The Stem Cell Podcast

Dr. Sebastian Diecke is a Group Leader and Stem Cell Core Director at the Max Delbrück Center, where his research focuses on iPSCs and organoid models. He talks about the early days of iPSC research, developing organoids from endangered rhinoceros, and modeling Huntington's and other diseases.

Dr. Shukry Habib is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biomedical Sciences at the Université de Lausanne. His lab works at the intersection of stem cell biology, biophysics, and tissue engineering to investigate how tissues form. He talks about developing a transplantable bandage for bone repair and the role of Wnt signaling and cytonemes in development.

Dr. Shankar Srinivas is a Professor of Developmental Biology in the Department of Physiology Anatomy and Genetics based in the Institute for Developmental and Regenerative Medicine at the University of Oxford. He is also a Zeitlyn Fellow and Tutor in Medicine at Jesus College. Using mouse and human embryos as model systems, his group looks at the control of patterning and morphogenesis during the establishment of the anterior-posterior axis, gastrulation, and early cardiogenesis.  He discusses how tissues respond to forces during early development, characterizing cardiac progenitors, and his experience training internationally.

Dr. Pierre Vanderhaeghen is a Professor and Principal Investigator at VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain & Disease Research. His lab studies the mechanisms of cortical development and brain evolution. He talks about species-specific neuronal development, human neuron excitability, and playing in a rock cover band!

Dr. Ryan Flynn is a Principal Investigator at Boston Children's Hospital and an Assistant Professor in the Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology Department at Harvard University. His lab explores the interface between RNA and glycans. He talks about the discovery of glycoRNA and the chemistry of the RNA-glycan connection. He also discusses the effects of glycans on stem cell function and deciding between a career in medicine and basic science.

Dr. Blair Benham-Pyle is an Assistant Professor at Baylor College of Medicine. She talks about how multipotent cells in Schmidtea mediterranea enable whole-body regeneration. She also discusses the effects of the mechanical environment on stem cell fate.

Dr. Amander Clark is the President of the International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) and Founding Director of the Center for Reproductive Science, Health, and Education at the University of California, Los Angeles. Dr. Agnete Kirkeby is a Program Chair of the ISSCR Annual Meeting, Associate Professor at Lund University and the University of Copenhagen, and Group Leader at the Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Stem Cell Biology – reNEW. Dr. Malin Parmar is a Program Chair of the ISSCR Annual Meeting, Professor at Lund University, and a New York Stem Cell Foundation – Robertson Investigator. They talk about the upcoming ISSCR 2024 meeting in Hamburg, Germany from July 10-13, 2024. They discuss the meeting's clinical focus, spotlight and plenary sessions, and opportunities for students and postdocs.

Dr. Marissa Scavuzzo is an HHMI Hanna H. Gray Fellow at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. Her research focuses on enteric glia regulation in the healthy and diseased gut. She talks about how glial cell subtypes affect intestinal motility and her experience receiving NYSCF and HHMI fellowships. She also talks about bringing science to underserved schools in Cleveland.

Dr. Ritu Raman is the d’Arbeloff Career Development Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering at MIT, where her lab uses robotics and tissue engineering to treat muscle loss. She talks about light-activated muscle grafts, magnetic microparticles to control forces exerted on cells, and strategies for science communication.

Dr. Shiri Gur-Cohen is an Assistant Professor of Medicine in the Division of Regenerative Medicine at UC San Diego. Her lab studies epithelial stem cells throughout their lifetimes. She talks about lymphatics in the intestinal stem cell niche, 3D imaging techniques, and sharing her science with a wider audience.

Dr. Malin Parmar is a Professor at Lund University and a New York Stem Cell Foundation – Robertson Investigator. Her research aims to understand cell fate specification in the developing brain and in human neural progenitor cells using cell-based models of neuronal differentiation. She talks about using assembloids to model the dopaminergic system, direct reprogramming somatic cells into induced neurons, and developing ESC-derived dopamine progenitor cells to treat Parkinson's disease.

Dr. Olivier Pourquié is the Frank Burr Mallory Professor of Pathology and Professor in the Department of Genetics at Harvard Medical School. His work focuses on the segmentation clock and the development of muscles and vertebrae. He talks about studying somitogenesis in vitro and his work on brown fat development.

Dr. Hwee Goon Tay is an Assistant Professor at the Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School and Dr. Beau Fenner is an Ophthalmologist at the Singapore National Eye Centre. Their work focuses on cell therapy for degenerative retinal diseases. They talk about strategies to slow degeneration and potentially restore vision.

Dr. Jose Polo is a Professor of Epigenetics and the Director of the Centre for Epigenetics at the University of Adelaide. He is also a Professor in the Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology at Monash University. His lab studies the transcriptional and epigenetic mechanisms that govern cell identity. He talks about his team's work on cell fate, iBlastoids, and placental models for SARS-CoV-2.

Dr. Stefan Irion is the Chief Scientific Officer of BlueRock Therapeutics and Dr. Viviane Tabar is the Chair of the Department of Neurosurgery at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.  In this special episode, recorded in front of a live audience in New York, they talk about their work on BlueRock's clinical trial for bemdaneprocel — a stem cell-derived investigational cell therapy for Parkinson's disease. They also discuss what's next for cell therapy and diversity in science and in patients.

Dr. Helen Blau is the Donald E. and Delia B. Baxter Foundation Professor and Director of the Baxter Laboratory for Stem Cell Biology at Stanford University. Dr. Blau’s research focuses on the basic molecular mechanisms of stem cells and muscle and their application to aging, regenerative medicine, and disease. Her lab aims to understand and apply biology to improve quality of life, and their current primary focus is on understanding the gerozyme 15-PGDH. She talks about the roles of NSAIDs and CD47 in muscle regeneration. She also discusses growing cultured meat and writing a children's book!

Dr. Roger Foo is the Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Professor of Medicine and Head of the Cardiovascular Research Institute at the National University of Singapore. His lab investigates the molecular mechanisms that regulate cardiac biology and disease. He talks about the genetics of heart disease and the roles of circular RNAs.

Dr. Bas Trietsch is the Chief Technology Officer and Co-Founder at Mimetas, a company working to contribute to groundbreaking therapies with their screenable, physiologically relevant 3D human disease models. He talks about tissue-relevant models for drug discovery, and how organ-on-a-chip technology can help address scalability and reproducibility.

Dr. Thorold Theunissen is an Assistant Professor of Developmental Biology at Washington University in St. Louis investigating the molecular basis of pluripotency, the mechanisms of trophoblast development, and the generation of stem cell-based embryo models.

Dr. Nicolas Rivron is a Principal Investigator at the Institute of Molecular Biotechnology of the Austrian Academy of Sciences in Vienna. His group recreates embryonic development using mammalian stem cells in a dish to better understand the encoded principles of self-organization. He talks about building human blastoid models and using them to study implantation. He also discusses differences in development between mice and humans, trophectoderm stem cells, and an ethical framework for embryo models.

Dr. Laura Andres-Martin is a Research Investigator, Oncology, Dr. Daniel Paul is the Senior VP, Discovery & Platform Development, and Dr. Raeka Aiyar is the VP, Scientific & DEIB Outreach at the New York Stem Cell Foundation (NYSCF). This episode was recorded live and in-person at the NYSCF Research Institute. The panelists talk about NYSCF's approach to automation, their women's reproductive cancer initiative, and promoting inclusion and belonging in science. They also talk about Founder Susan Solomon's legacy and future plans to break down barriers in stem cell research.

Dr. Nathaniel Huebsch is an Assistant Professor of Biomedical Engineering at Washington University in St. Louis. His lab focuses on understanding how mechanical cues originating at cell-cell and cell-extracellular matrix contacts influence signaling and fate. They are especially interested in how those cues affect heart development and disease. He talks about cardiac models and cardiomyocyte maturity.

Dr. Thomas Durcan is an Associate Professor and Director of the Early Drug Discovery Unit at the Montreal Neurological Institute. He oversees a team of 40+ research staff and students, committed to applying patient-derived stem cells towards the development of phenotypic discovery assays and 3D neuronal organoid models for neurodegenerative and neurodevelopmental disorders. He talks about modeling sporadic ALS in a dish, partnering with the Michael J. Fox Foundation, and promoting open science.

In June 2023, we attended ISSCR 2023, the annual meeting of the International Society for Stem Cell Research, in Boston. We spoke with delegates about their research and impressions of the meeting, including their reasons for attending, what they were most looking forward to, and the most memorable research presented.

Dr. Thomas Zwaka is the Director of the Huffington Center for Cell-Based Research in Parkinson's Disease and a Professor of Regenerative and Developmental Biology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. His research focuses on fundamental questions surrounding stem cell biology, including how to reverse the process of differentiation and “re-program” any given cell type into a pluripotent stem cell.

In June 2023, Daylon and Arun attended the International for Stem Cell Research's (ISSCR) annual meeting in Boston, Massachusetts, and recorded daily episodes discussing highlights of the final day of the meeting.

In June 2023, Daylon and Arun attended the International Society for Stem Cell Research's (ISSCR) annual meeting in Boston, Massachusetts, and recorded daily episodes discussing highlights of the third day of the meeting.

In June 2023, Daylon and Arun attended the International Society for Stem Cell Research’s (ISSCR) annual meeting in Boston, Massachusetts, and recorded daily episodes discussing highlights of the second day of the meeting.

In June 2023, Daylon and Arun attended the International Society for Stem Cell Research's (ISSCR) annual meeting in Boston, Massachusetts, and recorded daily episodes discussing highlights of the first day of the meeting. They discuss the pre-meeting workshops, including Arun's own talk on stem cell research in space, as well as highlights from the morning's focus sessions and innovation showcases. They also dive into the Presidential Symposium and the new technologies presented in Plenary II.

Dr. Emma Rawlins is a Senior Group Leader at the Gurdon Institute in the Department of Physiology, Development, and Neuroscience at the University of Cambridge. She talks about modeling fetal lung development using organoids, using single-cell RNA sequencing to create a human lung fetal atlas, and her advice to trainees to follow their hearts.

Dr. Insoo Hyun is the Director of the Center for Life Sciences and Public Learning at the Museum of Science in Boston, and a Member of the Harvard Medical School Center for Bioethics. He talks about embryo models for early development, his work on the ISSCR's guidelines for stem cell research, and advances in reproductive medicine.

Dr. Aileen Anderson is the Director of the Sue and Bill Gross Stem Cell Research Center at the University of California, Irvine. Her lab investigates the role of inflammatory mechanisms in degeneration and regeneration in the injured central nervous system. She talks about cell therapy for spinal cord injury and how academic labs can collaborate with companies to move toward the clinic. She also discusses biomaterials to support axon regeneration.

Dr. Shannon McKinney-Freeman is a Principal Investigator and Member at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Her lab focuses on the fundamental biology of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs).  She talks about the role of HSCs in sickle cell disease and the state of HSC transplantation research. She also discusses her work on hematopoietic progenitor expansion.

Dr. Sergiu Pașca is the Kenneth T. Norris, Jr. Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Stanford University and the Bonnie Uytengsu and Family Director of the Stanford Brain Organogenesis Program. His lab has pioneered and applied neural organoid and assembloid technologies to make discoveries in fundamental and clinical neuroscience. He talks about the response to his viral TED Talk and the importance of names for nervous system models. He also discusses CRISPR screening in assembloids to study autism, transplanting cortical organoids into rats, and biocompatible polymers for neural organoids.

Dr. Stylianos Lefkopoulos is an Associate Editor of Nature Cell Biology. He talks about a day in the life of an editor and what he looks for in a manuscript. He also discusses the role of preprints in publishing and promoting diversity in STEM.

Dr. Noriaki Ono is an Associate Professor at the University of Texas Health Center at Houston. His research focuses on bone development and regeneration. He talks about in vivo lineage tracing techniques and how early perichondrial cells contribute to developing bones. He also discusses the art and science of dentistry, mentorship, and moving his lab across the country.

Dr. Ryan Conder is the Director of Epithelial and Organoid Systems at STEMCELL Technologies.  He talks about the next phase in organoid research and what questions organoids can help answer. He also discusses his experience doing a postdoc in Vienna, and Vancouver as a growing biotech hub.

Keith Alm is the CEO, Dr. Haifan Lin is the President, and Dr. David Scadden is 2023 Annual Meeting Program Chair of the ISSCR. They talk about the upcoming annual meeting being held this year in Boston, a biotech hub with a vibrant stem cell research community. They discuss the highlights of this year's program including speakers, award winners, and more. They also discuss making this year's meeting more accessible to trainees and researchers around the world.

Dr. Lorenz Studer is the Director of the Center for Stem Cell Biology at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Institute. His lab exploits recent advances in stem cell biology to develop new therapies for degenerative diseases and cancer. Their projects involve directing the fate and age of hPSCs, modeling diseases, and developing cell therapies. He talks about his journey into the stem cell field and co-founding BlueRock Therapeutics. He also discusses the challenges of developing cell therapies at scale, strategies to target cognition loss in Parkinson's disease, and combining basic and translational research.

Dr. Boyang Zhang is an Assistant Professor of Chemical Engineering at McMaster University. His lab uses advanced biofabrication techniques to build human micro-tissue models for predictive drug discovery and to construct functional macro-tissues for tissue regeneration in patients. He talks about building microfluidic devices for biological applications and using machine learning to study organoid morphology. He also talks about his team's high-throughput system for vascularizing tissue spheroids and his experience starting a company to commercialize this technology.

In this special episode, Daylon and Arun chat with Drs. Jason Goldsmith and Brenda Raud, the hosts of The Immunology Podcast. Recorded in-person and led by Dr. Nicole Quinn from STEMCELL Technologies, the four hosts discuss the impact that podcasting has had on their careers and how it can make science and scientists more accessible. They also talk about the future of science communication and advice for young scientists pursuing careers in academia and industry.

Dr. Clive Svendsen is the Executive Director of the Regenerative Medicine Institute at Cedars-Sinai. His lab uses stem cells to develop models and treatments for neurodegenerative diseases. He talks about using stem cells to model spinal muscular atrophy and the blood-brain barrier, and his cell-gene therapy trial for ALS.

Dr. Shuibing Chen is the Kilts Family Professor of Surgery at Weill Cornell Medicine. Her lab uses hiPSCs and ESCs for disease modeling and drug screening, with a focus on diabetes and infectious diseases such as Zika and SARS-CoV-2. She talks about her recent genome-wide association study in a dish, the role of philanthropic funding in stem cell research, and the role of industry partnerships in translational research.

Dr. Paola Arlotta is the Golub Family Professor of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology at Harvard University. She is interested in understanding the molecular laws that govern the birth, differentiation, and assembly of the human brain’s cerebral cortex. She talks about using organoids to study the genetics of autism. She also discusses single-cell sequencing of brain organoids and how to make single-cell sequencing methods and data more accessible.

Dr. Jacob Hanna is an Associate Professor at the Weizmann Institute of Science and investigates cellular reprogramming and embryogenesis. This episode features a discussion on the challenges of growing embryo models in a roller culture system and the feasibility of making human gametes. Dr. Hanna also talks about launching the startup, Renewal Bio, the ethical discussions surrounding stem cell-derived embryos, and creating a more inclusive and equitable scientific community.

Dr. Stefan Irion is the Senior Vice President of Research at BlueRock Therapeutics, a leading engineered cell therapy company with a mission to develop regenerative medicines for intractable diseases. He talks about the company's Parkinson's disease trial and the challenges of genetically manipulating stem cells. He also discusses his journey from physician to scientist and his personal connection to Parkinson's disease.

Dr. Jun Wu is an Assistant Professor at the University of Texas Southwestern. The Wu lab uses interspecies chimeras to study fundamental biology: conserved and divergent developmental programs, determination of body and organ size, species barriers, and cancer resistance. They are also working to develop new applications for regenerative medicine. He talks about developmental compatibility between species, and the similarities and differences between blastoid models and blastocyts. He also discusses the challenges of growing human cells in animals, and human-monkey chimeric embryos.

Dr. Edward Grow is an Assistant Professor at the University of Texas, Southwestern. His lab studies reproductive biology, specifically the development of the egg and subsequently the fertilized embryo. He talks about regulating totipotency in ESCs, retroviral reactivation, and ex vivo culturing of follicles and oocytes.

Dr. Prisca Liberali is Senior Group Leader at the Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research and an Assistant Professor at the University of Basel. Her research aims to understand the collective properties of organoid systems and their patterns, including how these systems allow systematic perturbation by established methods for modulating gene expression. She studies self-organization, symmetry breaking, intestinal organoid development, gastruloids, and mechanosensing mechanisms.

Drs. Tenneille Ludwig, Peter Andrews, and Madeline Lancaster are members of the ISSCR Standards Initiative for Pluripotent Stem Cell Research. They discuss the need for basic and preclinical standards to ensure rigor and reproducibility in stem cell research. They also talk about standards for pluripotency and model systems, and the initiative's international focus.

Dr. Jackie Damen is a currently a Principal Scientist in Scientific Support for Hematology at STEMCELL Technologies, and was previously the Director of Contract Assay Services. She talks about the company's culture and growth, and how in her role, she teaches scientists and helps them conduct their experiments. She also discusses systems for drug screening and discovery, opportunities in industry, and her affinity for microscopy and photography.

Dr. Marian Hettiaratchi is an Assistant Professor at the Knight Campus at the University of Oregon. Her research focuses on affinity-based biomaterials to promote tissue and bone repair. She talks about the delivery vehicles for these biomaterials, and her recent work on heparin-mediated delivery of BMP-2 to promote bone regeneration.

Dr. Lydia Finley is an Assistant Member of the Cell Biology Program at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. The Finley lab investigates how cellular metabolic pathways regulate cell fate decisions in stem cells and cancer cells. She talks about the metabolic profiles and needs of different cell types, her lab's discovery of an alternate TCA cycle, and how track and field led her to pursue metabolism research.

In June 2022, we attended the International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) annual meeting in San Francisco. We spoke with delegates to get their impressions of the meeting. They discussed the most memorable research presented and shared their thoughts on the challenges facing the stem cell field.

In June 2022, we attended the International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) annual meeting in San Francisco, and recorded daily episodes discussing highlights of the previous 24 hours. Here is the final of four special episodes from the meeting.

In June 2022, we attended the International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) annual meeting in San Francisco, and recorded daily episodes discussing highlights of the previous 24 hours. Here is the third of four special episodes from the meeting.

In June 2022, we attended the International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) annual meeting in San Francisco, and recorded daily episodes discussing highlights of the previous 24 hours. Here is the second of four special episodes from the meeting.

In June 2022, we attended the International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) annual meeting in San Francisco, and recorded daily episodes discussing highlights of the previous 24 hours. Here is the first of four special episodes from the meeting.

Dr. Michael Levin is the Director of the Allen Discovery Center and a Distinguished Professor of Biology at Tufts University. He is a cognitive biologist who utilizes model systems such as Xenopus to answer fundamental questions in developmental biology. He talks about regenerating frog legs, using bioelectricity to direct development, and the potential applications of xenobots.

Dr. Steven Stice is the DW Brooks Distinguished Professor and Director of the Regenerative Bioscience Center at the University of Georgia, and the Co-Founder and Chief Scientific Officer of ArunA Biomedical. He talks about his early work cloning rabbits and reprogramming blastomeres. He also discusses using exosomes to treat neurological diseases, helping trainees move into industry, and preserving endangered species.

Dr. Amritha Jaishankar is the Executive Director of the Maryland Stem Cell Research Fund (MSCRF). She is a scientist by training who has devoted her career to developing cures for debilitating and life-threatening conditions of our time and to advancing this field, through various roles in federal, university, and industry settings. She talks about the history of the MSCRF, its programs to promote the commercialization of stem cell-based technologies, and its role in the Maryland stem cell research ecosystem.

Dr. Ophir Klein is the inaugural Executive Director of Cedars-Sinai Guerin Children's and the David and Meredith Kaplan Distinguished Chair in Children's Health. He discusses his work on intestinal epithelium regeneration, which he will present at the “Tissue Fibrosis and Repair: Mechanism, Human Disease, and Therapies” Keystone Symposium taking place from June 12-16th in Keystone, Colorado. He also talks about mechanisms of tooth development, analyzing three-dimensional facial images to diagnose genetic syndromes, and how parasitic infections affect the intestinal stem cell niche.

Dr. David Hay is the Chair of Tissue Engineering at the University of Edinburgh, where his group is defining novel ways to produce liver tissue from PSCs. They use in vitro derived tissue to better model human liver physiology and to develop supportive cell based therapies for disease. Dr. Hay also founded Stimuliver, a company that is developing a disruptive liver implant to treat critically failing liver function in humans. He talks about hepatocyte differentiation, liver disease modeling, and automating the production of cell therapies.

Dr. Agnete Kirkeby is an Associate Professor at the University of Copenhagen and a Group Leader at Lund University. The Kirkeby group studies the factors involved in human neural subtype specification in order to enable production of specific neurons for understanding and treating neurological diseases. They apply advanced human stem cells models to understand how hundreds of human neuronal subtypes are formed during embryo development. She talks about moving stem cell therapies for Parkinson's disease from animal models to clinical trials, modeling neural tube development, and developing treatments for narcolepsy.

Dr. Melissa Little is the President, Keith Alm is the CEO, and Dr. Amander Clark is the Vice President of the International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR). They discuss what they're looking forward to at the upcoming ISSCR 2022 meeting, and the future of the organization and the stem cell research community.

Dr. Kelly McNagny is a Professor of Medical Genetics and Biomedical Engineering at the University of British Columbia. His research program is focused on hematopoietic stem cell biology, specifically in understanding the signaling networks that regulate stem cell differentiation and how these cells interact with their microenvironment. He talks about how hematopoietic stem cell differentiation is related to chronic inflammatory disorders, targeting glycosylation in solid tumors, and his international career path.

Dr. Mingxia Gu is an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at Cincinnati Children's Hospital. Her lab's goal is to develop novel therapies for the regeneration of the heart, lung, and vasculature in patients with congenital cardiac and pulmonary defects. She talks about developing lung organoids to study COVID-19, how multi-lineage organoids can mimic human tissues, and her lab's motto to "move fast and break things."

Dr. Alejo Rodriguez-Fraticelli is a Group Leader at the Institute for Research in Biomedicine in Barcelona, where his team studies stem cell memory and epigenetics in hematopoiesis, immunity, and leukemia. He talks about setting up a new lab as a "playground for scientists," how cancer is the "evil twin" of regeneration, and advanced methods for lineage tracing.

Dr. Nazish Sayed is an Assistant Professor of Surgery at the Stanford Cardiovascular Institute. His lab is focused on developing new technologies that drive innovation in regenerative medicine, disease modeling, and drug testing in vascular biology. He talks about developing an inflammatory aging clock, using iPSC-derived endothelial cells to run a clinical trial in a dish, and his experience as a cancer patient.

Dr. Ru Gunawardane is the Executive Director at the Allen Institute for Cell Science. She leads a group of researchers creating a collection of high-quality gene edited stem cell lines to study cell organization and activities through live cell imaging. Dr. Katylyn Gerbin is a Scientist at the Allen Institute, whose work focuses on implementing cardiac differentiation methods and developing the cardiomyocyte pipeline using gene-edited hiPSCs. They discuss the Institute's mission to understand the fundamentals of how cells work, how they generate their gene-edited stem cell lines, and their recent work tracking cell states in hiPSC-derived cardiomyocytes.

Dr. Ilyas Singeç is the Director of the Stem Cell Translation Laboratory at the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, where he leads a group of scientists working to address efficiency, reproducibility, scalability, and other roadblocks in the translation of iPSCs into therapies. He discusses the standardization of stem cell differentiation, high-throughput cell culture, personalized medicine, and the potential for biomanufacturing in space.

Dr. Sara Wickström is the Sigrid Juselius Professor of Cell and Developmental Biology at the University of Helsinki, and was recently appointed as the new Director of Cell and Tissue Dynamics at the Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine. Her research focuses on how mechanical forces act in collaboration with cellular signals to influence cell fate and position. She discusses her work on mechanotransduction and its applications for cell culture and organ engineering, as well as her research on the hair follicle stem cell niche. She also talks about running an interdisciplinary lab, and what could make academia a more attractive career path.

Dr. Christine Mummery is a Professor of Developmental Biology at the Leiden University Medical Center and the former President of the International Society for Stem Cell Research. She pioneered studies on cardiomyocytes from human embryonic stem cells and was among the first to inject them in mouse hearts after myocardial infarction. She talks about her recent research developing multi-lineage cardiac model systems like microtissues and organ-chips.

Dr. Kate Rubins is a NASA astronaut and microbiologist. She has completed two expeditions to the International Space Station and spent 300 days in space. She became the first person to sequence DNA in space in 2016, and grew cardiomyocytes in cell culture (in collaboration with Arun in Joseph Wu’s lab at Stanford) while in orbit.  She has a PhD in Cancer Biology from Stanford University and studied viral diseases as a Fellow/Principal Investigator at the Whitehead Institute.

Dr. Maria Millan is the President and CEO of the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine, which aims to accelerate stem cell treatments for patients with unmet medical needs. Dr. Millan is a physician-scientist who has devoted her career to treating and developing innovative solutions for children and adults with debilitating and life-threatening conditions, both as a transplant surgeon and in the private sector.

Dr. Paul Knoepfler is a Professor in the Department of Cell Biology and Human Anatomy, the Genome Center, and the Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of California, Davis. His lab is interested in the epigenetics of stem cells and cancer, and uses cutting-edge molecular, cellular, and developmental biology methods as well as genomic and gene editing technologies to answer key questions in these areas of research.

Dr. Jennifer Trowbridge is an Associate Professor at the Jackson Laboratory and an Adjunct Professor at Tufts University. Her lab studies genetics and epigenetics in hematopoietic stem cell biology and leukemia. Their long-term goal is to identify new intervention strategies to extend the “healthspan” of HSCs by maintaining their robust regeneration capacity into older age and reducing risk of development of blood cancers.

In this special episode of the Stem Cell Podcast, we speak with three postdocs from different parts of the world about their research in and outside of the lab. Drs. Bria Macklin, Matthew Sinton, and Leili Rohani discuss their research on vascularization, immunometabolism, and cardiac tissue engineering, respectively, as well as their long-term career goals.

Dr. Connie Eaves is a Distinguished Scientist at the Terry Fox Laboratory at the British Columbia Cancer Agency and a Professor of Medical Genetics at the University of British Columbia. Her research focuses on leukemia and breast cancer and the normal tissues in which these diseases originate. Her pioneering research in basic blood stem cell biology led to a breakthrough in treatment for leukemia.

Dr. Ken Poss is the James B. Duke Professor of Cell Biology and Head of the Duke Regeneration Center at Duke University. His lab investigates the initial morphogenesis and injury-induced regeneration of several tissues in zebrafish. He is also President of the newly-founded International Society for Regenerative Biology.

Dr. Anthony Atala is the Founding Director of the Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine and the Chair of Urology at the Wake Forest School of Medicine. His team developed the first lab-grown organ to be implanted into a human and he currently oversees a team of over 400 researchers who are working to develop cell therapies and engineer replacement organs and tissues.

Bernie Siegel is an attorney and policy expert relating to stem cell research, regenerative medicine, and human cloning. He is the Executive Director of the Regenerative Medicine Foundation and the Founder of the World Stem Cell Summit.

Dr. Aparna Bhaduri is an Assistant Professor of Biological Chemistry at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. Her lab studies how the human brain is created, with billions of cells spanning hundreds or thousands of cell types. They also explore how the cell building blocks of development can reappear later in life in brain cancers such as glioblastoma.

Dr. Nicolas Rivron is a Group Leader at IMBA. The Rivron group recreates embryonic development using mammalian stem cells in a dish to better understand the encoded principles of self-organization. They observe both blastocysts and blastoids to study how self-organization contributes to multicellular patterning and cellular decision making.

In June 2021, we attended the International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) virtual annual meeting, and recorded daily video episodes discussing highlights of the previous 24 hours. Here is the fourth of five special episodes from the meeting, featuring Dr. Sheila Charli from Cell Stem Cell.

Dr. Shahin Rafii is a Professor of Reproductive Medicine and the Arthur B. Belfer Professor in Genetic Medicine at Weill Cornell Medical College, as well as Director of the Ansary Stem Cell Institute. His research focuses on stem cell biology and angiogenesis. We discuss his research and thoughts on the meeting.

In June 2021, we attended the International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) virtual annual meeting, and recorded daily video episodes discussing highlights of the previous 24 hours. Here is the second of five special episodes from the meeting featuring Dr. Madeline Lancaster from the Medical Research Council (MRC) Laboratory of Molecular Biology, who was honored with the Dr. Susan Lim Award for Outstanding Young Investigator Lecture at the meeting.

In June 2021, we attended the International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) virtual annual meeting, and recorded daily video episodes discussing highlights of the previous 24 hours. Here is the first of five special episodes from the meeting featuring Dr. Chuck Murry from the University of Washington, who presented during the Presidential Symposium: What's in a Germ Layer session on the first day of the meeting.

Dr. Stephen Sullivan is the Program Manager and International Liaison Officer at the Global Alliance for iPSC Therapies (GAiT), an international initiative to support the implementation and clinical application of therapies derived from pluripotent stem cells to the benefit of patients globally.

Dr. Emma Hammarlund is a Principal Investigator in the Division of Translational Cancer Research at Lund University Cancer Center and the Lund Stem Cell Center. Her lab investigates how the rise of animals on Earth relates to the evolution of stemness control.

Dr. Themasap Khan is the Vice President at Civilization Ventures, a venture capital firm that invests in genomics, diagnostics, digital health, AI, and personalized and regenerative medicine.  He leads the firm’s scientific due diligence and academic outreach programs. Dr. Khan earned his in PhD in stem cell biology and regenerative medicine in Dr. Sergiu Pasca’s lab at Stanford, where his research focused on genome engineering, cerebellar organoid models, and live imaging to elucidate biological mechanisms underlying neuropsychiatric disorders.

Dr. Johan Jakobsson is a Professor of Molecular Neurogenetics at the Lund Stem Cell Center. His research focuses on epigenetic mechanisms of the brain, including the role of microRNAs, long non-coding RNAs, and endogenous retroelements in neural stem cells and neurons.

Dr. Marinna Madrid is Co-Founder of Cellino, an early-stage biotechnology company seeking to make personalized, autologous cell therapies viable at large scale for the first time. Cellino’s platform combines label-free imaging and high-speed laser editing with machine learning to automate cell reprogramming, expansion, and differentiation in a closed cassette format, enabling thousands of patient samples to be processed in parallel in a single facility.

Dr. Brenda Raud is a postdoctoral researcher at the Netherlands Cancer Institute and Dr. Jason Goldsmith is the Director of Donor Medical Sciences at Seres Therapeutics. In addition to their work as immunology researchers, Brenda and Jason are also hosts of the new Immunology Podcast, a sister podcast to the Stem Cell Podcast.

Dr. Krishanu Saha is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. His lab utilizes quantitative and bioengineering methods including genome editing, biomanufacturing, and disease modeling to advance the next generation of cell and gene therapies.

Dr. Kelly Shepard is the Associate Director of Discovery and Translation at the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM). CIRM was created by the voters of California in 2004. The agency funds stem cell research at institutions and companies throughout California with the goal of accelerating treatments to patients with unmet medical needs.

Dr. Willy Lensch is Strategic Advisor to the Dean at Harvard Medical School. Previously Executive Director of the Harvard Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, his experience in research, education, administration, science policy, intellectual property, science consulting, and outreach have combined to support and advance stem cell science and discovery at Harvard. 

Dr. Sean Wu is an Associate Professor of Medicine at the Stanford School of Medicine. The Wu lab seeks to identify mechanisms responsible for human congenital heart disease, and uses mouse models and stem cells to study cardiovascular developmental biology, and to engineer cardiac tissue.

Dr. Jürgen Knoblich is Scientific Director of the Institute of Molecular Biotechnology at the Austrian Academy of Sciences. The Knoblich lab is known for the development of an organoid model of early brain development, and is currently using iPSCs and cerebral organoids to investigate inter-brain region interactions, neurodevelopmental disorders, and neuronal connections and functions.

Dr. Vivian Li is Group Leader of the Stem Cell and Cancer Biology Laboratory at the Francis Crick Institute. The Li lab investigates how Wnt signalling controls stem cells in the healthy gut and during colorectal cancer development. The lab also aims to engineer function intestinal constructs using patient-derived intestinal organoids.

Dr. Samira Musah is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at Duke University. The Musah Lab applyies stem cell biology to engineer functional models of the human kidney and brain, with the goal of developing novel therapeutic modalities for human kidney diseases.

Dr. Christopher Thomas Scott is the Dalton Tomlin Professor of Medical Ethics and Health Policy at Baylor College of Medicine. Scott is also emeritus faculty of the Stanford University Center for Biomedical Ethics. His research centers on the ethical, legal, and social implications of emerging biotechnologies.

Dr. Matthias Lutolf is a Professor and Principal Investigator of the Laboratory of Stem Cell Bioengineering at the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne. His lab uses cutting-edge bioengineering strategies for guiding stem-cell-based development for the assembly of next-generation organoids with improved reproducibility and physiological relevance.

In this special episode of the Stem Cell Podcast, we speak with three PhD students — Nathasia Mudiwa Muwanigwa, Sarthak Sinha, and Naveed Tavakol — about their research into brain organoids, organ-on-chip systems, and regeneration in different mammals.

Dr. Miki Ebisuya is a Group Leader at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory in Barcelona. Her lab reconstitutes developmental mechanisms by making artificial gene circuits, and studies interspecies differences by comparing organoids of different animals.

Dr. Tom Cheung is the S H Ho Associate Professor of Life Science at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. His lab investigates the molecular pathways that control muscle stem cell quiescence and stem cell-mediated tissue regeneration.

Dr. Ludovic Vallier is a Professor of Regenerative Medicine at the Cambridge Stem Cell Institute and Director of the NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Centre hiPSC core facility. His lab studies the basic mechanisms controlling differentiation of pluripotent cells into endoderm progenitors from which the pancreas, lung, gut and liver originate.

Dr. Valerie Horsley is an Associate Professor of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, and Associate Professor of Dermatology at Yale University. Her lab studies how adult stem cells within epithelial tissues maintain tissue homeostasis, wound healing and can contribute to cancer formation.

Dr. Henner Farin is a Young Investigator in the German Cancer Consortium, and a Junior Research Group Leader at the Georg-Speyer-Haus Institute for Tumor Biology and Experimental Therapy. His group uses organoids to study cell signaling in intestinal stem cells and colorectal cancer.

Dr. Sergiu Pașca is an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Stanford University, and the Bonnie Uytengsu and Family Director of the Stanford Brain Organogenesis Program. His team has developed methods for generating human brain organoids, and uses them to study the programs underlying brain development, assembly and dysfunction.

Dr. Martin Pera is a Principal Investigator at the Jackson Laboratories and Editor-in-Chief of the ISSCR's journal Stem Cell Reports. His lab studies the regulation of self-renewal and pluripotency, heterogeneity in pluripotent stem cell populations, and neural specification of pluripotent stem cells.

Dr. Dominique Bonnet is the Group Leader of the Hematopoietic Stem Cell Laboratory at the Francis Crick Institute. Her lab is interested in the extrinsic mechanisms that regulate hematopoietic stem cells, and how they can intervene in order to eradicate the leukemic stem cell.

Dr. Kristy Red-Horse is an Associate Professor of Biology at Stanford University. Her lab uses cardiovascular development as a model to study the signals that instruct cell fate and guide morphogenesis during organ formation in the mammalian embryo.

Dr. Valentina Greco is the Carolyn Slayman Professor of Genetics at Yale University. Her lab has developed novel live imaging approaches to track and manipulate stem cells in live animals, allowing them to study the complex orchestration of tissue regeneration using the skin as a model system.

Dr. Madeline Lancaster is a Group Leader at the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology in Cambridge, UK. The Lancaster lab has developed cerebral organoids as a model system to better understand human brain evolution, development, and neurodevelopmental disorders. She joined us to discuss her research presentated at the ISSCR 2020 conference.

Dr. Benoit Bruneau is the Director of the Gladstone Institute of Cardiovascular Disease. His lab uses mouse models and human iPSCs to investigate the transcription factor networks that regulate sets of genes critical for heart development.

Dr. Karl Koehler is an Assistant Professor of Otolaryngology at Harvard Medical School. His lab focuses on using human organoid systems as a platform to model congenital diseases and develop regenerative medicine therapies for the inner ear and various craniofacial tissues.

Dr. Freda Miller, from the Hospital for Sick Children Research Institute and the University of Toronto, studies the cellular mechanisms that regulate development of the mammalian nervous system, with a particular interest in stem cells and trophic factors.

Dr. Hans Clevers from the Hubrecht Institute for Developmental Biology and Stem Cell Research is a pioneer in the field, studying the molecular mechanisms of tissue development and cancer of various organs using organoids made from adult Lgr5 stem cells.

Dr. Sheila Chari is the Editor-in-Chief at the journal Cell Stem Cell, and Executive Editor at Cell Press. As the Editor-in-Chief, Dr. Chari’s primary responsibilities are knowing and publishing the top stem cell discoveries, driving journal publishing strategy, and managing a global editorial staff.

Dr. Josef Penninger is from the University of British Columbia and the Institute for Molecular Biotechnology of the Austrian Academy of Sciences in Vienna, Austria. He was previously on the podcast to talk about his research developing human blood vessel organoids. Dr. Penninger’s team has identified a trial drug that can significantly block early stages of COVID-19 in human blood vessel and kidney organoids.

Dr. Darcy Wagner from the Lund Stem Cell Center uses a multidisciplinary approach to understand how the extracellular environment directs stem cell behavior for endogenous and exogenous lung tissue regeneration.

Dr. Deepak Srivastava is the President of the Gladstone Institutes and the International Society for Stem Cell Research, and the co-founder of Tenaya Therapeutics. His lab investigates the gene networks that guide cardiogenesis by developing models of heart disease using patient-derived iPSCs and CRISPR technology.

Dr. Jeanne Loring is a Professor Emeritus and Director of the Center for Regenerative Medicine at the Scripps Research Institute, and the co-founder of Aspen Neuroscience. Her lab works on a diverse range of projects using iPSCs, including developing cell replacement therapies for Parkinson’s disease, sending neural organoids into space, and partnering with the San Diego zoo to make iPSCs from engangered species.

Dr. Joy Wu is an Associate Professor of Medicine at Stanford University, and a a board-certified endocrinologist.  With both basic and translational research, her lab studies stem cell therapies for bone formation and the prevention of cancer metastases to bone, as well as the bone marrow hematopoietic niche.

Dr. Thomas Reh is a Professor of Biological Structure at the University of Washington School of Medicine. His research is aimed at stimulating more effective regeneration in the retina to restore vision in people that have lost their sight.

Priye Iworima is a PhD student at the University of British Columbia. Her project is focused on developing and optimizing a differentiation protocol for generating insulin-producing cells derived from stem cells that could be used as a potential therapy for type 1 diabetes.

Dr. Kacey Ronaldson-Bouchard is an Associate Research Scientist at Columbia University focusing on biomedical engineering. She is also the co-founder of TARA Biosystems, which offers physiologically relevant human “heart-on-a-chip” tissue models for cardiac risk assessment and drug discovery applications.

Dr. Todd McDevitt is a Senior Investigator at the Gladstone Institutes and a Program Director and Professor at UCSF. His research focuses on engineering 3D, multicellular systems that can be used to study principles of stem cell and developmental biology.

Dr. Nicole Quinn is the Associate Director of Scientific Communications at STEMCELL Technologies, and one of the people hard at work behind the scenes of the Stem Cell Podcast. After completing her PhD in genomics and discovering her love of communicating science, Nicole left the bench to pursue a science communications career in the biotech industry.

Dr. Camilla Forsberg is the Co-Director of the Institute for the Biology of Stem Cells, and a Professor of Biomolecular Engineering at the University of California, Santa Cruz. Her lab seeks to understand the molecular determinants of hematopoietic stem cell fate decisions.

Dr. Peter Zandstra is the Director of the School of Biomedical Engineering at the University of British Columbia. His lab applyies engineering design principles, computational modeling, and fundamental stem cell biology to study the mechanisms that control stem cell fate, and to develop technologies for the propagation of stem cells and their derivatives.

Dr. Celina Juliano is an Assistant Professor at the University of California, Davis. Her lab studies development and regeneration in the aquatic animal Hydra, which undergoes continual self-renewal, lacks senescence and has incredible regenerative capabilities.

Dr. Rameen Shakur is a Jansen Fellow in Cardiology and Personalized Medicine at the Koch Institute for Integrative Science at MIT, and the Founder of the medical device and algorithm company Cambridge Heartwear Ltd.

Dr. Stephane Angers is a Professor at the University of Toronto. He is an expert in the field of signal transduction, working to understand the signaling mechanisms underlying the Wnt and Hedgehog families of growth factors and the large family of G protein-coupled receptors.

Dr. Paul Burridge from Northwestern University talks about his work using human iPSCs to model cardiomyopathy and heart failure.

Back in June 2019, we attended the ISSCR annual conference in Los Angeles, California! Here is the last of three special episodes featuring some of the top researchers in the field, and junior trainees.

Dr. Pekka Katajisto studies the mechanisms that lead to the decline in tissue regeneration during aging.

Back in June 2019, we attended the ISSCR annual conference in Los Angeles, California! Here is the second of three special episodes featuring some of the top researchers in the field, and junior trainees.

