
University of Sheffield scientists say they've figured out the structure of a significant part of the human obesity receptor, which could lead to development of treatments for both obesity-related diseases and anorexia.
U-M registers second stem cell line as research fight continues
University of Michigan researchers continue to resist the Republican state legislators' effort to force it to reveal how many embryos it uses for stem cell research.
Non-stem cell treatment rebuilds heart muscle in a mouse
Scientists at Duke University used microRNAs to convert fibroblasts/scar tissue into heart muscle cells in a mouse, boosting the heart's ability to do its job.
Stay calm, folks: Highly anxious mice developed more aggressive cancer
Cancer is bad enough, but anxiety could make the disease even worse as it progresses.
Powerful protein halts DNA damage and may block tumors
TopBP1: Remember that somewhat unwieldy name. It refers to a protein researchers at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital believe prevents DNA damage early in the formation of a brain. What's more, they think it could suppress tumor development.
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