-
Black church needs to accept gay marriage
Posted on May 17th, 2012 No commentsNow that President Obama has announced his support for gay marriage, youre continuing to move in the wrong direction. Like many of your white evangelical counterparts, many of you have become obsessed with promoting bigotry, hatred and intolerance instead of love, justice and healing on the issue of same-sex marriage.
Yes, I know, youre just following the Bible. Right. Well, last I checked, the Bible has much more to say about protecting the vulnerable and loving our neighbors than it does about homosexuality. Even the parts that mention homosexuality are debatable.
But its dishonest to pretend that your stance is borne out of a commitment to following the Bible literally. After all, if you were truly obsessed with interpreting the Bible word for word, youd be forced to abandon many of your favorite foods, condemn disrespectful children to death, and, oh, yeah, wed still be slaves! Yep, those same Scriptures that you cite to promote homophobia were used to justify the enslavement of black people. Somehow you reject those and embrace anti-gay Scriptures. You cant be fundamentalists when its convenient.
But your dishonesty and hypocrisy isnt just intellectual. At the same time that you rail against homosexuality, many of you are gay. One of the worst-kept secrets in the black church is that many of the biggest opponents of same-sex bonds are themselves engaged in them. People like Eddie Long, who has led marches against homosexuality, are found struggling with the very issues they self-righteously condemn.
See original here:
Black church needs to accept gay marriage -
Stem cell debate could flare in Neb. regents race
Posted on May 17th, 2012 No commentsA long-standing dispute over embryonic stem cell research is likely to resurface during the general election race for candidates of the University of Nebraska Board of Regents.
Regent hopefuls in at least one district differ on the use of research, which has divided the board in past years and caught the attention of an influential Nebraska anti-abortion group.
The primary vote will eliminate candidates from three of four seats that are up for re-election. The nonpartisan, unpaid board has eight members plus one nonvoting student regent for each of the four University of Nebraska campuses. The top two vote-getters in the primary advance to the November general election, where they will compete for a six-year term in office.
The Board of Regents voted 4-4 in 2008 on a proposition to limit the stem cell research at the university to types allowed under President George W. Bush. The board needed a majority of its eight members to approve the measure, and many backers thought they had the necessary votes.
Outgoing state Sen. Lavon Heidemann, a Republican primary winner vying for a seat on the board, said he expected embryonic stem cell research to surface as an issue in the general election. Heidemann’s general election opponent, Mike Jones, has said he supports embryonic stem cell research.
Both candidates are seeking to replace Regent Jim McClurg of Lincoln, who did not seek re-election after his vote to allow expanded stem cell research.
“It’s not the only issue but is important,” Heidemann said, pointing to his endorsement by the group Nebraska Right to Life. “I think that’s going to pop up throughout the campaign.”
The primary winners of another district _ Norfolk attorney David Copple and Columbus veterinarian Jim Pillen _ have both voiced opposition to stem cell research. One of the two will replace Regent Chuck Hassebrook, who has voted to allow the expanded research.
About $88 million in federal funding went to embryonic stem cell research in 2008, according to the National Institutes of Health, but the University of Nebraska saw none of that funding at the time because of tight federal guidelines. When the guidelines were lifted, university scholars applied for millions of dollars in research grants.
The race for the University of Nebraska Board of Regents attracted a number of well-known politicians and business executives for Tuesday’s primary who have promised to keep college affordable and use the university as an engine for economic growth.
Read the original here:
Stem cell debate could flare in Neb. regents race -
Gene therapy extends mouse lifespan by 24 pc
Posted on May 15th, 2012 No commentsWashington, May 15 (ANI): Scientists have successfully extended the lifespan of mice using gene therapy, a strategy never before employed to combat ageing.
Go here to see the original:
Gene therapy extends mouse lifespan by 24 pc -
Human embryonic stem cells can be used to grow bone tissue grafts
Posted on May 15th, 2012 No commentsPublished on May 15, 2012 at 5:02 AM
Dr. Darja Marolt, an Investigator at The New York Stem Cell Foundation (NYSCF) Laboratory, is lead author on a study showing that human embryonic stem cells can be used to grow bone tissue grafts for use in research and potential therapeutic application. Dr. Marolt conducted this research as a post-doctoral NYSCF – Druckenmiller Fellow at Columbia University in the laboratory of Dr. Gordana Vunjak-Novakovic.