Guest: Dr. Alysson Muotri is a Professor in the Departments of Pediatrics and Cellular & Molecular Medicine at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) School of Medicine, and Co-Director of the UCSD Stem Cell Program. His research focuses on modeling neurological diseases using human iPSCs, and he is leading a project investigating the effect of microgravity on human brain organoids. Featured Products and Resources: STEMdiff™ Cerebral Organoid Kit Organoid Research Resources Resources and Links Detecting an Unreported Zika Outbreak using Genetics - By sequencing Zika virus and analyzing travel patterns, a previously unreported 2017 Zika outbreak in Cuba has been identified. Ketogenic Diet Supports Intestinal Stem Cell Proliferation - Researchers have found that ketone bodies enhance the activity of intestinal stem cells, while a glucose-rich diet has the opposite effect. Cancer Cells 'Corrupt' Their Healthy Neighbours - Scientists have developed a technique whereby metastatic cancer cells release a cell-penetrating fluorescent protein, allowing them to study the tumor microenvironment. 3D Heart Cell-on-Chip Platform - Investigators have developed an organ-on-an-electronic-chip platform, which uses biosensors to measure the electrophysiology of 3D cardiac spheroids. Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. Alysson Muotri Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Intro: Back in June 2019, we attended the International Society for Stem Cell Research's (ISSCR) annual conference in Los Angeles, California! Here is the first of three special episodes featuring interviews with some of the top researchers in the stem cell field, as well as with up-and-coming junior trainees who talked to Daylon about their research and experience at the conference. Junior Trainees: We asked Junior Trainees the following question: WHAT IS THE MOST EXCITING RESEARCH THAT YOU'VE SEEN AT ISSCR? Dr. Amritha Jaishankar; Associate Director, Maryland Stem Cell Research Fund Aaron Sandoval; Undergraduate Student, University of Florida Ana Rita Leitoguinho; Graduate Student, Murdoch Children's Research Institute Alejandro Torres; Graduate Student, University of California, Los Angeles Oriana Genolet; Graduate Student, Max Planck Institute Ojeni Touma; Intern, California Institute for Regenerative Medicine Vivian Lu; Graduate Student, University of California, Los Angeles Senior Researchers: Dr. Senta Georgia, PhD; Principal Investigator, Children's Hospital Los Angeles Dr. Georgia is investigating how pancreatic beta cells differentiate during organogenesis, how they increase their cell numbers during normal growth and in response to metabolic stress, and how they can be regenerated as a cellular therapy for diabetic patients. Dr. Tenneille Ludwig, PhD; Director, WiCell Stem Cell Bank Dr. Ludwig's expertise is in optimizing human pluripotent cell culture conditions, focusing on media development and biobanking. She created the first defined, feeder-free culture system for human embryonic stem cells. Dr. Kim Jensen, PhD; Associate Professor, Danish Stem Cell Centre Dr. Jensen seeks to identify and characterize the regulatory mechanisms that control cell fate during development, homeostasis and diseases such as cancer. He focuses on the epithelia of the gastrointestinal tract. Sir John Gurdon, PhD, DSc, FRS; Distinguished Group Leader, University of Cambridge Sir John Gurdon was awarded the 2012 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for his pioneering work in nuclear transplantation and cloning. His research focuses on nuclear reprogramming of somatic cells by oocytes and eggs of amphibians. Dr. Daniel Besser, PhD; Managing Director, German Stem Cell Network Dr. Besser studies signal transduction mechanisms in pluripotency and reprogramming of human and mouse embryonic stem cells. At the German Stem Cell Network, he works on creating synergies between basic and applied stem cell research and fostering scientific communication and outreach. Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: Dr. Steve Szilvassy is the Senior Director, Head of Hematopoietic Products at STEMCELL Technologies. He has over 25 years of experience in the fields of hematology and oncology, having held a variety of research positions, including research scientist and project team leader, in both academia and industry. Featured Products and Resources: Live Webinar: Optimized Workflows for High-Efficiency Genome Editing in Stem and Primary Cell Types Jobs at STEMCELL Technologies Resources and Links Blastocyst-Like Structures from Mouse Stem Cells - Researchers have generated 3D blastocyst-like structures from mouse PSCs that could be implanted into the uterus and grow before resorption. Making Old Brain Stem Cells Young - Investigators have found that increasing brain stiffness during aging leads to the dysfunction of oligodendrocyte progenitor cells, but showed that the effects can be reversed. Stem Cell Combination Repairs Damaged Hearts - Heart muscle cells and epicardial cells derived from human ESCs were co-transplanted into rats with damaged hearts, generating grafts that had greater cell growth and that lived longer. Using CAR-T against HIV - Scientists have developed duoCAR-T cells that target multiple sites on the HIV envelope, and that were able to kill HIV cells while resisting infection themselves. Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. Stephen Szilvassy Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: Dr. Ubaka Ogbogu is an Associate Professor at the University of Alberta cross-appointed to the Faculties of Law and Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences. He is interested in the ethical, legal and societal implications of novel and emerging biomedical research and health care technologies. Featured Products and Resources: Jobs at STEMCELL Technologies Mesenchymal Stromal Cell Updates and Debates Resources and Links Major 'Don't Eat Me' Signal Found in Cancer Cells - Researchers have identified a protein whose signaling enables cancer cells to evade detection by the immune system, making it a promising target for cancer immunotherapy. Smooth Muscle Cells Change Identity to Protect against Atherosclerosis - Investigators have found that smooth muscle cells modulate their phenotype during atherosclerosis to protect the arterial walls. Tracking Stem Cells in Skin - Scientists tracked stem cell division in the sebacious gland to understand the development and maintenance of the skin, and the effects of mutations on stem cell behavior. Reversing Sickle Cell Disease with CRISPR- CRISPR was used to edit HSCs in nonhuman primates to reverse the clinical symptoms of certain blood disorders. Modeling Monogenic Diabetes - The authors modeled monogenic diabetes using human ESCs to identify the role of the transcription factor that is mutated in the most common form of the disease. Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. Ubaka Ogbogu Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: Dr. Jennifer Adair is an Assistant Member in the Clinical Research Division at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. Her lab uses a combination of cell biology, molecular biology, chemistry, engineering, nanomedicine and bioinformatics to develop new gene therapy treatments for many different diseases, including cancer. Her goal is to develop safe, cost-effective and clinically relevant applications for gene therapy that can be implemented worldwide. Featured Products and Resources: Science in Seattle StemSpan SFEM II Resources and Links Possible Drug Target for Heart Condition Identified - Researchers have found that a genetic mutation linked to dilated cardiomyopathy activates a signaling pathway that is normally turned off in healthy adult hearts. Fibrosis Target Identified - Investigators have identified a protease that is activated by TGFβ that contributes to fibrosis development. Improved Kidney Organoids - Scientists have developed a protocol for generating vascularized and functional human PSC-derived 3D kidney organoids, and used them to model disease. New Tool for Immune Monitoring using Mass Cytometry - A mass cytometry workflow has been developed for identifying major immune cell lineages to improve biomarker discovery in immunotherapy trials. Delayed Neurodevelopment in Zika-Exposed Children - In this prospective cohort study, the authors found that one third of children up to age three who were exposed to Zika in-utero had below-average neurological development. Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. Jennifer Adair Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: Dr. Arun Sharma is a Senior Research Fellow in the Svendsen lab at Cedars-Sinai. His research focuses on the applications of iPSCs for studying cardiovascular biology, modeling diseases in a dish with genome editing technologies, and developing high-throughput platforms for screening drug toxicity and efficacy. Featured Products and Resources: STEMdiff™ Cardiomyocyte Webinar: Modeling Arrhythmias Using hPSC-Derived Cardiomyocytes and Tracking Their Excitability Resources and Links Regeneration Potential of Neonatal Mouse Heart - Researchers have shown that the regeneration capacity of the neonatal mouse heart is limited, suggesting that the processes of embryonic heart development and postnatal heart generation are distinct. Guiding Human Development in a Dish- Scientists have developed a method for exposing human ESCs to gradients of key signaling molecules to mimic the early stages of embryonic development. Immune Cells Invade Aging Brains - Investigators have found that T cells invade the brain of aged mice and inhibit the proliferation of neural stem cells. Ethical Development of Stem-Cell Based Interventions - The authors address key ethical and policy challenges confronting the clinical translation of stem cell-based interventions. Dopamine Replacement Trial for Parkinson's Disease - A clinical trial is underway to assess the efficacy of transplanting PSC-derived dopamine-producing cells in Parkinson's disease patients. Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. Arun Sharma Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: Dr. James Hudson is Group Leader of the Organoid Research Laboratory at the QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute in Brisbane, Australia, whose research is focused on developing state-of-the-art bioengineering approaches for human 3D organoids to use for studying cardiac biology and discovering new heart disease therapeutics. Featured Products and Resources: STEMdiff™ Cardiomyocyte Webinar: Modeling Arrhythmias Using hPSC-Derived Cardiomyocytes and Tracking Their Excitability Resources and Links Stimulating Hair Growth - Investigators have demonstrated that quiescent hair follicles can be stimulated to grow by small molecules that activate autophagy. Organoid Model of Fibrotic Lung Disease - Researchers used ESC-derived 3D organoids to model fibrotic lung disease, and identified a possible pathogenic mechanism. Antibody Conditioning for HSC Transplants - A transplant of mismatched HSCs without immune suppression by chemotherapy or radiation was successful in mice by performing a conditioning treatment with six antibodies. Improving Pancreatic Islet Transplantation - Researchers have identified a protein that improves revascularization of pancreatic islet grafts, and is a potential target for enhancing transplant outcomes in type 1 diabetes. Reprogramming Scar Tissue into Heart Muscle - For the first time, scientists have developed a stable, reproducible, and minimilistic platform to reprogram human fibroblast cells into cardiomyocytes. Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. James Hudson Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: Dr. Tannishtha Reya is a Professor of Pharmacology and Medicine at the University of California, San Diego. Her lab  focuses on understanding the signaling pathways that regulate the choice between stem cell renewal and commitment, and define how the same signals are subverted in cancer. Featured Products and Resources: Cancer Stem Cell News Dunn Webinar: Understanding Pancreatic Development and Diabetes Using Patient-Specific iPS Cells Resources and Links HIV-Preventing Gene Mutation Linked to Earlier Death - A variant of the CCR5 gene that protects against HIV infection, and that was infamously edited in babies using CRISPR, has been associated with an earlier death. Establishment of Expanded Potential Stem Cells - Investigators have generated pig and human expanded potential stem cells that have the features of the first cells in the developing embryo. Single Cell Trajectories of Cardiopharyngeal Fates - Scientists have mapped the development of heart lineages and identified the mechanisms dictating cardiopharyngeal fate choices. Improved Human Brain Organoids - Researchers have developed a new method of generating brain organoids with little developmental variability between the organoids. Stromal Cells Influence Pancreatic Cell Tumors - The stromal microenvironment has been shown to affect gene expression and shape tumor growth and metastasis in pancreatic cancer. Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. Tannishtha Reya Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: Dr. Bertie Göttgens is a Professor of Molecular Hematology at the University of Cambridge. His lab studies how transcription factor networks control the function of hematopoietic stem cells, and how mutations that perturb such networks cause leukemia. In this episode, he talks about his research and his groundbreaking paper that mapped mouse gastrulation and early organogenesis. Featured Products and Resources: mTeSR™ Plus #StemCellfie Contest Resources and Links New Neurons Form in Old Age, Even in People with Alzheimer's - Researchers have shown that hippocampal neurons continue to form well into old age, as well as in individuals with mild cognitive impairments and Alzheimer's disease. Blocking an Inflammatory Protein Reverses Brain Aging - Blocking an inflammatory protein in brain cells reversed the effects of brain aging in old mice, and prevented signs of brain aging in young mice infused with old blood. New Mechanism Identified for Blood Stem Cell Development - Researchers have discovered a new role for the epidermal growth factor receptor in regulating hematopoietic stem cell development. Mapping the Bone Marrow Microenvironment - Investigators created a map of the stem cell niche in mouse bone marrow, and identified how it is influenced during healthy homeostasis and in leukemia. Non-Invasive Tool Tracks Efficacy of Transplanted Stem Cells - Exosomes isolated from blood are a potential non-invasive method for monitoring the activity of transplanted cardiac progenitor cells following a heart attack.   Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. Bertie Göttgens Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: Dr. Adrian Teo is a Principal Investigator at the Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology at the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) in Singapore. His research focuses on using stem cell technology to model human pancreatic development in vivo and to study the mechanisms that cause diabetes and underlie diabetic complications. Featured Products and Resources: Pancreatic Cell News Ray Dunn Webinar Resources and Links Advancing Cell Therapies for Diabetes - Researchers mapped stem cell-derived beta cell differentiation, and developed an improved process for purifying beta cells, which can be used to enhance cell therapies for diabetes. Essential Role of YAP in Liver Regeneration - YAP signaling, which activates the transcription of certain genes, has been shown to be necessary for the survival and regeneration of liver epithelial cells upon injury. Gene Therapy Repairs Heart Attack Damage in Pigs - Expression of a microRNA delivered by adeno-associated viral vectors stimulated cardiac repair in pig hearts following a heart attack. How Low Oxygen Affects the Premature Brain - Using 3D brain-region-specific organoids, research have identified certain brain cells that are susceptible to harm from exposure to oxygen deprivation during early development. Tumor-Initiating Cells Addicted to Methionine - Scientists have found that tumor-initiating cells are metabolically dependent on methionine, providing a potential therapeutic target.   Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. Adrian Teo Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: Dr. Rita Perlingeiro is the Lillehei Professor in Stem Cell and Regenerative Cardiovascular Medicine at the Lillehei Heart Institute. Her lab is interested in understanding the molecular mechanisms controlling lineage-specific differentiation of pluripotent stem cells, and applying this information to generate tissue-specific stem/progenitor cells endowed with in vivo regenerative potential. Much of her work is focused on muscular dystrophies. Featured Products and Resources: Muscle Cell News MyoCult™ Resources and Links New CAR T-Cell Therapy Less Toxic - A Phase I clinical trial has shown that a redesigned CAR T-cell molecule was less toxic and produced fewer side effects in patients, making the treatment safer. Using MSCs to Engineer an HSC Niche - Researchers have identified genes in mesenchymal stem cells that enhanced the production of niche factors that could maintain hematopoietic stem cells in culture. Generating Ovarian Cancer Organoids - Investigators developed a protocol for generating and expanding ovarian cancer organoids, and demonstrated their potential applications. Stress-Resistant Muscle Stem Cells - Scientists have identified a population of muscle stem cells that resist radiation and are able to expand under severe stress. Muscle Stem Cells Protected from Environmental Stress - The expression of a transcription factor has been shown to protect muscle stem cells against environmental stress caused by a toxic pollutant.   Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. Rita Perlingeiro Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: Dr. Josef Penninger is the Director of the Life Sciences Institute at the University of British Columbia and a Canada 150 Chair in Functional Genetics. He was previously the Scientific and Founding Director of the Institute for Molecular Biotechnology of the Austrian Academy of Sciences. His research is focused on understanding the complex mechanisms of how diseases develop, particularly in cardiovascular, autoimmune and bone diseases, and cancers. Featured Products and Resources: Science in the City - Vancouver EC-Cult™ Resources and Links Shutting Down Glioblastoma at its Earliest Moments - By performing cell-by-cell genetic analyses of developing brain tissues in neonatal mice and laboratory models of brain cancer, scientists have identified a molecular driver of glioblastoma. The Bone Marrow Microenvironment at Single-Cell Resolution -  Researchers have mapped the transcriptional landscape of mouse bone marrow cell populations, both at homeostasis and under conditions of stress-induced hematopoiesis. Exploring the Mouse Gut Endoderm at Single Cell Resolution - Investigators have shown that throughout embryogenesis endoderm cells acquire a transcriptional identity that reflects their future fate and spatial positioning. Specification of Positional Identity in the Forebain - Scientists have grown topographically organized human forebrain organoids using engineered signaling centers. The Developmental Origin and Lifespan of Osteoclasts - Researchers have identified the developmental origin of osteoclasts and a mechanism that controls their maintenance in bones after birth.   Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. Josef Penninger Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: Dr. Kristen Brennand is an Associate Professor of Genetics and Genomics, Neuroscience, and Psychiatry at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York. A major focus of her work is in developing in vitro models for schizophrenia in order to identify novel insights into the molecular and cellular phenotypes of mental illness. Her lab has established a new mechanism using iPSC-based models to systematically test the impact of causal variants in human cells. Featured Resource: Subscribe to Neural Cell News Dr. Kristen Brennand Webinar: Using hiPSCs to Study Genetic Variants Linked to Schizophrenia Resources and Links Testicular Graft Produces Sperm and Live Offspring - Primates that had prepubertal testicular tissue removed, frozen, and grafted back later in life were able to produce sperm and offspring. Using Cardiac Organoids for Drug Screening - Cardiac organoids were used to identify pro-regenerative drugs without detrimental side effects on cardiac function. A Common Embryonic Origin of Neural Progenitors - Investigators have found that in mice, a single population of neural progenitors contributes to lifelong neurogenesis in the hippocampus. New Brain Cells Made throughout Life - Scientists have shown that humans can make new brain cells into their nineties, but this production progressively declines in individuals with Alzheimer's disease. Using Phenotypes to Identify Schizophrenia Genes - Researchers have developed a phenotypic atlas of schizophrenia-associated genes, and identified 30 genes for further study.   Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. Kristen Brennand Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: Dr. Robert Mays is the Co-founder and Vice President of Regenerative Medicine and Head of Neuroscience Programs at Athersys Inc. He focuses on Athersys' proprietary stem cell product, MultiStem®, and its applications in regenerative medicine and drug discovery, with a specific focus on injuries and diseases affecting the central nervous system. Featured Resource: Apply to become a co-host on the Stem Cell Podcast! Cytokines Resources and Links New Drug Developed to Treat Heart Attack Damage - Using iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes, scientists have developed a new drug that minimizes cardiomyocyte death following a heart attack. Enhancing iPSC Immune Compatibility - Researchers used CRISPR to make immunocompatible donor iPSCs that could increase iPSC-based regenerative medicine applications. Kidney Organoids Created from Urine - Researchers have generated kidney tubular epithelial organoids from both kidney tissue and urine cells, which can be used for personalized disease modeling. Modeling Developmental Disorder with Brain Organoids - Cerebral organoids were used to model the developmental disorder neuronal heterotopia, providing insight into the mechanisms causing impaired neuronal migration. Cancer-Specific Inhibitor Identified - Researchers have identified a cancer-specific inhibitor that targets the metabolic needs of cancer cells.   Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. Robert Mays Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: Dr. Andrew Murphy is an Associate Professor at the Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute and Monash University in Melbourne, Australia. He seeks to understand the processes by which hematopoietic stem cells and the bone marrow niche become affected in disease, specifically in the context of cardiovascular and metabolic disease. Featured Resource: Apply to become a co-host on the Stem Cell Podcast! Hematopoiesis Hub Resources and Links Quiescence Increases the Resistance and Function of Old Neural Stem Cells - Increased quiescence makes aged neural stem cells resistant to regeneration. But, if activation is enforced, both young and old NSCs show similar proliferation and differentiation capacity. A Gliogenic Switch for Human Astrocytes - Researchers have developed a new method to rapidly differentiate astrocytes from PSC-derived neural stem cells using a protein switch. Generating Thalamic Organoids - Researchers have created thalamic organoids and fused them together with an organoid of the frontal cortex to study brain development and disease. CRISPR Therapy for Hutchinson-Gilford Progeria Syndrome (Article 1)(Article 2) - Two separate research groups have used CRISPR to suppress the accelerated aging observed in mice with Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome. CRISPR Makes iPSCs Invisible to the Immune System - Using CRISPR, scientists have created iPSCs that evade the immune system and prevent transplant rejection, poising them as a "universal" donor stem cell.   Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. Andrew Murphy Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: Dr. Paul Frenette is the Chair and Director of the Ruth L. and David S. Gottesman Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Research at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. Dr. Frenette's research focuses on the molecular and cellular constitutents of the stem cell niche, mechanisms of sickle cell vaso-occlusion, the role of the nervous system in cancer, and understanding how hematopoietic stem cells and mature blood cells traffic in vivo. Featured Resource: STEMvision™ Resources and Links An Improved Approach for Generating Kidney Organoids - Researchers have developed a new in vitro method for generating vascularized, mature kidney organoids by exposing them to fluidic shear stress. Functional Insulin-Producing Cells Grown in Lab - For the first time, mature insulin-producing cells have been developed from stem cells. Reprogramming Pancreatic Cells to Treat Diabetes - Scientists have reprogrammed pancreatic α-cells into insulin-producing pancreatic β-cells that were able to reverse diabetes in mice. A Bioengineered Factory for T Cells - Researchers have developed an injectable bone marrow-like scaffold that enhances T cell development following a bone marrow transplant. Sleep Protects against Heart Disease - By subjecting mice to chronic sleep fragmentation, researchers have discovered a neuro-immune axis that links sleep to hematopoiesis and atherosclerosis.   Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. Paul Frenette Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: Dr. Stephanie Willerth is an Associate Professor and Canada Research Chair at the University of Victoria. Her research focuses on using engineering-based approaches to stem cell biology. Her team develops bioactive scaffolds for directing stem cell differentiation, and investigates the expression of transcription factors that regulates this process. The goal of her group's research is to develop engineered tissues that can be transplanted in the human nervous system to treat diseases like Parkinson's or repair damaged spinal cord tissue. Featured Resources: STEMdiff™ Neural System for hPSC-Based Neurological Modeling Science in Vancouver Resources and Links A Druggable Target for Alzheimer's Disease - Researchers have identified a cholesterol product regulating Tau proteostasis, which could serve as a drug target for Alzheimer’s disease. New Biomarker and Drug Target for ALS - Using an iPSC model of human motor neurons, researchers discovered that the STMN2 gene may be a potential biomarker and therapeutic target for ALS. Generation of Lung Organoids - Researchers have developed a protocol for differentiating hPSCs into human lung and bud tip progenitor organoids. Scientists Grow Human Blood Vessels in a Dish - Scientists have grown functional human vascular organoids that can be used to model and study vascular diseases. Organoid-Induced Differentiation of T Cells - Artificial thymic organoids were used to generate mature T cells from PSCs, providing a renewable source for treatment.   Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. Stephanie Willerth Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: Dr. James Wells is the Director for Research in the Division of Endocrinology at Cincinnati Children's Hospital, as well as the Chief Scientific Officer at the Center for Stem Cell and Organoid Medicine (CuSTOM). His research focuses on understanding the embryonic development of the pancreas and gastrointestinal organs by identifying mechanisms involved in the embryonic development of endocrine cells. His translational projects include generating 3D human tissues from pluripotent stem cells to model diabetes and digestive disease. Resources and Links Creation of 3D Printed Implant for Spinal Cord Injuries - Researchers have succesfully 3D printed a two-millimeter spinal cord implant to repair spinal cord injuries in rats. Researchers Generate Human Naive Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells - A combination of microfluidics and modified RNA have been used to directly reprogram somatic cells into naive, rather than primed, hiPSCs. Cutting Off Melanoma's Escape Routes – Scientists have discovered stem cells which form blood vessels in tumors, and have identified how to switch the cells off, cutting off the blood supply. Endoglin as a Target for Acute Leukemia - A glycoprotein on the cell surface, called endoglin, is a marker for cancer stem cells in acute myeloid leukemia and acute B-lymphoblastic leukemia. Correcting the Genetic Mutation that Causes a Life-Threatening Autoimmune Syndrome - Researchers have developed a method for modifying blood stem cells to reverse the genetic mutation that causes IPEX syndrome. Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. James Wells Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: Dr. Carla Kim is a Professor in the Division of Hematology/Oncology and Pulmonary Respiratory Diseases at Children’s Hospital Boston, as well as in the Department of Genetics at Harvard Medical School and in the Harvard Stem Cell Institute. Her research involves characterizing the biology of stem cells in the normal lung and in lung cancer using a combination of mouse genetics, cell biology and genomics approaches. Her lab has also developed 3D lung organoid systems that makes it possible to derive specialized lung cells from lung stem cells and interrogate the crosstalk between specialized cell types in the healthy and diseased lung. Resources and Links Human Blood Cells Can Be Directly Reprogrammed into Neural Stem Cells - Researchers have established an approach for direct differentiation of somatic cells into expandable neural progenitor cells. Stem Cell-Derived Neurons Stop Seizures and Improve Cognitive Function - Transplantation of hiPSC-derived neural cells into the hippocampus of rats who have experienced prolonged seizures can greatly reduce the frequency of spontaneous recurrent seizures. How Sperm Stem Cells Maintain Their Number – Sperm stem cell numbers are achieved through competition for a limited supply of self-renewal-promoting fibroblast growth factors. Researchers Discover Control Mechanism for Melanoma Skin Cancer - Tissue-resident memory T cells control the growth of melanomas in mice for the life of the animal, which likely equates to decades of protection in humans. Age-Related Remodelling of Oesophageal Epithelia by Mutated Cancer Drivers - Researchers find that alcohol consumption and smoking substantially accelerate mutations in cancer driver genes with age. Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. Carla Kim Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: Dr. Jeffrey Millman is an Assistant Professor of Medicine and Biomedical Engineering at the Washington University in St. Louis. His research focuses on the in vitro production and study of pancreatic insulin-producing β cells from human pluripotent stem cells for use in cellular replacement therapy and drug screening. He joins us to discuss his research. Resources and Links Efficient Scarless Genome Editing in Human Pluripotent Stem Cells - Researchers have established a new method for generating 'scarless' genetic changes in human pluripotent stem cells that do not leave selection markers. Platelets Grown from Stem Cells May be Alternative to Donated Platelets - Platelets generated from adipose-derived stromal stem cells could provide an alternative to donated platelets, which are in short supply and can cause infection in the recipient. Tackling Treatment-Resistant Cancer – Researchers have found an epigenetic mechanism that cancer cells use to overcome drug treatment. Honey Bee Protein Keeps Stem Cells Young - A mammalian analog of the active component of honeybee royal jelly acts as a fountain of youth for mouse embryonic stem cells by maintaining their pluripotency. A Renewable Source of Beige Fat to Overcome Obesity - Reprogramming iPSCs to brown and beige adipose tissue, which burns glucose and improve metabolic function, could provide a new therapeutic strategy to address the health risks of obesity. Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. Jeffrey Millman Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: Dr. Sandra Ryeom is the Assistant Professor of Cancer Biology at the University of Pennsylvania's Perelman School of Medicine. Dr. Ryeom’s lab focuses on understanding the contribution of endothelial cells in different organs towards maintaining stem cell populations. She joins us to discuss her work and recent paper in Nature Communications. Resources and Links Zaps to Brain to Ease Depression - People’s moods quickly improved after scientists stimulated the orbitofrontal cortex in the brain, a finding that may ultimately usher in powerful ways to combat severe depression. Gut Bacteria May Guard against Diabetes - The friendly gut bacterium Akkermansia muciniphila may help protect against Type II diabetes. Those bacteria are lost with aging, setting the stage for the disease. Small Doses of Peanut Protein Can Help Allergies – A study finds that allergic children exposed to gradually increasing doses of peanut protein increased their tolerance to nuts, and lowered symptom severity. Coffee or Tea Preference Is Written In DNA - Whether people drink tea or coffee may depend partly on which bitter chemicals they have a genetic sensitivity towards. The First CRISPR Babies Are Born in China - A Chinese researcher claims that he helped make the world’s first genetically edited babies by using CRISPR technology. Intestinal Allografts Contain Functional Hematopoietic Stem Cells – A surprising new study has found that the human intestine may provide up to 10 percent of blood cells in circulation from its own reservoir of hematopoietic stem cells. Healthy Blood Stem Cell Have As Many DNA Mutations as Leukemic Cells - Researchers have found that the number of mutations in healthy and leukemic hematopoietic stem cells does not differ. Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. Sandra Ryeom Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: Dr. Karun Singh is a Principal Investigator, Associate Professor and the David Braley Chair in Human Stem Cell Research at McMaster University. The overall goal of Dr. Singh’s research program is to use stem cell-based models to study neurological disorders and devise new therapies for these conditions. His latest paper discusses an iPSC knockout resource for functional studies of autism-risk genes. Resources and Links Microneedles for Eyes - A team of researchers developed a contact lens-like eyepatch that would leave tiny, dissolving microneedles in the eye to slowly deliver drugs over several days. Making Mitochondria - Researchers engineered endosymbiosis between E. coli and Saccharomyces cerevisiae to model the endosymbiotic theory of mitochondrial evolution. Obesity Linked to Tumor Growth - Obesity raises the risk of certain tumors and reduces immune activity, but might also amplify the effects of some cancer therapies. People of the Andes Evolved Uniquely - A new study of ancient and modern DNA suggests that the Andean highland people of Peru adapted differently from lowland populations due to environmental and social pressures. The Ubiquitin-Proteasome System Is Indispensable for the Maintenance of Muscle Stem Cells – Researchers found decreased proteasome activity in the satellite cells of mice lacking the crucial proteasomal component, Rpt3. Ablation of Rpt3 in satellite cells resulted in proliferation defects and apoptosis. In Vitro Expansion of Primary Human Hepatocytes with Efficient Liver Repopulation Capacity – Researchers provided a protocol that enables the large-scale expansion of transplantable human hepatocytes, which could be further developed for modeling and treating human liver disease. First Patient Receives Stem Cell Transplant in Parkinson's Trial - A research team at Kyoto University injected induced pluripotent stem cells, which have the potential to develop into any cell in the body, into the brain of a 50-year old male with Parkinson's disease. Neural Stem Cells Help Repair Brain Injuries - A study has found that a neural stem cell transplantation into a mouse model of cerebral palsy repaired damaged parts of the brain while restoring motor impairments; however, the cells themselves did not differentiate, suggesting that they promote an indirect mechanism of recovery. Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. Karun Singh Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: Dr. Pamela Robey is a senior investigator at the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research at the NIH. Dr. Robey’s work focuses on skeletal biology, and the characteristics and biological properties of bone marrow stromal cells, a subset of which are multipotent skeletal stem cells.  In late September, Dr. Robey co-authored a commentary article in Nature discussing the ever famous, but dubious, mesenchymal stem cell. She comes on the show to talk about this and more. Resources and Links Sunbathing Every Other Day for a Darker Tan and Less Damage - Exposure to the sun every other day, rather than daily, can improve a sunbather's dark tan while minimizing skin damage. First Viable Freeze-Thawed Coral Larvae Reported - A technique called cryopreservation might help save some threatened coral reefs. The first coral larvae to survive being frozen and then thawed by scientists are a kind of a mushroom coral. Mix of Gut Bacteria Allow Pathogens to Flourish - The bacterium Clostridioides difficile, that causes severe diarrhea, takes advantage when antibiotics or other factors disrupt the normal mix of microbes in the gut. Changing Fruit Flies’ Gut Bacteria Makes Them Speed Walk - The authors suggest that microbes in the gut may affect how the brain controls movement. Stem Cell Derived Neural Cells Are Going to Space - Research teams at the Summit for Stem Cell labs in La Jolla, California, and the New York Stem Cell Foundation Research Institute in New York, NY, will conduct the first long-term cell culture experiment in space focused on neurodegenerative diseases. How Sleeping Mammary Stem Cells Are Awakened in Puberty - Scientists have discovered how the growth of milk-producing mammary glands is triggered during puberty. Testicular Endothelial Cells Are a Critical Population in the Germline Stem Cell Niche - Identifying testicular endothelial cells as a niche population necessary for spermatogonial stem cell self-renewal may facilitate fertility preservation for prepubertal boys diagnosed with cancer. Engineered Anti-CRISPR Proteins for Optogenetic Control of CRISPR–Cas9 – Researchers enabled light-mediated genome and epigenome editing, and revealed rapid Cas9 genome targeting in human cells. Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. Pamela Robey Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: Dr. Benjamin Dekel is a leading investigator in the field of human renal stem cell biology and regenerative medicine. He is the Head of the Pediatric Stem Cell Research Institute and the Director of the Division of Pediatric Nephrology at the Edmond and Lily Safra Children’s Hospital, Sheba Medical Center, Israel. Resources and Links Gene Editing Creates Mice with Two Dads - Researchers gathered fathers’ stem cells, and used them to produce embryos that were implanted into surrogate mothers. A New Microscope to Visualize Mammalian Development - A new microscope uses laser light to image growing mammal embryos. Scientists used the instrument to track a mouse embryo as it developed over two days. Rising Temperatures and Drought Target Barley Crops Worldwide - Climate change impacts on barley crops could lead to less beer and skyrocketing prices. Hundreds of Dietary Supplements Are Tainted with Potentially Harmful Drugs - Most of the nearly 800 dietary supplements flagged by the FDA as tainted with potentially harmful drugs from 2007 to 2016 were marketed to improve sex drive, help with weight loss or build muscle. HOPX-Dependent Cardiomyocyte Maturation – Single-cell RNA-seq during cardiac hPSC differentiation reveals cellular heterogeneity. CRISPR Screens to Identify Factors that Drive Neuronal Fate – Researchers activated the expression of all endogenous transcription factors and other regulators via a pooled CRISPRa screen in embryonic stem cells, revealing genes including epigenetic regulators such as Ezh2 that can induce neuronal fate. A Biodegradable Device for Electrical Stimulation of Nerve Regrowth - Researchers have developed an implantable, biodegradable device that delivers regular pulses of electricity to damaged peripheral nerves in rats, helping the animals regrow nerves in their legs and recover their nerve function and muscle strength more quickly. In Utero CRISPR Mediated Therapeutic Editing of Metabolic Genes - For the first time, scientists have performed prenatal gene editing to prevent a lethal metabolic disorder in laboratory animals, offering the potential to treat human congenital diseases before birth. Treatment of a Metabolic Liver Disease by In Vivo Genome Base Editing in Adult Mice - A team of researchers applied a newly developed editing tool to target and correct genetic mutations. By doing so, the researchers healed mice suffering from a genetic metabolic disorder that also affects humans. Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. Benjamin Dekel Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: Dr. Tsvee Lapidot is a Professor at the Weizmann Institute of Science. His research investigates the regulation of normal and leukemic hematopoietic stem cells by the brain-bone-blood triad in transplanted mice. In this episode we talk to him about his research and his latest study in Cell Stem Cell looking at the influence of circadian rhythms on regulation of blood stem cells. Resources and Links Nobel Congratulations - This year’s Nobel laureates discovered brakes that keep immune cells called T cells from attacking cancer. The laureates’ innovations remove those brakes, allowing the immune system to fight tumors. Deadly Strain of Bird Flu Can Easily Infect Ducks - Some ducks in China’s Fujian province carry highly pathogenic strains of the H7N9 avian influenza virus. Placing CRISPR Gene Editor into Bacteria Can Kill the Pathogen - A new approach to fighting antibiotic-resistance Staphylococcus aureus bacteria co-opts genes that normally make the bacteria more dangerous. First Lab Test of Gene Drive Wiped Out Mosquito Population - The malaria-carrying mosquito Anopheles gambiae’s days might be numbered. Scientists have devised a gene drive that bottomed out the mosquito’s populations in lab tests. Novel Method for Detecting Human Embryonic Stem Cells - A new method developed by researchers at Singapore University of Technology and Design can potentially ensure patient safety for future stem cell-based therapies by enhancing native stem cell bioelectric signals. Erythro-Myeloid Progenitors Contribute Endothelial Cells to Blood Vessels - This new report shows that a complementary source of endothelial cells is recruited into pre-existing vasculature after differentiation from the earliest precursors of erythrocytes, megakaryocytes and macrophages - the erythro-myeloid progenitors that are born in the yolk sac. Induction of Resistance to Chimeric Antigen Receptor T Cell Therapy - The progeny of a subclone of the parental leukemia generated during the cell manufacturing process can lead to a late relapse of leukemia. Urine Derived Cells Provide Cell Type for Reprogramming - Authors report the reprogramming of multiple patient urine-derived cell lines with mRNA reprogramming, which, to date, is one of the fastest and most faithful reprogramming methods. Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. Tsvee Lapidot Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: Dr. Louis Vermeulen is a Principal Investigator at the Center for Experimental Molecular Medicine at the Academic Medical Center in Amsterdam, and the New York Stem Cell Foundation, where he is focusing on the role of stem cells in colorectal cancer development and progression. He aims to develop improved preventative strategies and novel therapies for this disease by studying the effects of genetic mutations on the behavior of stem cells in the gut. Resources and Links Recount of the Human Genome - A recount of human genes increases the number to at least 46,831. The new estimate is based on a broader definition a gene. Bias in Studying the Genome - Despite the Human Genome Project having heralded the exploration of previously unknown human genes, the focus of genetic studies remains narrow. Obesity Can Harm Learning and Memory - Obesity may prod immune cells to nibble parts of nerve cell connections called synapses, a mouse study suggests. A New Antibiotic to Kill Superbugs - A new drug can wipe out strains of common bacteria that have resisted treatment to multiple other antibiotics, including Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which can cause urinary tract or respiratory infections. Glial Cells Prevent Tau Pathology  - By preventing the accumulation of senescent cells in the brain, scientists were able to diminish tau protein aggregation, neuronal death and memory loss. Software for Personalized Leukemia Treatments - Early findings from a new study could help in the development of immune-based treatments personalized to people with acute myeloid leukemia who are undergoing stem cell transplantation. Stem Cells to Save Rhino Species – A second rhino has become pregnant this year through artificial insemination at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park. Scientists reprogrammed cryopreserved rhino cells and matured them into germ cells to be used for the insemination. Gene Therapy via Skin to Protect from Cocaine Over Dose - A new study shows that epidermal stem cells, modified via CRISPR and transplanted back to donor mice, can protect addicted mice from cocaine-seeking behavior and overdose. Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. Louis Vermeulen Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: Dr. Kelly Frazer is the Director of the UC San Diego Institute for Genomic Medicine and Founding Chief of the Division of Genome Information Sciences in the Department of Pediatrics at UC San Diego. Dr. Frazer has spent the past 25 years studying various aspects of functional and structural human genomics. In this episode she talks to us about her recent paper looking at the mutational burden of human induced pluripotent stem cells. Resources and Links New Found Skull Tunnels – Using a micro-CT scan, scientists found that the mouse skull is full of microscopic channels that connect the bone to the brain’s outer membrane. Similar channels were found in human skulls. Microglia Part of Sex-Linked Brain Disorders – Scientists found that male microglia might be less protected against environmental insults and quicker to activate the cellular suicide program. Genes to Help Plants Produce Morphine-Like Molecules - The newly deciphered genome of the opium poppy is helping scientists figure out how the plant evolved the ability to make morphine and other similar painkilling molecules. CRISPR to Help Dog Muscular Dystrophy - Scientists have used CRISPR/Cas9 to repair a genetic mutation in beagle puppies that causes muscular dystrophy. New Cell Fate Determinant Identified in Neural Stem Cells - Lisa Flanagan, PhD, and her research team examined several pathways that add sugars to cells and found one that differed between cells that make neurons and cells that make astrocytes. A New Family Tree of Blood Production Provides Info on Stem Cells - A new study shows that humans have ten times more hematopoietic stem cells than previously thought. Blood Brain Barrier Chip System - Wyss Institute researchers have created organ chips that mimic the brain and the blood-brain barrier and, by linking them together, have discovered how our blood vessels and neurons influence each other. Using Stem Cell Factors in Wounds Could Help Heal Skin Ulcers - Scientists have developed a technique to directly convert the cells in an open wound into new skin cells. Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. Kelly Frazer Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: Dr. Joseph C. Wu, MD, PhD is Director of the Stanford Cardiovascular Institute and Simon H. Stertzer Endowed Professor in Department of Medicine (Cardiology) and Department of Radiology at the Stanford School of Medicine. Dr. Wu is a pioneer in using iPS cells in personalized medicine and we talk to him about his work and the state of the field in respect to novel stem cell therapies for cardiovascular disease. Resources and Links First FDA Approved RNAi Therapy - The FDA has approved Alnylam Pharmaceuticals’ Onpattro (patisiran) infusion, a first-of-its-kind RNA-based therapy for treating peripheral nerve disease (polyneuropathy) caused by hereditary transthyretin-mediated amyloidosis in adult patients. Cancer Drug to Help Liver Overcome Painkiller Overdose - In mice given a toxic dose of acetaminophen, an anticancer medication kept liver cells alive. Zika Virus Harms Nearly 1 in 7 Babies Exposed to The Virus in the Womb - A CDC study of births in U.S. territories tallies birth defects and later health problems. Scientists Tracked the Speed of Cell Suicide - The study shows that the process of cells' self-inflicted death, called apoptosis, functions in trigger waves that travel at speeds of 30 micrometers per minute. Why Salamanders Regenerate and Lizards Do Not - By transplanting neural stem cells between species, researchers have discovered that the lizard's native stem cells are the primary factor hampering tail regeneration. Stem Cell Transplants to Treat Cystic Fibrosis - Researchers believe their breakthrough in stem cell transplantation therapy, developed in mice, could eventually provide a cure for cystic fibrosis. iPS Cells for Platelet Transplant Therapy - A team at Japan's Kyoto University hopes to conduct the first clinical study of an intractable blood disease using induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells. Stem Cells Restore Some Vision in Blind Mice - The procedure is the first of its kind and researchers hope that it will lead to treatments for incurable eye diseases. Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. Joseph Wu Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: Dr. Charles Murry is the Woods Professor of Pathology, Bioengineering and Medicine/Cardiology at the University of Washington. He also serves as Director of the UW’s Heart Regeneration Program, with the goal of achieving stem cell-based heart regeneration in patients. He has recently published a paper that used stem cell derived heart cells to treat heart damage in monkeys. Featured Resource: CloneR™ Defined Supplement for Single-Cell Cloning of Human ES and iPS Cells Resources and Links Leeches And Drug Resistance - Medicinal leeches contain bacteria in their guts that can be transferred to humans. In some cases, it only takes a small exposure to antibiotics for those bacteria to become drug resistant. Soccer Headers Affect Women More - A head-to-head comparison finds that heading a soccer ball may damage white matter in women’s brains more than men’s. A New Ebola Species Identified - A new species of Ebola virus was found in two bat species in Sierra Leone, the Angolan free-tailed bat and the little free-tailed bat and experts fear it could spread to humans. CRISPR Conversation - The researcher behind the world’s largest effort to edit human embryos with CRISPR is vowing to continue his efforts to develop what he calls “IVF gene therapy". Generation of Human Spinal Cord Neural Stem Cells - Scientists report the derivation of spinal cord neural stem cells from human pluripotent stem cells. Japan Launches First Clinical Trial Using Stem Cells for Parkinson’s  - A much-anticipated induced pluripotent stem cell trial for Parkinson’s Disease reportedly will soon launch led by Professor Jun Takahashi. Stem Cell Formation in Plants - A Purdue University study has uncovered mechanisms that led to stem cell formation and maintenance in plants. Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. Charles Murry Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: Dr. David Knapp is a Post-Doctoral Fellow at the University of Oxford. Colin Hammond is a graduate student in Dr. Connie Eaves' lab at the BC Cancer Agency. Dr. David Knapp and Colin Hammond talk about their recent publication in Nature Cell Biology regarding stem cell populations in cord blood cells. Featured Resource: Webinar: Re-Creating Disease with Kidney Organoids and CRISPR Resources and Links Anti-CRISP Protein Production - Phages produce Anti-CRISPR proteins (Acr-proteins) that battle the bacterial defense system. Evidence of Oldest Life On Land - Scientists found evidence of terrestrial microbial life that they estimate is about 3.22 billion years old. Hybrid Embryos of Endangered White Rhinos - Scientists are using artificial reproductive technology to inject a northern white rhino sperm cell into a southern white rhino egg, creating one of the first rhino embryos in a lab. The Most Complete Look at a Fruit Fly’s Brain Cells - Using high-speed electron microscopy, scientists took 21 million nanoscale-resolution images of the brain of Drosophila melanogaster to capture every one of the 100,000 nerve cells that it contains. Mutational Burden' of Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells – Researchers have scrutinized the whole genome sequences of 18 induced pluripotent stem cell lines derived from skin cells that they had reprogrammed to identify and characterize somatic mutations. Creating Artificial Embryos - An international team of scientists have revealed that they used cells from mice to develop an embryo-like structure without the act of fertilization. Bioreactor-Based Method to Generate Kidney Organoids  - New treatments for kidney diseases and inherited kidney disorders could result from new research that is revolutionizing the way human kidney tissue is grown from stem cells. Functional Dissection of The Enhancer Repertoire - Scientists combined chromatin immunoprecipitation with a massively parallel reporter assay (ChIP-STARR-seq) to identify functional enhancers in human embryonic stem cells (ESCs). Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. David Knapp  Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: Samantha is an enthusiastic Science Communicator completing her PhD at the University of Toronto. Her doctoral research focuses on brain development and stem cell biology, under the supervision of renowned scientist Dr. Derek van der Kooy. We talk with Sam about her research and also about how she embraces science communication, using it to tell her science story! Featured Resource: STEMdiff™ Cerebral Organoid Kit Resources and Links Most Americans Believe Funding Science Pays Off - A new survey shows that government funding of basic science enjoys widespread support among U.S. adults, but most people have no idea how much or how little government money goes to scientific research. Gene Edited Monkeys Offer Hope for Heart Disease Patients - Researchers have used gene-editing tools in adult monkeys to lower animals’ blood cholesterol levels, suggesting a treatment for heart disease. Gene Drive Passes First Test in Mammals - A controversial technology capable of altering the genomes of entire species has been applied to mammals for the first time. Nerve Cells That Help Control Hunger Identified - Scientists found that somatostatin neurons in the tuberal nucleus, which is known to exhibit pathological or cytological changes in human neurodegenerative diseases, plays a crucial role in regulating feeding in mice. Stem Cells Repair Muscle After Heart Attack in Monkeys - According to a new study, injecting stem-cell-derived cardiac cells after a heart attack may help repair damaged tissue. New iPSC Reprogramming Method - Scientists succeeded in converting human skin cells into pluripotent stem cells by activating the cell’s own genes. Muscle Stem Cells Derived from Teratomas - Researchers have developed a process to regenerate skeletal muscle cells in mice with muscular dystrophy. Human iPSC-Derived Natural Killer Cells - In a new study, researchers report that similarly modified natural killer (NK) cells derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) also displayed heightened activity against a mouse model of ovarian cancer. Photo Reference: Courtesy of Samantha Yammine Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Intro: In early 2018, STEMCELL Technologies put out a call for scientists to visit their Vancouver facilities and peer review them against their company motto of “Scientists Helping Scientists”. Out of over 300 applicants, three postdoctoral fellows were selected to form the peer review team; they visited STEMCELL in April 2018 and conducted their review over three days. In this special episode of the Stem Cell Podcast, conducted at the end of the peer review initiative, Daylon and Kiki sat down with the peer reviewers to discuss their research interests, current issues and concerns in life science research and education, and their motivations for wanting to be involved in the peer review. Our hosts also asked the reviewers to deliver their final verdict on whether STEMCELL is truly a company of Scientists Helping Scientists and provide recommendations on how STEMCELL can improve in the future. Listen to find out the results! About the Peer Reviewers Dr. Amy Stone, PhD; Senior Fellow, University of Washington, United States Dr. Stone is investigating how humans defend against RNA viruses. Specifically, she is trying to understand how macrophages sense RNA virus infections, what changes in polarization and function occur in those macrophages, and the downstream effects on the adaptive immune system. Dr. Stone wanted to be part of this peer-review to contribute towards resolving the reproducibility crisis currently plaguing bioscience and to answer the question of “Can I rely on STEMCELL’s products to generate reproducible, accurate, trustworthy data?” Dr. Craig Ayre, PhD; Postdoctoral Fellow, Atlantic Cancer Research Institute, Canada Dr. Ayre is studying the basic biology of extracellular vesicles and investigating their diagnostic and therapeutic potential in different cancers. Dr. Ayre was interested in joining the peer review as a way to bridge the gap between the perceptions surrounding academic- vs. industry-led science, stating that industrial science needs to be given the same gravitas and platform to demonstrate its rigor and benefit to research as any other research program. Dr. Fiona Frame, PhD, Postdoctoral Research Associate, University of York, United Kingdom Dr. Frame is working on primary prostate epithelial cells derived from patient prostate cancer tissue. She uses these cells as a clinically relevant model to test current and novel treatments and therapy resistance. Dr. Frame wanted to be involved in the peer review to find out what goes on inside a company and what the company is doing to provide what scientists need. She expressed a desire to learn about the support that STEMCELL is able to provide to the scientific community and to be involved in an exchange of knowledge to help benefit research progress and the scientific community. To Learn More About the Peer Review: The Peer Review: Watch the short documentary film to follow the peer reviewers’ experience at STEMCELL. Detailed Peer Review Report: Take a closer look at how the peer review was performed. See what the reviewers had to say about our role in addressing scientific issues such as reproducibility, accessibility and quality. Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: Dr. Joseph Ciacci, MD, is a board-certified neurosurgeon with extensive experience in neuro-oncology of the spine and brain. Dr. Ciacci’s primary interests include tumors of the spine and brain, complex spinal reconstruction, and stereotactic radiosurgery, a form of radiation therapy that focuses high-power energy on a small area of the body. In this episode we talk to him about the results of his Phase I clinical trial transplanting stem cells into spinal cord injury patients. Featured Resource: Neural Stem Cells Wallchart Resources and Links Link between Alzheimer’s and Herpes Virus - Researchers suggest that two types of human herpes virus may play a role in Alzheimer's disease. Stopping Pandemics Like Zika Virus - A group of scientists launched a remarkable new project which aims to spot the next pandemic virus. The international initiative is known as the Global Virome Project (GVP) and it aims to pinpoint the causes of fatal new diseases before they start to make people ill. Drinking Coffee Protects Your Heart - Studies have shown that people who drink four cups of coffee a day have a lower risk of dying of a heart attack. A new study in mice may show one reason for that; caffeine in coffee gives cells energy to fight off damage. Dog’s Carry a Variety of Flu Viruses - Some dogs in southern China carry flu viruses originally transmitted from pigs. The viruses probably spread most easily where animals are crowded, such as shelters, farms and markets. New Characteristics of the Cancer Stem Cell Phenotype - Using systems-level approaches, scientists developed a replication stress response defect gene signature that predicted risk of cancer development from hyperplastic lesions. ICAM-1 Role in Blood Stem Cells - Recent advances in imaging and genetic manipulation of mouse models have allowed the identification of distinct vascular niches that have been shown to orchestrate the balance between quiescence, proliferation and regeneration of the bone marrow. Watch Spinal Cord Repair in Real Time - Monash University researchers restored movement and regenerated nerves using stem cells in zebra fish where the spinal cord is severely damaged. Scientists Solve the Case of The Missing Subplate - Scientists outlines a connection between subplate neurons and certain brain disorders, and further identifies a strategy for treating such disorders via innovative stem cell techniques. Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. Joseph Ciacci, MD Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: Dr. Benjamin Freedman is an Assistant Professor of Medicine at the University of Washington School of Medicine, Division of Nephrology. Dr. Freedman is currently performing biomedical research using human pluripotent stem cells to model kidney disease pathophysiology and develop new therapies. In this episode we talk about his work studying kidney disease and his latest paper in Cell Stem Cell using robots to create kidney organoids. Featured Resource: Wallchart: Growing Organoids from Stem Cells Resources and Links CRISPR-Cas9 Genome Editing Induces a p53-Mediated DNA Damage Response - Scientists report that genome editing by CRISPR-Cas9 induces a p53-mediated DNA damage response and cell cycle arrest in immortalized human retinal pigment epithelial cells, leading to a selection against cells with a functional p53 pathway. New Studies on Ocean Bacteria - A large-scale study of the Earth's surface ocean indicates the microbes responsible for fixing nitrogen there -- previously thought to be almost exclusively photosynthetic cyanobacteria -- include an abundant and widely distributed suite of non-photosynthetic bacterial populations. New Centriole Identified in Human Sperm - Researchers identified a new structure in human sperm that functions in the zygote and may provide new avenues for addressing male infertility and insights into early embryo developmental defects. Life on Mars - After more than four decades of searching for organic molecules on the surface of Mars, scientists have conclusively found them in mudstones on the lower slopes of Mount Sharp. New Treatment for Metastatic Breast Cancer - Researchers developed a high-throughput method to identify mutations present in a cancer that are recognized by the immune system. Tackling CRS and Neurotoxicity Associated with CAR T Cell Therapy - Recently developed animal models allow mechanistic dissection and prevention of toxicity without loss of therapeutic benefit. Single-Cell Analysis Identifies a CD33+ Subset of Human Cord Blood Cells with High Regenerative Potential - From a multi-parameter analysis of the molecular features of very primitive human cord blood cells that display long-term cell outputs in vitro and in immunodeficient mice, scientists identified a prospectively separable CD33+CD34+CD38-CD45RA-CD90+CD49f+ phenotype with serially transplantable, but diverse, cell output profiles. CRISPR in Two Cell Embryos - Combining 2C-HR-CRISPR with a modified biotin-streptavidin approach to localize repair templates to target sites, a more-than-tenfold increase (up to 95%) was achieved in knock-in efficiency over standard methods. Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. Benjamin Freedman   Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: Dr. Nicolas Rivron leads the Laboratory for Synthetic Embryology at the MERLN Institute for technology-driven regenerative medicine and at the Hubrecht Institute for Developmental Biology and Stem Cell Research. His laboratory created the blastoid system, the first model of early, pre-implantation embryos made in a dish from stem cells. Featured Resource: STEMdiff™ Trilineage Differentiation Kit - Functional Assay Kit to Assess Pluripotency by Directed Differentiation of Human ES and iPS Cells to All Three Germ Layers Resources and Links Update on Deadly Nipah Virus - As the rare virus claims more lives in the Indian state of Kerala, concerns have been raised about the potential of Nipah to become a global health emergency. Genetics of Flower Smells - An analysis of rose genes, including of those in the heirloom rose 'Old Blush', identifies overlooked ways the plants make some of their sweet-smelling compounds. Chicxulub Asteroid Impact Caused the Planet to Warm Up for 100,000 Years - The asteroid that hit Earth about 66 million years ago, wiping out most of the planet’s life, also spewed carbon dioxide into the air and warmed up the planet by about 5 degrees Celsius. Microbes May Influence Multiple Sclerosis - Scientists found a link between molecules released by commensal bacteria and the degree of inflammation in a mouse model of multiple sclerosis. ‘Reprogrammed’ Stem Cells Approved to Mend Human Hearts for the First Time - The latest clinical use of induced pluripotent stem cells excites researchers, but some fear the therapy will be rushed to market. Hybrid-Human Chicken Embryos - A new technique reveals the earliest stages of human development without the need for human embryos. Embryonic Mammary Gland Stem Cells Identified - Researchers define for the first time the mechanisms responsible for mammary gland development. Cerebrospinal Fluid Flow Regulates Neural Stem Cell Division - The authors found that ion channels play a key role in mediating force signals to neural stem cells to activate them. Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. Nicolas Rivron Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: Peter Lengyel is the co-founder and “Beer Commander” of Kings County Beer Collective in Brooklyn, NY. Pete managed big name laboratories at Rockefeller University, UCSF and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals but after spending a huge amount of his time brewing beer first as a hobbyist, he made the leap to brewing full time. Pete started his first professional brewing enterprise in Bushwick Brooklyn a couple years back as a collaboration with two other brewers, which they called the King County Brewer’s Collective, and they have taken the craft brew scene by storm with high praise in local and national critical circles. Resources and Links Artificial Intelligence Using Wiring Similar to Human Brain - An AI that mentally maps its environment, much like mammals do, could help solve a mystery about the navigational nerve cells in our brains. Telomerase at High Resolution – The authors present the cryo-electron microscopy structure of the substrate-bound human telomerase holoenzyme at subnanometre resolution, showing two flexibly RNA-tethered lobes: the catalytic core with telomerase reverse transcriptase and conserved motifs of telomerase RNA, and an H/ACA ribonucleoprotein. First Small Pox Treatment Close to FDA Approval - Fears that the disease could be used as a biological weapon have risen in light of anthrax attacks and other terrorist acts of this century. Turtles That Change Sex in Warm Temperature - Scientists have identified a gene in the red-eared slider turtle, that makes embryonic turtles turn male or female depending on nest temperature. Stem Cells and Organoids to Understand Neanderthal Brains -A team of geneticists from the Max Planck Institute in Germany genetically altered human stem cells by combining them with Neanderthal DNA. The team hoped to grow miniature brains from these engineered human stem cells. Fasting Boosts Stem Cells’ Regenerative Capacity - Intestinal stem cells from mice that fasted for 24 hours, produced much more substantial intestinal organoids than stem cells from mice that did not fast. Blastocyst-Like Structure Generated from Stem Cells - Trophoblast and embryonic stem cells cooperate in vitro to form structures that morphologically and transcriptionally resemble embryonic day 3.5 blastocysts, termed blastoids. Reprogrammed Stem Cell-Derived Neurons Survive Long-Term in Pigs with Spinal Cord Injuries  - Scientists demonstrated that syngeneic porcine induced pluripotent stem cell-derived neural precursor cell transplantation to the spinal cord in the absence of immunosuppression is associated with long-term survival and neuronal and glial differentiation. Photo Reference: Courtesy of Peter Lengyel Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: Dr. Valeria Orlova is the Principal Investigator at the Leiden University Medical Center. Dr. Orlova’s lab uses stem cells to study the blood vessels and vasculature. She joins us to talk about her work and latest findings. Featured Resource: STEMdiff™ Trilineage Differentiation Kit - Functional Assay Kit to Assess Pluripotency by Directed Differentiation of Human ES and iPS Cells to All Three Germ Layers Resources and Links Plastic That Can Be Recycled Again and Again - The development of chemically recyclable polymers offers a solution to the end-of-use issue of polymeric materials and provides a closed-loop approach toward a circular materials economy. Genetically Modified Plant as Malaria Drug - Derived from sweet wormwood plants, the antimalarial compound artemisinin usually composes 0.1 to 1 percent of the dry weight of the leaves. New research more than triples a plant’s yield of artemisinin, to 3.2 percent. Hospital Surfaces that Kill Superbugs - A newly developed coating uses overhead light to trigger bacteria-killing molecules and could be used in hospitals to help stop the spread of some infections. A Bird’s Internal Compass - During the long range migrations of European robins, production of the protein Cry4 increases and that may facilitate the birds’ sense of Earth’s magnetic field. Inducible GDNF Expression in Transplanted Neural Cells - Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) has provided benefits to Parkinsonian patients and is being used in a clinical trial for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Reciprocal Signaling between Glioblastoma Stem Cells and Differentiated Tumor Cells Promotes Malignant Progression – A recent study found that differentiated glioblastoma cells (DGCs) accelerated GSC tumor growth. DGCs preferentially expressed brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), whereas GSCs expressed the BDNF receptor NTRK2. Super-Obese Patient-Derived iPSC Hypothalamic Neurons Exhibit Obesogenic Signatures and Hormone Responses - Researchers developed a method to reliably differentiate human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) into hypothalamic-like neurons (iHTNs) capable of secreting orexigenic and anorexigenic neuropeptides. Transcriptomic profiling revealed that, although iHTNs maintain a fetal identity, they respond appropriately to metabolic hormones ghrelin and leptin. Defining Essential Genes for Human Pluripotent Stem Cells by CRISPR-Cas9 Screening in Haploid Cells - Scientists constructed an atlas of essential and growth-restricting genes in human pluripotent stem cells, revealing key aspects of cellular essentiality and providing a reference for future studies on human pluripotency. Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. Valeria Orlova Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: Evangelos Kiskinis, PhD is an Assistant Professor in Neurology at Northwestern University.  His lab focuses on addressing fundamental aspects of the biology of human neurons in the context of physiological conditions and in the context of diseases such as ALS. Featured Resource: Madeline Lancaster on Brain Organoids: Modeling Human Brain Development in a Dish Webinar Resources and Links How Norovirus Invades - While investigating the cell tropism for murine norovirus, scientists discovered that a rare cell type, tuft cells, carrying the CD300lf receptor were the virus’s specific target. Viruses that Clean Up Bacteria- Viruses can be engineered to carry magnetic nanoparticles and modified DNA, transforming them into nanobots that detect bacteria in water or food. Cancers Should Be Treated by Type Not Location - Cancer should not be treated based on where it is first found in the body, but depending on the type of tumor, scientists have said. California Ordered to Add Cancer Warning to Coffee, but the Science Doesn't Hold Up - Storm clouds are brewing in California’s coffee cups. Companies across the state will have to add a cancer-warning label to coffee, a judge ruled, because the drink contains a chemical called acrylamide. Thrombopoietin is Required for Bone Marrow Stem Cell Maintenance- Investigators found that hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) were markedly reduced in hepatocyte-specific thrombopoietin-deficient mice. These results indicate that systemic factors, in addition to the local niche, are a critical extrinsic component for HSC maintenance. Researchers Optimize Lung Stem Cell Engineering Process- The Center for Regenerative Medicine’s pioneering research using induced pluripotent stem cells, which self-renew indefinitely as undifferentiated cells that become specific adult cell types, has helped create an inexhaustible source of disease- or patient-specific stem cells. An In Vivo Model of Functional and Vascularized Human Brain Organoids- Scientists developed more sophisticated organoid models to help provide new insights into a range of neurological and psychological disorders. iPSCs from a Hibernator Provide a Platform for Studying Cold Adaptation - The authors showed that ground squirrel iPSCs offer a unique platform for bringing cold-adaptive strategies from hibernators to humans in clinical applications. Photo Reference: Courtesy of  Evangelos Kiskinis Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: Dr. Janet Rossant is a Senior Scientist in the Developmental & Stem Cell Biology Program at The Hospital for Sick Children and is a Professor in both the Department of Molecular Genetics and the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the University of Toronto. Her research interests center on understanding the genetic control of normal and abnormal development in the early mouse embryo using both cellular and genetic manipulation techniques. Her interests in the early embryo have led to the discovery of a novel placental stem cell type, the trophoblast stem cell. Rossant is also the Director of the newly formed Ontario Institute for Regenerative Medicine. Featured Resource: STEMdiff™ Definitive Endoderm Kit: Defined Animal Component-Free Medium for the Differentiation of Human ES and iPS Cells to Definitive Endoderm Resources and Links Cancer Vaccine Eliminates Tumors in Mice- Injecting minute amounts of two immune-stimulating agents directly into solid tumors in mice can eliminate all traces of cancer in the animals, including distant, untreated metastases, according to a study by researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine. Tiny Stomach Found in Lung Tumors- Findings demonstrate that elements of pathologic tumor plasticity mirror the normal developmental history of organs in that cancer cells acquire cell fates associated with developmentally related neighboring organs. Is the Interstitium a New Organ?- A study confirms that the spaces between cells are fluid-filled, rather than tightly packed with connective tissue, but pathologists say the implications of the findings remain to be seen. Brain Organoids and Blood Vessels- Unpredictable variations and deficiencies have hampered the usefulness of organoids in research, but new techniques for creating mini-brains may change that. RPE Cell Transplantation to Treat Macular Degeneration - Scientists demonstrated the feasibility and safety of human embryonic stem cell-derived retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) patch transplantation as a regenerative strategy for age-related macular degeneration. Human Hippocampal Neurogenesis Persists throughout Aging - Researchers found that healthy older subjects without cognitive impairment, neuropsychiatric disease or treatment display preserved neurogenesis. Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. Janet Rossant Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: Dr. Nenad Bursac talks about a technology his group has developed and tested as a candidate therapy for myocardial infarction and heart failure. Dr. Nenad Bursac’s research interests include pluripotent stem cell therapies for heart and muscle disease, cardiac and skeletal muscle tissue engineering, cardiac electrophysiology and arrhythmias, genetic modifications of stem and somatic cells, micropatterning of proteins and hydrogels, and organ-on-chip technologies. Featured Resource: Celebration of Science Resources and Links Congress Budget Good for Science - The American Association for the Advancement of Science currently estimates R&D spending in the FY 2018 omnibus at $176.8 billion, an increase of 12.8 percent or $20.1 billion above FY 2017 estimated R&D. Male Birth Control Passes Safety Test - After decades of research, reproductive biologists are on the verge of developing new birth control options that stop sperm from maturing or save a woman's eggs for later. How Bees Combat Pesticides - Honeybees and bumblebees can resist a type of neonicotinoid insecticide, thanks to a family of enzymes that metabolize toxic compounds. Pacific Garbage Patch 16 Times Bigger Than Thought - It has been predicted that at least 79 (45–129) thousand tonnes of ocean plastic are floating inside an area of 1.6 million km2; a figure four to sixteen times higher than previously reported. Game Changing Stem Cell Treatment for MS - Results from an international trial showed that a stem cell treatment involving wiping out a patient’s immune system using cancer drugs and then rebooting it with a stem cell transplant can stop multiple sclerosis (MS) and improve its symptoms. Converting Blood Vessels to Blood Stem Cells - A switch has been discovered that instructs blood vessel cells to become blood stem cells during embryonic development in mice. iPSC Based Vaccines Elicit Anti-Tumor Response - Cancer cells and embryonic tissues share a number of cellular and molecular properties, suggesting that induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) may be harnessed to elicit anti-tumor responses in cancer vaccines. Pancreatic Tumor Organoids for Studying Disease Progression - A pancreatic tumor organoid library was established encompassing 39 patient-derived pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas and identified three functional subtypes based on their stem cell niche factor dependencies on Wnt and R-spondin. Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. Nenad Bursac Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: Dr. William Dunworth is an Account Manager at STEMCELL Technologies and will be talking about his transition from bench to industry, and what advice he has to offer in terms of careers in stem cell science beyond the bench. Featured Resource: Celebration of Science Resources and Links Study on Gun-Policy Effects Finds Important Gaps in Existing Research - One of the largest-ever studies of U.S. gun policy finds there is a shortage of evidence about the effects of most gun laws, although researchers from the RAND Corporation found there is some persuasive evidence about the effects of several common gun policies. Penguin Supercolony Identified - Despite the concerted international effort to track and interpret shifts in the abundance and distribution of Adélie penguins, large populations continue to be identified. Language Not Affected after Strokes in Newborns - Researchers from the Georgetown University Medical Center found that people who'd had a stroke as a newborn that damaged the left side of their brain -- the side that normally controls language -- used the other side of their brain for language. Fake Organ that Mimics the Human Eye - Real human cells from a cornea and conjunctiva were used to build a blinking model of the surface of an artificial eye. A Cheaper Way to Culture Human Pluripotent Stem Cells - Scientists at Japan's Kyoto University, with colleagues in India and Iran, have developed a more cost-effective culture by using a new combination of chemical compounds. Genes for Age-Linked Brain Deterioration Identified - An improved understanding of the underlying mechanisms that drive age-associated neurogenic deficiency could lead to the development of strategies to alleviate cognitive impairment and facilitate neuroregeneration. Dual Mechanism for Embryonic Stem Cells to Maintain Pluripotency - NCCS researchers have found two mechanisms that turn off the expression of endocytosis-associated genes, thus helping the stem cells to maintain their pluripotency. Stem Cell Treatment to Reverse Early Menopause - Pioneering treatment that reverses the symptoms of early menopause has raised hopes that women affected could go on to have children naturally. Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. William Dunworth Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest Dr. Justin Ichida is the Assistant Professor in the Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine at the University of Southern California.  Dr. Ichida’s laboratory creates in vitro models of human neurodegenerative diseases by converting patients’ cells into disease-affected neural cells. Featured Resource: Madeline Lancaster on Brain Organoids: Modeling Human Brain Development in a Dish Webinar Resources and Links New Budget Not So Bad for Science - Following a new congressional deal that will boost federal spending by nearly half-a-trillion dollars this year and next, the administration rescinded many of the planned cuts and instead requested flat funding at major research agencies. Household Products Significantly Contribute to Pollution - A detailed mass balance demonstrates that the use of volatile chemical products—including pesticides, coatings, printing inks, adhesives, cleaning agents, and personal care products—now constitutes half of fossil fuel volatile organic compound emissions in industrialized cities. Hunting Threatens Endangered Orangutan - From 1999 to 2015, numbers of orangutans on the island of Borneo declined by nearly 150,000 individuals, a new study estimates. Lowering an Enzyme Eliminates Brain Plaques - According to researchers, sequential and increased deletion of BACE1 in an adult Alzheimer's disease mouse model (5xFAD) was capable of completely reversing amyloid deposition resulting in significant improvement in gliosis and neuritic dystrophy. Tribute to Stem Cell Scientist Ihor Lemischka - Ihor Lemischka, PhD, Professor at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York, known for his great sense of humor and his pioneering work on embryonic and hematopoietic stem cells, died much too young from a stroke early in December 2017. New Stem Cell Treatment for Stroke – Researchers have developed a new treatment called AB126 using extracellular vesicles for stroke that reduces brain damage and accelerates the brain's natural healing tendencies in animal models. Stem Cells to Grow Mini Kidneys - One new study shows how human kidney tissue could be grown inside of a living organism, demonstrating the potential to one day save the lives of millions. World’s First Human-Sheep Hybrid - A team of researchers at Stanford University successfully grew embryos inside a surrogate for three weeks which had both sheep and human cells. Efficient Technique Discovered for Isolating Embryonic Stem Cells in Cows - Scientists at the University of California, Davis, were able to develop a new culture system that allows them to efficiently derive stem cells on almost every single attempt. Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. Justin Ichida Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest Dr. Fernando Camargo is a Principal Investigator at Boston Children's Hospital and Professor in the Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology at Harvard University. Dr. Camargo’s laboratory’s ultimate goal is to understand the signals that regulate adult stem cell maturation and tissue regeneration and has a strong interest in studying the cellular and molecular biology of hematopoietic stem cells. Featured Resource: Human Hematopoietic Stem and Progenitor Cell Phenotyping Wallchart Resources and Links A New Blood Test to Predict Alzheimer’s Disease - Accumulations of a sticky protein called amyloid-β can appear in the brain decades before a person develops Alzheimer’s disease. Zika Is Not Alone in Its Effects on Fetal Damage - Many viruses, including some similar to Zika, can infect the placenta and the cells of the baby. CRISPR to Treat Muscle Disorder - Genome editing with CRISPR/Cas9 is a promising new approach for correcting or mitigating disease-causing mutations like that of Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Development of a New Influenza Vaccine - Researchers present a systematic approach for vaccine development that eliminates interferon–modulating functions genome-wide while maintaining virus replication fitness. Researchers Create First Primate Clones - Scientists successfully cloned cynomolgus monkeys by somatic cell nuclear transfer. Scientists Culture Human Placenta Stem Cells- Cells need certain proteins activated and others inhibited to stay alive and maintain the same characteristics they would have in utero. Why Nerve Cells Die in ALS -  A mutation in a gene, called C9ORF72, leads to toxicity in nerve cells, causing 10 percent of all cases of ALS and an additional 10 percent of frontotemporal dementia. Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. Fernando Camargo Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest Dr. Kapil Bharti is a Principal Investigator at the National Eye Institute at the NIH.  His work involves performing translational research on degenerative eye diseases using induced pluripotent stem cell technology. Dr. Bharti’s group uses this technology to develop in vitro disease models to study patient-specific disease processes, to set up high throughput drug screens, and to develop cell-based therapy for retinal degenerative diseases. Featured Resource: Extracellular Matrix News Resources and Links Normal Childbirth May Take Longer Than Thought - A study in two African countries found a slower rate of dilation for many women who went on to have healthy, vaginal births. Aging Is in the Blood - A protein located in the cells that forms a barrier between the brain and blood can prematurely age the brains of young mice. There Are Different Types of Strep Infections - Extra genes picked up by some pathogens can cause different strains to have wildly different effects on the immune system, even in the same person. Probing a 3D Brain – BrainFacts.org, which has long been sponsored by the Society of Neuroscience and other organizations, now has an interactive 3D brain that offers more information about the organ’s structures. Epigenetic and Blood Stem Cell Differentiation –Investigators demonstrated that the epigenetic silencing factor Ezh1 limits multilineage differentiation potential of hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells in mouse embryos and human pluripotent stem cell derivatives. New Method for Expanding T-Cells – Researchers from Harvard University describe a system that mimics natural antigen-presenting cells and consists of a fluid lipid bilayer supported by mesoporous silica micro-rods. CRISPR to Transiently Express Genes – Dr. Izpisua Belmonte and colleagues from Salk Institute report a robust system for in vivo activation of endogenous target genes through trans-epigenetic remodeling. CRISPR Based Reprogramming to Pluripotency - Scientists show that reactivation of endogenous Oct4 or Sox2 using augmented forms of CRISPR/Cas9 is sufficient to reprogram mouse fibroblasts to pluripotency. Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. Kapil Bharti Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest Dr. April Pyle is an Associate Professor in the Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). She is also a member of the Eli and Edythe Broad Stem Cell Center, the Center for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy and the Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center at UCLA. Dr. Pyle's lab uses multi-disciplinary approaches to study human pluripotent stem cell biology and differentiation of these cells for use in regenerative medicine. Featured Resource: MyoCult™ Media to Expand, Maintain and Differentiate Skeletal Muscle Progenitor Cells (Myoblasts) Resources and Links Learning How to Tolerate the Cold from Squirrels – When Elena Gracheva, a neurophysiologist at Yale University School of Medicine, and her colleagues exposed hibernators like the thirteen-lined ground squirrel and the Syrian hamster to low temperatures in the lab, they saw very little activity in their TRPM8 pathway, an area of the central nervous system known to process information about cold. Brain Organoids Wrinkle and Fold Like Real Brains Do - Researchers at the Weizmann Institute of Science in Rehovot, Israel from working with the lab-grown brains or organoids, discovered that cells inside the brains contract, while cells on the outside grow and push outward. Not All Ribosomes Are Equal - Developmental biologist and geneticist Maria Barna of Stanford University School of Medicine and colleagues discovered that ribosomes actually come in many varieties, incorporating different proteins. Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual High Schoolers Report ‘Tragically High’ Suicide Risk – A new study reports that high school students who identify as gay, lesbian or bisexual are more likely to report planning or attempting suicide compared with their heterosexual peers. How Alcohol Damages Stem Cell DNA and Increases Cancer Risk - Scientists have shown how alcohol damages DNA in stem cells, helping to explain why drinking increases your risk of cancer. Cellular Barcoding to Understand Behavior of Stem Cells - By tagging bone marrow cells of mice with a genetic label, or barcode, researchers were able to track and describe the family tree of individual blood cells as they form in their natural environment. Circular RNAs and Pluripotency - Taiwanese scientists have discovered that circular RNA plays a key functional role in pluripotent stem cells, which may help the development of regenerative medicine or medical technologies. NIH Discovery Brings Stem Cell Therapy for Eye Disease Closer to the Clinic - Scientists at the National Eye Institute, part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), report that tiny tube-like protrusions called primary cilia on cells of the retinal pigment epithelium - a layer of cells in the back of the eye - are essential for the survival of the retina’s light-sensing photoreceptors. Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. April Pyle Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest Dr. Michele De Luca has been involved in epithelial stem cell biology aimed at clinical applications in regenerative medicine for over 20 years. He joins the show to discuss his work and latest groundbreaking paper published in Nature. Featured Resource: Growing Organoids from Stem Cells Wallchart Resources and Links New Tax Plan Closer to Passing and Impacting Science – If the new tax plan is enacted and passed, it could limit the ability of graduate students to complete their training programs and would particularly affect those students without other means to help support their studies. Hospitals Can Help Opioid Addiction Epidemic – New opioid prescribing guidelines tested over a five-month period in Michigan kept thousands of opioid pills from being unnecessarily doled out. When We Lock Eyes with a Baby, Our Brain Waves Sync Up – The baby’s and the adult’s brain activity appeared to get in sync by meeting in the middle. SARS Bat Reservoirs – Genetic studies of viruses from horseshoe bats in one cave in China suggest the animals are reservoirs of SARS coronaviruses. A New Way to Prevent Stem Cell Loss – A nutrient sensing pathway target of rapamycin (TOR) can be subdued in order to prevent stem cell loss. 114 Million Raised to Bring Stem Cell Trial for Diabetes to Humans – Semma Therapeutics, a company that got its start in 2014, and is researching ways to use stem cells that act like key cells responsible for regulating blood sugar levels in the bodies of healthy people has just raised $114 million. Yamanaka Asks Fujifilm to Keep Licensing Fees Low – A noted Japanese stem cell researcher, Shinya Yamanaka, has asked Fujifilm Holdings to keep fees in check for using patented technology related to induced pluripotent stem cells. Stem Cells and Gene Therapy Replace Entire Epidermis of Young Boy – A 7-year-old who lost most of his skin to a rare genetic disease has made a dramatic recovery after receiving an experimental gene therapy involving a whole-body graft of genetically modified stem cells which is the most ambitious attempt yet to treat a severe form of epidermolysis bullosa, an often-fatal group of conditions that cause skin to blister and tear off at the slightest touch. Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. Michele De Luca Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest Dr. Leigh Turner is an associate professor in the center for Bioethics at the University of Minnesota. Turner’s research addresses ethical, legal, and regulatory issues associated with clinics engaged in direct-to-consumer marketing of unproven and unlicensed cell-based interventions. Dr. Turner is an author of numerous publications including a recent paper in Cell Stem Cell along with The Stem Cell Podcast’s past guest, Paul Knoepfler. Featured Resource: Organoid Research Resources and Links New Insight on How Mosquitos Interact with Humans – This article reveals that nasty experiences can change an Aedes aegypti mosquito’s inclination to follow certain odors, such as the whiff of human skin. Dolly the Sheep’s Severe Arthritis Not from Cloning – Experts at the University of Nottingham and the University of Glasgow say original concerns that cloning caused early-onset osteoarthritis (OA) in Dolly the sheep are unfounded. E. Coli Outbreak Traced to Raw Flour – This article reports that in 2015 and 2016, Escherichia coli-tainted flour sickened dozens of people in the United States, most of whom had eaten raw dough or batter while baking. Current CRISPR Gene Drives Are Too Strong for Outdoor Use, Studies Warn – A computer simulation released November 16 at bioRxiv.org predicts that standard forms of CRISPR gene drives, as the tools are called, can make tweaked DNA race through a population so easily that a small number of stray animals or plants could spread it to new territory. Stem Cells in Intestinal Lining May Shed Light on Behavior of Cancer Cells – A team of researchers looked for signals and cellular responses of intestinal epithelial cells during growth and renewal. Drug-Delivering Nanoparticles Seek and Destroy Elusive Cancer Stem Cells – University of Illinois researchers are sending tiny drug-laden nanoparticles on a mission to seek and destroy cancer stem cells, the elusive and rare cells that can cause cancer to come back even when years have passed since the initial tumor was treated. How Drinking Affects Neural Stem Cells – New research suggests that long-term, heavy alcohol consumption kills off brain stem cells, which play a key role in supporting healthy cognitive function. New Stem Cell Treatment Guidelines Released by FDA – In this article, U.S. Food and Drug Administration unveiled long-anticipated guidelines about stem-cell therapies that are meant to clear up confusion about which treatments are likely to be both appropriate and safe, and which pose the most risks and fewest rewards for patients. Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. Leigh Turner Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest The Stem Cell Podcast and STEMCELL Technologies introduce the first interview in a new series called, "Alternative Science Careers."  For the first part of this series, we are pleased to interview the host of our very own Stem Cell Podcast, Dr. Kiki Sanford. Featured Resource: Organoid Research Resources and Links In New Budget, Graduate Student Taxes Could Go Up – This editorial reports that many graduate students would face a tax hike under a clause in the federal-tax-reform bill passed by the US House of Representatives. More People Now Have High Blood Pressure after New Guidelines – According to this article, nearly half of U.S. adults now have high blood pressure, thanks to a new definition of what constitutes high: 130/80 is the new 140/90. 15,000 Scientists Signed a "Warning to Humanity" – Thousands of scientists from all around the world have come together to issue another "warning to humanity" about the unprecedented threats that we as a species, and more importantly our planet as a whole, are currently facing. Scientists Can Make Things Invisible?! – Top scientists from Ben-Gurion University have come up with a cloaking device that scatters light away from an object so it cannot be detected. Genetic Manipulation to Enhance Neurogenesis – A team of researchers at the Cologne Excellence Cluster for Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases (CECAD) has now found an efficient way for cells to spontaneously differentiate into neurons by silencing one single protein with the gene-editing method CRISPR. Direct Differentiation into Blood Brain Barrier Cells – This article reports that researchers from the University of Wisconsin–Madison detail a defined, step-by-step process to make a more exact mimic of the human blood-brain barrier in the laboratory dish. Space Station to Host Stem Cells for Cardiac Research – Researchers at Emory University School of Medicine and Children's Healthcare of Atlanta have been using space-simulation machines to enhance the ability of pluripotent stem cells to turn into cardiac muscle cells but now they – or the cells they've carefully cultured, will get the chance to try the real thing on the International Space Station. Using VEGF to Increase Survival of Stem Cells – The authors show an experimental approach to improve therapeutic efficacy of proangiogenic cells for the treatment of ischemic diseases. Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. Kiki Sanford Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest Dr. Chad Cowan is a Principal Investigator and Associate Professor in Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology at Harvard University. Chad joins the hosts to talk about CRISPR and its uses with stem cell biology to study disease. Featured Resource: Investigating Metabolic Disease with Human Pluripotent Stem Cells Webinar Resources and Links E-Cigarettes Can Lead Teens to Higher Smoking Rates in Teens – According to this article, teens who vaped liquids containing higher concentrations of nicotine reported heavier and more frequent smoking and vaping six months later. 9 Million People Died from Pollution in 2015 – This article reports that in the most severely polluted countries, 25 percent of premature deaths could be attributed to pollution, especially in the air. Laws to Protect Athletes from Concussion Dangers Has an Impact – According to this article, more than 2½ years after the laws to protect young athletes against the dangers of concussions went on the books, repeat concussions began to decline among high school athletes. Inbreeding Impairs Reproductive Success – In this article, mating with a close relative, known as inbreeding, reduces human evolutionary fitness — measured by the ability to produce offspring. Method to Accelerate Maturation of Neurons Derived from Stem Cells – This article reveals that hydrogel can be used as a scaffold for engineering artificial brain tissue and promotes the development of neurons. Mutation Plus Sun Tanning (Really UV Exposure) Causes Skin Cancer – In this article, a group of scientists based at Cornell University now report that melanoma may arise from melanocyte stem cells (MCSCs), specifically, MCSCs that have become “melanoma competent” because they have accumulated a sufficient number of genetic mutations. Naked Mole Rat Cells Have a Stable Epigenome that Resists iPSC Reprogramming – Researchers observed that the reprogramming efficiency of naked mole rat fibroblasts in response to OSKM was drastically lower than that of mouse fibroblasts. Generation of a Motor Nerve Organoid with Human Stem Cell-Derived Neurons – According to this article, to build an organoid mimicking developing nerve tissue, researchers employed a strategy that allowed the neurons to follow the cell-intrinsic axon growth and fasciculation programs with minimal intervention. Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. Chad Cowan Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest Assistant Professor of Medicine at the University of North Carolina Medical Center, Catherine Coombs, talks to us about her work and her recent paper in Cell Stem Cell on the subject of clonal hematopoiesis. Featured Resource: Targeting Self-Renewal Function in Normal Hematopoietic and Leukemic Stem Cells Webinar Resources and Links An Estimated 124 Million Boys and Girls Are Now in the Highest Weight Range – The rising trends in children's and adolescents' BMI have plateaued in many high-income countries, albeit at high levels, but have accelerated in parts of Asia, with trends no longer correlated with those of adults. Global Survey Finds Pesticides in Much of World’s Honey – The authors report that neonicotinoid pesticides are turning up in honey on every continent with honeybees. Gun Waiting Periods Could Save Lives – A new study funded by Harvard Business School suggests that one policy—a mandatory waiting period between the sale of a gun and its delivery—could save hundreds of U.S. lives each year if implemented nationally. Dogs Learn While Sleeping – Scientists reveal that dogs learn when sleeping—just like people, a study done by researchers in Hungary with the use of electroencephalograms (EEGs) says. Establishment of Mouse Expanded Potential Stem Cells – According to this article, the most versatile stem cells ever created called "expanded-potential stem cells" (EPSCs) could enable researchers to better understand the biological mechanisms behind many failed early pregnancies. Dentists Get Cracking on the Stem Cell Front – A team of researchers from the University of Nevada Las Vegas have developed a device they hilarious call the "Tooth Cracker 5000" to extract 80 percent of the stem cells a pulp contains from a wisdom tooth. Bioengineering of Functional Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-derived Intestinal Grafts – Scientists have built a new rat intestine by combining part of the animal’s own bowel with human stem cells hoping that one day, this method could be used in humans with intestinal problems who currently have to rely on organ transplants. A Cause for Permanent Hair Loss – A team of scientists from Mumbai have uncovered a cause for permanent hair loss - over-expression of a protein called phospholipase A2-IIA could be the cause for hair loss in mice. Photo Reference: Courtesy of Catherine Coombs Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest Sierra Marable is a graduate student in the Molecular and Developmental Biology Graduate Program at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center. She previously worked at the Post-Baccalaureate Research Education Program (PREP) at the Wake Forest School of Medicine in North Carolina where she became interested in stem cell research while researching induced pluripotent stem cells as a method for modeling development and disease at the Institute for Regenerative Medicine. Sierra joins the show to talk to us about her research and life as a graduate student. Featured Resource: Neural Stem Cells Wallchart Resources and Links Cracking the Body Clock Code Wins Trio a Nobel Prize – Three Americans, Jeffrey C. Hall, Michael Rosbash, and Michael W. Young are recognized and won the Nobel Prize for discovering the cellular gears that drive circadian rhythms. A Single Mutation in the prM Protein of Zika Virus Contributes to Fetal Microcephaly – A single genetic mutation made the Zika virus far more dangerous by enhancing its ability to kill nerve cells in developing brains. Bed Bug Aggregation on Dirty Laundry: A Mechanism for Passive Dispersal – In the absence of humans to latch onto, bedbugs (Cimex lectularius) flock to dirty clothing. Prevalence of Concussion Among US Adolescents and Correlated Factors – Scientists report that about 20 percent of U.S. adolescents have had at least one concussion. Trispecific Broadly Neutralizing HIV Antibodies Mediate Potent SHIV Protection in Macaques – According to this article, combining the antibodies, called broadly neutralizing antibodies, may stop more strains of HIV than any single one can do alone. Senate Panel Blocks NIH From Revising Translational Research Awards – The authors report that a congressional spending panel has backed scientists running a $516 million network of bench-to-bedside research centers in their fight with the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland, over how it manages the network. Organoid Cystogenesis Reveals a Critical Role of Microenvironment in Human Polycystic Kidney Disease – By creating and manipulating mini-kidney organoids grown from human stem cells that contain a realistic micro-anatomy, UW Medicine researchers can now track the early stages of polycystic kidney disease. A Reversible Haploid Mouse Embryonic Stem Cell Biobank Resource for Functional Genomics – Scientists at the Institute of Molecular Biotechnology of the Austrian Academy of Science developed a biobank of revertible, mutant embryonic stem cells. High-Throughput Microfluidic Labyrinth for the Label-Free Isolation of Circulating Tumor Cells – This article reveals a new chip with a labyrinth design that promises big improvements in detecting rare and aggressive cancer cells in the blood, helping doctors to anticipate tumor growth and plan customized treatments for their patients. Photo Reference: Courtesy of Sierra Marable Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: Dr. Jack Parent is a professor of neurology, director of the Neurodevelopment and Regeneration Laboratory, and co-director of the Comprehensive Epilepsy Center in the University of Michigan Medical School. Featured Resource: CloneR™ Defined Supplement for Single-Cell Cloning of Human ES and iPS Cells Resources and Links Potential Role of Intratumor Bacteria in Mediating Tumor Resistance to the Chemotherapeutic Drug Gemcitabine – Tumor cells grown with bacteria could stave off a common chemotherapy drug gemcitabine because some bacteria can inactivate it. Seasonal Cycling in the Gut Microbiome of the Hadza Hunter-Gatherers of Tanzania – The microbiota of a group of hunter-gatherers in Tanzania undergo changes in composition depending on seasonal changes in their diets. Hawai’i Space Exploration Analog and Simulation – Six scientists emerged from eight months of earthly isolation atop Hawaii’s Mauna Loa volcano in a NASA-funded experiment intended to simulate the social isolation of a Mars mission and explore the resulting psychological effects. Once-Abundant Ash Tree and Antelope Species Face Extinction – IUCN Red List – Populations of North America’s ash trees are in dramatic decline as a result of infections with invasive emerald ash borer beetles, with all but one the continent’s six species reclassified as critically endangered—one category away from extinction. UCLA Opens First Engineered Blood Stem Cell Clinical Trial for Cancers with the NY-ESO-1 Tumor Marker – UCLA opens first engineered blood stem cell clinical trial for cancers with the NY-ESO-1 tumor marker. Replacing Reprogramming Factors with Antibodies Selected from Combinatorial Antibody Libraries – Scientists from The Scripps Research Institute led by Kristin Baldwin have found a new approach to the "reprogramming" of ordinary adult cells into stem cells. Human Stem Cells Alter the Invasive Properties of Somatic Cells via Paracrine Activation of mTORC1 – Scientists from Markus Hengstschläger's team at the Institute of Medical Genetics of MedUni Vienna have discovered the phenomenon of the "language of stem cells” where stem cells control the cells around them, inducing them to perform specific functions. Cytoplasmic and Nuclear TAZ Exert Distinct Functions in Regulating Primed Pluripotency – A protein called TAZ can convey very different signals—depending upon not only which variety of stem cell, but also which part of the stem cell receives it. An In Vitro Model of Lissencephaly: Expanding the Role of DCX during Neurogenesis – This article reports that by reprogramming skin cells into nerve cells, researchers at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden are creating cell models of the human brain. Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. Jack Parent Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: For the interview portion of the show of our 100th episode, we welcome Kevin McCormack from the California Institute of Regenerative Medicine, or CIRM, to talk about all of CIRM’s progress, past, present, and future...CIRM was created in 2004 to translate stem cell discoveries into therapies, and we will talk to Kevin about the progress this funding has made. Featured Resource: mTeSR™1 cGMP, Feeder-Free Maintenance Medium for Human ES and iPS Cells Resources and Links First Hurricane Harvey, Now Irma: Is Climate Change to Blame for Destructive Storms? – The connection between climate change and hurricanes is to say that climate change doesn't cause individual storms, but it can make them stronger than they would have been otherwise. Multicohort Analysis Reveals Baseline Transcriptional Predictors of Influenza Vaccination Responses – A set of nine genes can signal whether a young adult will develop a strong response to the flu vaccine. Zika Virus Has Oncolytic Activity Against Glioblastoma Stem Cells – Zika virus can infect and kill stem cells in human glioblastoma tissue, without infecting healthy brain cells. Human iPS Cell-Derived Dopaminergic Neurons Function in a Primate Parkinson’s Disease Model – The Jun Takahashi lab shows monkeys with Parkinson's disease symptoms show significant improvement over two years after being transplanted neurons prepared from human iPS cells. Photo Reference: Courtesy of Kevin McCormack Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: Dr. Chandan Sen is Professor and Vice Chair of Research, Department of Surgery at The Ohio State University Medical Center.  Dr. Sen’s program is focused on tissue injury and repair. His group works across small and large animal models, to human and patient-based research. Resources and Links Embryos Kill Off Male Tissue to Become Female – A protein called COUP-TFII is necessary to eliminate male reproductive tissue from female mouse embryos. How an Itch Makes Its Way to Your Brain – Scientists have found the spot in your brain that makes you itch when others scratch. A New Tool to Improve Lyme Disease Diagnoses – This article reports that a new testing method can distinguish between early Lyme disease and a similar tick-borne illness. Gene Editing Creates Virus-Free Piglets – Researchers used molecular scissors known as CRISPR/Cas9 to snip embedded viruses out of pig DNA. Stem Cells May Be the Link Between Bacteria and Cancer – An interdisciplinary research team at the Max Planck Institute in Berlin in collaboration with researchers in Stanford, California, have now discovered that the bacterium Helicobacter pylori sends stem cell renewal in the stomach into overdrive – and stem cell turnover has been suspected by many scientists to play a role in the development of cancer. Stem Cells to Solve Hair Loss? – Researchers from UCLA have found a way to successfully reactivate stem cells in dormant hair follicles to promote hair growth in mice. Estrogen Receptor Stem Cells Found in Mammary Glands – Researchers have now identified a novel lineage-restricted stem cell in the mammary gland which in the future, will be used to assess whether the clinical heterogeneity observed in breast cancers arises from their different cancer cell of origin. Vitamin C Could Help Kill "Faulty" Blood Cancer Stem Cells – According to this article, vitamin C may 'tell' faulty stem cells in the bone marrow to mature and die normally, instead of multiplying to cause blood cancers. Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. Chandan Sen Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: Dr. Dustin Wakeman is Senior Research Scientist at RxGen and Adjunct Assistant Professor at Yale School of Medicine.  Dr. Wakeman focuses his career on determining the long-term therapeutic value of stem cell therapy in neurodegenerative disorders. His interests include stem cell-based therapeutics, disease modeling, neural transplantation, and morphological and molecular changes in aging and neurodegenerative diseases including Parkinson's, Huntington's, Alzheimer's and more. Featured Resource: STEMdiff™ Cerebral Organoid Kit Resources and Links Gene Editing of Human Embryos Gets Rid of a Mutation that Causes Heart Failure – Molecular scissors known as CRISPR/Cas9 corrected a gene defect that can lead to heart failure. Mice with a Mutation Linked to Autism Affect Their Littermates’ Behavior – This article suggests that genetically normal littermates behave like mice that carry an autism-related mutation, despite not having the mutation themselves. One in Three U.S. Adults Takes Opioids, and Many Misuse Them – The National Survey on Drug Use and Health reports that in an in-person survey of more than 50,000 people, researchers estimated that 91.8 million, or 37.8 percent, of adults used prescription opioids in 2015. Stem Cell Brain Implants Could 'Slow Ageing and Extend Life', Study Shows – This article reveals that scientists have slowed down the ageing process by implanting stem cells into the brains of animals, raising hopes for new strategies to combat age-related diseases and extend the human lifespan. ONC201 May Inhibit Cancer Stem Cell Self-Renewals by Altering Their Gene Expression – According to this article, ONC201 alters the gene expression of cancer stem cell markers and signaling pathways prior to killing the tumor cells, providing pharmacodynamic biomarkers of response. Researchers Develop New Way to Develop Purer Insulin-Producing Stem Cells – Researchers have found that the cell surface protein glycoprotein 2 allowed them to isolate the pancreatic endoderm cells; enabling them to get a purer sample of cells which could increase their effectiveness and safety when implanted into humans. Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. Dustin Wakeman Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: Dr. Mark Tomishima is an Associate Laboratory Member and Sloan Kettering Institute Stem Cell Research Facility Manager. Mark joins us to talk about all things stem cells, including his latest published work on standardizing protocols that start with pluripotent stem cells. Featured Resource: FreSR™-S Animal Component-Free Medium for Freezing ES and iPS Cells as Single Cells Resources and Links Cows to Produce HIV Antibodies – This article reveals that in a first for any animal, including humans, four cows injected with a type of HIV protein rapidly produced powerful antibodies against the virus. The Impacts of Rising Temperatures on Aircraft Takeoff Performance – Steadily rising mean and extreme temperatures as a result of climate change will likely impact the air transportation system over the coming decades. CRISPR to Store Movies in DNA – A team from Harvard University use the current trendy gene-editing system CRISPR to encode images and a short movie into the DNA of living bacteria. Beverage Intake During Pregnancy and Childhood Adiposity – The more sugary beverages a mom drank during mid-pregnancy, the heavier her kids were in elementary school compared with kids whose mothers consumed less of the drinks. Just One Night of Poor Sleep Can Boost Alzheimer’s Proteins – This article reports that sleep deprivation increases amyloid-β, suggesting that chronically disrupted sleep may promote amyloid plaques and other downstream Alzheimer’s disease pathologies including tauopathy or inflammation. Innate Reaction of Hematopoietic Stem Cells to Severe Infections – Researchers have shown that hematopoietic stem cells detect infectious agents themselves and begin to divide – that is, without signals from growth factors. New Approach to Kill Tumor Cells in the Brain – A team of investigators from Brigham and Women’s Hospital and the Harvard Stem Cell Institute have developed cancer-killing viruses that can deliver stem cells via the carotid artery, and applied them to metastatic tumors in the brains of clinically relevant mouse models. Human Cells from Schizophrenia Patients Injected into Newborn Mice Render Them Schizophrenic Like – Lab mice whose brains were injected with cells from schizophrenia patients became afraid of strangers, slept fitfully, felt intense anxiety, struggled to remember new things, and showed other signs of the mental disorder. Bioengineered Arteries Grown from Stem Cells – Scientists have produced cells that grow into fully functional arteries and are on their way to clinical applications. Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. Mark Tomishima Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: Dr. Robert Hancock is a Professor of Microbiology and Immunology, UBC, and a Canada Research Chair in Health and Genomics. Bob has published more than 660 papers and reviews, and has 50 patents awarded. The fundamental interest of Dr. Hancock and his laboratory is in designing new therapeutic strategies to treat infections in the light of increasing antibiotic resistance coupled with a dearth of new antibiotic discovery. Recently his team and their collaborators at the University of British Columbia have created an innovative technique for studying how chlamydia interacts with the human immune system. The researchers used a combination of gene editing and stem cell technologies to make the model. The results, reported in Nature Communications, identify novel drug targets for the sexually transmitted disease. Featured Resource: ImmunoCult™ Activation, Expansion, Maintenance and Differentiation of Immune Cells Resources and Links Genetic Loci Associated with Coronary Artery Disease Harbor Evidence of Selection and Antagonistic Pleiotropy – Researchers report that some gene versions stuck around because fertility advantage outweighs heart disease risk. Do It Yourself Vaccinations? – According to this article, Band-Aid‒like patch studded with dissolving microneedles can safely and effectively deliver a dose of influenza vaccine. Stats to Help Prevent Gun Injury in Children – The authors report that new numbers on firearm deaths and injuries provide most in-depth look yet at impact of firearm violence on children. Scientists Have Uncovered the Atomic Structure of a Key Alzheimer's Protein for The First Time – Scientists have revealed the chemical structure of one of the key markers of Alzheimer's disease, capturing high-resolution images of the abnormal tau protein deposits suspected to be behind Alzheimer's and other neurodegenerative conditions. 'Stem-Cell Tourism' Needs Tighter Controls, Say Medical Experts – Stem-cell tourism involving patients who travel to developing countries for treatment with unproven and potentially risky therapies should be more tightly regulated. Guiding Neural Stem Cells with Electrical Stimulation – When scientists applied electric current to human neural stem cells injected into rats’ brains, the cells moved toward the animals’ subventricular zone and lateral ventricle, instead of toward their olfactory bulb, the default destination. New In Vitro Model to Test Drugs for Colon Cancer – The first-ever "disease in a Petri dish" platform that models human colon cancer derived from stem cells has been developed by Weill Cornell Medicine investigators, allowing them to identify a targeted drug treatment for a common, inherited form of the disease. Integrin α7 Is a Functional Marker and Potential Therapeutic Target in Glioblastoma – Researchers used generation and screening of thousands of monoclonal antibodies to search for receptors and signaling pathways preferentially enriched in glioblastoma stem-like cells. Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. Robert Hancock Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: Dr. Darrell Kotton is a David C. Seldin Professor of Medicine and works as the Director in the Center for Regenerative Medicine of Boston University and Boston Medical Center. Dr. Kotton’s research focuses on stem cell biology and gene therapy related to lung injury and repair. Dr. Kotton’s laboratory currently utilizes several stem cell populations, including bone marrow-derived stem cells and embryonic stem cells in order to develop novel stem cell-based therapies for lung disease. In addition, Dr. Kotton specializes in the genetic manipulation of stem cells as well as resident lung cells using lentiviral vectors. Featured Resource: PneumaCult™ Culture System for Airway Epithelial Cells Resources and Links A Newly Discovered See through Frog – A newly discovered glass frog from Ecuador’s Amazon lowlands (Hyalinobatrachium yaku) has a belly so transparent that the heart, kidneys and urine bladder are clearly visible. A Possible Mechanism to the Cause of Parkinson’s Disease – In a blood test, immune cells called T cells became activated when exposed to the protein in about 40 percent of Parkinson’s patients. A Protein Made by the Fetus May Lead to Preeclampsia in Moms – Researchers report that in some women, the pregnancy condition preeclampsia, which can cause blood pressure to soar, may be triggered by DNA variations carried by the fetus. How Facial Recognition Changes Wasp Brain – Biologist Ali Berens of Georgia Tech and her colleagues set up recognition exercises of faces and basic patterns for P. fuscatus wasps and P. metricus wasps — a species that doesn’t naturally recognize faces but can be trained to do so in the lab. Clinical Trial to Begin with Cells Derived from Human Embryonic Stem Cells – The authors report that surgeons in the Chinese city of Zhengzhou will carefully drill through the skulls of people with Parkinson’s disease and inject 4 million immature neurons derived from human embryonic stem cells into their brains. Compound in Grapes Can Kill Colon Cancer Stem Cells – The compounds — resveratrol — which are found in grape skins and seeds, could also eventually lead to treatments to help prevent colon cancer, said Jairam K.P. Vanamala, associate professor of food sciences, Penn State. Stem Cell Scientist to Run for Congress – Scientists report that stem-cell researcher Hans Keirstead, 50, announced that he will try to unseat California’s Rep. Dana Rohrabacher. Using Stem Cells to Understand How Chlamydia Does Its Damage – Using a gene-editing tool called CRISPR/Cas9, the researchers are able to alter the properties of white blood cells in specific ways to see how chlamydia bacteria are able to penetrate and overwhelm cells, according to microbiologist Robert Hancock of the University of British Columbia. Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. Darrell Kotton Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: In this episode, we welcome Drs. Shahin Rafii and Raphael Lis. Dr. Rafii is director of the Ansary Stem Cell Institute, chief of the Division of Regenerative Medicine, and the Arthur B. Belfer Professor at Weill Cornell Medicine. His lab investigates stem cell biology and angiogenesis using in vivo mouse models. Dr. Lis who was the first author on their recent Nature paper and is an Instructor in Medicine and the TRI-SCi Flow Cytometry Core Manager at Weill Cornell Medicine. Featured Resource: Bone Marrow Niches and HSC Fates Wallchart Resources and Links US to Pull Out of Paris Climate Accord – President Donald Trump announced June 1 that the United States will leave the Paris climate accord, calling it “simply the latest example of Washington entering into an agreement that disadvantages the United States.” Plants – A Source of Air Pollution When Temperatures Rise – During heat waves, city trees actually boost air pollution levels with as much as 60 percent of ground-level ozone created with the help of chemicals emitted by urban shrubbery. Climate Change May Be Beneficial for Earworms – Researchers analyzed 21 years of data from Maryland cornfields and suggest that rising temperatures might help corn earworms (Helicoverpa zea) develop resistance faster to a widespread genetically built-in crop protection. Humans Love Looking at Faces Even Before Birth – In the first-ever study of prenatal visual perception, fetuses were more likely to move their heads to track facelike configurations of light projected into the womb than non-facelike shapes. New Therapy “Flags” DNA to Boost Cancer Fighting T-Cells – An antibody sold as the drug Keytruda helps turn on cancer-fighting T cells by blocking PD-1 proteins, freeing T cells to attack the cancer. Trump Retains Collins as NIH director – President Donald Trump has decided to appoint the director of the National Institutes of Health even though pro-life advocates called on Francis Collins to be replaced because of his support for embryonic stem cell research that involves the destruction of human life. Using Stem Cells to Reverse Brain Death?? – The company, Bioquark, plans to initiate a study later this year to see if a combination of stem cell and protein blend injections, electrical nerve stimulation, and laser therapy can reverse the effects of recent brain death. Skin Stem Cells to Treat Congenital Brain Defect – Researchers developed a stem cell-based therapy for generating skin grafts to cover myelomeningocele defects before birth according to a study published in Stem Cell Reports. CryoPause: A New Method to Immediately Initiate Experiments after Cryopreservation of Pluripotent Stem Cells – Researchers describe a modification of PSC workflows that eliminates a major variable for nearly all PSC experiments: the quality and quantity of the PSC starting material. Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. Shahin Rafii  Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: Dr. Clive Svendsen is the Director of the Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute and Professor of Biomedical Sciences at Cedar Sinai Medical Center. One focus of his current research is to derive cells from patients with specific disorders, which can then be “reprogrammed” to a primitive state and used as powerful models of human disease. The other side of his research involves cutting edge clinical trials. Featured Resource: iCell® Human iPSC-Derived Products Resources and Links New Administration Budget Would Bludgeon Science Funding – Under President Donald Trump’s 2018 budget proposal, federal research spending would decline abruptly. Mouse Sperm Survive Trip to Space – Sperm freeze-dried and sent into space for months of exposure to high levels of solar radiation later produced healthy baby mice. 40 More Intelligence Genes Identified – By sifting through the genetics of nearly 80,000 people, researchers have uncovered 40 genes that may make certain people smarter which brings the total number of suspected “intelligence genes” to 52. Statin Drugs May Not Benefit Older Adults – This article reveals that statins did not cause a meaningful reduction in heart attacks, coronary heart disease deaths or deaths from any cause in people age 65 and older. Bookmarks on Stem Cells – Stem cells preserve their identities after cell division by using a series of protein “bookmarks” on their genes, according to new research published by scientists at Weill Cornell Medicine. High-Throughput Protocol for Deriving Microglia from Human Stem Cells – Scientists from the New York Stem Cell Foundation Research Institute have developed a robust, efficient method for deriving microglia, the immune cells of the brain, from human stem cells according to a paper published in Stem Cell Reports. HIV May Cause Emphysema by Taking Over Stem Cells – HIV may cause emphysema by reprogramming the stem cells, called basal cells, to produce enzymes that can destroy lung tissue. A Cure for Baldness? – Scientists have found that immune system cells that control inflammation play a key role in hair growth. Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. Clive Svendsen Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: Dr. Farshid Guilak, a Professor in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at Washington University and Director of Research for the Shriners Hospitals for Children. His laboratory is pursuing a multidisciplinary approach to investigate the etiology and pathogenesis of osteoarthritis, as a basis for the development of new pharmacologic and stem-cell therapies. Featured Resource: Mesenchymal Stem and Progenitor Cell Research Resources and Links Toddlers’ Screen Time Linked to Speech Delays and Lost Sleep, But… – The use of tablets and other handheld digital devices are associated with speech delays and less night sleep in young children, links that scientists, doctors and parents are all eager to explore. Breast Cancer Cells Spread in Groups – A study says breast cancer cells may break away from the main tumor in clumps, already bearing most of the mutations that will drive cancer recurrence. An 'Exercise Pill' – An experimental drug touted as “exercise in a pill” has dramatically increased endurance in couch potato mice, even after a lifetime of inactivity by adjusting the body’s metabolism, allowing muscles to favor burning fat over sugar. Immune Cells May Help Regulate Our Heart Beat – Immune system cells called macrophages, which usually protect the body from invading pathogens, also help electricity flow between muscle cells to keep the heart pumping. Bone Marrow Stem Cells for ALS – Researchers at the University of South Florida show in a new study that bone marrow stem cell transplants helped improve motor functions and nervous system conditions in mice with the disease amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) by repairing damage to the blood-spinal cord barrier. Large Bank of Human Stem Cell Lines Made in Europe – The 711 induced pluripotent stem cell lines derived from 301 healthy volunteers were released by a large European consortium – the Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells Initiative – in the journal Nature. Vitamin Deficiency Not Good for Blood Stem Cells – According to this article, lack of vitamin A in the body has a detrimental effect on the hematopoietic system in the bone marrow. Single-Cell RNA-Seq Analysis Maps Development of Human Germline Cells and Gonadal Niche Interactions – Researchers performed single-cell RNA-seq analysis of over 2,000 human fetal germ cells and their gonadal niche cells in female and male human embryos spanning several developmental stages. Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. Farshid Guilak Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: In this episode, we bring you Drs. Rick Horwitz and Graham Johnson from the Allen Institute for Cell Sciences. They discuss the Allen Cell Explorer, a 3-D cell library created using induced pluripotent stem cells. Featured Resource: STEMdiff™ Trilineage Differentiation Kit Resources and Links A March for Science Happened – Scientists had to engage and take their demands to political leaders and policymakers, so they stood for hours on a sodden National Mall and then marched through puddles to Capitol Hill. HPV Vaccine as a Cancer Prevention Needs to be Emphasized – In the United States, HPV vaccination rates lag for girls and boys mainly because the message that the vaccine prevents cancer isn’t getting out there. All Crossed Up-Neuron Miswiring Can Lead to Depression – Researchers have pinpointed a gene called Pcdhαc2 that keeps important brain cells in mice from crossing their wires, providing a possible link between brain wiring and mood disorders like depression. Zika Virus Hangs Out in Your Body – Weeks after the virus disappears from the bloodstream, it still lingers in the lymph nodes and the central nervous system of rhesus monkeys. CIRM is on Its Last Leg – Major investment in regenerative medicine enters its last stage — and the money might run out before treatments are ready. CRISPR Editing to Fight Arthritis – Scientists have rewired stem cells' genetic circuits known as SMART cells (Stem cells Modified for Autonomous Regenerative Therapy) to produce an anti-inflammatory arthritis drug when the cells encounter inflammation. CRISPR and Stem Cells Identify Novel Chlamydia Drug Targets – Researchers at the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute and their colleagues at the University of British Columbia have developed a novel method for studying how the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis interacts with the human immune system. Activating Stem Cells for Quicker Healing – Recent research, led by assistant professor of stem cell biology and regenerative medicine at the University of South Carolina Joseph T. Rodgers, has found a way to increase the body’s ability to heal after injury. Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. Rick Horwitz and Dr. Graham Johnson Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: Dr. Alysson Muotri is a Professor at the School of Medicine, University of California in San Diego. His research focuses on modeling neurological diseases, such as Autism Spectrum Disorders, using human induced pluripotent stem cells. His lab has developed several techniques to culture human neurons and glia for basic research and drug-screening platforms. Most recently he and his group published a paper reporting the first cellular model of anorexia nervosa, reprogramming induced pluripotent stem cells derived from adolescent females with the eating disorder. Featured Resource: CloneR™ Defined Supplement for Single-Cell Cloning of Human ES and iPS Cells Resources and Links How a Budget Squeeze Can Lead to Sloppy Science and Even Cheating – A funding crunch for scientific research is creating incentives for scientists to cut corners and even occasionally to cheat. New Tech Harvests Drinking Water from (Relatively) Dry Air Using Only Sunlight – A new device the size of a coffee mug can generate drinkable water from desert air using nothing but sunlight. New CRISPR Tool Can Detect Tiny Amounts of Viruses – The new exquisitely sensitive and specific CRISPR tool promises to help detect diseases that other diagnostics miss, and it’s simple and cheap to use. Allen Cell Explorer – Graham Johnson and the Allen Institute for Cell Science’s team of nearly 50 cell biologists, microscopy specialists, and computer programmers revealed what they’ve been working on the past two years: the Allen Cell Explorer, which is the largest public collection of human cells ever visualized in 3D, that serves as fuel for the project’s engine: the first-ever deep learning model to predict how cells are organized. The EPS Cell, a New Stem Cell – Salk Institute and Chinese researchers said they have created a new kind of stem cell called an extended pluripotent stem cell or EPS cell, one that is more versatile than any other grown in the lab and can grow into any tissue in the body. Patient-Specific iPSC-Derived Endothelial Cells Uncover Pathways that Protect against Pulmonary Hypertension in BMPR2 Mutation Carriers – Researchers used comparison of induced pluripotent stem cell-derived endothelial cells from three families with unaffected mutation carriers, familial pulmonary arterial hypertension patients, and gender-matched controls to investigate this variation. Analysis of Transcriptional Variability in a Large Human iPSC Library Reveals Genetic and Non-genetic Determinants of Heterogeneity – This article reveals that ∼50% of genome-wide expression variability is explained by variation across individuals and identified a set of expression quantitative trait loci that contribute to this variation. Reprogramming the Brain’s Own Cells for Parkinson’s Treatment – A study from the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm shows it is possible to coax the brain’s own astrocytes—cells that typically support and nurture neurons—into producing a new generation of dopamine neurons. Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. Alysson Muotri Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: Dr. Fabio Rossi is a Professor at the Department of Medical Genetics and Director of Biomedical Research Centre at the University of British Columbia. He joins us to discuss the role of mesenchymal stem cells in regeneration and fibrosis in vivo. Featured Resource: CloneR™ Defined Supplement for Single-Cell Cloning of Human ES and iPS Cells Resources and Links New Steel Modeled After Bones – A new type of steel mimics bone to make the metal more resistant to failure. The First Fluorescent Frogs – Scientists say South American polka dot tree frog gives off an “intense greenish-blue glow” under UV light. Brain Differences Seen Between Girls and Boys with ADHD – Girls and boys with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder don’t just behave differently but parts of their brains look different, too like the cerebellum. Getting Dengue First May Make Zika Infection Much Worse – Experiments in cells and mice suggest that a previous exposure to dengue or West Nile can make a Zika virus infection worse by facilitating entry of the Zika virus into susceptible cells, and exacerbating the disease outcome. For Kids Daily Juice Most Likely Won’t Pack on Pounds – This article shows that an analysis of existing studies linked daily juice drinking to very small amounts of extra weight in young children. Man Receives Someone Else’s Reprogrammed Stem Cells – Doctors took skin cells from a donor bank and reprogrammed them into induced pluripotent stem cells, grew them into a type of retinal cell, and then injected them into the retina of the macular degeneration patient's right eye. Stem Cell Fabric Innovation Regrows Rotator Cuff Tendons – A team of researchers from University of Connecticut Health has found a way to regenerate rotator cuff tendons after they’re torn, using a nano-textured fabric seeded with stem cells. New Stem Cell Screening Platform Opens Door to Novel Ways to Treat Neuro Diseases – Scientists at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine have successfully grown stem cells from children with a devastating neurological disease to help explain how different genetic backgrounds can cause similar symptoms. Stem Cells Help Some Men with Erectile Dysfunction after Prostate Surgery – Scientists report that men who are unable to have an erection after prostate surgery enjoyed normal intercourse thanks to stem cell therapy. Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. Fabio Rossi Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: For this episode’s interview, we bring on Dr. Shawn Hingtgen, Assistant Professor at the Department of Molecular Pharmaceutics at UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, and Dr. Matthew G. Ewend, Chair of the Department of Neurosurgery at UNC School of Medicine. Dr. Hingtgen’s research focuses on utilizing molecular imaging to characterize and validate novel stem cell-based targeted therapeutics for treatment of highly aggressive brain cancers. Most recently, Hingtgen and Ewend published a paper in Science Translational Medicine describing a novel method using neural stem cells to home to and infiltrate brain tumors in mouse models. Featured Resource: Sample Request: NeuroCult™ NS-A Proliferation Kit (Human) Resources and Links New Administration Will Deeply Cut Science Budgets – The harshest budget cuts appear to be directed at biomedical research, which will see a dramatic 20 percent drop in funding for the National Institutes of Health Making a Mistake Can Make Your Brain Pause – When facing a fast and furious stream of decisions, even the momentary distraction of noting an error can decrease accuracy on the next choice. Genetically Engineered Corn to Ward Off Fungal Growth – Genetically altered corn infected with Aspergillus fungus may be able to prevent the fungus from releasing carcinogenic toxins or aflatoxins. Insight into Neandertals’ Diet and Disease from Preserved Dental Plaque – Dental plaque preserved in fossilized teeth confirms that Neandertals were flexible eaters and may have self-medicated with an ancient equivalent of aspirin. 3 Women Blinded by Unproven Stem Cell Treatments – Researchers document the cases of three elderly women who were blinded after getting stem cells derived from fat tissue at a for-profit clinic in Florida. A New Report Aims to Decipher How the Body Controls Stem Cells – Researchers from the Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine of the University of Luxembourg and an international team have now identified an ingenious mechanism by which the body orchestrates the regeneration of red and white blood cells from progenitor cells. Turning Old Gut Stem Cells Young – It may be possible to partially reverse aging in gut stem cells, at least in a petri dish according to a paper in Cell Reports March 14. A New Antibody Therapy That Targets Cancer Stem Cells – Scientists have described a novel antibody therapy with a two-in-one antibody, called CT16, that may be able to both shrink tumors and target cancer stem cells. Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. Shawn Hingtgen Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: For this episode’s interview, we bring on Dr. Justin Lathia, Assistant Professor in the Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine at the Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic. Dr. Lathia’s research focus is on how stem cell programs drive tumor progression and therapeutic resistance. Most recently his group published a paper in Cell Stem Cell, describing a novel method on how stem cells in brain tumors evade immune signals around them. Featured Resource: Sample Request: NeuroCult™ NS-A Proliferation Kit (Human) Resources and Links Certain Birth Defects Are on the Rise Since Zika Arrived in the U.S. – Certain birth defects were 20 times more prevalent in babies born to Zika virus–infected mothers in the U.S. in 2016 than they were before the virus cropped up in the United States, a CDC study suggests. Bacteria Genes Offer New Strategy for Sterilizing Mosquitoes – A pair of bacterial genes called cifA and cifB, connected to the sterility mechanism of Wolbachia may enable genetic engineering strategies for curbing populations of virus-transmitting mosquitoes. New Imaging Technique Catches DNA ‘Flickering’ On – This article describes a new imaging technique that takes advantage of DNA’s natural ability to “blink” in response to stimulating light. Gastric Bypass Controls Diabetes Long Term Better Than Other Methods – People who undergo gastric bypass surgery are more likely to experience a remission of their diabetes than patients who receive a gastric sleeve or intensive management of diet and exercise, according to a new study. Scientists Use Two Types Of Stem Cells To Grow Artificial Mouse "Embryo" – Scientists combine mouse embryonic stem cells and extra-embryonic trophoblast stem cells in a 3D-scaffold to generate structures whose morphogenesis is remarkably similar to natural embryos. Stem Cell Science in Space Happening with SpaceX Rocket – SpaceX rocket carrying samples of donated adult stem cells from a research laboratory at Mayo Clinic’s Florida campus launched from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla., on Feb. 19. Australian Researchers Have Discovered Stem Cells in the Breast That May Be Linked to a High-Risk Form of Breast Cancer – Located in a region near the nipple, the newly-found stem cells have many molecular similarities to a subtype of 'triple negative' breast cancers known as claudin-low cancers. Obesity Can Reprogram Muscle Stem Cells – According to this article, by comparing the DNA methylation in immature and mature muscle cells from healthy individuals, Cajsa Davegårdh discovered that the actual degree of methylation had a major impact on the maturation process. Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. Justin Lathia Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: For this episode, we bring on Dr. Jun Wu, a Staff Scientist in the lab of Juan Carlos Izpisua Belmonte at the Salk Institute. Dr. Wu will discuss his latest work published in Cell on human-pig chimeras. Featured Resource: Wallchart: Stem Cell States - Naive to Primed Pluripotency Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. Jun Wu Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: Dr. Christopher Park is an Associate Professor and Director of Pathology Education and Translational Research at the NYU Langone Medical center. His lab is currently looking at new ways to combat blood cancers like leukemia by attacking and destroying the blood stem cells. In this episode, Dr. Park discusses his lab’s work and the details of their most recent publication in Science Translational Medicine. Featured Resource: Hematopoiesis Hub: Culture Your Expertise in Hematopoiesis with Us Resources and Links Scientists Plan to March – A few months from now, thousands of scientists will leave their labs and take to the streets to rally on behalf of publicly funded, openly communicated, evidence-based research. CRISPR Used in Cows to Help Fight Tuberculosis – Researchers are able to obtain transgenic cattle with increased resistance to tuberculosis through somatic cell nuclear transfer. An Artist’s Amnesia Could Help Better Understand Memory – Despite having amnesia, artist Lonni Sue Johnson can still create art, which makes neuroscientists curious about Johnson’s brain in part because her education and expertise before her illness contrast sharply with that of the most famous amnesiac known to science, Henry Molaison. Shining Light on Eggs Leads to More “Chilled” Out Chickens – Researchers at the University of California, Davis found that broilers given at least 12 hours of light daily during incubation were less fearful. First Human-Pig 'Chimera' Created in Milestone Study – Scientists from the Salk Institute have created a human-pig hybrid in a milestone study that raises the prospect of being able to grow human organs inside animals for use in transplants. Study by Cleveland Clinic Researchers Explains How Brain Cancer Cells Avoid Immune System – A new study by Cleveland Clinic researchers has uncovered some of the mystery behind what enables glioblastoma – one of the most deadly and recurring brain cancers – to resist most cancer treatments, including chemotherapy, radiation and immunotherapy. Endocrinology Stem Cell Research Engineering Thyroid Cells from Stem Cells May Lead to New Therapies – Researchers found a way to coax genetically modified embryonic stem cells from mice to develop into thyroid cells. Direct Reprogramming of Mouse Fibroblasts toward Leydig-like Cells by Defined Factors – Induced Leydig-like cells (iLCs) expressed steroidogenic genes, had a global gene expression profile similar to that of adult LCs, and acquired androgen synthesis capabilities. Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. Christopher Park Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: Dr. Deepak Lamba is an Assistant Professor at the Buck Institute. His research is focused on identifying new methods to treat degenerative vision disorders, including macular degeneration and retinitis pigmentosa, using stem cell technology. His work is considered pioneering amongst those focused on developing efficient methods of making retinal cells in a laboratory dish. Featured Resource: Neural Stem Cells Wallchart Resources and Links Rumours Swirl about Trump’s Science Adviser Pick – Climate sceptic William Happer and ardent critic of academia David Gelernter have met with the president. For Three Years in a Row, Earth Breaks Heat Record – For the third year running, Earth’s thermostat broke a new record: 2016 was the warmest year since record-keeping began in 1880. Heart-Hugging Robot Does the Twist (And Squeeze) – A silicone sleeve slipped over pigs’ hearts helped pump blood when the hearts failed. Promise and Perils of Marijuana Deserve More Scientific Scrutiny – The report, released January 12 by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine in Washington, D.C., calls for expanding research on potential medical applications of cannabis and its products, including marijuana and chemical components called cannabinoids. Here's How Earwax Might Clean Ears – The self-cleaning marvel known as earwax may turn the dust particles it traps into agents of their own disposal. Scientists Say It's Time We Discussed Creating Humans from Stem Cells – A Kyoto University scientist, Shinya Yamanaka, and his graduate student, Kazutoshi Takahashi, re-energized the stem cell field by devising a technique to “reprogram” any adult cell, such as a skin cell, and coax it back to its earliest “pluripotent” stage where it can become any type of cell, from a heart muscle cell to a neuron. Irish Researchers Make Stem-Cell Cancer Breakthrough – Irish-led researchers have found a way to make it potentially easier to kill off tumor cells and make radiotherapy more effective for people with oesophageal cancer. Stem Cells Induce Teeth to Self-Repair – A new dental treatment could eliminate the need for man-made cavity fillings by promoting the renewal of stem cells within tooth pulp, triggering damaged teeth to repair themselves. 'Totipotent' Stem Cells Capable of Forming Viable Embryo Created from Pluripotent Cells – Stem cells with characteristics of totipotency — capable of creating all the tissue types needed to build and sustain an embryo — have been created in mice by a California-led research team. Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. Deepak Lambda Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: Dr. Hongjun Song is a Director of the Stem Cell Program at John Hopkins University. The research in the Song laboratory focuses on understanding mechanisms regulating neural stem cells and neurogenesis in the mammalian brain. He recently published a review regarding Zika virus, what’s known, how stem cells can help and we talk with him about this topic and more. Featured Resource: Neural Stem Cells Wallchart Resources and Links Cancer Death Rates Fall as Prevention, Treatment Advance – Deaths from cancer in the United States have dropped 25 percent since hitting a peak in 1991 attributed to reductions in smoking and advances in early detection and treatment. Ebola Vaccine Proves Effective, Final Trial Results Show – This article reports that of 5,837 people in Guinea who received a single shot of the vaccine, rVSV-ZEBOV, in the shoulder, none became infected with the Ebola virus 10 to 84 days after vaccination. Among High School Seniors, Interest in Science Varies by Race, Ethnicity – A majority of high school seniors in the U.S. say they enjoy science and around four-in-ten (44%) would like to have a job in the field although this tend to vary by race and ethnicity – a pattern that also is reflected in American students’ test scores in science. Figuring Out How Women Respond to Hormones – Researchers suppressed then added back the hormones estrogen and progesterone in women with premenstrual dysphoric disorder and found that their symptoms disappear only to re-emerge when the hormones were added back. NYSCF and PGP Announce Availability of Unique New Stem Cell Resource for Scientific Research – The New York Stem Cell Foundation Research Institute and the Personal Genomes Project announced the availability of a unique new stem cell resource – the stem cell lines – for scientists around the world. Conversion of Terminally Committed Hepatocytes to Culturable Bipotent Progenitor Cells with Regenerative Capacity – Researchers report that a cocktail of small molecules, Y-27632, A-83-01, and CHIR99021, can convert rat and mouse mature hepatocytes in vitro into proliferative bipotent cells, which they called chemically induced liver progenitors. Synthetic Stem Cells to Regenerate Heart Tissue – American and Chinese researchers have developed synthetic cardiac stem cells that could have the same therapeutic impact as human stem cells, with the added benefit of reducing the risk of graft rejection in cellular therapy. Using Stem Cells to Grow Stomachs? – A study featured in the journal Nature reveals that researchers from the Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center were able to grow human tissues in a laboratory using stem cell samples taken from the corpus/fundus region of the stomach. Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. Hongjun Song Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: For the interview portion of the show, we talk to our very own Dr. Daylon James. In addition to hosting the Stem Cell Podcast, Daylon is an Assistant Professor at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York City where he uses stem cells as a tool to investigate cardiovascular and reproductive disorders. Resources and Links World Health Organisation Declares a Public Emergency of International Concern Over Zika – World Health Organization declared the Zika virus and its suspected link to birth defects an international public health emergency, a rare move that signals the seriousness of the outbreak and gives countries new tools to fight it. 2016 Was 10 Year Anniversary of Yamanaka iPSC Paper – This article discusses the 10 years of iPSC where Cell published the original iPS cell papers, in which Dr. Kazutoshi Takahashi, Dr. Shinya Yamanaka and colleagues showed that mouse and human fibroblasts can be reprogrammed into pluripotent stem cells by introducing into them four genes. World's First Baby with Three Genetic Parents Was Born – A five-month-old boy is the first baby to be born using a new technique that incorporates DNA from three people. Stem Cells Can Make Oocytes – This paper reveals that scientists have for the first time reprogrammed murine embryonic stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cells into fully functional oocytes in the laboratory. CO2 Turns into Solid Stone When Pumped into the Ground – Researchers working in Iceland say they have discovered a new way to trap the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide (CO2) deep underground: by changing it into rock. In Vivo Genome Editing Improves Muscle Function in A Mouse Model of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy – Exon 23 deletion by CRISPR/Cas9 resulted in expression of the modified dystrophin gene, partial recovery of functional dystrophin protein in skeletal myofibers and cardiac muscle, improvement of muscle biochemistry, and significant enhancement of muscle force. Arctic and Antarctic Sea Ice Volumes Both Fall to an All-Time Low – Both the Arctic and Antarctic experienced record lows in sea ice extent in November, with scientists astonished to see Arctic ice actually retreating at a time when the region enters the cold darkness of winter. Humans Are Now Getting CRISPR’d – This article reveals that a Chinese group has become the first to inject a person with cells that contain genes edited using the revolutionary CRISPR–Cas9 technique. Proxima B – A newly discovered, roughly Earth-sized planet orbiting our nearest neighboring star might be habitable, according to a team of astronomers using the European Southern Observatory's 3.6-meter telescope at La Silla, Chile, along with other telescopes around the world. Major Stem Cell Discovery for Diabetes Retracted – One of the highest-profile researchers in diabetes has retracted a paper once heralded as a breakthrough, following multiple failed attempts to reproduce its headline-grabbing results. Gravitational Waves – The first gravitational wave signal detected by Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory came from the merger of two black holes spiraling inward, as depicted in this numerical simulation. Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. Daylon James Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: Dr. Eggan is a Professor in the Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University. On this show he joins us, along with a post-doctoral fellow from his lab, Dr. Michael Wells, to discuss their latest publication on investigating mechanisms of infection in Zika virus. Resources and Links Microcephaly Cases Surge in Colombia following Rise in Zika Infections – Colombia saw a surge on 2016 in babies with microcephaly — more than four times the number reported in the previous year caused by Zika virus infections. Having an Extra Chromosome Slows Cancer Cell Growth – This article reveals that smaller tumors, less cancer-driving proteins are seen with cells with an extra copy of a chromosome — known as trisomic cells. Gut Microbes Mix May Regulate Motor Deficits in Parkinson’s – Gut impulse signals from gut microbes can activate immune cells called microglia in the mouse brain, causing inflammation that’s characteristic of Parkinson’s disease. Solar Panels Are Almost Truly Green – This article reports that solar panels are about to break even on their energy usage and greenhouse gas emissions. Telomere Balance between Elongation and Trimming in Stem Cells – Researchers report that telomere length is determined by the balance between telomere elongation, which is mediated by telomerase, and telomere trimming, which is controlled by XRCC3 and Nbs1, homologous recombination proteins that generate single-stranded C-rich telomeric DNA and double-stranded telomeric circular DNA, respectively. Long-Term Self-Renewing Human Epicardial Cells Generated from Pluripotent Stem Cells under Defined Xeno-Free Conditions – Scientists show that the temporal modulation of canonical Wnt signaling is sufficient for epicardial induction from six different human pluripotent stem cell lines, including a WT1-2A-eGFP knock-in reporter line, under chemically defined, xeno-free conditions. Development of a Rapid Screen for the Endodermal Differentiation Potential of Human Pluripotent Stem Cell Lines – Researchers developed a rapid small molecule based screen to assess the endodermal potential of human pluripotent stem cells, based solely on definitive endoderm morphology. Genetic Ablation of AXL Does Not Protect Human Neural Progenitor Cells and Cerebral Organoids from Zika Virus Infection – Dr. Kevin Eggan and his team of researchers show that genetic ablation of AXL has no effect on Zika virus (ZIKV) entry or ZIKV-mediated cell death in human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived neural progenitor cells or cerebral organoids. Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. Kevin Eggan Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: Dr. Jen Adair, assistant member of the clinical research division at the Fred Hutch Cancer Research Center, and Assistant Professor of Medical Oncology at the University of Washington School of Medicine. Adair's group investigates retrovirus-based gene transfer into hematopoietic stem cells as a viable treatment for genetic, malignant and infectious diseases. Resources and Links Dogs Form Memories of Experiences – This article suggests that dogs possess some version of episodic memory, which allows them to recall personal experiences, and not just simple associations between, for instance, sitting and getting a treat. Lower Social Status Can Alter the Immune System – A new study manipulating the pecking order of monkeys finds that low social status kicks the immune system into high gear, leading to unwanted inflammation akin to that in people with chronic diseases. A New Fetal Genome Test – This article reports that by doing a Pap smear as early as five weeks into a pregnancy, researchers can collect enough fetal cells to test for abnormalities linked to more than 6,000 genetic disorders. Old Blood Carries Risks for Brain – This article reveals that after transfusions of young blood, old mice still had lower numbers of newborn nerve cells in the hippocampus, a brain structure important for learning and memory. Synthetic Recording and In Situ Readout of Lineage Information in Single Cells – Researchers developed a new method for reading the history and "family trees" of cells called MEMOIR (Memory by Engineered Mutagenesis with Optical In Situ Readout), which can record the life history of animal cells, their relationships with other cells, communication patterns, and the influential events that have shaped them. Take a Journey into the Center of a Stem Cell – Scientists journeyed to the center of a stem cell that’s maturing into a nerve cell using a powerful X-ray microscope to snap pictures of stem cells at different stages of differentiation. Neural Progenitors Found in Outer Brain Covering – A cross-domain study directed by Professor Peter Carmeliet reveals that there are neural progenitors found in meninges, the protective membranes that enclose the brain. Inhibition of mTOR Induces a Paused Pluripotent State – This article reports that the partial inhibition of mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR), a major nutrient sensor and promoter of growth, induces reversible pausing of mouse blastocyst development and allows their prolonged culture ex vivo. Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. Jen Adair Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: Dr. Alpa Mahuvakar Trivedi, a molecular biologist in the Department of Neurosurgery at University California, San Francisco, joins us in this episode. Alpa and her team have recently published a paper on generating neural cells from stem cells to help pain and bladder function after spinal cord injury. Resources and Links What Does Trump Win Mean for US Science? – This article reports that many scientists have been laying out their concerns about the future of the US research community under a Trump administration. Poor Diet in Pregnancy, Poor Heart Health for Infants – Mothers who don’t eat enough during pregnancy could give birth to babies with long-lasting heart problems. Using a Video Game to Speed Up Alzheimer's Research – This article describes the new game Stall Catchers, where citizen scientists help Alzheimer’s researchers find stalls in brain blood vessels in mice. Antibody Therapy for Zika Virus? – Scientists found that a single dose of a human antibody called ZIKV-117 can protect mice from death after Zika infection — and shield mouse fetuses from the virus’s damaging effects. Trump and Embryonic Stem Cells – Biomedical researchers are wondering what the Trump administration’s position is on embryonic stem cells research though he has vowed to “cancel every unconstitutional executive action, memorandum and order issued by President Obama.” Single-Cell Sequencing of the Small-RNA Transcriptome – Researchers present a single-cell method for small-RNA sequencing and apply it to naive and primed human embryonic stem cells and cancer cells. Conversion of Terminally Committed Hepatocytes to Culturable Bipotent Progenitor Cells with Regenerative Capacity – Scientists report that a cocktail of small molecules, Y-27632, A-83-01, and CHIR99021, can convert rat and mouse mature hepatocytes in vitro into proliferative bipotent cells, which we term chemically induced liver progenitors. Widespread Chromatin Accessibility at Repetitive Elements Links Stem Cells with Human Cancer – Stem cell differentiation induces chromatin remodeling at repetitive elements offering a permissive environment for Ewing sarcoma (a mesenchymally derived tumor) development. Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. Alpa Mahuvakar Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: We bring on Mark Post, professor of vascular physiology at the Maastricht University. Dr. Post is an innovator, being the creator of the world’s first lab grown hamburger. Mark’s work has been highlighted in mainstream media and he has given a TEDx talk about his technology and the meat industry. Recently, Mark was back in the news with an announcement that the cost of these stem cell burgers has significantly come down. Resources and Links Science Textbooks May Need an Update – Textbook drawings might need to be updated based on new images of the endoplasmic reticulum, a multifaceted organelle within the cell, which shows that it’s a tangled web of interconnected tubes, instead of containing flat sheets as previously believed. Finding HIV Patient Zero in America – DNA analysis shows HIV came to New York City between 1969 and 1973, long before the man known as Patient Zero became infected. Training for Parents May Lessen Some Autism Symptoms in Kids – This article presents the idea called Preschool Autism Communication Trial for preschool autism communication trial, which shows that children with autism can be reached by training their parents to be better conversationalists. Ancient Monkey Hookups – New DNA evidence is pointing to ancient affairs between bonobos and chimpanzees. The Stem Cell Burger Is Back, and This Time It Might Even Be Affordable – This article reports that stem cell burgers, if mass-produced today, would cost $10 according to Mark Post, its creator, in an Arkansas Online interview. Research on Rare Genetic Disease Reveals New iPSC Discovery – Shinya Yamanaka, MD, PhD, who first created induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), and his colleagues at the Gladstone Institutes found a way to increase the efficiency of stem cell reprogramming through research on a rare genetic disease. Withholding Amino Acid Depletes Blood Stem Cells – A new study shows that a diet deficient in valine effectively depleted the blood stem cells in mice and made it possible to perform a blood stem cell transplantation with them. Reactive Oxygen Species and Blood Stem Cells – A research group at Lund University in Sweden identified that certain cells during embryonic development are negatively affected by oxidation capable of leading to a block in cellular function. Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. Mark Post Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: Michael Halpern, deputy director for the Center of Science and Democracy, discusses the election and how science might be affected. Resources and Links Storing Tomatoes in Refrigerator Affect Their Genes – Science explains why you shouldn't put tomatoes in the fridge. It’s because some of their genes chill out and are altered by cold temperatures, ultimately affecting the flavor. A Clear Difference on Climate Change – This article describes the stark contrast between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump on the climate change issue and their plans about it. Drones that Carry Ads – Starting this year, commuters in Mexico City have been interrupted as they drive by flying robots carrying signs bearing simple slogans as part of ridesharing app Uber’s campaign for UberPool. Common Household Chemicals Hurt Our Health... And Cost Us Billions – Routine contact with plastic bottles, toys, food cans, cosmetics and flame retardants containing "endocrine-disrupting chemicals" results in ingestion, leading to a toxic buildup and potentially a variety of medical conditions. Scientists Grow Mouse Eggs from Stem Cells in Lab – Japanese scientists have grown mouse eggs entirely in the lab, then fertilized them to yield fertile offspring, a scientific first cautiously hailed by experts in human reproduction. Stem Cells May Repair Broken Hearts – Researchers transplanted heart muscle cells that were made from the stem cells of a macaque into the damaged hearts of five other macaques integrating with the monkeys' own heart muscle cells thus allowing their damaged hearts to function better. CRISPR Corrects Sickle Cell-Causing Gene in Human Cells – Scientists used the CRISPR-Cas9 gene-editing technique to rewrite the genetic mutation in blood cells that causes sickle cell disease where once implanted in mice, the edited stem cells produced normal hemoglobin. Glycolytic Metabolism Plays a Functional Role in Regulating Human Pluripotent Stem Cell State – Researchers show that naive human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) exhibit increased glycolytic flux, MYC transcriptional activity, and nuclear N-MYC localization relative to primed hESCs. Photo Reference: Courtesy of Michael Halpern Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: Dr. Stephen Duncan from the University of South Carolina discusses his work on the purification of cell lineages derived from pluripotent stem cells. Resources and Links Japanese Scientist Receives Nobel Prize for Autophagy Work – Yoshinori Ohsumi, a biologist at the Tokyo Institute of Technology, won this year’s Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for his work uncovering how cells break down old materials — a process critical for keeping cells healthy. Measles Eliminated from the Americas – The highly infectious disease - measles, which is marked by flat red spots that can cover the body - has been eliminated from the Americas after decades of wide-spread vaccination. Uncovering Facts about the Shady Sugar Industry – Researchers revealed that the sugar industry paid nutrition experts from Harvard University to downplay studies linking sugar and heart disease. Gene Linked to Autism in People May Influence Dog Sociability – This article reveals that beagles with particular variants in a gene - SEZ6L - associated with autism were more likely to sidle up to and make physical contact with a human stranger. Monsanto Buys Rights to CRISPR – Monsanto is taking genetically engineered crops to the next level, buying a license from the Broad Institute of Harvard University and MIT to use the CRISPR/Cas9 gene-editing technology. Dr. Allen Eaves of STEMCELL Technologies Inc. Named EY Entrepreneur of the Year™ Pacific 2016 – Dr. Allen Eaves, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of STEMCELL Technologies, a global biotechnology company that supplies tools and services to enable life science research, is this year’s Entrepreneur of the Year Pacific winner. Efficient Long-Term Cryopreservation of Pluripotent Stem Cells at −80 °C – Researchers report that a medium comprised of Ficoll 70 and dimethyl sulfoxide in presence or absence of fetal bovine serum can provide reliable cryopreservation of various kinds of human and porcine pluripotent stem cells at −80 °C for periods that extend up to at least one year, with the post-thaw viability, plating efficiency, and full retention of pluripotent phenotype comparable to that achieved with liquid nitrogen storage. Biologists Plan Scoring System for Antibodies - Biomedical experts plan to create a scoring system that will help researchers choose reliable antibodies for their experiments. ULK4 Gene Mutation Linked to Schizophrenia – Researchers identified, through genetic and in vitro functional studies, a novel serine/threonine kinase gene, unc-51-like kinase 4 (ULK4), as a rare risk factor for major mental disorders, including schizophrenia. Vitamin D Increases the Number of Blood Stem Cells during Embryonic Development – Scientists hypothesize that the levels of vitamin D during fetal development may play a role in preventing the onset of blood-related disorders later in life. Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. Stephen Duncan Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: Dr. Joshua Brickman from the University of Copenhagen discusses his work on stem cells and culture conditions. Professor Brickman’s and his group investigate the basis for transcriptional priming and commitment in embryonic stem cells and early in the specification of the endoderm lineage. Resources and Links Scientists Watch as Bacteria Evolve Antibiotic Resistance – A petri dish more than a meter long helped scientists visualize the evolution of antibiotic resistance in E. coli bacteria. Lyme Bacteria Swap ‘Catch Bonds’ to Navigate Blood Vessels – The corkscrew-shaped bacteria that cause Lyme disease (Borrelia burgdorferi) attach themselves to the sides of blood vessels using special bonds that get stronger under stress. Maybe You Don’t Need to Burp Your Baby – This article reports that there’s scant scientific evidence that burping after meals actually does anything helpful for babies. Pigeons Can Read a Little Bit – Pigeons moved from learning to eat from a food hopper, to recognizing shapes, to learning words through gradual training. Lack of T Cell Response to iPSC-Derived Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells from HLA Homozygous Donors – Researchers established human retinal pigment epithelial cells from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) in HLA homozygote donors. Scientists Use Stem Cells to Grow 3D Lung-in-a-Dish – Researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles have succeeded in creating three-dimensional lung “organoids” by coating tiny gel beads with lung-derived stem cells and then allowing them to self-assemble into the shapes of the air sacs found in human lungs. Motherless Babies Possible as Scientists Create Live Offspring without Need for Female Egg – This article shows that embryos could be created from cells which carry all their chromosomes leading to the theory that any cell in the human body could be fertilized by a sperm. Parkin and PINK1 Patient iPSC-Derived Midbrain Dopamine Neurons Exhibit Mitochondrial Dysfunction and α-Synuclein Accumulation – Researchers demonstrate that the identification of disease-related phenotypes in Parkinson’s disease–patient-specific induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived midbrain dopamine neurons depends on the type of differentiation protocol utilized. Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. Joshua Brickman Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: Dr. Shuibing Chen from Weill Cornell Medical College discusses her work on stem cells and diabetes. Resources and Links A Ban on Antibacterial Soap – The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has banned soap products containing 19 active ingredients, including the notorious chemical triclosan, marketed as antiseptics. A New Book all about Cursing? – A cognitive scientist Benjamin Bergen’s new book – What the F – examines the nature of profanity and the implications of obscene words for understanding human brains and minds. Mosquito Moms Can Pass Zika to Offspring – This article reveals that Aedes aegypti mosquitoes don’t need to bite someone to pick up Zika virus; youngsters can inherit the virus from their moms according to lab tests. Zika Mosquitos Now in Miami Beach – This article reports that Florida officials confirmed that the Zika virus was detected in three mosquito samples from a small area in Miami Beach. New Info about Bacteria Causing Stillbirth Revealed – Group B Streptococcus secretes protein-filled balloons that can travel up into the uterus causing premature labor and stillbirth. Will Embryonic Stem Cells Ever Cure Anything? – Douglas Melton tries to find ways to replace beta cells of the pancreas using new tissue manufactured from embryonic stem cells. MMP-9 and MMP-2 Contribute to Neuronal Cell Death in iPSC Models of Frontotemporal Dementia with MAPT Mutations – This article reports that matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP-2) and MMP-9 production is elevated in human neurons with microtubule-associated protein tau (MAPT) mutations contributing to stress-induced neuronal cell death. Researchers Use a Single Molecule to Command Stem Cells to Build New Bone – Researchers from the University of California, San Diego induce human pluripotent stem cells to differentiate into functional bone-building cells by feeding them adenosine, a naturally occurring molecule in the body. Scientists Engineer Stem Cells to Find Potential Therapy for Medulloblastoma – Researchers from the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center have created a system to study an aggressive subtype of medulloblastoma, which is a rare pediatric brain tumor that generally has a very poor prognosis. Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. Shuibing Chen Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: CEO and Founder of STEMCELL Technologies Inc. Dr. Allen Eaves discusses his transition from a bench scientist to a biotech business man. Resources and Links Tired Parents Don’t Follow Newborn Sleep Guidelines – Babies should be put on their back in an empty crib with firm mattress. Darwin’s Dogs Want Your Dog’s DNA – Darwin’s Dogs, a citizen science project headquartered at the University of Massachusetts Medical School in Worcester, is looking for good — and bad — dogs to donate DNA. Eating Shuts Off Nerves that Oppose Obesity – This article reports the role of orexin, also known as hypocretin, in weight gain and narcolepsy. Pesticides and Pollination Problems – Butterflies of Northern California join the ranks of honeybees, bumblebees, moths and other organisms that may be feeling the effects of local neonicotinoid pesticide use. Zika Virus Might Affect Learning, Memory in Adults, Study Says – This article reveals that Zika virus can infect neural progenitors in the adult mouse brain. Melatonin Appears to Suppress Growth of Breast Cancer Stem Cells – Researchers at Michigan State University published a study that melatonin, a hormone produced in the human brain, appears to suppress the growth of breast cancer tumors. Transcriptome Profiling of Patient-Specific Human iPSC-Cardiomyocytes Predicts Individual Drug Safety and Efficacy Responses In Vitro – Transcriptome-based toxicology analysis predicted and risk-stratified patient-specific susceptibility to cardiotoxicity, and functional assays in human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) patient-specific cardiomyocyte. Using tacrolimus and rosiglitazone, drugs targeting pathways predicted to produce cardiotoxicity, validated inter-patient differential responses. Modeling Dengue Virus-Hepatic Cell Interactions Using Human Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Hepatocyte-like Cells – Researchers differentiated human pluripotent stem cells into hepatocytes, one of the target cells of Dengue virus (DENV), to investigate various aspects of DENV-hepatocyte interaction. Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. Allen Eaves Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: Dr. Ritchie Ho, a postdoctoral fellow from Cedars-Sinai, joins us with his latest study on an induced pluripotent stem cell in vitro model of ALS. Resources and Links Circadian Clock Influences Young Sunflowers to follow the Sun – Research from University of California, Davis shows how sunflowers use their circadian clock to anticipate the dawn and follow the sun across the sky during the day. Humans Prefer the Gait of Mutant Horses – Researchers examine historic horse remains for the DMRT3 SNP, tracking the origin of gaitedness to Medieval England between 850 and 900 AD. Young Blood Antiaging Trial Raises Questions – A startup company, Ambrosia, has launched the first pay-to-participate clinical trial in the United States to test the antiaging benefits of young blood in relatively healthy people. Science Literacy Isn't Just about What People Know, It's Also about Their Communities – Increasing science literacy will not lead to appreciably greater support for science, but may be shaped by factors such as values and beliefs. NIH Proposes Removal of Moratorium on Chimera Research – A proposed National Institutes of Health (NIH) policy would require extra review for certain studies that create chimeras, or animals with both human and animal cells. Gene Correction of iPSCs from a Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome Patient Normalizes the Lymphoid Developmental and Functional Defects – Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) were derived from a Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome patient (WAS-iPSCs) and the endogenous chromosomal WAS locus was targeted with a wtWAS-2A-eGFP transgene using zinc finger nucleases to generate corrected WAS-iPSCs. Contributions of Mammalian Chimeras to Pluripotent Stem Cell Research – This article highlights the applications and current limitations presented by intra- and inter-species chimeras and their future contribution to the stem cell field. Development of Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone-Secreting Neurons from Human Pluripotent Stem Cells – Researchers report a three-step protocol to differentiate human pluripotent stem cells into gonadotropin-releasing hormone-secreting neurons which regulate puberty and reproduction. Direct Induction and Functional Maturation of Forebrain GABAergic Neurons from Human Pluripotent Stem Cells – Scientists identified a set of genetic factors that could robustly induce human pluripotent stem cells into GABAergic neurons with high efficiency. Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. Ritchie Ho Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: We bring on professor and researcher Dr. Christine Pratt from the University of Ottawa to discuss her research on breast cancer. Resources and Links 2016 Republican Platform against Embryonic Stem Cell Research and Other Science Issues – Live Science examined the Republican Party’s platform against embryonic stem cell research, climate change, fetal tissue research, and other science issues. US behind in Road Safety – The United States tops 19 other high-income countries on overall death rate due to motor vehicle crashes. Antibiotics May Help Fight Alzheimer’s Disease – This article reveals that a long course of antibiotics reduced the levels of a hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease in the brains of mice, possibly by changing the species of bacteria in the gut. Biting Your Nails and Sucking Your Thumb Might Have Some Positive Effects – Kids who sucked their thumbs or chewed their nails had lower rates of allergic reactions in lab tests. New Brain Map Most Detailed Yet – Scientists have drawn a new map of the human brain with each side of the outer layer of the brain parceled into 180 distinct areas. Cerebrospinal Fluid Signals Control the Behavior of Stem Cells in the Brain – The choroid plexus, a largely ignored structure in the brain that produces the cerebrospinal fluid, is an important regulator of adult neural stem cells. Cartilage Grown from Stem Cells Could Replace Hip Implants – Researchers from the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and Cytex Therapeutics have found a way to program stem cells to grow new cartilage on a 3D template of the ball of a hip joint. Molecular Obstacles to Clinical Translation of iPSCs – This article discusses whether the therapeutic obstacles of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) clones are specific to transcription-factor-mediated reprogramming or inherent to every cellular reprogramming method. Conversion of Human Gastric Epithelial Cells to Multipotent Endodermal Progenitors Using Defined Small Molecules – Researchers describe the derivation of human induced endodermal progenitor cells from gastrointestinal epithelial cells using a cocktail of defined small molecules along with support from tissue-specific mesenchymal feeders. A New Bio-Ink for 3D Printing with Stem Cells – Scientists at the University of Bristol have developed a new kind of bio-ink, which could eventually allow the production of complex tissues for surgical implants. Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. Christine Pratt Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: Neurologist and researcher Dr. Mark Freedman discusses his research, including a new discovery and treatment for multiple sclerosis using stem cells. Resources and Links Greased Up Head Helps Swordfish Swim Fast – This article reveals that a newly discovered oil-producing organ in the fish’s head gives it slick skin that could boost its speed. Activating Reward May Increase Immune System – Feeling good may help the body fight germs; when activated, nerve cells that help signal reward also boost the mice’s immune systems. Major Hole in the Ozone Layer Is Closing – This article reports that the average size of the Antarctic ozone hole has shrunk by about 4.5 million square kilometers, an area larger than India, since 2000. Mass Killings Are Contagious, Media Is the Vector – Mass killings and school shootings spread "contagiously," where one killing or shooting increases the chances that others will occur within about two weeks. Young Stem Cell Scientists Struggle for Funding – A study led by government scientists showed that middle-aged and older stem cell researchers are crowding out younger scientists in competition for federal grants. Zika Virus Disrupts Neural Progenitor Development and Leads to Microcephaly in Mice – Researchers found that Asian Zika virus (ZIKV) strain SZ01 replicates efficiently in embryonic mouse brain by directly targeting different neuronal linages and that ZIKV infection leads to cell-cycle arrest, apoptosis, and inhibition of neural progenitor cell differentiation, resulting in cortical thinning and microcephaly. A Stem Cell Therapy to Replace Root Canals? – Scientists from the University of Nottingham and Harvard University's Wyss Institute are developing a new treatment strategy that could someday help heal a damaged tooth using the patient's own stem cells. A New Model of Autism Using Stem Cells – Researchers at the Salk Institute turned skin cells of people with autism spectrum disorder into neurons, showing specific defects compared with those neurons derived from healthy people. Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. Mark Freedman Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: Stem cell researcher and politician Dr. Raj Kittappa to discuss his political expertise as well as his latest research endeavors with stem cells and Parkinson’s disease. Resources and Links Wine Being Made 6300 Years Ago – Researchers have uncorked the oldest solid evidence of grape-based wine making in Europe, and possibly the world, at a site in northern Greece using a new method of analyzing the chemicals in liquids absorbed by clay containers. Scientists Have Gained Insight to Why Mitochondrial DNA Is Passed Down to Children by Their Mothers — But Not Their Fathers – DNA inside energy-producing organelles called mitochondria is destroyed in a dad’s sperm shortly after it fertilizes an egg. A New Cause of Lyme Disease – This article reveals that a new species of bacteria is causing Lyme disease, adding to worries that the infection will continue its relentless escalation across the United States. Functional Coupling with Cardiac Muscle Promotes Maturation of hPSC-Derived Sympathetic Neurons – Researchers derive sympathetic neurons from human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) and show that they can form physical and functional connections with cardiac muscle cells. In Vivo Tracking of Human Hematopoiesis Reveals Patterns of Clonal Dynamics during Early and Steady-State Reconstitution Phases – Scientists discovered that in vitro-manipulated hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells retain the ability to return to latency after transplant and can be physiologically reactivated, sustaining a stable hematopoietic output. Derivation of Diverse Hormone-Releasing Pituitary Cells from Human Pluripotent Stem Cells – This article presents a simple and efficient strategy to derive human pituitary lineages from human pluripotent stem cells using monolayer culture conditions suitable for cell manufacturing. Retinoic Acid Is Sufficient for the In Vitro Induction of Mouse Spermatocytes – Researchers report that retinoic acid is sufficient for inducing leptotene/zygotene spermatocytes from cultured mouse spermatogonial stem cells. Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. Raj Kittappa Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: Stem cell researcher Dr. Danwei Huangfu discusses her work and latest paper in Cell Stem Cell. Her team used CRISPR technology to genetically manipulate human pluripotent stem cells and induce pancreatic beta cells. Resources and Links FDA Warning about Imodium Ad Overdoses – The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warned that higher-than-recommended doses of the antidiarrheal medicine loperamide, sold under the brand name Imodium, can lead to serious heart problems and even death. Who Advises Women to Delay Pregnancy over Zika Virus Threat – World Health Organisation (WHO) issues advice to millions of people in regions affected by virus that can cause severe birth defects and microcephaly. Sense of Touch and Autism – This article reveals that in mice, mutations in autism-related genes in skin nerve cells linked to anxiety, poor social skills. Four New Elements Now Have Names – Four elements that were officially added to the periodic table have been named as nihonium, moscovium, tennessine, and oganesson. Integrated Genomic Analysis of Diverse Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell from the Progenitor Cell Biology Consortium – The Progenitor Cell Biology Consortium performed comprehensive experimental and genomic analyses of 58 induced pluripotent stem cells from ten laboratories generated using a variety of reprogramming genes, vectors, and cells. A Cure for Multiple Sclerosis? – According to this article, chemotherapy, combined with stem cell transplants, could halt the onslaught of multiple sclerosis in people suffering from the disease. New Techniques to Assess the Fate of Stem Cells In Vivo – Researchers from the Université Libre de Bruxelles Cancer Research Center, led by Cédric Blanpain, developed new methods to assess with great precision the multipotent or unipotent fate of mammary gland and prostate stem cells. Generation of Mice with Longer and Better Preserved Telomeres in the Absence of Genetic Manipulations – This article reveals how researchers use mouse embryonic stem cells with ‘hyper-long’ telomeres, which also express green fluorescent protein, to generate chimaeric mice containing cells with both hyper-long and normal telomeres. Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. Danwei Huangfu Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: Stem cell researcher Dr. Kristin Hope discusses her work and latest paper in Nature. Her team examined umbilical cord blood-derived hematopoietic stem cells and the RNA-binding protein musashi-2. Resources and Links Doctors Say Olympics Should Be Postponed or Moved – Doctors and professors are urging the World Health Organization to move or postpone the summer Olympic games in Rio de Janeiro due to the widening Zika outbreak in Brazil. Bacteria Resistant to Last-Resort Antibiotic Appears in U.S. – This article reports that a 49-year-old woman in United States has tested positive for a strain of Escherichia coli, known as mrc-1, which is resistant to the antibiotic colistin and that the bacteria’s gene rides on a transferable loop of DNA called a a plasmid. Fruit Fly’s Giant Sperm Is Quite an Exaggeration – This article reveals that certain fruit fly species, such as Drosophila bifurca, males measuring just a few millimeters produce sperm with a tail as long as 5.8-centimeters. FDA Approves Device to Wean Addicts off Heroin – The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved a drug-emitting implant to combat addiction to heroin and other opioids killing thousands of people annually. Stem Cell Industry Blowing Up... The Global Market for Stem Cells – This article reports that the global stem cell market reached over $5.9 billion in 2015 and will grow from about $6.7 billion in 2016 to nearly $12.3 billion in 2021, registering a compound annual growth rate of 13.1% from 2016 through 2021. Israeli Firms Develop High-Speed 3D Printer for Stem Cells – Israeli 3D printer firm Nano Dimension has successfully lab-tested a 3D bioprinter for stem cells, paving the way for the potential printing of large tissues and organs. Biologists Find How Plants Reconstitute Stem Cells – A team of biologists at New York University showed that regenerating plants can naturally reconstitute their stem cells from more mature cells by replaying embryogenesis. Genetic Drift Can Compromise Mitochondrial Replacement by Nuclear Transfer in Human Oocytes – Researchers show that using human mitochondrial replacement stem cell lines, even though the low levels of heteroplasmy introduced into human oocytes by mitochondrial carryover during nuclear transfer often vanish, they can sometimes instead result in mtDNA genotypic drift and reversion to the original genotype. Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. Kristin Hope Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: Stem cell researcher and neuroscientist Dr. Su-Chun Zhang discusses his work and latest paper in Cell Stem Cell. His paper looks at grafting human pluripotent stem cells in a mouse model of Parkinson's disease. Resources and Links Scientists Talk Privately about Creating a Synthetic Human Genome – Scientists are now contemplating the fabrication of a human genome, meaning they would use chemicals to manufacture all the DNA contained in human chromosomes. Second Skin’ May Reduce Wrinkles, Eyebags, Scientists Say – Researchers said a “second skin” composed of commonly used chemicals like siloxanes can be painted on your skin and give it the elasticity of youth. Faulty Gene Can Turn Colds Deadly for Babies, Toddlers – This article reveals that some children have rare genetic variants that can turn their first encounter with colds and other respiratory viruses deadly. Australia Will Release Herpes into Its Rivers to Wipe Out Invasive Carp – This article reports that the Australian government plans to use a herpes virus to eradicate the country’s most devastating invasive species—common carp. The US Is about to Hit a Big Solar Energy Milestone – The US is on track to hit a big number in renewable energy: more than 1 million American homes should have solar panels by February 2016. Stem Cells Are Dangerously Overhyped, Warn Researchers – A study recently published says it’s time for everyone—from the media, to press officers, to journal publishers and even the scientists themselves—to chill out about stem cells. New Stem Cell Discovery Could Boost Corn Crop Yields by an Astounding 50 Percent – This article reports that a newly discovered stem cell signaling pathway could boost yields from corn and other staple crops by up to 50 percent in the very near term. Zika Virus Disrupts Neural Progenitor Development and Leads to Microcephaly in Mice – Researchers found that Asian Zika virus strain SZ01 could infect neural precursor cells in vivo and affect brain development; it replicates efficiently in embryonic mouse brain by directly targeting different neuronal linages. Zika Virus Depletes Neural Progenitors in Human Cerebral Organoids through Activation of the Innate Immune Receptor TLR3 – This article describes how Zika virus infection leads to microcephaly, using human embryonic stem cell-derived cerebral organoids to recapitulate early stage, first trimester fetal brain development. Why Lab-Made Stem Cells Might Fail: Errors in DNA Folding – Researchers have discovered one of the reasons why induced pluripotent stem cells don't always correctly differentiate back into adult cells: the reversion process does not always fully capture the way a cell's genome is folded up inside its nucleus. Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. Su-Chun Zhang Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: Stem cell researcher Dr. Arnold Kriegstein from the University of California, San Francisco to discusses his work and latest paper in Cell Stem Cell on how the Zika virus affects neural stem cells. Resources and Links Zika Is More Dangerous than We Thought – This article describes the danger of Zika virus like microcephaly in children born from women who have had Zika during pregnancy and Guillain-Barre syndrome – a nerve disorder that causes temporary muscle paralysis. Plants Use Prions to Remember – This article reveals that prions, proteins that change shape and shift tasks, may occur in plants as a form of memory. Uncertainty Is Stressful, but that Stress May Not Always Be Bad – This article demonstrates that subjective estimates of uncertainty predict the dynamics of subjective and physiological stress responses. Dragons Sleep Like Us – Sleeping lizards appear to share distinctive brain activity patterns with sleeping birds and mammals. EPA Boosts Estimate of U.S. Methane Emissions – This article reports that US. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has boosted its estimate of total U.S. methane emissions by 13 percent, which is an increase of more than 3.4 million metric tons of the greenhouse gas and has the same long-term global warming impact as a year’s worth of emissions from about 20 million cars. Risky Skull Surgery Done for Ritual Reasons 6,000 Years Ago – This article reveals that between 6,000 and 4,000 years ago, skilled surgeons in southwestern Russia cut holes the size of silver dollars or larger out of the backs of people’s skills for ritual reasons. Miniature, Beating Hearts Grown Using Stem Cells – Researchers describe an approach that combines features of engineered heart muscle and cardiospheres: micro-heart muscle arrays, in which elongated muscle fibers are formed in an easily fabricated template, with as few as 2,000 iPS-cardiomyocytes per individual tissue. Genome Editing of Lineage Determinants in Human Pluripotent Stem Cells Reveals Mechanisms of Pancreatic Development and Diabetes – Researchers not only verified conserved gene requirements between mice and humans but also revealed a number of previously unsuspected developmental mechanisms with implications for type 2 diabetes. Chemical Control of Grafted Human PSC-Derived Neurons in a Mouse Model of Parkinson's Disease – This article shows tunable rescue of motor function in a mouse model of Parkinson’s disease, following transplantation of human midbrain dopaminergic neurons differentiated from human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) engineered to express DREADDs (designer receptors exclusively activated by designer drug). Combined Inhibition of DNMT and HDAC Blocks the Tumorigenicity of Cancer Stem-Like Cells and Attenuates Mammary Tumor Growth – A combination of the DNMT inhibitor 5-azacytidine and the HDAC inhibitor butyrate markedly reduced cancer stem cell abundance and increased the overall survival in this mouse model. Scientists Uncover New Way to Grow Rare Life-Saving Blood Stem Cells – This article shows that overexpression of the RNA-binding protein Musashi-2 (MSI2) induces multiple pro-self-renewal phenotypes, including a 17-fold increase in short-term repopulating cells and a net 23-fold ex vivo expansion of long-term repopulating hematopoietic stem cells. Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. Arnold Kriegstein Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: Stem cell researcher Dr. Kateri Moore from Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai discusses her work and latest paper in Developmental Cell. Her paper covers hematopoietic reprogramming in mice. Resources and Links Zika Definitely Causes Severe Birth Defects, CDC Says – A causal relationship exists between prenatal Zika virus infection and microcephaly and other serious brain anomalies. Neural Prosthesis Lets Quadriplegic Man Wiggle Fingers, Flex Wrist, Grasp Items – This article shows that intracortically recorded signals can be linked in real-time to muscle activation to restore movement in a paralyzed human. Bees May Need a Protein Supplement! – This article indicates that increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide can reduce protein content of a floral pollen source widely used by North American bees. Some People Are Resistant to Genetic Disease – Researchers describe a complementary approach that seeks to identify healthy individuals resilient to highly penetrant forms of genetic childhood disorders, like Mendelian diseases. 73 Percent of Teens Own or Have Access to a Smartphone – Distractions from engaging in mobile devices in class lead to bad study habits and vehicle crashes when texting or talking while driving. Using Love Handles to Cure Diabetes? – Martin Fussenegger, Professor of Biotechnology and Bioengineering at ETH Zurich's Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering in Basel, performed a feat that many specialists had until now held to be impossible: his team extracted stem cells from a 50-year-old test subject's fatty tissue and applied genetic reprogramming to make them mature into functional beta cells. 3D Printing Biopen Lets Surgeons Draw with Stem Cells - This article reveals that orthopedic surgeons may soon simply draw new cartilage inside your knee, using a 3D printing, stem-cell-extruding device called the “BioPen”. Retinal Organoids from Pluripotent Stem Cells Efficiently Recapitulate Retinogenesis – Researchers developed a protocol for the efficient generation of large, 3D-stratified retinal organoids that does not require evagination of optic-vesicle-like structures, which so far limited the organoid yield. Naive Pluripotent Stem Cells Derived Directly from Isolated Cells of the Human Inner Cell Mass – In resetting culture conditions of selective kinase inhibition, individual inner cell mass cells grow into colonies that may then be expanded over multiple passages while retaining a diploid karyotype and naive properties. Expression Analysis Highlights AXL as a Candidate Zika Virus Entry Receptor in Neural Stem Cells – Researchers found that the candidate viral entry receptor AXL is highly expressed by human radial glial cells, astrocytes, endothelial cells, and microglia in developing human cortex and by progenitor cells in developing retina. Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. Kateri Moore Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: Stem cell researcher Dr. Joe Zhou from Harvard discusses his work and latest paper in Cell Stem Cell. His research covers beta cells, insulin regulation and organoids. Resources and Links Climate Change to Affect Wine Quality – This article suggests that climate change has fundamentally altered the climatic drivers of early wine grape harvests in France, with possible ramifications for viticulture management and wine quality. Men in US Have Lower Life Expectancies than Other Countries – This article presents the three main reasons why men in US have lower life expectancies, which are: gun violence, drugs, and car accidents. How to Tell if a T-Rex Is Pregnant – Scientists can determine if Tyrannosaurus rex is female and pregnant by the presence of medullary bone. Lost Memories Retrieved in Mice with Alzheimer’s Like Symptoms – Scientists try to retrieve “forgotten” memories in mice engineered to have Alzheimer’s symptoms. US Gets a Failing Grade in Healthy Lifestyle Behavior – Only 2.7% of all adults had all four healthy lifestyle characteristics, which are: being sufficiently active, eating a healthy diet, being a nonsmoker, and having a recommended body fat percentage. Over the Counter Painkiller More Dangerous They You Think – This article describes the effects of taking non steroidal anti inflammatory drugs especially the risk of heart complications and bleeding. Making Sperm from Stem Cells – Researchers report complete in vitro meiosis from embryonic stem cell-derived primordial germ cells. Four Key Genes Govern Growth, Multiplication of Blood Stem Cells – This article shows cohesin as a major regulator of hematopoietic stem cells and illustrate the power of global RNAi screens to identify modifiers of cell fate. Hematopoietic Reprogramming In Vitro Informs In Vivo Identification of Hemogenic Precursors to Definitive Hematopoietic Stem Cells – This article presents how reprogramming reveals a phenotype for in vivo precursors to hemogenic endothelium, establishing that direct in vitro conversion informs developmental processes in vivo. A New CRISPR Advance – CRISPR interference system in induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) provides a powerful platform to perform genome-scale screens in a wide range of iPSC-derived cell types, dissect developmental pathways, and model disease. Reprogrammed Stomach Tissue as a Renewable Source of Functional β Cells for Blood Glucose Regulation – Scientists show that reprogramming of antral stomach cells assembled into bioengineered mini-organs in vitro yielded transplantable units that also suppressed hyperglycemia in diabetic mice, highlighting the potential for development of engineered stomach tissues as a renewable source of functional β cells for glycemic control. Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. Joe Zhou Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: We bring on writer and researcher Dr. Aubrey de Grey to discuss his work on anti-aging.  We talk with Dr. de Grey on his latest findings and his ultimate goal of eliminating aging so we call can one day celebrate our 1000th birthday. Resources and Links Sex-Specific Mechanisms of Stress Susceptibility – According to this article, stress-related mental illnesses are twice as prevalent in women as in men. Global Divergence of the Human Follicle Mite Demodex folliculorum: Persistent Associations between Host Ancestry and Mite Lineages – Researchers found that hosts with different regional ancestries harbor distinct lineages of mites and that these associations can persist despite generations spent in a new geographic region. Pain Produces Memory Gain – This article reveals that physical pain can make memories last longer. Integrated, Multi-Cohort Analysis Identifies Conserved Transcriptional Signatures across Multiple Respiratory Viruses – Researchers performed two integrated, multi-cohort analyses of publicly available transcriptional data of viral infections. Human Parasites in the Roman World – This article presents the archeological evidence for parasites in the Roman era in order to demonstrate the species present at that time, and highlight the health consequences for people living under Roman rule. Key Elements of Healthy Eating Patterns – This article provides guidelines and key recommendations for individuals to enhance eating and physical activity patterns. 9 Science-Backed Steps to Have the Best Sleep of Your Life – Tonight – This article shares nine simple, science-backed strategies you can do today that'll increase your odds of sleeping better tonight and waking up refreshed tomorrow. StemCells (STEM) Names New CEO – StemCells Inc. announced that Dr. Ian Massey, its President and Chief Operating Officer, has been appointed by the Board of Directors to succeed Martin McGlynn as the company’s Chief Executive Officer. A Protein Biomarker Confirms the Presence of Stem Cells that Maintain Ovaries – Stem cell activity in the outer lining of the ovary, now identified in mice by A*STAR researchers, will elucidate normal ovarian activity and offer insights into the origins of disease. Defined Three-Dimensional Microenvironments Boost Induction of Pluripotency – Researchers find that the physical cell confinement imposed by the 3D microenvironment boosts reprogramming through an accelerated mesenchymal-to-epithelial transition and increased epigenetic remodeling. Engineered Stem Cells May Help in ALS – Stem cells engineered to secrete neurotrophic growth factors may slow progression of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Slow Stem Cell Division May Cause Small Brains – Duke University researchers have figured out how a developmental disease called microcephaly produces a much smaller brain than normal: some cells are simply too slow as they proceed through the neuron production process. Genetically Engineering Self-Organization of Human Pluripotent Stem Cells into a Liver Bud-Like Tissue Using Gata6 – Scientists present a novel approach for generating and then co-differentiating human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived progenitors through a genetically engineered pulse of GATA-binding protein 6 (GATA6) expression. Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. Aubrey de Grey Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: We feature some of our conversations with attendees from the 2015 World Stem Cell Summit from Atlanta, GA. Happy New Year! Resources and Links 4 New Elements Are Added to the Periodic Table – This article reports that the elements with atomic numbers 113, 115, 117 and 118 will get permanent names soon, according to the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry, with two of the four elements now known as ununseptium and ununtrium. New Type of Moon Rock Discovered by China's Yutu Lunar Rover – China's Yutu lunar rover made the discovery on a long-dead lava flow in the giant Mare Imbrium dark spot and found the volcanic rock known as basalt which has intermediate levels of titanium. CMV Vaccine Created at City of Hope Is Found Safe, Effective in Patients Receiving Stem Cell Transplants – City of Hope researchers report that an innovative vaccine known as CMVPepVax, that boosts cellular immunity against cytomegalovirus, or CMV, is safe and effective in stem cell transplant recipients. Melting Sea Ice Increases Arctic Precipitation, Complicates Climate Predictions – This article reports that the melting of sea ice will significantly increase Arctic precipitation, creating a climate feedback comparable to doubling global carbon dioxide, according to the findings of Dartmouth College-led study. Eating Poorly and Depressed? Yale Team Finds Connection — And Maybe a Solution – Yale researchers report that effects of a high-fat diet overlap with those of chronic stress and could also be a contributing factor in depression as well as metabolic disorders, such as type 2 diabetes. MERS Vaccine Protects Camels, Which Is Good for People – The vaccine, which was developed by German scientists, protects against the virus that causes Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) and has been shown to be effective in camels. Asperger's and Autism Linked to Decreased Action of Neurotransmitter GABA: Study – A new study from Harvard and MIT links autism symptoms to reduced action of GABA, a neurotransmitter responsible for dampening cellular activity in the brain. Is Extreme Longevity Genetic? Scientists Find Centenarians Lack Genes Underlying Certain Chronic Diseases – A group of U.S. and international researchers cited genetic studies have thus far identified a single gene, APOE, absent in centenarians, or the people who are one hundred or more years old. Stem Cells May Save Northern White Rhinos – This article reveals how researchers plan to use stem cells to create fertilized rhino embryos, which will be carried by surrogate southern white rhino females. Banking on Stem Cells at Cellular Dynamics International – Cellular Dynamics International is still one of the prominent companies at Unviersity Reasearch Park since it was purchased by Fujifilm, and plans to add staff in 2016. Human-Mouse Chimerism Validates Human Stem Cell Pluripotency – Researchers show, using a stage-matching approach, that human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) and human embryonic stem cells have the capacity to participate in normal mouse development when transplanted into gastrula-stage embryos, providing in vivo functional validation of hiPSC pluripotency. Grafted Human iPS Cell-Derived Oligodendrocyte Precursor Cells Contribute to Robust Remyelination of Demyelinated Axons after Spinal Cord Injury – This article describes how researchers took advantage of their recently developed protocol to obtain human-induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cell-derived oligodendrocyte precursor cell-enriched neural stem/progenitor cells and report the benefits of transplanting these cells in a spinal cord injury model. Identification of Drugs that Regulate Dermal Stem Cells and Enhance Skin Repair – Researchers identified and validated five compounds that has the ability to enhance the self-renewal of human and rodent skin-derived precursors, and showed that two of them, alprostadil and trimebutine maleate, enhanced the repair of full thickness skin wounds in middle-aged ...

