Celgene Derives Stem Cells from the Placenta (EP9) ()

Celgene Cellular Therapeutics CEO Bob Hariri presents the company's placental derived adherent cells (PDAC). These are stem cells derived from the placenta. The placenta is nature's perfect allograft, as Bob points out. Placental cells have indeed been found to regulate the immune system. That is why Celgene's PDACs are being administered to shut down auto-reactive destructions of the body. Celgene Cellular Therapeutics' (CCT) principal clinical program is in Crohn's Disease. Additionally CCT's cells might be useful in other auto-immune diseases (such as Multiple Sclerosis), CNS, Diabetes, Cardiac, Oncology, Orthopeics, or Wound Healing. The immune advantage that the placenta means there is no need to match donor to recepient, allowing a true allogeneic / pharma business model. Bob Hariri's long term strategy is to apply the understanding of the fundamental biology to specific diseases, and develop cells a regenerative product, with an extremely rigorous manufacturing program.

Fate Therapeutics Modulates Cell Fate (EP9) ()

Fate Therapeutic's CEO Paul Grayson presents the company's modulation of endogenous stem cells (stem cell fate). Fate can induce proliferation, differentiation, or modification of the function of a cell. Fate is using iPSCs to recapitulate a cell type in discovery, and see how to modulate that stem cell as a therapy for particular diseases. Fate's products are currently in the clinic treating hematological disorders (such as leukemia, lymphoma) with Hematopoietic Stem Cells (HSC) from cord blood. Fate's unique position in stem cell modulation and with iPSCs give it an IP and a competitive advantage. Financially, the company is sound, and backed by top tier VC including Arch Ventures, Venrock, and Polaris.

Stem Cell Review: Stem Cells & Diabetes (EP8) ()

Alan Lewis of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation distinguishes type 1 and type 2 diabetes, and continues to explain how stem cells are being used today to develop new treatments for type 1 diabetes (a.k.a. juvenile diabetes). Human embryonic stem cells (hESC) are being differentiated to the beta (insulin producing) cells that type 1 diabetics lack, and are being transplanted , in animal models. Since type 1 diabetes is an auto-immune disease, the transplanted cells must be protect from destruction by the immune system. Currently, researchers are working towards that goal with encapsulating technologies and a "gentle" immuno-modulation. In order to treat a diabetic patient, access to an unlimited number of cells is necessary. Alan compares embryonic stem cells, adult stem cells, and iPS as source of cells. And finally, in a future outlook, Alan comments on the FDA's concern for safety, the risk of creating a tumor, artificial pancreas (as an alternative approach), and cell therapy's potential to CURE diseases.

Stem Cell Review: Neural Stem Cells and CNS Disorder (EP7) (12:47)

What is a neural stem cell? How can they help treat neurological disorders such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, spinal cord injury, stroke, ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease)? Evan Snyder of the Burnham Institute helps define neural stem cells (NSC), explaining that they are relatively inaccessible in the adult patient, but that they seem to benefit from some immunotolerance. It follows that we may be able to use readily available lines of embryonic stem cells for therapy in neurodegenerative disease. Evan reviews current clinical applications for neural stem cells (including as a vehicle for small molecule delivery), and gives his future outlook for neural stem cells. Evan forsees NSCs being used in anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective functions, to deliver tumor killing genes, and to build iPS drug discovery models.

Stem Cell Review: Mesenchymal Stem Cells and Connective Disorders (EP6) (9:32)

Gordana Vunjak-Novakovic of Columbia University gives us an explanation of what mesenchymal stem cells are; adult stem cells that are present in many organs and tissues, and that drive tissue repair. The main sources of mesenchymal stem cells are bone marrow and fat (adipose tissue), although they can be found lesser quantities in muscle, blood, heart, liver, and other tissues. Mesenchymal stem cells can be used to regenerate many different types of tissue, but the most promising clinical applications are in bone, cartilage, ligaments, muscle, neural cells, and striated muscles. Mesenchymal stem cells are thought to repair the heart muscles through revascularization and recruitment of repair cells, but the data does not yet show that they can convert into heart muscle. In a future outlook, Gordana shares with us what she thinks is in the near future of mesenchymal stem cells: well defined cells that can be differentiated predictably, understanding the importance of cell origin on clinical outcome, new FDA friendly delivery routes, more effective functional markers and monitoring, and increasing interdisciplinary collaboration.

Stem Cell Review: Looking Forward to 2015 (16:23)

How will stem cells change the way we think about treating diseases? Here is the 5 year forward look at the world of Stem Cells, from some of the greatest experts in the field.

What are the diseases we'll be treating, and the tools we'll be using in 2015? Where will we be in terms of clinical trials? What are the dangers in the stem cell hype, and medical tourism? How will stem cells pave the way for personalized medicine, and more rational treatments? How important will stem cells become in the drug discovery process? Discussed in the episode are the eye (macular degeneration), the skin, diabetes (type 1 & 2), blood and autoimmune diseases, glioblastoma, HIV, and more.

Stem Cell Review: Tools for Drug Screening (EP4) (16:13)

Researchers are using stem cells as tools for disease study, drug screening, clinical trial strategy, and personalized medicine. The induced Pluripotent Stem cell (iPS) is giving us a chance to rethink the way we are developing new drugs. These iPS cells are usually created from somatic cells (such as skin), and not embryos or adult stem cells. In creating iPS from patients' diseased cells, scientists can study the disease in vitro, looking for disease phenotypes, applying microenvironmental stress, and testing new drugs. Compared to animal model testing (e.g. mice), this represents a significant breakthrough, that can be used to validate clinical development strategy and test efficacy in specific groups of patients. iPS is bringing a revolution in drug discovery methodology which is being used to bridge genetics, cell biology, and physiology.

Stem Cell Review: Biological Processes & Industrial Production (EP3) (22:49)

What are the biological processes that stem cells go through? What are the industrial processes we need to manufacturing? What do we know about cancer stem cells? How do iPS cells fit into the picture vs. embryonic stem cells? In this episode we investigate how the science and research of stem cells is being translated into industrial cell processes to create FDA approvable, and commercializable products. Differentiation, proliferation, migration, retro-differentiation, trans-differentiation, transformation into cancer cells, the role of tumors' micro environments and epigenetics and all reviewed here by the field's foremost experts.

Stem Cell Review: Allogeneic or Autologous? (EP2) (24:56)

Reviewing the technology, business models, intellectual property, regulatory concerns, transplantation and immune rejection. This is the 2nd episode of the Stem Cell Review.

Stem Cell Review: Stem Cells at a Glance (EP1) (18:37)

What are the different types of stem cells? Potential medical applications? Different business models? Ethical and political constraints? This 1st episode of the Stem Cell Review is a good introductory overview of stem cells.