The study is the first example of using bone cell progenitors derived from human embryonic stem cells to grow compact bone tissue in quantities large enough to repair centimeter-sized defects. When implanted in mice and studied over time, the implanted bone tissue supported blood vessel ingrowth, and continued development of normal bone structure, without demonstrating any incidence of tumor growth.
Dr. Marolt’s work is a significant step forward in using pluripotent stem cells to repair and replace bone tissue in patients. Bone replacement therapies are relevant in treating patients with a variety of conditions, including wounded military personnel, patients with birth defects, or patients who have suffered other traumatic injury.
Since conducting this work as proof of principle at Columbia University, Dr. Marolt has continued to build upon this research as an Investigator in the NYSCF Laboratory, developing bone grafts from induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells. iPS cells are similar to embryonic stem cells in that they can also give rise to nearly any type of cell in the body, but iPS cells are produced from adult cells and as such are individualized to each patient. By using iPS cells rather than embryonic stem cells to engineer tissue, Dr. Marolt hopes to develop personalized bone grafts that will avoid immune rejection and other implant complications.
The New York Stem Cell Foundation has supported Dr. Marolt’s research throughout her career, first through a NYSCF – Druckenmiller Fellowship to fund her post-doctoral work at Columbia University, and now with a NYSCF – Helmsley Investigator Award at The New York Stem Cell Foundation Laboratory. “The continuity of funding provided by NYSCF has allowed me to continue my research uninterrupted, making progress more quickly than would have otherwise been possible,” Dr. Marolt said.
Source: New York Stem Cell Foundation
Read this article:
Human embryonic stem cells can be used to grow bone tissue grafts -
Fibrocell Science, Inc. and Top University Investigators Form Scientific Initiative to Assist in Securing Grant …
Posted on May 15th, 2012 No commentsEXTON, Pa.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–
Fibrocell Science, Inc. (OTCBB:FCSC.OB) announced today the formation of the Clinical Investigations for Dermal Mesenchymally-Obtained Derivatives (CIDMOD) Initiative (www.CIDMOD.org) in collaboration with researchers from a number of different universities across the U.S. The CIDMOD Initiative will facilitate the collaboration of scientists, clinical researchers and private entities, including Fibrocell, to secure funding that will advance clinical research programs that may one day lead to new personalized cell therapies or diagnostic tools for a variety of diseases and conditions. The group will also submit grant requests to the California Institute of Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) and seek additional funding for the development of clinical research programs that use Fibrocells deep knowledge and expertise in cell isolation, purification and expansion via use of its proprietary technology.
Fibrocell Science is excited to support the CIDMOD Initiative. We believe the future work conducted by the Initiatives members will positively impact Fibrocells overall stem cell research strategy and significantly impact the future of personalized medicine, said David Pernock, Chairman and CEO of Fibrocell Science, Inc.
Co-directors of the CIDMOD Initiative include:
About Fibrocell Science Technology
Fibrocell Science has developed an innovative technology to isolate, purify and multiply a patients own fibroblast cells (a type of skin cell that makes collagen) for injection. Initially, this patented, proprietary technology was applied for use via the companys first product on the market, LAVIV (azficel T). The technology is also being used to study the composition of skin tissue samples to identify, isolate, purify and multiply specialized dermal cell types, such as mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and SSEA3-expressing regeneration-associated (SERA) cells. SERA cells may play a role in the regeneration of human skin in response to injury, and MSCs are being investigated for their ability to differentiate into cells that can form bone, cartilage and fat. Finding these specialized cells within skin cell cultures is important because rather than undergoing a surgical organ or tissue transplantation to replace diseased or destroyed tissue, patients may one day be able to benefit from procedures by which stem cells are extracted from their skin, differentiated into specific cell types, and re-implanted into their bodies to exert a therapeutic effect.
About Fibrocell Science, Inc.