Guest: Scott Dylla, CSO and co-founder of Stemcentrx, a really cool new company that is using novel technology to target stem cells as a therapy for different cancers, joins us for the interview portion. Happy Holidays and New Year! Photo Reference: Courtesy of Scott Dylla Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: Dr. Tilo Kunath discusses his work on characterizing clinical grade stem cells so they can be used for patient therapies. We talk to Tilo about his past and current work, including his latest paper published in Scientific Reports. Don't miss Tilo's funny story! Resources and Links Boeing Develops New Metal that Could Revolutionize Airplanes – Boeing reveals microlattice: a metal so thin that it can sit on the head of a dandelion. Smoking High-Strength Cannabis May Damage Nerve Fibres in Brain – People who regularly smoked strong skunk-like cannabis revealed subtle differences in the white matter that connects the left and right hemispheres and carries signals from one side of the brain to the other. A Breakdown Product of Aspirin Blocks Cell Death Associated with Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and Huntington's Diseases – A new study finds component of aspirin binds to an enzyme, called GAPDH, which is believed to play a major role in neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and Huntington's diseases. Sleep Deprivation Affects Stem Cells, Reducing Transplant Efficiency – Researchers found that a sleep deficit of just four hours affects by as much as 50 percent the ability of stem cells of the blood and immune system to migrate to the proper spots in the bone marrow of recipient mice and churn out the cell types necessary to reconstitute a damaged immune system. Genome-Wide RNA-Seq of Human Motor Neurons Implicates Selective ER Stress Activation in Spinal Muscular Atrophy – This article shows that selective activation of ER stress underlies motor neuron death in spinal muscular atrophy. Genetically Engineered Salmon Approved for Consumption – The federal regulators approved a genetically engineered salmon as fit for consumption, making it the first genetically altered animal to be cleared for American supermarkets and dinner tables. Microgravity Inhibits Regenerative and Differentiation Potential of Embryonic Stem Cells – A study performed on the NASA Space Shuttle Discovery showed that exposure of mouse embryonic stem cells to microgravity inhibited their ability to differentiate and generate most cell lineages, needed for the development of bone, muscle, the immune system, and other organs and tissues. Cranberry Juice Capsules Cut UTI Risk after Gynecological Surgery – This article reveals that cranberry juice capsules reduce the rate of urinary tract infections (UTIs) in women undergoing elective benign gynecological surgery involving urinary catheterization. Microbes Play Role in Anti-Tumor Response – The presence of certain types of gut microbes in mice can boost the anti-tumor effects of cancer immunotherapy. Amyloid-Targeting Immunotherapy Disrupts Neuronal Function – In this article, some antibodies designed to eliminate the plaques prominent in Alzheimer’s disease can aggravate neuronal hyperactivity in mice. Expert Panel Approves Human Gene Editing – A new expert panel says research on human gene editing should proceed, with one notable exception: no putting edited cells in the womb to make a baby. Creating Patient-Specific Neural Cells for the In Vitro Study of Brain Disorders – This article outlines the researchers’ collective views on the current state of hiPSC-based disease modeling and discusses what they see to be the critical objectives that must be addressed collectively as a field. Growing Stem Cells Faster on Seaweed – Scientists at the Fraunhofer Institute for Biomedical Engineering IBMT in Sulzbach have identified seaweed from Chile as a particularly efficient source of nutrients for the expansion of pluripotent stem cells. Stem-Cell Gene Therapy Restores Immune System Response – Researchers at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases found that gene therapy may be able to rebuild the immune systems of older children, adolescents and young adults who suffer from the disease known as X-linked severe combined immunodeficiency.

