The Stem Cell Podcast

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