Fibrocell Science, Inc. (OTCBB:FCSC.OB) is an autologous cellular therapeutic company focused on the development of innovative products for aesthetic, medical and scientific applications. Fibrocell Science is committed to advancing the scientific, medical and commercial potential of autologous skin and tissue, as well as its innovative cellular processing technology and manufacturing excellence. For additional information, please visit www.fibrocellscience.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
All statements in this press release that are not based on historical fact are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and the provisions of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements include, without limitation, whether the Initiative will be successful in securing funding, and whether future work conducted by the Initiatives members will positively impact Fibrocells overall stem cell research strategy and significantly impact the future of personalized medicine. While management has based any forward-looking statements contained herein on its current expectations, the information on which such expectations were based may change. These forward-looking statements rely on a number of assumptions concerning future events and are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are outside of the Company’s control, that could cause actual results to materially differ from such statements. Such risks, uncertainties, and other factors include, but are not necessarily limited to, those set forth under Item 1A “Risk Factors” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011, as updated in “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in the Company’s Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q filed since the annual report. The Company operates in a highly competitive and rapidly changing environment, thus new or unforeseen risks may arise. Accordingly, investors should not place any reliance on forward-looking statements as a prediction of actual results. The Company disclaims any intention to, and undertakes no obligation to, update or revise any forward-looking statements. Readers are also urged to carefully review and consider the other various disclosures in the Company’s public filings with the SEC.
The rest is here:
Fibrocell Science, Inc. and Top University Investigators Form Scientific Initiative to Assist in Securing Grant … -
'Still Revolutionary': $27 Million State Tourism Campaign Announced
Posted on May 15th, 2012 No commentsThe new tourism slogan “Connecticut: Still Revolutionary” could boost history-related attractions, but it’s also meant to remind residents and visitors that the state is a leader in the arts, science and engineering, and civil rights.
“It’s not just about tourism, it’s about getting our step back,” said Gov. Dannel P. Malloy, who announced the slogan and a $27 million, two-year campaign at a packed press conference Monday at Hartford’s Old State House which was, of course, the state Capitol not long after the American Revolution.
“We have ceded history to Boston and Virginia,” Malloy said. “We have an equal claim to that.”
Connecticut’s place as one of the original 13 colonies and its leading role in the country’s industrial revolution are known to most people with an interest in history, but Malloy reminded listeners of other ways in which Connecticut has led:
Hartford’s Wadsworth Atheneum was the first museum to host an exhibit of Modern Art.
The state was the first to invest in stem-cell research.
This year’s Pulitzer-prize winning play was commissioned by Hartford Stage and premiered there.
Igor Sikorsky invented the helicopter here and the company remains a major innovator here.
A lawsuit filed in Connecticut when a young married woman was denied access to the birth control pill resulted in a Supreme Court ruling Griswold v. Connecticut that made contraception widely accessible.
“The sexual revolution was fought and won here in Connecticut,” Malloy said.
Go here to read the rest:
'Still Revolutionary': $27 Million State Tourism Campaign Announced -
'Still Revolutionary': $27 Million State Tourism Campaign Launched
Posted on May 15th, 2012 No commentsThe new tourism slogan “Connecticut: Still Revolutionary” could boost history-related attractions, but it’s also meant to remind residents and visitors that the state is a leader in the arts, science and engineering, and civil rights.
“It’s not just about tourism, it’s about getting our step back,” said Gov. Dannel P. Malloy, who announced the slogan and a $27 million, two-year campaign at a packed press conference Monday at Hartford’s Old State House which was, of course, the state Capitol not long after the American Revolution.
“We have ceded history to Boston and Virginia,” Malloy said. “We have an equal claim to that.”
Connecticut’s place as one of the original 13 colonies and its leading role in the country’s industrial revolution are known to most people with an interest in history, but Malloy reminded listeners of other ways in which Connecticut has led:
Hartford’s Wadsworth Atheneum was the first museum to host an exhibit of Modern Art.
The state was the first to invest in stem-cell research.
This year’s Pulitzer-prize winning play was commissioned by Hartford Stage and premiered there.
Igor Sikorsky invented the helicopter here and the company remains a major innovator here.