Guest: Clinician and researcher Dr. Lior Gepstein discusses his work on using stem cells to model heart disease. We talk to Dr. Gepstein about his past and current work, including his latest paper published in Stem Cell Reports. His research covers human-induced pluripotent stem cell-cardiomyocytes and calcium levels. Resources and Links Antibiotic Resistance: World on Cusp of 'Post-Antibiotic Era – The world is on the cusp of a "post-antibiotic era", scientists have warned after finding bacteria resistant to drugs used when all other treatments have failed. MG, the Newest STD on the Block, Found in over 1% of the Population – This article reports that slightly more than 1 percent of 4,500 participants tested positive for a sexually transmitted disease (STD) known as Mycoplasma genitalium (MG). Parasitic Worm 'Increases Women's Fertility' – This article suggests that infection with a species of parasitic round worm, Ascaris lumbricoides that alters the immune system, makes it easier for women to get pregnant. How a Raisin Can Predict a Toddler's Future Academic Ability – A simple test using a raisin can predict how well a toddler will perform academically at age eight, based on a research conducted at the University of Warwick. Uterus Transplant: First US Clinical Trial Begins – This article reports that the first clinical trial of uterus transplantation in the United States has begun at Cleveland Clinic in Ohio, and in the process of selecting women with uterine factor infertility, a condition in which a woman was born without a uterus, has lost her uterus, or has a uterus that no longer functions. Viagra for Type 2 Diabetes: 'Little Blue Pill' Reduces Insulin Resistance without Risk of Heart and Kidney Disease – This article reveals that Sildenafil, active ingredient in Viagra, may improve insulin sensitivity and prevent type 2 diabetes, without heart and kidney disease risk. 'Ringo the Dog' Helps Find Potential New Therapy for Muscular Dystrophy – Ringo, a golden retriever, has made an important contribution to science by helping researchers discover a gene that inhibits the consequences of dystrophin loss in Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Impairment of Sense of Smell May Indicate Dementia – A new study revealed that the decline in a person's olfactory sense may be an indicator of mild cognitive impairment, Lewy body, vascular dementia or Alzheimer's disease. Nanopores Could Take the Salt out of Seawater – University of Illinois engineers have found an energy-efficient material, a nanometer-thick sheet of molybdenum disulfide riddled with tiny holes called nanopores, specially designed to let high volumes of water through but keep salt and other contaminates out, a process called desalination. With $379M Deal for Ocata, Astellas Buys Stem Cells for Eye Diseases – Japanese drug firm Astellas Pharma announced that it has agreed to buy Ocata Therapeutics, which is developing regenerative medicines for eye diseases. Thanks, George W., for the Boost to Stem Cell Research – This article reports that in 2001, George W. Bush restricted the use of federal funding for embryonic stem cell research but three years later, California started its own stem cell program, and several states followed suit. NFL Legend Bart Starr Undergoes Second Experimental Stem Cell Treatment in Mexico – Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback Bart Starr hopes to be in Green Bay on Thanksgiving to see Brett Favre's No. 4 jersey retired at halftime in person after recently undergoing his second experimental stem cell treatment in Mexico. Parents Hope Harvesting Stem Cells from Baby Teeth Will Save Lives – This article describes how one couple, RJ and Cindy Brideau, are banking stem cells that have been harvested from their children's baby teeth. Urine-Derived Stem Cells Predict Patient Response to Cholesterol-Lowering Drugs – This article suggests that inhibitors of PCSK9, a liver enzyme involved in regulating cholesterol homeostasis,

