On 09/21/2011, by BioEDEN
On September 8, BioEDEN Mexico held a gala dinner at the official residence of Judith Macgregor, Her Majesty’s British Ambassador. Guests included leading members of the health sector and prestigious dentists in Mexico, business leaders, politicians and researchers.
During his recent visit to the newly announced Enterprise Zone at the Daresbury Science and Innovation Campus, the Prime Minister took time out to meet with BioEDEN.
BioEDEN, the world’s first dental stem cell bank, with facilities in Daresbury and Austin,Texas, was one of five companies invited to discuss their technology and business with David Cameron.
British Prime Minister visits BioEDEN
The Prime Minister showed a great deal of interest in the BioEDEN service and asked Lorna Green, CEO “Why doesn’t everyone do this?” He also asked questions about our unique process and how storing cells now might help in the future.
Stem cells are a class of undifferentiated cells that are able to differentiate into specialized cell types. Commonly, stem cells come from two main sources: 1. Embryos formed during the blastocyst phase of embryological development (embryonic stem cells) and 2. Adult tissue (adult stem cells). Both types are generally characterized by their potency, or potential to differentiate into different cell types (such as skin, muscle, bone, etc).
The Department of Health has warned that “rogue clinics” are offering risky stem cell treatment. This follows a warning by the Multiple Sclerosis society that despite there being no scientific evidence for using stem cells to treat MS, a company in the Seychelles is approaching MS patients to sell them treatment. In addition, newspapers have reported that the International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) has stated that stem cell clinics around the world are exploiting patients by offering, “supposed stem cell therapies without credible scientific rationale, oversight or other patient protections”. The society has published guidelines in an attempt to establish standards that can be used to judge the claims made by clinics and whether the treatments they offer are being developed responsibly.
A new study has found that dental stem cells could offer a possible treatment for type 1 diabetes, it has emerged. It is hoped that the research, which revealed that transforming stem cells from teeth into cells that produce insulin, could provide a potential cure for the disease.
People who suffer from type 1 diabetes have pancreases that make little or no insulin, which means they cannot regulate their blood sugar levels without the use of insulin injections.
The scientists, whose work was published in the Journal of Dental Research, showed that dental stem cells could be used to generate cells that produce insulin when are exposed to more glucose.
The University of Michigan is a long-time leader in the study of adult stem cells. But until Michigan voters approved a state constitutional amendment in November 2008, restrictive state laws severely limited the types of embryonic stem cell research allowed in the state. In response to the passage of Proposal 2 in November 2008, U-M is bolstering its embryonic stem cell research effort. New research initiatives and collaborations are in the works, new faculty members are being hired, and the university is now positioned to compete for any new federal funds that become available for embryonic stem cell research.
This primer on stem cells is intended for anyone who wishes to learn more about the biological properties of stem cells, the important questions about stem cells that are the focus of scientific research, and the potential use of stem cells in research and in treating disease. The primer includes information about stem cells derived from embryonic and non-embryonic tissues. Much of the information included here is about stem cells derived from human tissues, but some studies of animal-derived stem cells are also described. The NIH developed this primer to help readers understand the answers to questions such as: What are stem cells? What are the different types of stem cells, and where do they come from? What is the potential for new medical treatments using stem cells? What research is needed to make such treatments a reality?
The First International Conference on Dental and Craniofacial Stem Cells will take place April 27-29, 2011, at the New York Academy of Sciences in New York City. The conference will be an assembly many of the world’s most prominent scientists in the field of dental and craniofacial stem cells, as well as the emerging field of regenerative dental medicine.
More than 300 participants from scientific research, industry, and government agencies such as NIH and FDA will assemble to encourage cross-disciplinary alliance and foster a collegial atmosphere to catalyze the advancement of dental and craniofacial stem cell research. The conference will be led by Dr. Jeremy Mao of Columbia University, Dr. Darwin Prockop of Texas A&M Medical Center, and Drs. Pamela Robey and Nadya Lumelsky of the NIH.
Enroll online now or call(888)315-3843