A lawsuit filed in Connecticut when a young married woman was denied access to the birth control pill resulted in a Supreme Court ruling Griswold v. Connecticut that made contraception widely accessible.
“The sexual revolution was fought and won here in Connecticut,” Malloy said.
See the original post:
'Still Revolutionary': $27 Million State Tourism Campaign Launched -
First gene therapy successful against aging-associated decline: Mouse lifespan extended up to 24% with a single …
Posted on May 15th, 2012 No commentsScienceDaily (May 14, 2012) A new study consisting of inducing cells to express telomerase, the enzyme which — metaphorically — slows down the biological clock — was successful. The research provides a “proof-of-principle” that this “feasible and safe” approach can effectively “improve health span.”
A number of studies have shown that it is possible to lengthen the average life of individuals of many species, including mammals, by acting on specific genes. To date, however, this has meant altering the animals’ genes permanently from the embryonic stage — an approach impracticable in humans. Researchers at the Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO), led by its director Maria Blasco, have demonstrated that the mouse lifespan can be extended by the application in adult life of a single treatment acting directly on the animal’s genes. And they have done so using gene therapy, a strategy never before employed to combat aging. The therapy has been found to be safe and effective in mice.
The results were recently published in the journal EMBO Molecular Medicine. The CNIO team, in collaboration with Eduard Ayuso and Fatima Bosch of the Centre of Animal Biotechnology and Gene Therapy at the Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona (UAB), treated adult (one-year-old) and aged (two-year-old) mice, with the gene therapy delivering a “rejuvenating” effect in both cases, according to the authors.
Mice treated at the age of one lived longer by 24% on average, and those treated at the age of two, by 13%. The therapy, furthermore, produced an appreciable improvement in the animals’ health, delaying the onset of age-related diseases — like osteoporosis and insulin resistance — and achieving improved readings on aging indicators like neuromuscular coordination.
The gene therapy consisted of treating the animals with a DNA-modified virus, the viral genes having been replaced by those of the telomerase enzyme, with a key role in aging. Telomerase repairs the extreme ends or tips of chromosomes, known as telomeres, and in doing so slows the cell’s and therefore the body’s biological clock. When the animal is infected, the virus acts as a vehicle depositing the telomerase gene in the cells.
This study “shows that it is possible to develop a telomerase-based anti-aging gene therapy without increasing the incidence of cancer,” the authors affirm. “Aged organisms accumulate damage in their DNA due to telomere shortening, [this study] finds that a gene therapy based on telomerase production can repair or delay this kind of damage,” they add.
‘Resetting’ the biological clock
Telomeres are the caps that protect the end of chromosomes, but they cannot do so indefinitely: each time the cell divides the telomeres get shorter, until they are so short that they lose all functionality. The cell, as a result, stops dividing and ages or dies. Telomerase gets around this by preventing telomeres from shortening or even rebuilding them. What it does, in essence, is stop or reset the cell’s biological clock.
But in most cells the telomerase gene is only active before birth; the cells of an adult organism, with few exceptions, have no telomerase. The exceptions in question are adult stem cells and cancer cells, which divide limitlessly and are therefore immortal — in fact several studies have shown that telomerase expression is the key to the immortality of tumour cells.
It is precisely this risk of promoting tumour development that has set back the investigation of telomerase-based anti-aging therapies.
-
New York Stem Cell Foundation scientist grows bone from human embryonic stem cells
Posted on May 15th, 2012 No commentsPublic release date: 14-May-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]
Contact: David McKeon dmckeon@nyscf.org 212-365-7440 New York Stem Cell Foundation
NEW YORK, NY (May 14, 2012) — Dr. Darja Marolt, an Investigator at The New York Stem Cell Foundation (NYSCF) Laboratory, is lead author on a study showing that human embryonic stem cells can be used to grow bone tissue grafts for use in research and potential therapeutic application. Dr. Marolt conducted this research as a post-doctoral NYSCF Druckenmiller Fellow at Columbia University in the laboratory of Dr. Gordana Vunjak-Novakovic.