Guest: Writer, director and photographer Duane Fernandez talks about how curiosity drives him and his work. We talk to Duane on his experience with helping people from all walks of life and business experience their true potential and how this can apply to science. Resources and Links The Woman Who Can Smell Parkinson's Disease – According to this article, a woman from Perth named Joy Milne can detect people with Parkinson’s through a telltale odor. Neurons from Glia In Vivo – Scientists present new recipes for directly converting glial cells to neurons in mouse brains. Exclusive Video: First "Glowing" Sea Turtle Found – Scientists diving near the Solomon Islands made an illuminating discovery: the first biofluorescent reptile ever recorded. Japanese Scientist Haruko Obokata Stripped of Doctorate over Stem Cell Scandal – Waseda University revoked a doctoral degree awarded to a young researcher embroiled in a scandal that has rocked the scientific establishment. Fighting Citrus Greening with Vibrating Orange Groves – According to this article, hijacking the mating signals of Asian citrus psyllids may help provide an environmentally friendly system for preventing citrus greening - a disease that has cost the Florida citrus industry billions of dollars in recent years. Neurons Reprogrammed in Animals – Harvard Stem Cell Institute researchers have now shown that the networks of communication among reprogrammed neurons and their neighbors can also be changed, or “rewired.” A Cell Therapy Untested in Humans Saves a Baby with Cancer – This article reveals that cancer doctors have been electrified by a new approach that involves genetically altering patients’ T cells, the soldiers of the immune system, so that they can better attack cancers. Ovarian Cancer Drug Promising for Prostate Tumors – Olaparib, a drug designed to fight inherited ovarian cancers in women, appeared to help some men with advanced prostate cancer done in a small trial. Insulin Plays Very Strong Role in Dopamine Release, Significantly Influences This Important Choice – The more insulin there is in the brain, the more dopamine will be released, but new research indicates that this dopamine regulation might actually affect what we choose to eat. The Effect of Oxytocin Nasal Spray on Social Interaction Deficits Observed in Young Children with Autism: A Randomized Clinical Crossover Trial – This article shows that the synthetic hormone oxytocin nasal spray may provide a potential treatment to improve core social and behavioral difficulties in autism, but its efficacy has yet to be evaluated in young children who potentially may benefit to a greater extent. Small Molecules Efficiently Reprogram Human Astroglial Cells into Functional Neurons – Researchers demonstrate that sequential exposure of human astrocytes to a cocktail of nine small molecules that inhibit glial but activate neuronal signaling pathways can successfully reprogram astrocytes into neurons in 8-10 days. 3D Technology, Stem Cells Used to Aid Skull Bone Regrowth – A team of West Australian researchers will help patients needing cranial reconstructions to regrow parts of their own skulls as part of a new procedure using stem cells and advanced 3D printing technology. New Studies Question the Treatment of Female Infertility with Stem Cells – Professor Kui Liu from University of Gothenburg led a study, together with Professor Outi Hovatta of Karolinska Institutet, assert that the procedure of isolating stem cells is aspecific and also that the stem cells have not been capable of forming eggs. Co-Transplantation of Autologous Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells and Schwann Cells through Cerebral Spinal Fluid for the Treatment of Patients with Chronic Spinal Cord Injury: Safety and Possible Outcome – This article discusses the procedure of how some researchers assess the safety and feasibility of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell and Schwann cell co-injection through cerebral spinal fluid for the treatment o...

Guest: Dr. Steven Goldman from the University of Rochester talks about glial cells and his work using neural stem cells to model and fix diseases, like multiple sclerosis. Resources and Links Can a Cancer Drug Reverse Parkinson's Disease and Dementia? – A drug that's already approved for treating leukemia appears to dramatically reduce symptoms in people who have Parkinson's disease with dementia, or a related condition called Lewy body dementia. Study Shows Antioxidant Use May Promote Spread of Cancer – Scientists at the Children’s Research Institute at The University of Texas Southwestern have made a discovery that suggests cancer cells benefit more from antioxidants than normal cells, raising concerns about the use of dietary antioxidants by patients with cancer. Sitting for Long Periods Is No Worse for Your Health than Standing, Study Claims – This article reveals that prolonged sitting doesn’t appear to be killing you any faster than standing. Does Fungus Cause Alzheimer's? – In this article, researchers discover traces of fungus in the brains of Alzheimer's sufferers. Schizophrenia Symptoms Linked to Features of Brain's Anatomy? – This article describes how Washington University psychiatrist C. Robert Cloninger, MD, PhD, and fellow researchers have matched certain behavioral symptoms of schizophrenia to features of the brain's anatomy using advanced brain imaging. Can Diamonds Detect Cancer? – A new study out of Australia found that synthetic versions of diamonds to be effective at detecting early-stage cancerous tumors through magnetic resonance imaging. Armed Malaria Protein Found to Kill Cancer Cells – A new type of cancer therapy based on seemingly unrelated elements of malaria and cancer is showing promise for development. Ebola Found in the Semen of Some Men Nine Months Later – This article reveals that some men still have fragments of Ebola virus in their semen nine months after first showing symptoms of the virus. Larger Brains Do Not Lead to High IQs – This article shows that brain volume plays only a minor role in explaining IQ test performance in humans, but rather brain structure and integrity appear to be more important as a biological foundation of IQ. AIDS Pioneer Finally Brings AIDS Vaccine to Clinic – Robert Gallo’s team has been developing a vaccine with an unusual method of protection for 15 years and is now launching the first clinical trial of it in collaboration with Profectus BioSciences, a biotech that spun off from Institute of Human Virology. Newly Unraveled Dynamic Structure of DNA Could Pave Way for Better Medicines – This article reports that an improved understanding of the appearance of the DNA – shown in research to have a dynamic, constantly wiggling and morphing nature – is believed to help scientists in producing new antibiotics, more effective chemotherapies and better drugs. First 'In Womb' Stem Cell Trial to Begin – This article announced the first clinical trial injecting fetal stem cells into babies that are still in the womb. Scientists Produce Beef from Cow’s Stem Cells: Lab-Grown Burgers Could Be on the Menu by 2020 – Professor Mark Post who created the lab-grown burger made from stem cells in his lab facility in Maastricht, The Netherlands is developing the technology for mass production expressed confidence in having the novel product on the market in five years. Scottish Researchers Are 3D Printing Extremely Delicate Stem Cells – The team at Heriot-Watt led by Dr. Will Shu, at the University’s School of Engineering and Physical Sciences, have the distinction of being the first group to 3D print with stem cells, using a valve-based technique. Single Cell RNA-Sequencing of Pluripotent States Unlocks Modular Transcriptional Variation – Researchers find that the cellular transcriptomes of cells grown in three different conditions: serum, 2i, and the alternative ground state a2i, are distinct, with 2i being the most similar to blastocyst cells and including a subpopulation rese...

Guest: Dr. David Mooney, Professor of Bioengineering at the Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences discusses his work using biomaterials to help stem cells more efficiently integrate after transplantation. Resources and Links Gene-Editing Record Smashed in Pigs – Researchers modify more than 60 genes using CRISPR/Cas9 gene-editing technology in effort to enable organ transplants into humans. NASA Discovers Evidence for Liquid Water on Mars – NASA scientists have found compelling evidence that liquid water exists on Mars based on the “recurring slope lineae,” patches of precipitated salt that appear to dribble down Mars’ steep slopes like tears rolling gently down a cheek. Stem Cell Fraud: A 60 Minutes Investigation – Scott Pelley confronts one disgraced doctor offering false hope to a family with a disabled child using unproven stem cell treatment. Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. David Mooney Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: Dr. Andrew Cohen, Associate Professor at Drexel University, discusses his work on creating new software and programs to track stem cell lineages using time lapse video data. Resources and Links Antidepressants plus Blood-Thinners Slow Down Brain Cancer – Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne scientists found that combining antidepressants with anticoagulants slows down brain tumors in mice. Seasonal Body Clocks Are Controlled By 'Calendar Cells': Scientists Identify Proteins that Determine When Mammals Mate – According to this article, experts found that “calendar cells” in a structure called the 'pars tuberalis' respond according to how much daylight there is and can change dramatically over the year, driving the seasonal reproductive cycle. Wine's Darkest Secret Revealed - It's All in the Fungi – This article reveals that a type of yeast called Saccharomyces cerevisiae, makes a "small but significant" contribution to a wine's flavor and taste. Edges of Human Embryonic Stem Cell Colonies Display Distinct Mechanical Properties and Differentiation Potential – This article describes the results found after the live imaging of the differentiation process of human embryonic stem cells, and reveals that cells on the outer edge of the undifferentiated colony begin to differentiate first and remain on the perimeter of the colony to eventually form a band of differentiation. Orthostatic Hypotension May Indicate Neurological Disease – According to this article, orthostatic hypotension may be an early warning sign of a serious neurological disease and may be associated with an increased risk of premature death. Why People in 'Tall' Nations Are More Likely to Be Slim – Researchers from Australia looked at nearly 9,500 people in 14 European countries and found a strong connection between genes that boost height and those associated with lower amounts of body fat. Salsalate Drug Offers New Hope for Treating Alzheimer's Disease and FTD – Scientists from the Gladstone Institutes discovered that salsalate, a drug used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, effectively reversed tau-related dysfunction in an animal model of frontotemporal dementia (FTD). A Barrier against Brain Stem Cell Aging – Scientists from the University of Zurich identified a diffusion barrier that regulates the sorting of damaged proteins during cell division. New Study Finds Brain Disease in 95% of Deceased NFL Players – Researchers found evidence of brain disease in 95% of brains tested belongs to former NFL players with the repeated minor head trauma as the biggest risk to neurological health for footballers. Pinpointing Punishment – This study describes a new study co-authored by Joshua Buckholtz, an Assistant Professor of Psychology, René Marois, professor and chair of psychology at Vanderbilt and colleagues, explaining how a brain region called the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex coordinates third party punishment decisions of the type made by judges and juries. UK Scientists Apply for License to Edit Genes in Human Embryos – Scientists from London’s Francis Crick Institute have asked for permission to edit the genomes of human embryos use CRISPR/Cas9 technology — a request that could lead to the world’s first approval of such research by a national regulatory body. New Technique Lets Scientists Better See, Study Interface Where Two Cells Touch – University of Buffalo researchers and their colleagues at other institutions conducted a study to better understand myelin and the fatty insulator that enables communication between nerve cells. They studied how damage to myelin occurs, and how that damage may be repaired. Sonogenetics Is a Non-Invasive Approach to Activating Neurons in Caenorhabditis elegans – Researchers demonstrate the use of low-pressure ultrasound as a non-invasive trigger to activate specific ultrasonically sensitized neurons in the nematode, Caenorhabditis elegans. Stem Cell Manufacturing Now Ready – This article announces the availability of ma...

Guest: Dr. Scott Noggle, VP of Stem Cell Research at The New York Stem Cell Foundation discusses his automated system for making iPS cells. Dr. Noggle applies new advances in pluripotent stem cell biology and cell reprogramming to the creation of human models of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease to discover new disease targets. Resources and Links Reversing Muscle Atrophy with Food: Eating Apples, Green Tomatoes May Increase Muscle Strength – Researchers from the University of Iowa discovered that the ursolic acid in apple peels and tomatidine compounds in the skin of green tomatoes prevented muscle atrophy — the loss of muscle mass due to the natural aging process — by turning off the problematic protein ATF4. Homo naledi, a New Species of the Genus Homo from the Dinaledi Chamber, South Africa – According to this article, Berger et al. report the recent discovery of an extinct species from the genus Homo naledi that was unearthed from deep underground in what has been named the Dinaledi Chamber, in the Rising Star cave system in South Africa. Neurodegeneration: Amyloid-Β Pathology Induced in Humans – This article reveals that people who died of the neurodegenerative condition Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease after treatment with cadaver-derived human growth hormone also developed some of the pathological traits of Alzheimer's disease. Nearsightedness Develops When Kids with Specific Gene Read a Lot – This article suggests that when children with a certain gene spend much of their time doing activities that involve close work such as reading, they are more likely to develop nearsightedness. Brazilian Wasp Venom Kills Cancer Cells by Opening Them Up – In this article, a study reveals exactly how the social wasp Polybia paulista venom's toxin - called Polybia-MP1 - selectively kills cancer cells without harming normal cells. Neuroscientists Locate 'Alcoholism Neurons' in the Brain – According to this article, alcohol consumption alters the structure and function of neurons in an area of the brain called the dorsomedial striatum. New Strategy to Lower Blood Sugar May Help in Diabetes Treatment​ – Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis suggest a different strategy to lower blood sugar: by slowing the production of glucose in the liver. Tree Resin Research Offers New Epilepsy Treatment Potential – Researchers in Sweden published innovative new research that details how certain types of tree resin might contain substances with the potential to relieve or cure epilepsy. A New Factor in Depression? Brain Protein Discovery Could Lead to Better Treatments – This article points out that the discovery, about a protein called fibroblast growth factor 9 goes against previous findings that depressed brains often have less of key components than non-depressed brains. Sleep Deprivation Quadruples Your Risk of Catching a Cold – This article describes how sleep deprivation is greatly detrimental to your health, making you four times more likely to catch a cold. Researchers Explore Memory Problems Related to Parkinson's – This article reports that many people with Parkinson's disease have memory problems. The Earth Has 3 Trillion Trees, Study Finds – A study led by Yale University estimates the Earth is home to 3 trillion trees – more than what was previously believed. Automated, High-Throughput Derivation, Characterization and Differentiation of Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells – The authors demonstrate that automated reprogramming and the pooled selection of polyclonal pluripotent cells results in high-quality, stable induced pluripotent stem cells. Stem Cell Procedures Need More Oversight – This article suggests that federal officials need to do more to prevent for-profit stem cell clinics from exploiting and potentially injuring patients, according to an article published in a leading medical journal. Masayo Takahashi Is Awarded Inaugural Ogawa-Yamanaka Stem Cell Prize Cent...

Guest: Dr. Flora Vaccarino from Yale University joins the show to discuss stem cells and autism, specifically her work on neural stem cells and how she is using them to study Autism Spectrum Disorder. Resources and Links Citizen Science Effort Highlights How Little We Know about Invisible Life in Our Own Homes – Scientists are announcing the discovery of thousands of unidentified species living in and around homes in the United States. Reprogramming Cancer Cells Back to Normal Looks Feasible, Study Shows – A new study in Nature Cell Biology suggests there may be a way to change the code so that cancer cells revert back to normal cells. Does This Phylum Make Me Look Fat? – Beyond carbs and fats, some studies have hinted that a key group of gut microbes — from the phylum Firmicutes — might be more common among people who are overweight. Identifying The Gene Switch That Turns Fat Cells Bad – This article reports that using state-of-the-art DNA editing tools, scientists have identified a genetic switch that helps govern the body’s metabolism. Human Brain Grown in a Lab Could Be Most Complete Yet – Scientists developed a miniature brain in the lab that was grown from the skin cells of an adult human and, incredibly, boasts 99% of the genes found in a human fetal brain. Science of Making Memories: Part of Your Hippocampus Decides Which Experiences are New or Different Versions of the Same – This article reveals that the CA3 region, a region of the hippocampus, decides what you will and can remember by answering the question: Is it the same or is it different? Major Publisher Retracts 64 Scientific Papers in Fake Peer Review Outbreak – In the latest episode of the fake peer review phenomenon, one of the world’s largest academic publishers, Springer, has retracted 64 articles from 10 of its journals after discovering that their reviews were linked to fake e-mail addresses. Safeguarding Gene Drive Experiments in the Laboratory – Multiple stringent confinement strategies should be used whenever possible in creating gene drive systems. Estimating the Reproducibility of Psychological Science – Scientists conducted a large-scale, collaborative effort to obtain an initial estimate of the reproducibility of psychological science. Adding Chili To Food Really CAN Help You Lose Weight: Compound In Fiery Peppers Tells The Body It's Full, Preventing Over-Eating – Eating chili peppers can activate the stomach to stretch and release the 'full-feeling' signals, stimulating a receptor called potential vanilloid 1 channel protein which stops a person from overeating. FDA Approves Addyi, a Libido Pill for Women – FDA approved the first prescription drug to enhance women’s sexual drive. Biogen, Columbia to Map ALS Disease Genes With Ice Bucket Money – Biogen Inc. and Columbia University Medical Center will map the genes and clinical traits of 1,500 people with ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, in an attempt to find a treatment for the devastating neurodegenerative disorder. Stem Cells Survive Wild Ride on Prototype Space Capsule – Despite a rough landing, stem cells riding in a prototype capsule called the RED-4U survived a long fall back to Earth during a drop test — part of an initiative to research the cells in space. Humanized Mice Reveal Differential Immunogenicity of Cells Derived from Autologous Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells – Using a humanized mouse model (denoted Hu-mice) reconstituted with a functional human immune system, researchers demonstrate that most teratomas formed by autologous integration-free human induced pluripotent stem cells exhibit local infiltration of antigen-specific T cells and associated tissue necrosis, indicating immune rejection of certain hiPSC-derived cells. Landmark IPSC Clinical Study On Hold Due to Genomic Issue – This article reports that the pioneering induced pluripotent stem cell (IPSC) clinical study in Japan led by top stem cell clinical researcher Dr. Masayo Takahashi has been stopped due to mutat...

Guest: Dr. Chris Armstrong, CEO of Stem Cell Theranostics, joins the hosts to discuss his company and how they are using iPSCs to model cardiovascular disease. Resources and Links Elusive Liver Stem Cell Identified in Mice by Researchers – Researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine identified a cell type in the liver of mice that can both self-renew and make new liver cells. Can Crime Scene Compound Stop Malaria? – Luminol, the glowing compound detectives spray at crime scenes to find trace amounts of blood, may one day be used to kill the malaria parasite. Anti-Smoking Bacteria Found to Eat Nicotine – Scientists discovered anti-smoking bacteria called Pseudomas putida that eat nicotine before it reaches the brain. How To Reach 'Extreme Old Age': Scientists Reveal the Secret of Living to 100 Years Old – There is a good chance centenarians and super-centenarians - those who live to 105 and longer - will pass on their 'long life' genes on to their children. Non-Magnetic Metals Turned Magnetic in Groundbreaking Research – A team of scientists led by the University of Leeds has been able to turn the non-magnetic materials manganese and copper magnetic. Study Offers First Genetic Analysis of People with Extremely High Intelligence – The first ever genetic analysis of people with extremely high intelligence has revealed small but important genetic differences between some of the brightest people in the United States and the general population. 3D Brain Map Reveals Connections Between Cells in Nano-Scale – Scientists have created an unprecedented high-resolution map of the brain that reveals structures as small as those found in individual nerve cells. Stem Cells Help Researchers Determine Toxicity of Pollution – The effects of BPA on mouse stem cells could be detected and measured in lab tests by researchers. MicroRNA-153 Regulates the Acquisition of Gliogenic Competence by Neural Stem Cells – This article shows that miR-mediated fine control of nuclear factor I A/B expression is important in the molecular networks that regulate the acquisition of gliogenic competence by neural stem/progenitor cells in the developing CNS. Activating Endogenous Neural Precursor Cells Using Metformin Leads to Neural Repair and Functional Recovery in a Model of Childhood Brain Injury – Metformin activates endogenous neural precursor cells in the neonatal brain. A Quantitative Proteomic Analysis of Hemogenic Endothelium Reveals Differential Regulation of Hematopoiesis by SOX17 – This article states that proteomics accurately identifies regulatory proteins in hematopoietic progenitors. Genome Editing. The Mutagenic Chain Reaction: A Method For Converting Heterozygous To Homozygous Mutations – In this article, researchers developed a method called the mutagenic chain reaction, which is based on the CRISPR/Cas9 genome-editing system for generating autocatalytic mutations, to produce homozygous loss-of-function mutations. Caution Urged over Editing DNA in Wildlife (Intentionally Or Not) – This article discusses the effects of rapid alteration of gene pools which could fight disease but can harm ecosystems. Automated, High-Throughput Derivation, Characterization And Differentiation of Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells – Researchers demonstrate that automated reprogramming and the pooled selection of polyclonal pluripotent cells results in high-quality, stable induced pluripotent stem cells. Prediction Of Drug-Induced Nephrotoxicity and Injury Mechanisms with Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Cells and Machine Learning Methods – This article describes how the researchers developed a rapid 1-step protocol for the differentiation of human induced pluripotent stem cells into proximal tubular-like cells. Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. Chris Armstrong

Guest: For this episode, we bring on internationally recognized stem cell pioneer Dr. George Daley from Children’s Hospital Boston and the Harvard Stem Cell Institute to discuss all things stem cells. Resources and Links New Ebola Vaccine Has ‘100 Percent’ Effectiveness in Early Results – Researchers announced promising results of a new vaccine’s trial called Ebola ça Suffit — French for “Ebola that’s enough” funded by World Health Organization, in Guinea, one of several countries affected by a historic outbreak in West Africa. Synthetic Ribosome Can Keep Bacteria Alive – According to this article, scientists have engineered a tethered ribosome that works nearly as well as the real thing—an organelle that produces all the proteins and enzymes within the cell. Anxiety and Depression Caused By Stress Linked to Gut Bacteria Living in Intestines, Scientists Find – Anxious and depressive behavior brought on by exposure to stress in early life appears only to be triggered if microbes are present in the gut. Scientists Have Discovered the Taste of Fat and Say It Could Hold the Key to Tackling Obesity – Scientists describe the taste of fat as a unique and unpleasant taste called oleogustus, and suggest that its identification could lead to new ways of fighting obesity and heart disease, and to the creation of improved fat replacements. Study Shows Glitazone Antidiabetic Drug May Reduce Risk of Parkinson’s Disease – Researchers found that diabetes patients taking glitazone antidiabetes drugs (either rosiglitazone or pioglitazone) had a 28% lower incidence of Parkinson’s disease than people taking other treatments for diabetes who had never taken glitazones. Long-term Memories Are Maintained by Prion-like Proteins – Research from Eric Kandel’s lab at Columbia University Medical Center reveals that different prions are critical for the long-term storage of memories. Astronomers Spot Black Hole So big, It Defies Current Theories of Galaxy Evolution – This article describes the discovery of a galaxy called CID-947 with a black hole that makes up 10% of its mass has left scientists dumbfounded, possibly overturning current theories of how galaxies evolve. Physicists Confirm Existence of Rare Pentaquarks – Professors Sheldon Stone and Tomasz Skwarnicki, doctoral student Nathan Jurik and former University research associate Liming Zhang are on the team that has confirmed the existence of two rare pentaquark states. Should Aborted Foetuses Be Used for Stem Cell Research? –Recent incident where US company Planned Parenthood was found to be offering foetal tissue to buyers without the parents’ knowledge has raised serious ethical questions around the use of foetuses in stem cell research. Four Stem-Cell Stocks With Promise – Reni Benjamin, a biotech analyst at Raymond James Financial shared four stem cell stocks that has upside potential in the second half of the year. From Dish to Bedside: Lessons Learned While Translating Findings from a Stem Cell Model of Disease to a Clinical Trial – Scientists share lessons while taking a discovery made using iPSCs into a clinical trial. Scientists Create Functional Liver Cells from Stem Cells – Scientists from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem's Alexander Grass Center for Bioengineering report that they produced large amounts of functional liver cells from human embryonic and genetic engineered stem cells. Researchers Create Model of Early Human Heart Development from Stem Cells – UC Berkeley researchers, in collaboration with scientists at the Gladstone Institutes, have developed a template for growing beating cardiac tissue from stem cells, creating a system that could serve as a model for early heart development and as a drug-screening tool to make pregnancies safer. Stem Cells Could Treat Mitochondrial Disease – Researchers generated human stem cells in the lab, repaired common mitochondrial defects, and reported they were able to rescue cell function.

Guest: In this episode we give you the second part of our broadcast live from the ISSCR 2015 International Conference from Stockholm, Sweden. On the show, we randomly pull attendees aside and ask them to us their stem cell story, and detail some of their research topics and accomplishments. Some of those interviewed on the show include Dr. Sean Morrison, the President of ISSCR, and Dr. Paul Tesar of Case Western Reserve University. Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: In this episode we broadcast live from the ISSCR 2015 International Conference from Stockholm, Sweden.  On the show, we randomly pull attendees aside and ask them to us their stem cell story, and detail some of their research topics and accomplishments.  Everyone from graduate students, post-docs, patients who have received stem cell transplants, to big name researchers, we get them all. Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: In this episode we discuss topics ranging from, more sports stars getting stem cell therapy, a mutation that eliminates prion disease, a perspective on aging by studying stem cells, chimps getting drunk in the wild on there own, a Nobel laureate who made awful comments regarding women in science and your birthdate as a predictor of disease. Resources and Links Scientists Film Death of White Blood Cell for First Time and Discover Alert System – Australian and US scientists capture on video each stage of death of a human white blood cell, revealing the dying cells apparently try to alert their neighbors by ejecting molecules into nearby cells, possibly to alert them to the potential presence of a pathogen. Sun like It Hot: Philae Comet Probe Wakes up, Phones Home Again – European Space Agency has confirmed that the Philae probe on Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko has been in contact again, and that the lander is getting more than enough sunshine on its solar panels to power itself continuously. Molecules Reach Coldest Temperature Ever – This article describes how the MIT researchers chilled a gas of sodium potassium 500 nanokelvin. New Study: Chimps Go Bananas over Palm Wine – Scientists report that chimps in western Africa have taken to purloining drinks from vats of palm wine left unguarded by humans. Autism Risk May Be Influenced by Age Gap Between Parents – Researchers have demonstrated with the largest ever multinational study of parental age and autism risk that the children of teen mothers, older parents and parents with an age gap of ten years or more have a higher risk of autism spectrum disorder than other children. Nobel Prize-winning Professor Tim Hunt Resigns after Sexist Remarks about 'Girls' in Lab – The Nobel Prize-winning biochemist Tim Hunt stepped down from his position at the University College London after making sexist comments at the World Conference of Science Journalists in South Korea. Your Birth Month May Predict Your Health Issues: Heart Disease Rates Higher March to June – This article explores the relationship between the month a person is born and their risk for disease according to the algorithm created by scientists from Columbia University. Traditional Medicine: Thunder God Vine as Potential Obesity Treatment – An extract from the thunder god vine, long used in traditional Chinese medicine, reduces food intake and causes up to a 45% decrease in body weight in obese mice because of its weight-loss compound called Celastrol, which produces its potent effects by enhancing the action of an appetite-suppressing hormone called leptin. Virotherapy: Skin Cancer Successfully Treated with Herpes-Based Drug – This article describes how 'virotherapy' uses modified herpes virus to attack melanoma cells and has potential to overcome cancer even when disease has spread throughout the body. Pop Music's Most Important Revolution? That Would be Hip-Hop, Science Reveals – Engineers and biologists analyzed 17,000 digitized songs from Billboard’s Hot 100 to produce an evolutionary history of American popular music and determined that Hip-Hop was more influential than Beatles. Genes Make Some People More Attractive to Mosquitoes – Certain body odors appear to entice the mosquitoes and those smells may be hereditary. Stanford Stem Cell Product, Delayed for More than a Decade, to Be Tested Again – Stanford’s Irv Weissman is said to resume his research after a decade of delay in creating a unique way to grow and deliver blood stem cells to desperate patients with aggressive cancers, boosting survival rates. Former NFL Quarterback Bart Starr Took Part in Stem Cell Trial – Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame quarterback Bart Starr is participating in a clinical trial using stem cells as a possible treatment for strokes. Avocado a Treatment for Leukemia? Fruit Molecules Found to Target Stem Cells of Cancer – Scientists have learned that avocado lipids used in making a compound named avocation B can help treat leukemia ...

Guest: Heather Rooke, Science Director at ISSCR previews the 2015 ISSCR conference in Stockholm, Sweden. Resources and Links Sawfish Resort to Virgin Births to Dodge Extinction – Scientists have discovered that some of the smalltooth sawfish have resorted to "virgin births" or what is called facultative parthenogenesis in the wild in an effort to survive. First Steps Taken for Regenerating Whole Limbs – The first steps toward developing "bioartificial" replacement limbs that are suitable for transplantation have reportedly been taken by a team at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. Study Uncovers Link Between Blood Type and Risk of Cognitive Decline – This article reveals that blood type also may affect cognitive function as we age according to a study conducted by researchers at the University of Sheffield in England. 'Landmark Discovery' of Vessels Connecting Brain to Immune System – The University of Virginia claim that "decades of textbook teaching" have been overturned by their researchers, who have found a previously undiscovered connection between the brain and the immune system. ‘Female Viagra’ Won’t Help Many, but That’s Not Stopping the Drug Company – This article describes the transition of Flibanserin, a pill initially intended to be an anti-depressant, to be marketed as a ‘female viagra’ or a pill to increase women’s sexual desires. Ubble: The Online Test to Predict If You'll Die Within Five Years – According to this article, if you are a middle-aged man and want to know if you are going to die in the next five years, you simply need to ask yourself how healthy you think you are based on the website called Ubble (for UK Longevity Explorer). How an Undergraduate Discovered Tubes of Plasma in the Sky – This article describes the discovery of tubes of plasma drifting above Earth by an undergraduate student – Cleo Loi of Sydney Institute for Astronomy. The Philosophy of the Large Hadron Collider – The Large Hadron Collider at the European Organization for Nuclear Research CERN in Geneva has been built for fundamental physics, but it will also challenge and advance the philosophy, sociology and history of science. This Smart Robot Learns to 'Heal' Itself after Damage – Researchers at Pierre and Marie Curie University in Paris recently published their paper detailing their findings of attempting to quantify the adaptive "healing" abilities of certain robots. It's Alive! Yeast with Human DNA Raises New Genetic Possibilities – Edward Marcotte and his colleagues at the University of Texas at Austin created hundreds of strains of humanized yeast by inserting a single human gene into each strain and turning off the corresponding yeast gene. Retracted Gay-Marriage Study Debated at Misconduct Meet-Up – This article reports that over rum cocktails at the World Conference on Research Integrity, experts discussed what can be learnt from the fallout of a flawed political-science paper. 430,000-Year-Old Skull Suggests Murder Is an 'Ancient Human Behavior' – Archaeologists found an ancient skull deep in a cave in Spain, thought to be an evidence of the earliest known murder among our ancestors. Fetal Cells Injected into a Man's Brain to Cure His Parkinson's – This article shows a man in his mid-50s who had fetal brain cells injected into his brain as a treatment for Parkinson's disease. Nature vs. Nurture: Research Shows it’s Both – Researchers reveal that on average the variation for human traits and diseases is 49 percent genetic, and 51 percent due to environmental factors and/or measurement errors. Gene-Editing: Hold Off for Now, White House Says – The White House suggests that scientists should hold off on experiments that could permanently alter people's DNA and pass the changes along to future generations. Seminar Series on Stem Cells Begins June 24th – The Dallas PRP and Stem Cell Institute announces a new public seminar series to educate the public about the latest breakthrough applications for platelet rich plasma...

Guest: Alex Hannay, product manager at Thermo Fisher talks about the process of differentiation from pluripotent stem cells and new products that could help. Resources and Links This Genetically Modified Yeast Can Now Brew Morphine – Biologists in California and Canada have created strains of yeast that can feast on sugar and make opiates – the key ingredients in pain relievers like morphine. Juvenile Plasticity Returned to Adult Mice Brains – UC Irvine scientists have managed to make an old brain young again by transplanting a type of embryonic neuron into the brains of adult mice. Why Do Men Still Exist? Scientists Finally Find the Answer – This article suggests that sexual competition for mates keeps populations healthy, free of disease and genetically diverse. Discovery of Rare Quadruple Quasar System Baffles Astronomers – Astronomers have discovered four of the rare, super-luminous celestial objects known as quasars arrayed in close proximity to one another. New Test Detects Drug Use from a Single Fingerprint – This article describes a new, non-invasive test presented by researchers that can detect cocaine use through a simple fingerprint. Ocata Therapeutics Announces Positive Results in Treating Macular Degeneration Using Fully Differentiated Stem Cell-Derived Retinal Pigment Epithelium (RPE) Cells in Asian Patients – Ocata Therapeutics, Inc. announces a study that has been published that includes top-line, positive results in Asian patients who were treated with Ocata’s proprietary RPE cells, manufactured using its DeltaCell™ Technology. First Database of Brain-cell Types Released by Allen Institute – Seattle’s Allen Institute for Brain Science has released the first database of brain cell types, along with new analysis to improve treatment of deadly brain cancer. 'Brain Wiring' May Influence Ability to Quit Smoking Successfully – Researchers from Duke Medicine in Durham, NC found that even with the help of nicotine replacement therapy and other smoking cessation aids, some smokers are just unable to quit the habit because their brains are not hard-wired to. Drug-Resistant Strain of 'Superbug' Typhoid Spreads Worldwide – An antibiotic-resistant "superbug" strain of typhoid fever has spread globally, driven by a single family of the bacteria, called H58. Male Sperm Cells Grown for First Time: French Laboratory – Scientists from Kallistem, a company in Lyon, France had successfully transformed scraps of genetic material into fully functioning sperm. Gordie Howe Still at Center of Stem Cell Controversy – This article discusses the controversy and debate between the families of John Brodie and Gordie Howe who received stem cell treatments after suffering from massive strokes and other skeptics. Stem-Cell Clinics Spread Rapidly – More than 170 clinics across the country are selling experimental stem-cell procedures for dozens of diseases and conditions – a mushrooming industry that has flourished despite little evidence of its safety or effectiveness. Doubts Cast on 'Rejuvenating' Protein – The Novartis group say the Harvard group’s explanation is wrong, although the group does not question that young blood renews old mice, they casts doubt on the assays used in the earlier research and suggests that GDF11 actually inhibits muscle regeneration. Human Stem-Cell Images as Fashion? – Human stem cells have taken on new roles at the University of Michigan — brilliant blue fashion accessories specifically silk scarves and ties bearing images of microscopic stem cells, their nuclei a fluorescent turquoise on a cobalt backdrop. Stem Cells Could Provide a Treatment for a 'Broken Heart' – This article describes the research done by scientists studying the adult stem cells in mice that can develop into heart cells paving the way to improved heart condition. Bone Healing in Diabetics Could Be Enhanced through Human Stem Cells – Adding stem cells from human bone marrow could enhance the repair process of broken bones in patients with ...

Guest: In this episode we discuss topics ranging from a chemical in vegetables that can destroy cancer stem cells, chewing gum to prevent signing a song over and over, the first report of germ line gene editing in human embryo, neuronal hyperactivity and neutral stem cells, and the discovery of a new pluripotent stem cell. The second half of the show comes live from The Next-Gen Stem Cell Conference in Saratoga NY, where we interview four scientists about their work and conference experience. Resources and Links Could High Blood Sugar Be a Cause of Alzheimer's Disease? – Scientists suspect one of the drivers that causes the complex brain changes that lead to Alzheimer’s disease is the accumulation of plaques of a faulty protein called beta-amyloid and that too much sugar in the blood can speed up the production of this protein. Activin A Directs Striatal Projection Neuron Differentiation of Human Pluripotent Stem Cells – Activin A induces lateral ganglionic eminence (LGE) characteristics in nascent neural progenitors derived from human embryonic stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cells in a sonic hedgehog-independent manner. Take a Deep Breath: Patients Find Relief through 3D Printing – A patient suffering from the rare condition, tracheobronchomalacia was treated with the use of 3D printing to construct a splint that would support the weakened trachea. Relaxed DNA May Contribute to Aging – Analysis from scientists suggests that loosely wrapped DNA underlies the accelerated physical decline of Werner syndrome and promotes aging in the rest of the population. U of M Institute Discovers How Aspirin Fights Cancer – Researchers discovered that aspirin might exert its chemopreventive activity against colorectal cancer, at least partially, by normalizing the expression of epidermal growth factor receptor in gastrointestinal precancerous lesions. Bat-Winged Dinosaur Discovery Poses Flight Puzzle – This article describes the fossilized remains of a small, feathered dinosaur, unearthed in eastern China, that probably sported bat-like wing membranes and might have been able to glide or fly short distances. Toward Efficient Enzymes for the Generation of Universal Blood through Structure-Guided Directed Evolution – Researchers describe a way to transform A and B blood into a type that, like O, could be universally donated by using enzymes to remove certain sugars in the blood. The Search for Satiety Neurons and How to Short Circuit Hunger – A team of researchers has found that a melanoncortin 4 receptor-regulated (MC4R) circuit serves as the neural link that inhibits and controls eating by promoting fullness and removing the almost painful sensation of grating hunger. Finding the Body Clock's Molecular Reset Button – Researchers at McGill and Concordia universities in Montreal, report that the body's clock is reset during the process known as phosphorylation, when a phosphate combines with a key protein in the brain. Chew Gum to Get Rid of That Song in Your Head: Study – This article reveals that chewing gum could be the best way to get rid of the annoying songs that play in our heads which some call as earworms, according to a team of researchers at the University of Reading in the U.K. Chinese Researchers Have Genetically Modified a Human Embryo—and Many Scientists Think They’ve Gone Too Far – This article discusses the research conducted by a team of scientists in China on altering the DNA of human embryos which many scientists contend that newly developed genetic-engineering methods need to be studied further in animals before running the risk of unpredictable human mutations and scarier developments in human evolution. Scientists Stumble Across Unknown Stem-Cell Type – According to this article, a newly discovered type of stem cell could help provide a model for early human development — and, eventually, allow human organs to be grown in large animals such as pigs or cows for research or therapeutic purposes.