The study is the first example of using bone cell progenitors derived from human embryonic stem cells to grow compact bone tissue in quantities large enough to repair centimeter-sized defects. When implanted in mice and studied over time, the implanted bone tissue supported blood vessel ingrowth, and continued development of normal bone structure, without demonstrating any incidence of tumor growth.
Dr. Marolt’s work is a significant step forward in using pluripotent stem cells to repair and replace bone tissue in patients. Bone replacement therapies are relevant in treating patients with a variety of conditions, including wounded military personnel, patients with birth defects, or patients who have suffered other traumatic injury.
Since conducting this work as proof of principle at Columbia University, Dr. Marolt has continued to build upon this research as an Investigator in the NYSCF Laboratory, developing bone grafts from induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells. iPS cells are similar to embryonic stem cells in that they can also give rise to nearly any type of cell in the body, but iPS cells are produced from adult cells and as such are individualized to each patient. By using iPS cells rather than embryonic stem cells to engineer tissue, Dr. Marolt hopes to develop personalized bone grafts that will avoid immune rejection and other implant complications.
###
The New York Stem Cell Foundation has supported Dr. Marolt’s research throughout her career, first through a NYSCF Druckenmiller Fellowship to fund her post-doctoral work at Columbia University, and now with a NYSCF Helmsley Investigator Award at The New York Stem Cell Foundation Laboratory. “The continuity of funding provided by NYSCF has allowed me to continue my research uninterrupted, making progress more quickly than would have otherwise been possible,” Dr. Marolt said.
The New York Stem Cell Foundation (NYSCF) conducts cutting-edge translational stem cell research in its laboratory in New York City and supports research by stem cell scientists at other leading institutions around the world. More information is available at www.nyscf.org.
See the rest here:
New York Stem Cell Foundation scientist grows bone from human embryonic stem cells -
Bone grown from human embryonic stem cells
Posted on May 15th, 2012 No commentsScienceDaily (May 14, 2012) Dr. Darja Marolt, an Investigator at The New York Stem Cell Foundation (NYSCF) Laboratory, is lead author on a study showing that human embryonic stem cells can be used to grow bone tissue grafts for use in research and potential therapeutic application. Dr. Marolt conducted this research as a post-doctoral NYSCF — Druckenmiller Fellow at Columbia University in the laboratory of Dr. Gordana Vunjak- Novakovic.
The study, published in the early online edition of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences during the week of May 14th, is the first example of using bone cell progenitors derived from human embryonic stem cells to grow compact bone tissue in quantities large enough to repair centimeter-sized defects. When implanted in mice and studied over time, the implanted bone tissue supported blood vessel ingrowth, and continued development of normal bone structure, without demonstrating any incidence of tumor growth.
Dr. Marolt’s work is a significant step forward in using pluripotent stem cells to repair and replace bone tissue in patients. Bone replacement therapies are relevant in treating patients with a variety of conditions, including wounded military personnel, patients with birth defects, or patients who have suffered other traumatic injury.
Since conducting this work as proof of principle at Columbia University, Dr. Marolt has continued to build upon this research as an Investigator in the NYSCF Laboratory, developing bone grafts from induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells. iPS cells are similar to embryonic stem cells in that they can also give rise to nearly any type of cell in the body, but iPS cells are produced from adult cells and as such are individualized to each patient. By using iPS cells rather than embryonic stem cells to engineer tissue, Dr. Marolt hopes to develop personalized bone grafts that will avoid immune rejection and other implant complications.
The New York Stem Cell Foundation has supported Dr. Marolt’s research throughout her career, first through a NYSCF — Druckenmiller Fellowship to fund her post-doctoral work at Columbia University, and now with a NYSCF — Helmsley Investigator Award at The New
York Stem Cell Foundation Laboratory. “The continuity of funding provided by NYSCF has allowed me to continue my research uninterrupted, making progress more quickly than would have otherwise been possible,” Dr. Marolt said.
Share this story on Facebook, Twitter, and Google:
Other social bookmarking and sharing tools:
Story Source:
The above story is reprinted from materials provided by New York Stem Cell Foundation.
View original post here:
Bone grown from human embryonic stem cells