Guest: Dr. Megan Munsie and Dr. Mario D'Cruz discuss the launch of ISSCR's new website "A Closer Look At Stem Cells" that aims to educate and empower people about stem cell biology and stem cell treatments. Resources and Links The Number One Cause of Depression — Everywhere – A group of researchers from around the world discovered that people who have suffered from abuse during their childhood are more likely to be diagnosed with clinical depression — and even more so if they are genetically predisposed to the condition. Major Advance in Artificial Photosynthesis Poses Win/Win for the Environment – Artificial photosynthesis has been achieved with the development of a system that can capture carbon dioxide emissions before they are vented into the atmosphere and then, powered by solar energy, convert that carbon dioxide into valuable chemical products, including biodegradable plastics, pharmaceutical drugs and even liquid fuels. Resistance to Antibiotics Found in Isolated Amazonian Tribe – Scientists discovered that Yanomami hunter-gatherers’ gut bacteria have already evolved a diverse array of antibiotic-resistance genes, even though these mountain people had never ingested antibiotics or animals raised with drugs. Sarcasm Center Found in Brain's White Matter, Explaining Stroke Victims' Language Gap – Stroke victims often struggle to maintain language function, and regions governing sarcasm may get hit particularly hard. Danish Researchers Develop New Blood Test Able to Predict Future Breast Cancer – Scientists at the University of Copenhagen developed a blood test method that can predict future breast cancer, which led to better prevention and early treatment of the disease. Chimps Use Spears to Hunt – This article describes the capability of a troop of chimpanzees in southeastern Senegal to forge weapons to hunt, making them the only known group to use tools to injure or kill prey, and it turns out that females actually engage in this behavior more than males. Wild Chimps in Uganda Have Learned to Look Both Ways When Crossing the Roads – Wild chimpanzees are beginning to realize the importance of crossing roads safely, as scientists have observed them implementing similar safety precautions to us, such as looking both ways for oncoming traffic. Cow Milk Without the Cow Is Coming to Change Food Forever – A group of bio-hackers are trying to trick yeast cells into producing a substance that’s molecularly identical to milk using mail-order DNA. Drug-Based Modulation of Endogenous Stem Cells Promotes Functional Remyelination In Vivo – Scientists look into seven drugs function at nanomolar doses selectively to enhance the generation of mature oligodendrocytes from progenitor cells in vitro. Sale of Madison Company Could Be a Big Step for Stem Cell Research – The pending sale of Madison's Cellular Dynamics International Inc. should end the company's nagging financial struggles and could prove to be the moment that stem cell technology came of age, emerging from a blurry vision to a period of concrete medical advances — including the laboratory production of working human organs. UM Stem Cell Research Could Grow Bone, Potentially Treat Obesity – A new stem cell study conducted at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine has isolated a trigger in stem cells which could be the key to growing bone and combating conditions like osteoporosis and obesity. Newly Found Stem Cell State Closer to Transitional Precipice – A study conducted by scientists at the University of Missouri shows that embryonic stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cells may enter a state of heightened potency, one that can lead to all the main developmental cell lineages, including the placental trophoblast. Athersys Announces Results From Phase II Study of MultiStem(R) Cell Therapy for Treatment of Ischemic Stroke – This article describes the interim results from Athersys’ exploratory Phase 2 clinical study of the intravenous administration of MultiSt...

Guest: Neuroscientist and stem cell pioneer Dr. Fred "Rusty" Gage, a professor at the Salk Institute where he discusses past, present, and future work of stem cells and neurogenesis. Resources and Links Too Much of a Bad Thing Can Be Good in Brain Tumors – DNA mutations can cause cancer but in some cases, more mutations may mean a better prognosis for patients like the one subtype of the most malignant brain tumor, called glioblastoma, or GBM. Turbo-charging Hormone May Help Regrow the Heart, Animal Study Shows – Researchers at the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute discovered how to stimulate muscle regrowth in the heart of a mouse, which could be particularly important in looking at new treatments for those who suffer future heart attacks. Aluminum Battery from Stanford Offers Safe Alternative to Conventional Batteries – Stanford University scientists have invented the first high-performance aluminum battery that's fast-charging, long-lasting and inexpensive that could replace many of the lithium-ion and alkaline batteries in wide use today. Blackpoll Warblers Migrate Thousands of Miles across Atlantic Ocean, Scientists Find – A team of ornithologists led by William DeLuca of the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, reports the first direct evidence that the blackpoll warbler (Setophaga striata), relatively small songbirds, completes an autumn trans-Atlantic migration ranging from 2,270 to 2,770 km (1,410 to 1,721 miles) and requiring two to three days of non-stop flight. Africa: Biodiversity Damage Mapped By Global Land-Use Study – Study concluded that, if human impacts continue to grow as they have been, future losses in biodiversity will be concentrated in biodiverse but economically poor countries. Blown-Up Brains Reveal Nanoscale Details – A study showed that material used in diaper absorbant can make brain tissue bigger and enable ordinary microscopes to resolve features down to 60 nanometers; this technique is called expansion microscopy. Repurposed Experimental Cancer Drug Restores Brain Function in Mouse Models of Alzheimer’s Disease – Scientists have found that saracatinib, a compound originally developed as a cancer therapy potentially could be used to treat Alzheimer’s disease. Stemming Genetic Changes in Cultured Cells – Researchers have found that the fewest genetic changes arise in embryonic stem cells (ESCs) that are grown on a substrate layer of "feeder cells"—non-dividing cells that provide nutrients and help ESCs attach to their culture dishes—and passaged mechanically, that is, broken into clumps before being moved into new vessels. Study: Saccharin Shows Promise as Cancer Inhibitor – The artificial sweetener saccharin shows considerable promise for its ability to inhibit an enzyme upregulated in many cancers, helping tumor cells survive and metastasize. Researchers May Have Solved Origin-of-Life Conundrum – Chemists report that a pair of simple compounds called acetylene and formaldehyde, which would have been abundant on early Earth, can give rise to a network of simple reactions that produce the three major classes of biomolecules—nucleic acids, amino acids, and lipids—needed for the earliest form of life to get its start. Malaria Parasite Attracts Mosquitoes with Perfume – This article reveals that Plasmodium—the malaria parasite manufactures alluring odor molecules, called terpenes using a chloroplast-like organelle that attract mosquitoes. Why Is the Scientific World Abuzz about an Unpublished Paper? Because It Could Permanently Change Human DNA – Scientists around the world are anticipating the results of a Chinese study that would mark the first time DNA in a human embryo has been modified in a way that would carry into future generations. Meat Grown in a Laboratory Soon to Become Commercially Viable, Says Scientist – Meat grown in a laboratory will become commercially viable in the next decade according to the scientist who grew the world’s first stem cell burger.

Guest: Dr. Eirini Papapetrou, an associate professor at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mt. Sinai where she discusses her work and latest paper on using stem cells to model blood diseases containing a chromosomal deletion. Resources and Links Sushi Parasite Inspires Worm Test for Cancer – Japanese researchers have discovered that Caenorhabditis elegans worms can detect cancer in people's urine. New Genetic Variant that Causes Autism Identified by Johns Hopkins-Led Team – A Johns Hopkins-led team of researchers has identified a new genetic cause of the disorder using a novel approach that focuses on rare families severely affected by autism. Bad Gene Cripples Flu Defenses – This article describes how a girl nearly died from flu because of mutated genes. High-Fat Diet Alters Behavior and Produces Signs of Brain Inflammation – There is a great possibility that a high-fat diet produces changes in health and behavior, in part, by changing the mix of bacteria in the gut, also known as the gut microbiome. NASA's Opportunity Rover Just Completed an 11-Year Marathon on Mars – NASA confirmed this week that the six-wheeled robot has now traveled more than 26.219 miles in eleven years and two months. Apple's New ResearchKit: 'Ethics Quagmire' or Medical Research Aid? – Apple's ResearchKit is designed to let medical researchers create iPhone apps for their studies that will help them recruit participants — without said participants ever setting foot in the lab. Woolly Mammoth DNA Inserted into Elephant Cells – This article describes the attempt of scientists to bring extinct species back from the grave through a process known as de-extinction. Surprise Finding Heightens Concern over Tiny Bits of Plastic Polluting Our Oceans – A team of scientists’ accidental finding of plastic in the skin of both farmed and wild fish adds to already growing environmental and public health concerns about the plastic particles or microplastics pervading our oceans and waterways. Altering Brain Chemistry Makes Us More Sensitive to Inequality – Researchers find that giving a drug that changes the neurochemical balance in the prefrontal cortex of the brain causes a greater willingness to engage in prosocial behaviors, such as ensuring that resources are divided more equally. Engineering the Perfect Baby – A group of scientists try to edit the DNA of human germ line to correct disease genes and to pass those genetic fixes on to future generations. Don’t Edit the Human Germ Line – Heritable human genetic modifications pose serious risks, and the therapeutic benefits are tenuous, warn Edward Lanphier, Fyodor Urnov and colleagues. Industry Body Calls for Gene Editing Moratorium – Gene-editing companies say research on altering the DNA of human reproductive cells is dangerous and unethical. A Prudent Path Forward for Genomic Engineering and Germline Gene Modification – Scientists suggests that a framework for open discourse on the use of CRISPR-Cas9 technology to manipulate the human genome is urgently needed. Scientists Call for a Summit on Gene-Edited Babies – A group of senior American scientists and ethics experts are calling for a debate on the gene-engineering of humans, warning that technology able to change the DNA of future generations is now "imminent." The ISSCR Statement on Human Germline Genome Modification – The International Society for Stem Cell Research calls for a moratorium on attempts at clinical application of nuclear genome editing of the human germ line. Double-Blind Peer Review – Nature Biotechnology, together with Nature and its sister journals, is now offering anonymity to authors during the peer-review process. Celebs' Stem Cell Facial Treatments Include Sheep Placenta, Others Get Human Cells - Celebrities pay hundreds of dollars to have a sheep placenta facial or known as collagen treatment wherein the placenta mush or stem cell fluid is smeared all over the face, and the skin is pricked so the cells can penetrate below the epidermis. ...

Guest: Our guest, world-renowned geneticist, Dr. Fred Alt from Harvard Medical School talks about his latest paper in Nature Biotechnology where he describes a novel method to detect off target effects of gene editing technology. Resources and Links False Memories Implanted into the Brains of Sleeping Mice – By directly manipulating the brains of sleeping mice, researchers tricked the animals into thinking they had received a reward at a specific place when they wake up. Autism Genes Linked to Higher Intelligence: Treading a Fine Line between Intellectual Disability and Superiority – A comprehensive study conducted shows that genetic variation, which increases risk for autism, is associated with better cognitive ability in non-autistic individuals. Left or Right? The Brain Knows Before You Move – Scientists at Janelia Research Campus have identified a neural circuit that connects motor planning to movement. Mutation May Cause Early Loss of Sperm Supply – Brown University biologists have determined how the loss of a gene in male mice results in the premature exhaustion of their fertility. Sobering Effect of the Love Hormone – Oxytocin, sometimes referred to as the 'love' or 'cuddle' hormone, prevents alcohol from accessing specific sites in the brain that cause alcohol's intoxicating effects, sites known as delta-subunit GABA-A receptors. Tapping into Beer's Therapeutic Potential – This article describes the study conducted by Chinese researchers on xanthohumol, a compound found in hops that prevented the brain cells from dying and also increased cell production of several antioxidants that counteracted oxidative damage. Severe Depression Linked with Inflammation in the Brain – This article shows that there was a significant inflammation in the brains of the people with depression, and the inflammation was most severe among the participants with the most severe depression. Ghrelin Hormone Supplement Increases Sex Drive – New studies have found that a supplement of ghrelin - the "appetite hormone" - increased the sexual activity of mice. Diabetes in Rats Treated with Engineered Probiotic – Cornell researchers have engineered human lactobacilli, a common gut bacteria, to secrete a protein called Glucagon-like peptide 1 which may help people control diabetes. Do You Have the 'Smart Gene' that also Helps You Live Longer? – Researchers have discovered that a KL-VS variant of the Klotho gene associated with longevity has some added benefits: improved learning and a better memory. Largest-ever Autism Genome Study Finds Most Siblings Have Different Autism-risk Genes – This article reveals that the disorder’s genetic underpinnings are even more complex than previously thought: Most siblings who have autism spectrum disorder have different autism-linked genes. Wide House Passage of Embryonic Stem Cell Research Ban in Oklahoma Despite Concerns – This article reports that the House overwhelmingly passed legislation Monday designed to prevent embryonic stem cell research in Oklahoma. Limited Self-Renewal of Stem Cells in the Brain – This article describes that the self-renewal rate of the stem cells is however limited, explaining why their number drops over the course of a lifetime. New Test Uses Human Stem Cells to Identify Drug Side Effects – Scientists have developed a test that uses cells from a single donor's blood to predict whether a new drug will cause a severe reaction in humans. Lung Cancer Stem Cell Therapy to be Trialed in UK – This article reports that trial will involve 56 patients in UK with metastatic lung cancer who will undergo treatment using genetically modified bone marrow stem cells. Some Breast Cancers Are Like 'Stem Cells Gone Bad' – Testing breast cancer cells for how closely they resemble stem cells could identify the most aggressive cases of the disease. Stem Cells Reduce MS Brain Damage – This article describes in what could herald a major advance in treating multiple sclerosis,

Guest: Dr. Rhonda Newman to talk about her work in trying to figure out a better way to "de-stress" stem cells. Resources and Links Previously Unknown Effect of Vitamin A Identified – A previously unknown effect of vitamin A in human embryonic development has been identified by researchers, indicating that vitamin A affects the formation of blood cells. Feeding Babies Foods with Peanuts Appears to Prevent Allergies – Researchers found that babies who consumed the equivalent of about 4 heaping teaspoons of peanut butter each week, starting when they were between 4 and 11 months old, were about 80 percent less likely to develop a peanut allergy by age 5. Mothers Can Pass Traits to Offspring through Bacteria’s DNA – Mothers can pass a trait to their offspring through the DNA of bacteria suggesting that microbes may play a significant role in how genes influence illness and health in higher organisms. Kids, Allergies and a Possible Downside to Squeaky Clean Dishes – This article reports that in families who said they mostly wash dishes by hand, significantly fewer children had eczema, and somewhat fewer had either asthma or hay fever, compared to kids from families who let machines wash their dishes. Scientists Unveil Map of 'Epigenome,' a Second Genetic Code – Scientists for the first time have mapped out the molecular "switches" that can turn on or silence individual genes in the DNA in more than 100 types of human cells, an accomplishment that reveals the complexity of genetic information and the challenges of interpreting it. Ingredient in Olive Oil Looks Promising in the Fight Against Cancer – A Rutgers nutritional scientist and two cancer biologists at New York City’s Hunter College have found that an ingredient in extra-virgin olive oil called oleocanthal kills a variety of human cancer cells without harming healthy cells. Popular Soda Ingredient Poses Cancer Risk to Consumers – Research analysis suggests that soda drinkers consume one or more cans per day—possibly exposing them to 4-methylimidazole, a potential carcinogen formed during the manufacture of some kinds of caramel color. Amyloid Formation May Link Alzheimer Disease and Type 2 Diabetes – This article tries to investigate the processes underlying amyloidosis that link type 2 diabetes mellitus and Alzheimer disease. Stopping HIV with an Artificial Protein – A research team has shown that a lab-made molecule eCD4-Ig that mimics an antibody from our immune system may have more protective power than anything the body produces, keeping four monkeys free of HIV infection despite injection of large doses of the virus. Mulling the Marijuana Munchies: How the Brain Flips the Hunger Switch – This article shows that the "munchies," or that uncontrollable urge to eat after using marijuana, appear to be driven by neurons in the brain that are normally involved in suppressing appetite, according to a new study by Yale School of Medicine researchers. Oocytes and Obesity – Eggs from excessively overweight mothers suffer mitochondrial damage that can be averted with pharmacological intervention. Nitrogen-Fixing Bacterium Could Cut Biofuel Costs – This article reports that ethanol-producing Zymomonas mobilis can live on nitrogen gas, potentially cutting costs and environmental waste in biofuel production. Long-Lived Immunotherapy Stem Cells – The genetically modified T memory stem cells persist in patients for more than ten years, and can differentiate into a variety of T cell types. Clarkson University, SUNY Plattsburgh Researchers Use Saliva Test to Diagnose Autism – A spit test may one day be able to diagnose autism as reported by the researchers at Clarkson University and the State University of New York at Plattsburgh. Alligator Blood May Provide Basis of Wartime Anti-Infectives – A study conducted by a group of researchers in the School of Systems Biology and the National Center for Biodefense and Infectious Diseases on alligators,

Guest: Dr. Lorenz Studer is the founding director of the Sloan-Kettering Center for Stem Cell Biology a Member in the Developmental Biology Program and the Department of Neurosurgery and Professor in Neuroscience at Weill-Cornell Graduate School. Resources and Links Novel "Smart" Insulin Automatically Adjusts Blood Sugar in Diabetic Mouse Model – Scientists have created Ins-PBA-F, a long-lasting "smart" insulin that self-activates when blood sugar soars, eliminating the need for additional boosts of insulin, and reducing the dangers that come with inaccurate dosing. Scientists Find Mysterious Magnetism in Earth’s Inner Core – A team of U.S. and Chinese geophysicists suggests that the innermost core is rotated on its side compared to its outer layer and the team also provides new clues about how the inner core formed and began to solidify. Test for HIV in Just 15 Minutes with This $34 Smartphone Dongle – A dongle created by Columbia University researchers can turn any smartphone (whether iPhones or Android devices) into an HIV and syphilis tester. Research Team Identifies Link Between Inflammation and Type 2 Diabetes – This article describes how a Yale-led research team has identified the molecular mechanism by which insulin normally inhibits production of glucose by the liver and why this process stops working in patients with type 2 diabetes, leading to hyperglycemia. Mutations Linked to Repair of Chromosome Ends May Make Emphysema More Likely in Smokers – This press release reveals that mutations in the telomerase reverse transcriptase gene that helps repair damaged chromosome ends may make smokers, especially female smokers more susceptible to emphysema. Researchers Produce First Map of New York City Subway System Microbes – This article identifies the microbes present in the New York City subway system through a pathogen map or PathoMap and could be used for long-term, accurate disease surveillance, bioterrorism threat mitigation, and large scale health management for New York. Researchers Discover Insulin-Decreasing Hormone In Flies, Humans – A hormone called limostatin that decreases insulin production during starvation has been identified in fruit flies and humans. A Neural Biomarker of Psychological Vulnerability to Future Life Stress – This article highlights a readily assayed biomarker, threat-related amygdala reactivity, which predicts psychological vulnerability to commonly experienced stressors and represents a discrete target for intervention and prevention. New Tattoos Found on Öetzi the Iceman – New scans have revealed a total of 61 tattoos on the 5,300-year-old mummified body of Ötzi the Iceman, reigniting the debate on whether the inkings were a form of acupuncture that predates the first recorded use of the practice in China by 2,000 years. Real-Time Deformability Cytometry: On-The-Fly Cell Mechanical Phenotyping – Researchers introduce real-time deformability cytometry for continuous cell mechanical characterization of large populations with analysis rates greater than 100 cells/s. Scientists Discover 'Reset' Button For Brain's Biological Clock – Researchers at Vanderbilt University have discovered a "reset" button for the circadian or biological clock, which could pave the way for more effective treatments for seasonal affective disorder, jet lag and some of the negative health effects of shift work. Green Tea Ingredient May Target Protein To Kill Oral Cancer Cells – Penn State food scientists have found that the compound epigallocatechin-3-gallate found in green tea may trigger a cycle that kills oral cancer cells while leaving healthy cells alone. U.K. Parliament Approves Controversial Three-Parent Mitochondrial Gene Therapy – This article announces that the United Kingdom’s House of Commons voted overwhelmingly today to allow British researchers to pursue a new fertility treatment using a technique called mitochondrial DNA replacement therapy that could prevent certain kinds of genetic diseases.

Guest: Dr. Christine Mummery joins us to discuss how stem cells are being used for heart disease. Resources and Links CDC Reports Current Flu Vaccine Effectiveness at 23 Percent This Season – A report published estimates that getting a flu vaccine this season reduced a person’s risk of having to go to the doctor because of flu by 23 percent among people of all ages. India's Tiger Population Sees 30 Percent Increase – According to this article, India says it now has almost a third more tigers than it did four years ago and it was willing to donate tiger cubs to the international community to help conservation efforts. Scientists Give Genetically Modified Organisms a Safety Switch – Researchers at Harvard and Yale have used some extreme gene-manipulation tools to engineer safety features into designer organisms, specifically reprogrammed the common bacterium E. coli so it requires a synthetic amino acid to live. WSU Researchers See Effect of BPA, Estradiol on Sperm Development – This article describes how bisphenol A and estradiol contributes to disrupted sperm production resulting in decreased sperm counts. Too Much Salt Intake Changes Key Brain Circuits – This article shows that excessive salt intake "reprograms" the brain, interfering with a natural safety mechanism that normally prevents the body's arterial blood pressure from rising. Trust Your Gut: E. Coli May Hold One of the Keys to Treating Parkinson's – Researchers recently discovered a protein in E. coli that inhibits the accumulation of potentially toxic amyloids—a hallmark of diseases such as Parkinson's. Hidden Formaldehyde in E-Cigarette Aerosols – This article shows that the carcinogen formaldehyde, a known degradation product of propylene glycol that reacts with propylene glycol and glycerol during vaporization to produce hemiacetals, can be formed during the e-cigarette "vaping" process. Laser-Generated Surface Structures Create Extremely Water-Repellent Metals – This article describes how scientists at the University of Rochester have used lasers to transform metals into extremely water repellent, or super-hydrophobic, materials without the need for temporary coatings. Birth Control Pill Risks May Now Include Brain Cancer – Scientists have found that women taking hormonal contraceptives — those containing estrogen, progestin or a combination of both — showed higher rates of a rare brain tumor known as glioma. 2015 U.S. Measles Outbreak Already at 84 Cases, More than in a Typical Year – According to this article, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said 84 people in 14 states were diagnosed with measles. Researchers Discover "Idiosyncratic" Brain Patterns in Autism – Scientists at the Weizmann Institute and Carnegie Mellon University found that the brains of individuals with autism display unique synchronization patterns, something that could impact earlier diagnosis of the disorder and future treatments. Beyond Prevention: Sulforaphane May Find Possible Use for Cancer Therapy – New research has identified one of the key cancer-fighting mechanisms for sulforaphane, and suggests that this much-studied phytochemical may be able to move beyond cancer prevention and toward therapeutic use for advanced prostate cancer. Monkeys Seem to Recognize Their Reflections – Trained macaques studied themselves in mirrors, fuelling debate over animals' capacity for self-recognition. Obokata May Face Criminal Charges as Former Colleague Alleges She Stole Stem Cells – This article reports that a criminal investigation now seems likely after a former Riken researcher filed a criminal complaint against disgraced scientist Haruko Obokata, alleging she stole samples of embryonic stem cells before reporting that she had created her version of stem cells with a novel technique. A One-Grant Limit: Nih Institute Puts Squeeze on Flush Investigators – The National Institutes of Health’s basic science institute is imposing a strict one-grant limit on scientists who already have...

Guest: We talk to Dr. David Piper about disease model tools. Resources and Links Acute Immunomodulatory Effects of Binge Alcohol Ingestion – According to this article, alcohol can wreak havoc on your immune system from the moment you start imbibing. BPA Alternative Disrupts Normal Brain-Cell Growth, Is Tied to Hyperactivity, Study Says – Researchers have shown why the chemical bisphenol-S once thought to be a safe alternative to bisphenol-A (BPA), which was abandoned by manufacturers of baby bottles and sippy cups after a public outcry, might itself be more harmful than BPA. Extraordinary Gene Transfer between Cells Observed – A team of scientists observed that DNA from a mouse's second genome, or mitochondrial DNA, could be transferred from healthy tissue to tumor cells in mice, promoting cancer growth and spread. Decline in Grants for Young Researchers Puts Future of Science at Risk, Johns Hopkins President Writes – In this article, the president of John Hopkins University Ronald J. Daniels urges policy reforms and increased National Institutes of Health funding for young scientists who most of them are already leaving the academic biomedical workforce posing a grave risks for the future of science. A New Antibiotic Kills Pathogens Without Detectable Resistance – A group of researchers led by Prof Kim Lewis of Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts, has discovered a new antibiotic Teixobactin that eliminates Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Bacillus anthracis and other dangerous pathogens without encountering any detectable resistance. Drug Stimulates Brown Fat and Boosts Metabolism – This article describes how researchers figured out how FDA-approved drug mirabegron, typically used to treat overactive bladder, could boost brown fat’s metabolic burning efforts inside the body. A Protein-Tagging System for Signal Amplification in Gene Expression and Fluorescence Imaging – Scientists developed a protein scaffold, a repeating peptide array termed SunTag, which can recruit multiple copies of an antibody-fusion protein and may likely have many applications in imaging and controlling biological outputs. Cold Virus Replicates Better at Cooler Temperatures – Researchers have found that the common cold virus can reproduce itself more efficiently in the cooler temperature found inside the nose than at core body temperature. The Challenge of Creating an HIV Vaccine: Virus Infects Very Cells Induced by Drug – This article tries to explain the reason why there is no vaccine for HIV/AIDS; it is because vaccines designed to protect against HIV backfire, leading to an increase, not decrease, in new infections which may be due to the higher number of activated CD4+ T cells. "Imaginary Meal" Tricks the Body into Losing Weight – Salk researchers have developed an entirely new type of pill called fexaramine that tricks the body into thinking it has consumed calories, causing it to burn fat. Insights into the Evolution of Longevity from the Bowhead Whale Genome – Researchers have sequenced the genome of the Arctic giant, the circumpolar bowhead whale, and identified the key differences between these bi-centenarians and other mammals. What Investors Are Looking At in the Stem Cell Sector – This article presents the different stem cell companies that have catalysts in the first quarter of 2015 in regards to stem cell stocks that could bring attention to the sector. Cord Blood Registry and Cellular Dynamics International Announce Collaboration to Reprogram Newborn Stem Cells into Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells – Cord Blood Registry® (CBR®) and Cellular Dynamics International (CDI) announced that they have entered into a research collaboration to reprogram newborn stem cells from both umbilical cord blood and umbilical cord tissue collected, processed and cryopreserved under CBR's protocols into induced pluripotent stem cells using CDI's proprietary methods. Gov.

Guest: From the lab of Michel Sadelain, Dr. Maria Themeli talks to us about her work using stem cells to create killer T cells to seek and destroy cancer cells. Resources and Links Fat Isn't All Bad: Skin Adipocytes Help Protect Against Infections – Researchers report the surprising discovery that fat cells below the skin known as adipocytes help protect us from bacteria. Researchers Target the Cell’s ‘Biological Clock’ in Promising New Therapy to Kill Cancer Cells, Shrink Tumor Growth – This article tells about the cell biologists at UT Southwestern Medical Center that have targeted telomeres with a small molecule called 6-thiodG that takes advantage of the cell’s "biological clock" to kill cancer cells and shrink tumor growth. With Cancer, 'Bad Luck' of Random Mutations Is Largely to Blame – Scientists have created a statistical model that measures the proportion of cancer incidence, and have found that it's caused mainly by random mutations when stem cells divide. Macrophages Contribute to the Cyclic Activation of Adult Hair Follicle Stem Cells – Skin resident macrophages surround and signal to resting hair follicle stem cells, regulate their entry into a new phase of hair follicle growth. Meth Users Face Higher Risk for Parkinson's Disease – This article reveals that people who use methamphetamine have a greatly increased risk of developing Parkinson's disease and that women who took the drug had higher odds of the disease than men. Molecular Mechanism Behind Health Benefits of Dietary Restriction Identified – Findings from researchers suggest that hydrogen sulfide is one of the key molecules responsible for the benefits of dietary restriction or calorie restriction such as slowing aging and extending lifespan. Decoding Fat Cells: Discovery May Explain Why We Gain Weight – Researchers discovered that a protein, Thy1, has a fundamental role in controlling whether a primitive cell decides to become a fat cell, making Thy1 a possible therapeutic target for obesity. Egg and Sperm Race: Scientists Create Precursors to Human Egg and Sperm – Scientists at the University of Cambridge working with the Weizmann Institute have created primordial germ cells – cells that will go on to become egg and sperm – using human embryonic stem cells. Billionaire Bought James Watson’s Nobel Prize Medal in Order to Return It – This article talks about Alisher Usmanov, the richest man in Russia and a major shareholder in Arsenal football club who has come forward as the buyer of James Watson’s Nobel Prize medal – declaring that he now plans to give the piece back and the money he spent on the item to be donated to scientific research. Orangutan Inside Argentina Zoo Granted 'Non-Human Person Rights' in Landmark Ruling – In this article, an orangutan named Sandra held in an Argentinian zoo can be freed and transferred to a sanctuary after a court recognized the ape as a "non-human person" unlawfully deprived of its freedom. Variation in Cancer Risk among Tissues Can Be Explained by the Number of Stem Cell Divisions – This article describes how Tomasetti and Vogelstein plotted the lifetime incidence of various cancers against the estimated number of normal stem cell divisions in the corresponding tissues over a lifetime, and found a strong correlation extending over five orders of magnitude. New Technique for Bioengineering Stem Cells Shows Promise in HIV Resistance – According to this article, an improved gene therapy strategy using modified human stem cells shows promise in animal models as a functional cure for HIV. lncRNA Maturation to Initiate Heterochromatin Formation in the Nucleolus Is Required for Exit from Pluripotency in ESCs – This article shows that maturation of the long noncoding RNA pRNA is required for establishment of heterochromatin at ribosomal RNA genes, the genetic component of nucleoli, and this process is inactivated in pluripotent ESCs. Restoration of Progranulin Expression Rescues Cortical Neuron Generation in an Induced P...

Guest: On this episode it's just me and Yosif talking about a variety of hot papers with topics ranging from F-Class stem cells, wolves are better at math than dogs, the NFL is hating on stem cell transplants, STAP author can’t replicate findings, and there are actual sparks when sperm meets egg. Resources and Links New Type 2 Diabetes Treatment Cures Lab Animals of Disease – A new treatment for type 2 diabetes and obesity has been developed by researchers at Indiana University and the German Research Center for Environmental Health and has essentially cured lab animals of obesity, diabetes and associated lipid abnormalities through improved glucose sensitivity, and reduced appetite and enhanced calorie burning. Laughing Gas Studied as Depression Treatment – This article reveals a study conducted by researchers on nitrous oxide, the laughing gas, as a potential treatment for severe depression in patients whose symptoms don’t respond to standard therapies. Curcumin, Compound in Turmeric, Found to Impair Fear Memories and Ease PTSD Symptoms – Scientists have found that curcumin, the principal compound found in turmeric, can impair fear memories involved with the post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Rosetta Spacecraft Suggests Asteroids, Not Comets, Birthed Earth's Oceans – Asteroids, not comets, likely delivered Earth's ancient oceans from space based on the study from the Rosetta Spacecraft, which is now in orbit around a comet that is a frozen relic from the dawn of the planets. Oldest Horned Dinosaur Species in North America Found in Montana: Hooked Beak, Sharply Pointed Cheeks Distinguishes Neoceratopsian Species – This article presents the naming of the first definite horned dinosaur species from the Early Cretaceous in North America specifically in Montana as Aquilops americanus, which exhibits definitive neoceratopsian features and is closely related to similar species in Asia. Scientists Make 'Feel Full' Chemical – Based on this article, scientists have created a chemical that can be added to food to make people feel full which will help people to eat less and slow down weight gain. Gut Microbiota and Parkinson’s Disease: Connection Made – Scientists are trying to determine what is the connection between intestinal microbes and Parkinson’s disease because those who suffer from Parkinson’s have a different microbiota in their intestines than their healthy counterparts. An Evolutionary Battle Against Bacteria – This article suggests that treating infections from Haemophilus influenzae, one of the bacteria species that causes meningitis, will be more effective if scientists used the evolutionary history of transferrin as a guide for designing transferrin that the bacteria can’t attack. The Best Sign of Dark Matter Yet? X-ray Signals in Neighbouring Galaxies Could Be Emitted by One of the Universe's Greatest Mysteries – Two groups of researchers have detected a signal that could prove the existence of dark matter based on their analysis of X-rays emitted by two celestial objects – the Perseus galaxy cluster and the Andromeda galaxy. How Birds Hear Without Ears – Researchers have determined how birds accurately determine the direction of a sound, even when they do not have the complex external ear structures that most mammals, humans included, boast. It’s Official! Men Are More Stupid than Women, Says British Medical Journal – A study of 20 years of the Darwin Awards – the annual accolade which recalls foolish ways in which people have died – has revealed that 90% of the awards have been ‘won’ by men. Testosterone Increases Colon Cancer Risk – This article shows the relationship of testosterone levels with colon tumor growth and that women are less likely than men to develop non-sex specific cancer of the colon, stomach or pancreas due to female hormones such as estrogen. Dog Brains Process Human Speech in the Same Way We Do – There is a common response between humans and dogs with human speech - communicating not only w...

Guest: Dr. Marius Wernig from Stanford University talks about his work with stem cells and his latest paper published in Science Translation on using iPCs to treat a serious skin disorder. Resources and Links How Brain Scans Can Diagnose Autism With 97% Accuracy - A much more objective measure—reading a person’s thoughts through an fMRI brain scan—might be able to diagnose autism with close to perfect accuracy. Mastodons Disappeared from Beringia before Ancient Humans Arrived – According to this article, new radiocarbon dates on American mastodon (Mammut americanum) fossils in Alaska and Yukon (eastern Beringia) suggest this species suffered local extinction tens of millennia before either human colonization. HIV’s Slower Progression to AIDS Caused by Certain Gene-Protein and ARV – Infected people with a gene that expresses a particular human leukocyte antigens (HLA) protein called HLA-B*57 progress more slowly to AIDS than usual. Radial Glia Require PDGFD–Pdgfrβ Signaling in Human but Not Mouse Neocortex – Researchers analyze differential gene co-expression relationships between the species, to demonstrate that the growth factor PDGFD is specifically expressed by Radial Glia in human, but not mouse, corticogenesis. Vegetable Oil Ingredient Key to Destroying Gastric Disease Bacteria – A group of researchers developed LipoLLA, a therapeutic nanoparticle that contains linolenic acid, which is a component in vegetable oils, to dampen H. pylori bacteria and inflammation that lead to ulcers and gastric cancer in mice. Scientists Uncover Gene Associated with an Aggressive Breast Cancer – Scientists have identified a biomarker, a gene called RASAL2 that is strongly associated with triple negative breast cancer (TNBC), a highly aggressive carcinoma that often has early relapse and metastasis following chemotherapy. Star Trek-Like Invisible Shield Found Thousands of Miles Above Earth – Scientists have discovered an invisible shield roughly 7,200 miles above earth that blocks so-called "killer electrons," which can fry satellites and degrade space systems during intense solar storms. The Missing Gene that 'Triggers Autism': DNA Deficiency Linked to Being 'Unsociable And Disinterested in Others' – Scientists found mice deficient in a gene called neurexin-II showed similar symptoms to autism in humans, including a lack of sociability or interest in other mice. 'Lost' First Languages Leave Permanent Mark on the Brain, New Study Reveals – This article describes the study conducted to challenge the existing understanding that exposure to a language in the first year of a child’s life can be "erased" if he or she is moved to a different linguistic environment. Cystic Fibrosis Charity Sells Drug Rights to Pharma for $3.3 Billion – The Cystic Fibrosis (CF) Foundation has sold royalty rights to treatments developed with support from its ‘venture philantrophy’ model wherein the foundation provide upfront funding for pharmaceutical companies to help reduce the financial risk of developing drugs to treat CF. Genetic Testing for Personalized Nutrition Leads to Better Outcomes – Personalized dietary advice based on a person's genetic makeup improves eating habits compared to current "one-size-fits-all" dietary recommendations. Mental & Physical Pain May Be Different after All – A new study from the University of Colorado shows that physical and social pains actually use distinct neural circuits which may lead to specific treatment protocols for each pathway. Proposed Rules Will Vastly Expand Trove of Clinical Trial Data Reported in U.S. Database – This article describes the proposed rule that trial sponsors would need to report summary results for drugs and devices that are never approved—and not just for products that reach the market. Ontario Announces Funding for Stem Cell Institute – Ontario has announced funding for the creation of an institute for regenerative medicine and three 'disease challenge teams' to bridge the widening gap in the pro...

Guest: Dr. Malin Parmar to talk about her latest paper in Cell Stem Cell regarding Parkinson’s disease. This paper is very important and made main stream news everywhere. Resources and Links CERN’s Large Hadron Collider Adds Two New Subatomic Particles to the List – CERN's researchers have added two new subatomic particles that are six times as massive as protons. Brain Structure Rediscovered – A Stanford graduate student Jason Yeatman has discovered what he thought was a new brain structure, known as the vertical occipital fasciculus, and later finds out that it was actually originally discovered in the late 19th century and got lost from the literature for more than 100 years. ‘Text Neck’ Is Becoming an ‘epidemic’ and Could Wreck Your Spine – This article warns us that hunching over your smartphone can cause back pain, posture problems. Alcoholism Damages Brain's White Matter, Scans Show – Alcoholism damages white matter throughout the brain and this damage can be detected with brain scans according to the researchers. A Man Lost in Musical Time – This article identifies the first documented beat deafness, a condition in which a person can't feel music's beat or move in time to it. The Fault in Our Stars Might be a Virus – This article describes how the starfish on the western coast of North America started wasting away, a condition known as sea star wasting syndrome potentially caused by a new virus called sea star-associated densovirus or SSaDV. Stupidity Virus' Lives In People's Throats, Crosses Over From Algae In Lakes – A virus commonly found in algae somehow made its way into people's throats, reducing their ability to perform certain tasks. Genome-Wide Scan Demonstrates Significant Linkage for Male Sexual Orientation – Scientists have found even more evidence that sexual orientation is largely determined by genetics, not choice. Why Killing Babies Makes Testicles Grow – Nearly half of mammal species surveyed in a new study practice infanticide and scientists believe this leads to larger testicles in males. Scientists Develop Barcoding Tool for Stem Cells – This article is about the new technology that tracks descendants of different stem cells or progenitor cells. Eradicating Malaria: How Parasites' Genetic 'Barcodes' Can Stop the Spread – Identifying the geographic origin of malaria outbreaks could help prevent and speed up the eradication of the disease. How Cartilage Cells Sense Forceful Injury – Scientists have found a substance in the tarantula venom that could block the channels responsible for cartilage cell death. Bubble Boy’ Disease Cured with Stem Cells – Researchers have treated more than two dozen patients with a treatment made from their own bone marrow cells. Female Stem Cells Could be Better for Heart Repair, Disease Treatment – This article suggests that female stem cells derived from animal muscle tissue, generated more muscle fiber and survived better when repairing injured cells according to a team of researchers. Bifunctional Ectodermal Stem Cells Around the Nail Display Dual Fate Homeostasis and Adaptive Wounding Response toward Nail Regeneration – This article discusses the regenerative potential of skin appendages particularly the nails following injury. Sox2-Mediated Conversion of NG2 Glia into Induced Neurons in the Injured Adult Cerebral Cortex – This article proposes that the conversion of nonneuronal cells into induced neurons can be an innovative strategy toward brain repair. hPSC-Derived Maturing GABAergic Interneurons Ameliorate Seizures and Abnormal Behavior in Epileptic Mice – This article focuses on the study of hPSC-derived maturing GABAergic interneurons as a potential support to restorative cell therapy for epilepsy. SCNT-Derived ESCs with Mismatched Mitochondria Trigger an Immune Response in Allogeneic Hosts – This article shows that mismatched mitochondria in nuclear-transfer-derived embryonic stem cells (NT-ESCs) possess alloantigenicity and are subject to immune rejection.

Guest: Senior editor at Cell Stem Cell, Dr. Christina Lilliehook shares with us what goes on as an editor of a top tier science journal. In addition to a behind the scenes discussion, she also talks about how she got into a career in editing, and what it takes if you wanted to make that career choice. Resources and Links Arachnophobia Gets Cut Out of Man’s Brain after Surgery to End His Seizures – This article discussed an instance where an unrelated seizure forced doctors to remove a portion of a man's brain, inadvertently freeing him of his fear of spiders. Mystery Solved: Where the Penis Comes From – This article attempts to answer a question a lot of scientists ponder out loud that is key to much of life on Earth: Exactly how does the penis form? Plasticity of the Aging Brain: New Directions in Cognitive Neuroscience – The authors review the two new directions in the field of aging research with implications for plasticity. Modeling Ebola in Mice – This article is about a study conducted by a team of scientists who have tested 47 genetically diverse mouse lines in response to their susceptibility to Ebola. Effects of Diurnal Variation of Gut Microbes and High-Fat Feeding on Host Circadian Clock Function and Metabolism – The body’s helpful bacteria may have internal clocks too that when disrupted will potentially boost the risk of obesity. Dozens of Genes Associated with Autism in New Research – This press release discusses two new studies conducted by UC San Francisco scientists tying mutations in more than 100 genes to autism. ‘Treasure in Saliva’ May Reveal Deadly Diseases Early Enough to Treat Them, UCLA Scientists Report – A simple saliva test is capable of diagnosing early stage diabetes, cancer, and perhaps neurological disorders and autoimmune diseases. Violence Genes May Be Responsible for One in Ten Serious Crimes – Scientists believe that they have discovered the genes responsible for high levels of rage-related violent behavior. Jupiter-Sized Sunspot Largest for 24 Years – This article is about the solar eclipse that happened few weeks back, showing large sunspots responsible for creating some pretty stormy space weather. New Way to Lose Weight: Scientists Stimulate Brown Fat to Burn More Energy from Food – This article shows how scientists have now come closer to the goal of finding an efficient method for losing weight through the body’s own adenosine that activates brown fat and “browns” white fat. Growth of CH3NH3PbI3 Cuboids with Controlled Size for High-Efficiency Perovskite Solar Cells – Scientists report that the growth of CH3NH3PbI3 cuboids with a controlled size via a two-step spin-coating procedure enables a power conversion efficiency of perovskite solar cells to exceed 16%. Stem Cell Person of the Year 2014: Masayo Takahashi – This article announces Dr. Masayo Takahashi MD, PhD as the winner of the 2014 Stem Cell Person of the Year Award. Stem Cell Patent to Reach Supreme Court – The U.S. Supreme Court will be asked to intervene over a controversial embryonic stem cell patent according to the opponents of the patent. Managers of Discredited STAP Stem Cell Study Refund Salary – The top administrators of RIKEN, Japan’s national network of research laboratories will voluntarily return one to three months of their salaries to atone for their responsibility for the STAP stem cell fiasco. Breast Milk Stem Cells May Be Incorporated into Baby – This article suggests that breast milk stem cells from mum could possibly go on to transform into parts of the baby’s body. Modeling Human Development and Disease in Pluripotent Stem-cell-derived Gastric Organoids – The authors describe a new and robust in vitro system for elucidating the mechanisms underlying human stomach development and disease. Destroying Brain Tumors Using Herpes-loaded Stem Cells – Scientists from the Harvard Stem Cell Institute may have a potential solution for how to more effectively kill tumor cells using cancer-killing viruses.

Guest: In this episode we welcome Nobel Prize winning scientist, Dr. Harold Varmus. We talk with Dr. Varmus about a range of topics in the realm of biomedical research as a career and the state of NIH funding. Resources and Links Motor Skill Learning Requires Active Central Myelination – The production of new myelin in the brain, which is a function of non-neuronal glial cells, may be necessary for motor learning. A Global Inventory of Lakes Based on High-resolution Satellite Imagery – Researchers were able to accurately count the lakes on earth with high resolution data from satellites. UCL Research Helps Paralyzed Man to Recover Function – Researchers announced that two years after the cell transplant, a man paralyzed from chest down was able to walk again. Soda and Cell Aging: Associations between Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Consumption and Leukocyte Telomere Length in Healthy Adults from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys – Research found found that telomeres – protective DNA caps on the end of chromosomes – were shorter in people who reported habitually drinking more fizzy drinks. Promising Early Success and Safety Results from International Gene Therapy Trial for 'Bubble Boy' Disease Reported in New England Journal of Medicine – This article describes a new form of gene therapy for boys with X-linked severe combined immunodeficiency syndrome (SCID-X1), a life-threatening condition also known as “bubble boy” disease. Manipulating a “Cocaine Engram” in Mice – Researchers examine the precise neural circuits that support the memory of a cocaine-cue association or “cocaine engram” in mice. Left–Right Dissociation of Hippocampal Memory Processes in Mice – This article shows that hippocampal long-term memory processing is lateralized in mice after investigating the implications of left-right difference in hippocampal function. Histone H2A.Z Subunit Exchange Controls Consolidation of Recent and Remote Memory – According to this article, histone variant exchange can be a novel mechanism contributing to the molecular basis of cognitive function and implicate H2A.Z as a potential therapeutic target for memory disorders. Rise of the Rest: The Growing Impact of Non-Elite Journals – This article shows that the fraction of highly-cited articles published in non-elite journals has increased steadily from 1995-2013 and researchers are increasingly building on and citing work published everywhere. Reports of Pathological Gambling, Hypersexuality, Compulsive Shopping Associated with Dopamine Agonist Drugs – This article examines the effect of dopamine receptor agonist drugs which are used to treat Parkinson’s disease, restless leg syndrome and hyperprolactinemia, on patients with impulse control disorders. Human Genetic Research Uncovers How Omega-6 Fatty Acids Lower Bad Cholesterol – Researchers uncovered a gene that affects blood cholesterol levels through the generation of a compound from omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids, called lipoxins. Are Male Brains Wired to Ignore Food for Sex? – This article describes how male C. elegans, a microscopic roundworm that is widely used in studying fundamental mechanisms in biology, suppresses their ability to locate food in order to instead focus on finding a mate. Ultra-fast Charging Batteries that Can Be 70% Recharged in Just Two Minutes – Scientists from Nanyang Technological University have developed a new battery that can be recharged up to 70% in only two minutes and also have a longer lifespan of over 20 years. Stem-Cell Fraud Makes for Box Office Success – The movie, Whistleblower, which was based on the Woo Suk Hwang cloning scandal, has been a box office hit in South Korea. Stem Cells for Diabetes: The Danger of the Word ‘Cure’ – This article discusses the danger in loosely using the word ‘cure’ as it falsely raises hopes and expectations of patients and other people. Paralyzed Man Walks Again after Nose Cells Repair His Spinal Cord – A man paralyzed from the chest dow...

Guest: Dr. Ginger Campbell, host of the brain science podcast, joins the SCP where we discuss her podcast and different "brainy" topics. We close the show ranting about the iPhone 6. Resources and Links Near-Death Experiences? Results of the World's Largest Medical Study of the Human Mind and Consciousness at Time of Death A Synthetic Stimulant Never Tested in Humans, 1,3-dimethylbutylamine (DMBA), Is Identified in Multiple Dietary Supplements Tumors Might Grow Faster at Night Sugar Linked to Memory Problems in Adolescent Rats The Ancient Heritage of Water Ice in the Solar System The 2014 Nobel Prizes At A Glance Making Old Lungs Look Young Again Judgment and Decision-making: Brain Activity Indicates There Is More than Meets the Eye Peanut Allergy Misdiagnosed In 2 Out Of 3 Cases Solving the Mystery of the “Man in the Moon” Satellite Measurements Reveal Gravity Dip from Ice Loss in West Antarctica Olfactory Dysfunction Predicts 5-Year Mortality in Older Adults A Single Bout of Resistance Exercise Can Enhance Episodic Memory Performance Sensitivity and Specificity of the Empirical Lymphocyte Genome Sensitivity (Lgs) Assay: Implications for Improving Cancer Diagnostics Sleep Twitches Light up the Brain Cells From Placentas Safe for Patients with Multiple Sclerosis Research Shows Alcohol Sensations Influenced by Genes Aromatic-Turmerone Induces Neural Stem Cell Proliferation In Vitro and In Vivo Stem Cell Treatments Surging into Clinic First Patient Treated in Neuralstem Phase I Spinal Cord Injury Stem Cell Trial through the UC San Diego Sanford Stem Cell Clinical Center Japanese University May Strip Stem-Cell Scientist of Doctorate Young, Brilliant and Underfunded Studies Bring Tumeric to Stem Cell Research Success in Creating Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells Scientists Develop Barcoding Tools for Stem Cells Giant Step toward New Diabetes Treatment Generation of Functional Human Pancreatic β Cells In Vitro Efficient Differentiation of Human Pluripotent Stem Cells to Endothelial Progenitors via Small-Molecule Activation of WNT Signaling Maternal Inflammation Contributes to Brain Overgrowth and Autism-Associated Behaviors through Altered Redox Signaling in Stem and Progenitor Cells Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. Ginger Campbell Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: We bring on freelance science writer Karen Weintraub to discuss her recent piece in the New York Times on stem cells. We talk with her about the contents of her article and what she learned doing the research. We then close the show with a rant on automatic car window openers. Resources and Links Comparing Low-Fat and Low-Carbohydrate Diets An Engineered ​Axl 'Decoy Receptor' Effectively Silences the ​Gas6-​Axl Signaling Axis Tipping the Balance of Behavior New Hadrosaur Noses into Spotlight New Branch Added to European Family Tree Pupil-Linked Arousal Determines Variability in Perceptual Decision Making Human Faces Are so Variable Because We Evolved to Look Unique TLR5-Mediated Sensing of Gut Microbiota Is Necessary for Antibody Responses to Seasonal Influenza Vaccination Monster Black Hole Found in Tiny Galaxy Gene Described as Critical to Stem Cell Development Observation of a Dissipation-Induced Classical to Quantum Transition Earth's New Address: 'Solar System, Milky Way, Laniakea' Neuroscientists Identify Key Role of Language Gene Schizophrenia Not a Single Disease but Multiple Genetically Distinct Disorders Beyond the G-spot: Clitourethrovaginal Complex Anatomy in Female Orgasm An Early Cretaceous Pterosaur with an Unusual Mandibular Crest from China and a Potential Novel Feeding Strategy You Can Classify Words in Your Sleep Researchers Find Neural Compensation in People with Alzheimer’s-Related Protein Antibiotics Found in Human Body Bacteria Study Links Honesty to Prefrontal Region of the Brain A Phase I Study of the First-in-Class Anti-Mitochondrial Metabolism Agent, CPI-613, in Patients with Advanced Hematologic Malignancies NUS Study Shows Effectiveness of Artesunate, a Common Herbal-Based Anti-Malarial Drug, in Controlling Asthma Artificial Sweeteners Induce Glucose Intolerance by Altering the Gut Microbiota STAP Co-Author Offers yet Another Recipe for Stem Cells Stem Cell Tourism and Patient Education Professional Regulation: A Potentially Valuable Tool in Responding to “Stem Cell Tourism” NYU Langone Scientists Identify Key Factor that Maintains Stem Cell Identity Researchers Use iPS Cells to Show Statin Effects on Diseased Bone Pluripotent Stem Cells Derived from Mouse Primordial Germ Cells by Small Molecule Compounds Proteomics and Glycoproteomics of Pluripotent Stem-Cell Surface Proteins Hebrew University Scientists Create Therapy-Quality Stem Cells Using New Cocktail to Reprogram Adult Cells Reversal of Cellular Phenotypes in Neural Cells Derived from Huntington’s Disease Monkey-Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells Stem Cell Transplant Does Not Cure SHIV/AIDS after Irradiation of Infected Rhesus Macaques Identification of Regulatory Networks in HSCs and Their Immediate Progeny via Integrated Proteome, Transcriptome, and DNA Methylome Analysis Pyrimidoindole Derivatives Are Agonists of Human Hematopoietic Stem Cell Self-Renewal Photo Reference: Courtesy of Karen Weintraub Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: Dr. Valentina Fossati from the New York Stem Cell Foundation, talks about her recent publication using iPSCs to generate the oligodendrocytes, the cells that myelinate neurons and its implications for multiple sclerosis. Resources and Links Vaccines—Calling the Shots Study Finds Blood Type and Memory Loss Link Textbook Theory Behind Volcanoes May Be Wrong UV Light Can Turn Gene Into Source of Skin Cancers, Researchers Find UCLA Biologists Delay The Aging Process By ‘Remote Control’ Eating Habits, Body Fat Related To Differences In Brain Chemistry Can Sleep Loss Affect Your Brain Size? First Neanderthal Rock Engraving Found in Gibraltar Composition of Earth’s mantle revisited thanks to research at Argonne’s Advanced Photon Source Marijuana Compound May Offer Treatment For Alzheimer’s Disease, USF Preclinical Study Finds Neuroscientists Reverse Memories’ Emotional Associations Scripps Research Institute Scientists Link Alcohol-Dependence Gene to Neurotransmitter Estrogens Stimulate Serotonin Neurons to Inhibit Binge-Like Eating In Mice Physically Fit Kids Have Beefier Brain White Matter Than Their Less-Fit Peers Sexually Dimorphic RB Inactivation Underlies Mesenchymal Glioblastoma Prevalence in Males FDA-Approved Drug Restores Hair in Patients with Alopecia Areata Obituary: Yoshiki Sasai 1962–2014 Nature Reviewers Not Persuaded by Initial STAP Stem Cell Papers Japanese Woman Is First Recipient of Next-Generation Stem Cells Resetting Transcription Factor Control Circuitry toward Ground-State Pluripotency in Human Diabetes Researchers Find Faster Way to Create Insulin-Producing Cells Stem Cells Help Researchers Understand How Schizophrenic Brains Function The Developmental Potential of iPSCs Is Greatly Influenced by Reprogramming Factor Selection Conversion of Human Fibroblasts into Monocyte-Like Progenitor Cells Adult Hepatocytes Are Generated by Self-Duplication Rather than Stem Cell Differentiation Chemical Conversion of Human Fibroblasts into Functional Schwann Cells Efficient Generation of Myelinating Oligodendrocytes from Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis Patients by Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. Valentina Fossati Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: Dr. Austin Smith from Cambridge UK is on the show to discuss his take on the world of all things pluripotency. We talk about his views on the ground state of pluripotency and how he attempted to drill down into the essential components of the pluripotency network using computer modeling. Resources and Links Gut Bacteria That Protect against Food Allergies Identified A Long Childhood Feeds the Hungry Human Brain First Intact Organ Built from Cells Clear Solar Panel Could Turn Smartphones and Tablets into Mini Power Plants, Michigan Researchers Say Methane Is Bubbling Up From Hundreds of Places Along the U.S. East Coast Seafloor Plant Development. Arabidopsis NAC45/86 Direct Sieve Element Morphogenesis Culminating in Enucleation. Ohio Catholic Diocese Discourages ALS Ice Bucket Challenge Children with Autism Have Extra Synapses in Brain Transcriptomic Analysis of Tail Regeneration in the Lizard Anolis carolinensis Reveals Activation of Conserved Vertebrate Developmental and Repair Mechanisms Traces of One of Universe's First Stars Detected Cold, Dark and Alive! Life Discovered in Buried Antarctic Lake This Could Explain Why Older Adults Can’t Stay Asleep Biological Pacemaker Created By Minimally Invasive Somatic Reprogramming in Pigs with Complete Heart Block Injected Bacteria Shrink Tumors in Rats, Dogs and Humans Catholic Church Warns Pro-Lifers About Ice Bucket Challenge Donations In Japan, Official Effort to Replicate STAP Stem Cells Comes Up Empty Canadian Doctors Use Stem Cells to Treat 'Stiff Person Syndrome' Stem Cell Trial for Spinal Cord Injuries Cleared By FDA Rogue Stem Cell Therapy Operators Charging Thousands For Ineffective Treatments, Researchers Say Boron Facilitates Stem Cell Growth and Development in Corn Systematic Identification of Culture Conditions for Induction and Maintenance of Naive Human Pluripotency Generation of Multipotent Induced Neural Crest by Direct Reprogramming of Human Postnatal Fibroblasts with a Single Transcription Factor Targeting Self-Renewal in High-Grade Brain Tumors Leads to Loss of Brain Tumor Stem Cells and Prolonged Survival Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. Austin Smith Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: Dr. Paul Knoepfler joins us to recap the STAP cell story in the light of the tragic death of Dr. Yoshiki Sasai. We also discuss a wide variety of topics related to publishing in science. Resources and Links Thousand-Strong Robot Swarm Throws Shapes, Slowly SAGE Publications Busts “Peer Review And Citation Ring,” 60 Papers Retracted Could a Dissolvable, Drug-Loaded Tampon Protect against HIV? Why Living in the Moment Is Impossible Our Brains Judge a Face’s Trustworthiness – Even When We Can’t See It Growing Human GI Cells May Lead to Personalized Treatments The Alzheimer's Cure That Worked on Mice Clues To Curbing Obesity Found in Neuronal ‘Sweet Spot’ Breast Cancer's BRCA1 and BRCA2 Not the Only Gene Mutations to Worry About: Who Should Care about PALB2 Stanford Scientists Create Remote-Controlled Nanoscale Protein Motors Stanford Bioengineering Team Builds Molecular Motors Pepper and Halt: Spicy Chemical May Inhibit Gut Tumors Study of Twins Discovers Gene Mutation Linked to Short Sleep Duration Deletion of the Mitochondrial Chaperone TRAP-1 Uncovers Global Reprogramming of Metabolic Networks Otzi Iceman Had Genetic Predisposition for Atherosclerosis: Much the Same in Ancient Peoples as It Is Today Potential 'Universal' Blood Test For Cancer Discovered Japanese Researcher, an Author of a Discredited Stem Cell Study, Is Dead Brigham Researcher in Flawed Stem Cell Study Will Step Down Transparency Promised for Vilified Impact Factor A Stem Cell Study Shows Promising Results for Severe Stroke Patients Stem Cell Research Gets Huge Boost from Australian Zebrafish Discovery Stem Cells Reveal How Illness-Linked Genetic Variation Affects Neurons A Simple And Efficient Method for Transfecting Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells Using Polyethylenimine Seamless Gene Correction of Beta-Thalassemia Mutations in Patient-Specific Cells Effect of Human Donor Cell Source on Differentiation and Function of Cardiac Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells Generation of Rat-Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells from a New Model of Metabolic Syndrome Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. Paul Knoepfler Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: Dr. Marco Seandel from Weill Cornell Medical College joins the hosts to talk about his latest paper published in Stem Cell Reports, where he used sperm stem cells to uncover novel info about mutations in aged male sperm. Resources and Links Learning The Smell Of Fear: Mothers Teach Babies Their Own Fears Via Odor, Animal Study Shows The Habenula Encodes Negative Motivational Value Associated with Primary Punishment in Humans A Highly Abundant Bacteriophage Discovered in the Unknown Sequences of Human Faecal Metagenomes Mysterious X-rays Might Hint at Dark Matter Researchers Find First Sign that Tyrannosaurs Hunted in Packs The Black Death in China Longitudinal Changes in Total Brain Volume in Schizophrenia: Relation to Symptom Severity, Cognition and Antipsychotic Medication Junk Food Could Destroy Your Sense of SMELL, Scientists Warn Mechanisms of CFTR Functional Variants That Impair Regulated Bicarbonate Permeation and Increase Risk for Pancreatitis but Not for Cystic Fibrosis Genetic Cause of Common Breast Tumors Found Lawsuit Claims Stem Cells Unsafe California's Stem Cell Scandal Gets Worse Sugar Mimic Helps Embryonic Stem Cells Develop Toward Nerve Cells Teeth Sprout from Glia-Derived Stem Cells Stem Cell Research Could Lead to New Muscle Repair Treatments Stem Cell Therapy Could Lead to HIV Cure Functional and Molecular Defects of Hipsc-Derived Neurons from Patients with ATM Deficiency Spider Silk for Xeno-Free Long-Term Self-Renewal and Differentiation of Human Pluripotent Stem Cells Role of Astroglia in Down's Syndrome Revealed by Patient-Derived Human-Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells Generation Of Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells From Virus Freein Vivo Reprogramming of BALB/C Mouse Liver Cells Gene Expression Variability as a Unifying Element of the Pluripotency Network Enhanced Fitness of Adult Spermatogonial Stem Cells Bearing a Paternal Age-Associated FGFR2 Mutation Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. Marco Seandel Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: Dr. Daylon James is back on the show to talk about a new paper in Nature where scientists used a vascular niche to help instruct and reprogram endothelial cells to blood stem cells. Resources and Links WHO: Ebola Outbreak Deaths in West Africa hit 603 Friends Are the Family You Choose: Genome-Wide Analysis Reveals Genetic Similarities among Friends Oldest Case of Down Syndrome Discovered in 1,500-Year-Old Skeleton Cracking the Code of How the Brain Processes Emotions What Causes Autism? Rare Mutation in the CHD8 Gene May Be Responsible for Autism Subtype New Alzheimer’s Test May Help Future Clinical Trials Coffee Reduces the Risk of Parkinson's Disease ‘Asian Flush’ Signals Drinkers to Ease Up on Alcohol Pelagornis sandersi: Paleontologist Discovers Largest-Ever Flying Bird EU Court Adviser Backs Stem Cell Patenting Large Study of Stem Cells for Autism Draws Criticism Experimental Stem Cell Treatment Causes Woman To Grow Parts Of A Nose On Her Spine Ground-Breaking Stem Cell Technique Developed To Heal Fractures And Prevent Amputations Gene Profiling Technique to Accelerate Stem Cell Therapies for Eye Diseases A Method To Recapitulate Early Embryonic Spatial Patterning in Human Embryonic Stem Cells Biological Pacemaker Created by Minimally Invasive Somatic Reprogramming in Pigs with Complete Heart Block Direct Induction of Haematoendothelial Programs in Human Pluripotent Stem Cells by Transcriptional Regulators Reprogramming Human Endothelial Cells to Haematopoietic Cells Requires Vascular Induction Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. Daylon James Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: This episode presents Dr. Paul Tesar from Case Western Reserve University. Dr Tesar talks about his paper in Cell Stem Cell. Resources and Links Bone Marrow Transplant Could Reverse Sickle Cell In Adults Freezing Testicle Tissue in Mice Offers Fertility Hope for Cancer Survivors Alzheimer's Linked to Brain Hyperactivity Obesity Linked To Type 2 Diabetes by an Absent Protein New Diabetes Drug Could Retrain GI Cells To Produce Insulin By Switching Off One Gene Not All Stem Cells Created Equal STAP Retracted Supermassive Black Hole Obscures Heart of Galaxy with 'Rare and Powerful Stream of Gas' Virus Kills Triple Negative Breast Cancer Cells, Tumor Cells in Mice Torsina Hypofunction Causes Abnormal Twisting Movements and Sensorimotor Circuit Neurodegeneration Destroying Bacterial Cell Walls May End Antibiotic Resistance Forever If Blocked Endocannabinoids Trigger Dementia Symptoms, Could Cannabis Prevent Alzheimer’s? Minimal Toolkit for Stem Cell Self-Renewal Dinosaurs Were Mesothermic Beasts, Neither Warm-Blooded Nor Cold-Blooded Geron hESC Trial to Resume? Stem Cells Form Light-Sensitive 3-D Retinal Tissue Delivering Capsules of Stem Cells Helps Repair Injured Bones Study Identifies Link Between Gut Bacteria Post SCT Survival Stem Cells Slow Retinal Degeneration in Dry AMD Clinical Trial Sustained ERK Activation Underlies Reprogramming in Regeneration-Competent Salamander Cells and Distinguishes Them from Their Mammalian Counterparts Human ESC-Derived MSCs Outperform Bone Marrow MSCs in the Treatment of an EAE Model of Multiple Sclerosis An iCRISPR Platform for Rapid, Multiplexable, and Inducible Genome Editing in Human Pluripotent Stem Cells Epigenomic Comparison Reveals Activation of “Seed” Enhancers during Transition from Naive to Primed Pluripotency Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. Paul Tesar Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: This is a special episode consisting of over 75 minutes of live interviews. Last week The Stem Cell Podcast attended the International Society for Stem Cell Research meeting and pulled people aside to get their take on the meeting and stem cell research. We compiled all the interviews into one show for you to enjoy. Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: Dr. Dieter Egli from the New York Stem Cell Foundation joins the hosts to talk about his work in using SCNT to derive new embryonic stem cell lines. They discuss his previous and current work, including his latest story published in Nature. Resources and Links Sensing of Amino Acids in a Dopaminergic Circuitry Promotes Rejection of an Incomplete Diet in Drosophila Histone Modifications Are Associated with Delta(9)-Tetrahydrocannabinol-Mediated Alterations in Antigen-Specific T Cell Responses Compound in Saliva Helps Protect Our Cells from Toxins in Coffee, Tea, Study Shows A Molecular Basis for Classic Blond Hair Color in Europeans Engineering a Memory with LTD and LTP Green Tea Component Upsets Cancer Cell Metabolism Photoactivation of Endogenous Latent Transforming Growth Factor–β1 Directs Dental Stem Cell Differentiation for Regeneration Targeting CXCL12 From FAP-Expressing Carcinoma-Associated Fibroblasts Synergizes with Anti–PD-L1 Immunotherapy in Pancreatic Cancer Fighting Back: Patient's Own Immune Cells Tackle Cervical Cancer A Draft Map of the Human Proteome Abnormal Neuronal Differentiation and Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Hair Follicle-Derived Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells of Schizophrenia Patients Role of the Primate Ventral Tegmental Area in Reinforcement and Motivation Tai Chi Intervention Increases Progenitor CD34+ Cells in Young Adults Unconditional Quantum Teleportation between Distant Solid-State Quantum Bits Remission of Disseminated Cancer after Systemic Oncolytic Virotherapy Less Pain (Receptors) Means a Longer Life Mice with Mohawks Reveal Two Biological Pathways Linked with Autism Behaviors CC Sabathia Ready to Throw for First Time since Stem-Cell Treatment for Knee New Record Highs In Moral Acceptability - Premarital Sex, Embryonic Stem Cell Research, Euthanasia Growing in Acceptance The Broad Foundation Advances Stem Cell Research at USC Obokata Agrees to STAP Experiment Inside a Corrupt Stem Cell Research Lab EU Commission Rejects Petition to Stop Funding Embryonic Stem Cell Research Blonde Is Just a Matter of a Tiny Stem Cell Molecule Tweak, Says New Research Modulating Innate Immunity Improves Hepatitis C Virus Infection and Replication in Stem Cell-Derived Hepatocytes The Age and Genomic Integrity of Neurons after Cortical Stroke in Humans Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. Dieter Egli Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

The Stem Cell Podcast HostsDr. Fasano and Dr. Ganat On this episode we review the Next Gen Stem Cell Conference from earlier in the month.  During the conference we interviewed 5 stem cell scientists live and put them all together for this show.  In addition to these great guests, we review the literature as always. Topics include the biggest sperm ever, C-kit+ stem cells don't make heart, heart on a chip technology, a new element on the periodic table, and iPSCs from schizophrenia patients.  After that, we end with a rant about bathroom air fresheners! Resources, Links and Research Papers Mentioned In This Session Include: World's Oldest Sperm Discovered: 17-Million-Year-Old Cell Is Longer Than Its Creator Researchers Identify Link Between Colon Cancer And Metabolism In Vivo Modulation Of Hypoxia-Inducible Signaling By Topographical Helix Mimetics. Heart Cells Have 'Preteen' Growth Spurt An Antidepressant Decreases CSF Aβ Production in Healthy Individuals and in Transgenic AD Mice New Super-Heavy Element 117 Confirmed By Scientists Autism-Related Protein Shown to Play Vital Role in Addiction Chd5 Orchestrates Chromatin Remodelling During Sperm Development ‘Heart Disease-On-A-Chip’ Syphilis Made A Big Comeback In 2013, CDC Warns Life Extension Factor Klotho Enhances Cognition Meet HD 162826, The Sister Star Of Our Sun Novel Antioxidant Makes Old Arteries Seem Young Again, Study Shows Scripps Research Institute Scientists Create First Living Organism that Transmits Added Letters in DNA 'Alphabet' Model Universe Recreates Evolution Of The Cosmos Long-Snouted Tyrannosaur Unearthed Vampire's Delight? Young Blood Recharges Brains of Old Fate of iPSCs Derived from Azoospermic and Fertile Men following Xenotransplantation to Murine Seminiferous Tubules Hope For Aging Brains, Skeletal Muscle Stem Cell Therapy Saves Eyesight Of Fountain Valley Mother c-kit+ Cells Minimally Contribute Cardiomyocytes To The Heart Study Questions Use Of Stem Cells To Repair Heart Modeling The Mitochondrial Cardiomyopathy Of Barth Syndrome With Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell And Heart-On-Chip Technologies Phenotypic Differences In Hipsc Npcs Derived From Patients With Schizophrenia. Recombinase-Mediated Reprogramming and Dystrophin Gene Addition in mdx Mouse Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells U.S. Biomedical Research 'Unsustainable,' Prominent Researchers Warn Rescuing US Biomedical Research From Its Systemic Flaws We are working on a way to categorize all of the research papers we mention on the show and provide, possibly even provide audio summaries.  Enter in your name and e-mail address below, and we will notify you of when this feature is available. [widgets_on_pages id="Opt-In"] Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: Dr. Kevin Eggan from Harvard University joins the show to talk about his latest work using stem cells to cure ALS/Lou Gehrig’s disease. Resources and Links Fate of iPSCs Derived from Azoospermic and Fertile Men following Xenotransplantation to Murine Seminiferous Tubules Hope for Aging Brains, Skeletal Muscle Pain Curbs Sex Drive in Female Mice, but Not in Males New Virus Related To Smallpox Is Found in Republic Of Georgia Male Researchers Stress Out Rodents Scripps Florida Scientists Find Connection Between Gene Mutation, Key Symptoms of Autism Soy-Dairy Protein Blend and Whey Protein Ingestion After Resistance Exercise Increases Amino Acid Transport and Transporter Expression in Human Skeletal Muscle Push Comes to Shove: Gilead's $1,000 Pill Could Hurt Insurer Earnings Death Rates From Pancreatic Cancer Predicted to Rise in Europe in 2014 Human CLP1 Mutations Alter tRNA Biogenesis, Affecting Both Peripheral and Central Nervous System Function Y chromosome is Not Disappearing, Researchers Say Loss Of Memory Reversed in Alzheimer's Mice Models MRSA Spreads in Households REDD1 is Essential for Stress-Induced Synaptic Loss and Depressive Behavior Amyloid Precursor Protein Regulates Neurogenesis by Antagonizing Mir-574-5p in the Developing Cerebral Cortex Japanese Nobel Winner Latest to Apologize Over Stem-Cell Research RIKEN to Check 20,000 Papers for Doctored Images and Plagiarism Stem Cells and the "Staircase of Shame" Stem Cells May Be Key to Long Life: Research on Body of 115-Year-Old Woman How Silly Putty May Advance Stem Cell Research First Stem Cells Cloned From Diabetes Patient, Thanks to Egg Donors Human Oocytes Reprogram Adult Somatic Nuclei of a Type 1 Diabetic to Diploid Pluripotent Stem Cells Human Embryonic-Stem-Cell-Derived Cardiomyocytes Regenerate Non-Human Primate Hearts Infertility: Stem Cell-Based Sperm Created From Infertile Mens Skin Reprogramming Committed Murine Blood Cells to Induced Hematopoietic Stem Cells with Defined Factors A 3D Sphere Culture System Containing Functional Polymers for Large-Scale Human Pluripotent Stem Cell Production 3D In Vitro Model of a Functional Epidermal Permeability Barrier from Human Embryonic Stem Cells and Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. Kevin Eggan Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: In this episode we talk with the creator and host of The Naked Scientists; a website and podcast dedicated to all things science. We talk with Chris about his shows, and get his take on the stem cell field. Resources and Links House Windows That Double As Solar Panels? Shiny Quantum Dots Brighten Future of Solar Cells Is Parkinson's an Autoimmune Disease? KOI-3278: A Self-Lensing Binary Star System Scientists Spot a Planet That Looks Like 'Earth's Cousin' Female ‘Penis’ Found on Brazilian Cave Insects Oh Baby: Scientists Find Protein That Lets Egg and Sperm Hook Up Is 'Sluggish Cognitive Tempo' a New Disorder or an Extension of ADHD? Artificial Blood on an Industrial Scale Mapping Gene Expression in the Fetal Brain Gene Variant Puts Women at Higher Risk of Alzheimer’s Than It Does Men, Study Finds Traces of Trauma in Sperm RNA Lab-Grown Private Parts: Vagina Implants Cure Rare Disorder Gut-Eating Amoeba Caught on Film Gene Therapy Successfully Regenerates an Old Organ Inside a Living Animal Bees Exposed to Fungicide More Vulnerable to Nosema Parasite Obokata Mentor, Co-Author: STAP Cells Just A ‘Hypothesis’ In Stem-Cell Research, Health Benefits Outweigh the Risks Of Copying Humans Human Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer Using Adult Cells Conversion of Quiescent Niche Cells to Somatic Stem Cells Causes Ectopic Niche Formation in the Drosophila Testis Auxetic Nuclei in Embryonic Stem Cells Exiting Pluripotency Pathways Disrupted in Human ALS Motor Neurons Identified through Genetic Correction of Mutant SOD1  Multifaceted Regulation of Somatic Cell Reprogramming by mRNA Translational Control Two miRNA Clusters Reveal Alternative Paths in Late-Stage Reprogramming Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. Chris Smith - The Naked Scientists Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: In this episode we bring on Dr. Raja Kittappa, a stem cell scientist who has recently decided to leave science and run for congress. Resources and Links Brain Activation during Human Male Ejaculation Experimental Cancer Drug Reverses Schizophrenia in Adolescent Mice First Synthetic Yeast Chromosome Revealed Party Drug Ketamine Could Help People with Severe Depression Experimental Compound FRAX486 Reverses Signs of Fragile X In Mice Researchers Identify Good Bacteria That Protects against HIV MIT Researchers Develop Living Material Using E. coli Disorganized Cortical Patches Suggest Prenatal Origin of Autism Blood Test of 4 Biomarkers Predicts Death within 5 Years Gene Family Linked To Brain Evolution Implicated in Severity of Autism Symptoms HPV-Linked Throat Cancer May Have Telltale First Symptoms Mugshots Built from DNA Data Genetic Factor Contributes to Forgetfulness Study: Climate Change Accelerates Greenland Ice Loss Gene Editing of CCR5 in Autologous CD4 T Cells of Persons Infected with HIV Human Nose Can Detect More Than 1 Trillion Smells, Scientists Discover Scientists Find Gene Which Is Linked to Exceptionally Low IQ in Children Stem Cell Scientist Guilty of Falsifying Data Ancient Virus DNA Gives Stem Cells the Power to Transform Modeling ALS with iPSCs Reveals that Mutant SOD1 Misregulates Neurofilament Balance in Motor Neurons Intrinsic Membrane Hyperexcitability of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Patient-Derived Motor Neurons Telomerase Protects Werner Syndrome Lineage-Specific Stem Cells from Premature Aging Mouse SCNT ESCs Have Lower Somatic Mutation Load Than Syngeneic iPSCs Dynamics of HSPC Repopulation in Nonhuman Primates Revealed by a Decade-Long Clonal-Tracking Study Combined Hydrogels That Switch Human Pluripotent Stem Cells From Self-Renewal to Differentiation Mutations in USP9X Are Associated with X-Linked Intellectual Disability and Disrupt Neuronal Cell Migration and Growth Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. Raja Kittappa Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: In this episode, we bring on an internationally recognized stem cell and cancer researcher Dr. Leonard Zon from Harvard Medical School and Boston Children's Hosital. Dr. Zon talks to us about his work using zebrafish as a model to study cancer and melanoma and tells some really funny stories on his experiences with these fish. Resources and Links Trends In Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide In Mauna Loa, Hawaii Gel Protects Monkeys from H.I.V. after Sex, Study Finds Genetic Modification and Screening in Rat Using Haploid Embryonic Stem Cells Telescope Captures View of Gravitational Waves Structures of Cas9 Endonucleases Reveal RNA-Mediated Conformational Activation Environmental and State-Level Regulatory Factors Affect the Incidence of Autism and Intellectual Disability Respiratory Failure, Cleft Palate and Epilepsy in the Mouse Model of Human Xq22.1 Deletion Syndrome CDC Warns Untreatable Gonorrhea Could Spread Like Wildfire In Rare Case, Woman with H.I.V. Infects Female Sex Partner, C.D.C. Says Obesity-Associated Variants within FTO Form Long-Range Functional Connections with IRX3 Hydrous Mantle Transition Zone Indicated By Ringwoodite Included within Diamond Human C-Tactile Afferents Are Tuned to the Temperature of a Skin-Stroking Caress Shorter Telomeres with High Telomerase Activity are Associated with Raised Allostatic Load and Impoverished Psychosocial Resources Biomarkers Could Predict Alzheimer's Before It Starts Confusions About Totipotency: Stem Cells Are Not Embryos Mechanical Memory and Dosing Influence Stem Cell Fate Cell-Autonomous Correction of Ring Chromosomes in Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells C9orf72 Nucleotide Repeat Structures Initiate Molecular Cascades of Disease Haematopoietic Stem Cells Require a Highly Regulated Protein Synthesis Rate High-Efficiency Motor Neuron Differentiation from Human Pluripotent Stem Cells and the Function Ofislet-1 Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. Leonard Zon Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: Over the past few weeks some really exciting papers came out describing the reprogramming of one cell into another, a process called Direct Reprogramming.  On this episode we talk to Dr. Justin Ichida from the University of Southern California who uses the latest reprogramming techniques in his lab to study neural disease. His current research is focused on using patient-specific disease models to define the mechanisms that lead to neuronal loss in ALS and frontotemporal dementia. Resources and Links University of Southern California - The Ichida Lab – Board California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) Center for Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research Early Treatment Is Found to Clear H.I.V. in a Second Baby Why Can You Remember Your Dreams? Researchers Uncover Why Only Some People Can Recall Them in the Morning Acetaminophen In Pregnancy Linked to ADHD in Kids, Study Finds Study Uncovers New Pathway of Melanoma Metastasis New Research Finds Direct Connection Between Acupuncture and Processes That Alleviate Sepsis 'Largest Ever' Trial of Adult Stem Cells in Heart Attack Patients Begins This Company Wants to Make In Vitro Meat From Celebrities’ Stem Cells USPTO Issues Patent For Fraudulent Stem Cell Procedure Isolation Of Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Dopaminergic Progenitors By Cell Sorting For Successful Transplantation Coordination Of Engineered Factors With TET1/2 Promotes Early-Stage Epigenetic Modification during Somatic Cell Reprogramming Small Molecules Facilitate the Reprogramming of Mouse Fibroblasts into Pancreatic Lineages Direct Reprogramming of Human Fibroblasts to Functional and Expandable Hepatocytes Human Hepatocytes with Drug Metabolic Function Induced from Fibroblasts by Lineage Reprogramming Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. Justin Ichida Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: STAP stem cells were a new method of generating pluripotent stem cells published in a paper a few weeks ago.   When it came out, scientists scratched their heads and wondered whether or not this new method could actually work and be reproducible.  Well, while the jury is still out, it is not looking good and we bring on the show one of the most recognized voices of stem cell research, Dr. Paul Knoepfler to discuss the STAP stem cell theory.  In addition to running a laboratory, Dr. Knoepfler maintains an amazingly active stem cell blog breaking all the latest stem cell news, and educating the public about stem cells. Resources and Links Knoepfler Lab Stem Cell Blog Stem Cells: An Insiders Guide by Paul Knoepfler Expandable Megakaryocyte Cell Lines Enable Clinically Applicable Generation of Platelets from Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells The Endocannabinoid System Controls Food Intake via Olfactory Processes Astrocyte-Derived Endothelin-1 Inhibits Remyelination through Notch Activation Rejuvenation of the Muscle Stem Cell Population Restores Strength to Injured Aged Muscles Nanog-Independent Reprogramming to iPSCs with Canonical Factors Nanog Is Dispensable for the Generation of Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells In Vivo Direct Reprogramming of Reactive Glial Cells into Functional Neurons after Brain Injury and in an Alzheimer’s Disease Model NPTX1 Regulates Neural Lineage Specification from Human Pluripotent Stem Cells Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. Paul Knoepfler Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: In this episode, we interview another stem cell pioneer, Dr. Sean Morrison, who is internationally recognized for his work in understanding the mechanisms of stem cell regulatory mechanisms and how this is relevant in cancer. In the science roundup we cover zombie bees, stem cells for baldness, dipping cells in acid to make stem cells, and how to identify the difference between iPSCs and hESCs. Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. Chad Cowan Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: Dr. Mark Tomishima, director of the SKI Stem Cell Research Facility located in New York City joins us for this episode. Dr. Tomishima tells us about what his and other core facilities do for stem cell researchers locally and abroad, as well as various projects his group is working on. We then go through the science roundup discussing everything from a new herpes drug, to heart cell propelled sperm looking bio-bots, to stem cell-derived 3D kidneys. Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. Mark Tomishima Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: In this episode, we bring on a true pioneer in the stem cell field, Dr. Sally Temple, scientific director of the Neural Stem Cell Institute. Dr. Temple discovered that stem-like cells exist in the adult brain in the late 80s and has since gone on to characterize these cells extensively. Her group has recently discovered a novel stem cell in the eye that they plan to use as a new therapy for macular degeneration, the leading cause of blindness. In the science roundup we talk about everything from caffeine boosting memory, to the possibility of the Y chromosome disappearing. Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. Sally Temple Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Happy new year Stem Cell Podcast listeners, we are back to start off with an episode that looks backs at a year of science in 2013 and gives you our top 10 studies from both the stem cell world and science as a whole. We discuss a variety of topics from human cloning to going interstellar. It's been a great year for science despite threats to funding. Let's make sure science funding increases in 2014. Enjoy! Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: Justine Miller, a PhD candidate from Lorenz Studer's lab at Memorial Sloan Kettering, joins us to discuss her recent paper in Cell Stem Cell showing how to age stem cell-derived neurons in the culture dish. In our science round up, we discuss everything from the ground state in stem cells to male birth control. We then dive into other stem cell topics including reprogramming via protein transduction and CRISPR-mediated gene repair. Photo Reference: Courtesy of Justine Miller, PhD candidate Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

We are back with a stem cell "quickie" for the holidays. In our science round up we talk mummified ribs, fear of snakes, and genes associated with an increased risk of Alzheimer's disease. We then discuss the latest stem cell news, papers, and a conference recently held in Los Angeles. Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: We interview Dr. Asif Maroof, a post-doctoral fellow in the lab of Dr. Kevin Eggan at the Harvard Stem Cell Institute to talk about his latest paper in Nature Neuroscience describing a gene implicated in ALS a.k.a Lou Gehrig's disease. Our science roundup includes new Alzheimer's targets, bitter tasting genes, polio, and bacteria-fighting zinc. Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. Asif Maroof Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

In this episode we do things a little different. Since we both work on Parkinson's disease we will not be featuring a guest. Instead, we will talk about the etiology of the disease and cover various forms of therapy - with an emphasis on stem cells. Our science roundup includes: CO2 levels, "Project Einstein", paper retraction rates, SARS, and plexins. Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: In this episode, we welcome Dr. Carl P. Wonders, the scientific affairs manager for the International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR). We discuss the annual meeting, science outreach, and long-term goals for the society. Our science round-up segment includes: RNAi pesticides, atomic clocks, corked wine and TCA, and review of an open-access journal investigation. Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. Carl Wonders Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: In this episode, we interview stem cell biologist Dr. Daylon James to discuss the field of blood stem cells; different strategies and clinical implications. Our science round up this week includes the CTE issue in the NFL, Nobel laureates, and gut bacteria. Photo Reference: Courtesy of New York Social Diary Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: In this episode we welcome Dr. Jacob Hanna from Weizmann Institute of Science. Dr. Hanna’s group recently published in Nature describing a method for 100% reprogramming efficiency. We also do our usual Stem Cell Podcast roundup, which includes anti-acne bacteria, Eric Kandel’s RB-AB 48 Alzheimer’s target and others. Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. Jacob Hanna Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

In this episode we start off with a quick general science news roundup before discussing two new papers in stem cell research. Both papers appeared in the journal Nature. The first describes a novel method of reprogramming somatic cells into induced pluripotent stem cells in vivo, and other describes a method to make a mini cerebral cortex from human embryonic stem cells. The senior author on the latter study, Dr. Juergen Knoblich, joins us to discuss this paper and its implications.

Welcome to the stem cell podcast hosted by Dr.'s Christopher Fasano and Yosif Ganat. Here we will give a brief introduction to the biology of stem cells and the future direction of this podcast. Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe