From Scorpion to Immunotherapy: City of Hope Scientists Repurpose Nature’s Toxin for First-of-Its Kind CAR T Cell Therapy to Treat Brain Tumors -…

DUARTE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--City of Hope scientists have developed and tested the first chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy using chlorotoxin (CLTX), a component of scorpion venom, to direct T cells to target brain tumor cells, according to a preclinical study published today in Science Translational Medicine. The institution has also opened the first in-human clinical trial to use the therapy.

CARs commonly incorporate a monoclonal antibody sequence in their targeting domain, enabling CAR T cells to recognize antigens and kill tumor cells. In contrast, the CLTX-CAR uses a 36-amino acid peptide sequence first isolated from death stalker scorpion venom and now engineered to serve as the CAR recognition domain.

Glioblastoma (GBM), the most common type of brain tumor, is also among the most deadly of human cancers, according to the American Cancer Society. It is particularly difficult to treat because the tumors are disseminated throughout the brain. Efforts to develop immunotherapies, including CAR T cells, for GBM must also contend with a high degree of heterogeneity within these tumors.

For the study, City of Hope researchers used tumor cells in resection samples from a cohort of patients with GBM to compare CLTX binding with expression of antigens currently under investigation as CAR T cell targets, including IL13R2, HER2 and EGFR. They found that CLTX bound to a greater proportion of patient tumors and cells within these tumors.

CLTX binding included the GBM stem-like cells thought to seed tumor recurrence. Consistent with these observations, CLTX-CAR T cells recognized and killed broad populations of GBM cells while ignoring nontumor cells in the brain and other organs. The study team demonstrated that CLTX-directed CAR T cells are highly effective at selectively killing human GBM cells in cell-based assays and in animal models without off-tumor targeting and toxicity.

Our chlorotoxin-incorporating CAR expands the populations of solid tumors potentially targeted by CAR T cell therapy, which is particularly needed for patients with cancers that are difficult to treat such as glioblastoma, said Christine Brown, Ph.D., City of Hopes Heritage Provider Network Professor in Immunotherapy and deputy director of T Cell Therapeutics Research Laboratory. This is a completely new targeting strategy for CAR T therapy with CARs incorporating a recognition structure different from other CARs.

Michael Barish, Ph.D., City of Hope professor and chair of the Department of Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, initiated the development of a CAR using chlorotoxin to target GBM cells. The peptide has been used as an imaging agent to guide GBM resection surgery, and to carry radioisotopes and other therapeutics to GBM tumors.

Much like a scorpion uses toxin components of its venom to target and kill its prey, were using chlorotoxin to direct the T cells to target the tumor cells with the added advantage that the CLTX-CAR T cells are mobile and actively surveilling the brain looking for appropriate targets, Barish said. We are not actually injecting a toxin, but exploiting CLTXs binding properties in the design of the CAR. The idea was to develop a CAR that would target T cells to a wider variety of GBM tumor cells than the other antibody-based CARs.

The notion is that the higher the proportion of tumor cells that one can kill at the beginning of treatment, the greater the probability of slowing down or stopping GBM growth and recurrence, Barish added.

Dongrui Wang, a doctoral candidate in City of Hopes Irell & Manella Graduate School of Biological Sciences, was the lead scientist to establish and optimize the CLTX-CAR T cell platform and to determine that cell surface protein matrix metalloprotease 2 is required for CLTX-CAR T cell activation. He added that while people might think the chlorotoxin is what kills the GBM cells, what actually eradicates them is the tumor-specific binding and activation of the CAR T cells.

Based on the promising findings of this study, the study team intends to bring this therapy to patients diagnosed with GBM with the hope of improving outcomes against this thus far intractable cancer. With recently granted Food and Drug Administration approval to proceed, the first-in-human clinical trial using the CLTX-CAR T cells is now screening potential patients.

This work was supported by the Ben & Catherine Ivy Foundation of Scottsdale, Arizona, and the clinical trial will be supported by The Marcus Foundation of Atlanta.

City of Hope, a recognized leader in CAR T cell therapies for glioblastoma and other cancers, has treated nearly 500 patients since its CAR T program started in the late 1990s. The institution continues to have one of the most comprehensive CAR T cell clinical research programs in the world it currently has 29 ongoing CAR T clinical trials, including CAR T trials for HER-2 positive breast cancer that has spread to the brain, and PSCA-positive bone metastatic prostate cancer. It was the first and only cancer center to treat GBM patients with CAR T cells targeting IL13R2, and the first to administer CAR T cell therapy locally in the brain, either by direct injection at the tumor site, through intraventricular infusion into the cerebrospinal fluid, or both. In late 2019, City of Hope opened a first-in-human clinical trial for patients with recurrent glioblastoma combining IL13R2-CAR T cells with checkpoint inhibitors nivolumab, an anti-PD1 antibody, and ipilimumab, blocking the CTLA-4 protein.

About City of Hope

City of Hope is an independent biomedical research and treatment center for cancer, diabetes and other life-threatening diseases. Founded in 1913, City of Hope is a leader in bone marrow transplantation and immunotherapy such as CAR T cell therapy. City of Hopes translational research and personalized treatment protocols advance care throughout the world. Human synthetic insulin and numerous breakthrough cancer drugs are based on technology developed at the institution. A National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center and a founding member of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, City of Hope is the highest ranked cancer hospital in the West, according to U.S. News & World Reports Best Hospitals: Specialty Ranking. Its main campus is located near Los Angeles, with additional locations throughout Southern California. For more information about City of Hope, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube or Instagram.

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From Scorpion to Immunotherapy: City of Hope Scientists Repurpose Nature's Toxin for First-of-Its Kind CAR T Cell Therapy to Treat Brain Tumors -...

Fate Therapeutics Reports Fourth Quarter 2019 Financial Results and Operational Progress with 2020 Outlook – GlobeNewswire

Reported Initial Clinical Data from FT500 Phase 1 Study in Advanced Solid Tumors, Supporting Safety and Tolerability of Multi-dose Treatment Paradigm for Off-the-shelf, iPSC-derived NK Cells

First Patients Treated with FT516, the First-ever Engineered iPSC-derived Cellular Immunotherapy, for AML and for B-cell Lymphoma in Combination with Rituximab

Initiated Enrollment of First-in-human Clinical Trial of FT596, the First-ever Cellular Immunotherapy Engineered with Three Active Anti-tumor Modalities

Ended Quarter with $261 Million in Cash, Cash Equivalents and Marketable Securities

SAN DIEGO, March 02, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Fate Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: FATE), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the development of programmed cellular immunotherapies for cancer and immune disorders, today reported business highlights and financial results for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2019.

In 2019, we made tremendous progress in pioneering the clinical development of off-the-shelf, iPSC-derived cancer immunotherapy. Our FT500 program demonstrated that multiple doses of iPSC-derived NK cells can be delivered off-the-shelf to a patient in a safe manner without patient matching. Additionally, our FT516 program provided initial clinical evidence that engineered iPSC-derived NK cells may confer anti-tumor activity and deliver clinically meaningful benefit to patients. We also showed the unmatched scalability of our proprietary iPSC product platform, having manufactured hundreds of cryopreserved, infusion-ready doses of our iPSC-derived NK cell product candidates at a low cost per dose in our new GMP manufacturing facility, said Scott Wolchko, President and Chief Executive Officer of Fate Therapeutics. In 2020, we look forward to additional clinical data from our FT500 and FT516 programs, and initial clinical data from FT596, our ground-breaking iPSC-derived CAR NK cell product candidate for the treatment of B-cell malignancies designed to overcome many of the limitations inherent in current CAR T-cell immunotherapies. We also expect to begin clinical investigation of our off-the-shelf, iPSC-derived NK cell programs in multiple myeloma with planned IND submissions for FT538, the first-ever CRISPR-edited, iPSC-derived cell therapy, and for FT576, our multi-antigen targeted, CAR-BCMA product candidate. Finally, under our collaboration with Memorial Sloan Kettering, we strive to be the first group in the world to bring off-the-shelf, iPSC-derived CAR T-cell therapy to patients.

Clinical Programs

Preclinical Pipeline

Fourth Quarter 2019 Financial Results

Today's Conference Call and Webcast

The Company will conduct a conference call today, Monday, March 2, 2020 at 5:00 p.m. ET to review financial and operating results for the quarter ended December 31, 2019. In order to participate in the conference call, please dial 877-303-6229 (domestic) or 631-291-4833 (international) and refer to conference ID 9879730. The live webcast can be accessed under "Events & Presentations" in the Investors & Media section of the Company's website at http://www.fatetherapeutics.com. The archived webcast will be available on the Company's website beginning approximately two hours after the event.

About Fate Therapeutics iPSC Product PlatformThe Companys proprietary induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) product platform enables mass production of off-the-shelf, engineered, homogeneous cell products that can be administered with multiple doses to deliver more effective pharmacologic activity, including in combination with cycles of other cancer treatments. Human iPSCs possess the unique dual properties of unlimited self-renewal and differentiation potential into all cell types of the body. The Companys first-of-kind approach involves engineering human iPSCs in a one-time genetic modification event and selecting a single engineered iPSC for maintenance as a clonal master iPSC line. Analogous to master cell lines used to manufacture biopharmaceutical drug products such as monoclonal antibodies, clonal master iPSC lines are a renewable source for manufacturing cell therapy products which are well-defined and uniform in composition, can be mass produced at significant scale in a cost-effective manner, and can be delivered off-the-shelf for patient treatment. As a result, the Companys platform is uniquely capable of overcoming numerous limitations associated with the production of cell therapies using patient- or donor-sourced cells, which is logistically complex and expensive and is subject to batch-to-batch and cell-to-cell variability that can affect clinical safety and efficacy. Fate Therapeutics iPSC product platform is supported by an intellectual property portfolio of over 300 issued patents and 150 pending patent applications.

About FT500

FT500 is an investigational, universal, off-the-shelf natural killer (NK) cell cancer immunotherapy derived from a clonal master induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) line. The product candidate is being investigated in an open-label, multi-dose Phase 1 clinical trial for the treatment of advanced solid tumors (NCT03841110). The study is designed to assess the safety and tolerability of three once-weekly doses of FT500 as a monotherapy and in combination with one of three FDA-approved immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapies nivolumab, pembrolizumab or atezolizumab in patients that have failed prior ICI therapy. Despite the clinical benefit conferred by approved ICI therapy against a variety of tumor types, these therapies are not curative and, in most cases, patients either fail to respond or their disease progresses on these agents. One common mechanism of resistance to ICI therapy is associated with loss-of-function mutations in genes critical for antigen presentation. A potential strategy to overcome resistance is through the administration of allogeneic NK cells, which have the inherent capability to recognize and directly kill tumor cells with these mutations.

About FT516

FT516 is an investigational, universal, off-the-shelf natural killer (NK) cell cancer immunotherapy derived from a clonal master induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) line engineered to express a novel high-affinity 158V, non-cleavable CD16 (hnCD16) Fc receptor, which has been modified to prevent its down-regulation and to enhance its binding to tumor-targeting antibodies. CD16 mediates antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC), a potent anti-tumor mechanism by which NK cells recognize, bind and kill antibody-coated cancer cells. ADCC is dependent on NK cells maintaining stable and effective expression of CD16, which has been shown to undergo considerable down-regulation in cancer patients. In addition, CD16 occurs in two variants, 158V or 158F, that elicit high or low binding affinity, respectively, to the Fc domain of IgG1 antibodies. Numerous clinical studies with FDA-approved tumor-targeting antibodies, including rituximab, trastuzumab and cetuximab, have demonstrated that patients homozygous for the 158V variant, which is present in only about 15% of patients, have improved clinical outcomes. FT516 is being investigated in an open-label, multi-dose Phase 1 clinical trial as a monotherapy for the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia and in combination with CD20-directed monoclonal antibodies for the treatment of advanced B-cell lymphoma (NCT04023071). Additionally, the FDA has allowed investigation of FT516 in an open-label, multi-dose Phase 1 clinical trial in combination with monoclonal antibody therapy, including PDL1-, PD1-, EGFR- and HER2-targeting therapeutic antibodies, across a broad range of solid tumors.

About FT596FT596 is an investigational, universal, off-the-shelf natural killer (NK) cell cancer immunotherapy derived from a clonal master induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) line engineered with three anti-tumor functional modalities: a proprietary chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) optimized for NK cell biology, which contains a NKG2D transmembrane domain, a 2B4 co-stimulatory domain and a CD3-zeta signaling domain, that targets B-cell antigen CD19; a novel high-affinity 158V, non-cleavable CD16 (hnCD16) Fc receptor, which has been modified to prevent its down-regulation and to enhance its binding to tumor-targeting antibodies; and an IL-15 receptor fusion (IL-15RF) that promotes enhanced NK cell activity. In preclinical studies of FT596, the Company has demonstrated that dual activation of the CAR19 and hnCD16 targeting receptors, in combination with IL-15RF signaling, convey synergistic anti-tumor activity. Increased degranulation and cytokine release were observed upon dual receptor activation in lymphoma cancer cells as compared to activation of each receptor alone, indicating that multi-antigen engagement may elicit a deeper and more durable response. Additionally, in a humanized mouse model of lymphoma, FT596 in combination with the anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody rituximab showed enhanced killing of tumor cells in vivo as compared to rituximab alone. FT596 is being investigated in an open-label Phase 1 clinical trial as a monotherapy, and in combination with rituximab, for the treatment of advanced B-cell lymphoma and in combination with obinutuzumab for the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (NCT04245722).

About Fate Therapeutics, Inc.Fate Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the development of first-in-class cellular immunotherapies for cancer and immune disorders. The Company has established a leadership position in the clinical development and manufacture of universal, off-the-shelf cell products using its proprietary induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) product platform. The Companys immuno-oncology product candidates include natural killer (NK) cell and T-cell cancer immunotherapies, which are designed to synergize with well-established cancer therapies, including immune checkpoint inhibitors and monoclonal antibodies, and to target tumor-associated antigens with chimeric antigen receptors (CARs). The Companys immuno-regulatory product candidates include ProTmune, a pharmacologically modulated, donor cell graft that is currently being evaluated in a Phase 2 clinical trial for the prevention of graft-versus-host disease, and a myeloid-derived suppressor cell immunotherapy for promoting immune tolerance in patients with immune disorders. Fate Therapeutics is headquartered in San Diego, CA. For more information, please visit http://www.fatetherapeutics.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 including statements regarding the Companys results of operations, financial condition and sufficiency of its cash and cash equivalents to fund its operations, as well as statements regarding the advancement of and plans related to its product candidates, clinical studies and preclinical research and development programs, the Companys progress, plans and timelines for the manufacture and clinical investigation of its product candidates, the timing for the Companys receipt of data from its clinical trials and preclinical studies, the Companys development and regulatory strategy, and the therapeutic and market potential of the Companys product candidates. These and any other forward-looking statements in this release are based on management's current expectations of future events and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially and adversely from those set forth in or implied by such forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the risk that results observed in prior studies of the Companys product candidates, including preclinical studies and clinical trials, will not be observed in ongoing or future studies involving these product candidates, the risk of a delay or difficulties in the manufacturing of the Companys product candidates or in the initiation of, or enrollment of patients in, any clinical studies, the risk that the Company may cease or delay preclinical or clinical development of any of its product candidates for a variety of reasons (including requirements that may be imposed by regulatory authorities on the initiation or conduct of clinical trials or to support regulatory approval, difficulties or delays in patient enrollment in current and planned clinical trials, difficulties in manufacturing or supplying the Companys product candidates for clinical testing, and any adverse events or other negative results that may be observed during preclinical or clinical development), and the risk that the Companys expenditures may exceed current expectations for a variety of reasons. For a discussion of other risks and uncertainties, and other important factors, any of which could cause the Companys actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements, see the risks and uncertainties detailed in the Companys periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including but not limited to the Companys most recently filed periodic report, and from time to time in the Companys press releases and other investor communications.Fate Therapeutics is providing the information in this release as of this date and does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this release as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Availability of Other Information about Fate Therapeutics, Inc.

Investors and others should note that the Company routinely communicates with investors and the public using its website (www.fatetherapeutics.com) and its investor relations website (ir.fatetherapeutics.com) including, without limitation, through the posting of investor presentations, SEC filings, press releases, public conference calls and webcasts on these websites. The information posted on these websites could be deemed to be material information. As a result, investors, the media, and others interested in Fate Therapeutics are encouraged to review this information on a regular basis. The contents of the Companys website, or any other website that may be accessed from the Companys website, shall not be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss(in thousands, except share and per share data)(unaudited)

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets(in thousands)(unaudited)

Contact:Christina TartagliaStern Investor Relations, Inc.212.362.1200christina@sternir.com

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Fate Therapeutics Reports Fourth Quarter 2019 Financial Results and Operational Progress with 2020 Outlook - GlobeNewswire

Coronavirus: China looking at using stem cell therapy to treat severe cases – The Straits Times

BEIJING (XINHUA) - Chinese researchers are studying the use of stem cell technology in the treatment of people critically ill with the coronavirus, the Science and Technology Daily reported.

Four Covid-19 patients who received stem cell treatment while in a serious condition have been discharged from hospital after recovering, and the clinical trial of the therapy will be further expanded, Vice-Minister of Science and Technology Xu Nanping, was cited by the paper as saying.

Stem cells can self-renew or multiply while maintaining the potential to develop into other types of cells. They can become cells of the blood, heart, lungs or other body parts.

Stem cells also have a strong secretory function, promoting the formation of new blood vessels, cell proliferation and differentiation, and inhibiting inflammatory response, experts say.

Stem cell therapy has also been used in treating H7N9 avian flu and showed good results.

According to the Ministry of Science and Technology, the Chinese Academy of Sciences has developed a new stem cell drug, CAStem, which has shown promising results in treating Covid-19 in animal experiments.

The research team has applied for urgent assessment by the National Medical Products Administration. Approvals by the ethics committee, and clinical observation and evaluation are in progress.

Another research team from the fifth medical centre of the Chinese PLA General Hospital is cooperating with hospitals and institutions in Wuhan - the epicentre of the epidemic - and northern China's Tianjin municipality to conduct clinical research on the safety and effectiveness of mesenchymal stem cell therapy in treating Covid-19 patients.

A research team at the School of Medicine of the Tongji University is studying universal lung stem cell therapy that can be widely used in the epidemic control. The therapy is expected to enter the clinical stage soon.

Professor Zuo Wei, head of the research team and the chief scientist of a national key research project on stem cells, said that the research now mainly focuses on improving the condition of critically ill Covid-19 patients.

He explained that when the patients are in a severe condition, the cause of deterioration and even death is the "inflammatory storm", when the human immune system is over-activated by the infection.

That will damage the lungs and impair breathing. Some severe patients may have respiratory failure.

"Lung inflammation and injury are the focus of the treatment of severe patients," Prof Zuo said.

The damage to lung tissue can be fatal, and stem cell therapy is expected to help repair the damage, Prof Zuo added.

Currently, three kinds of stem cells - mesenchymal, lung and embryonic stem cells - are used in treatments. Researchers usually inject stem cell products into the lungs.

Stem cells can improve the immune microenvironment in the lungs and reduce the risk of pulmonary failure caused by inflammation.

Stem cells have the potential of self-renewal and differentiation, and can develop into corresponding functional cells and alveoli, and then repair the damaged tissue, Prof Zuo said.

However, the wider use of stem cell technology to treat Covid-19 is still some time away.

The safety and effectiveness of a new drug or therapy need to be verified with sufficient clinical trials, Prof Zuo stressed.

Read more:
Coronavirus: China looking at using stem cell therapy to treat severe cases - The Straits Times

Beating heart cells catch a ride to the International Space Station – KTVZ

Tiny heart cells are among the new batch of science experiments heading for the International Space Station Friday night, but their potential to help patients with heart disease on Earth is exponential.

SpaceXs 20th resupply mission to the station is expected to launch Friday night at 11:50 p.m. ET from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. It includes supplies, a variety experiments and materials for ongoing research investigations. The Dragon spacecraft will also bring the European Space Agencys Bartolomeo, a commercial research platform that will be installed outside the station, according to NASA.

And nestled among the payloads are two different experiments involving cariomyocytes, or beating heart cells, grown from pluripotent stem cells. Pluripotent stem cells are ideal because they can turned in multiple cell types. In this case, they could become healthy heart cells for a patient with heart disease.

The results of the experiments could be used to generate a multitude of healthy heart cells for children and adults with various heart diseases. But they could also be used to understand heart health and the aging process in a broader context. The researchers for one of the experiments believe their study could even help astronauts with the known risks they experience during long-term spaceflight, like reduced heart function and irregular heartbeat.

Scientists already know that humans exposed to space experience changes similar to accelerated aging, so we hope the results can help us better understand and someday counteract the aging process, said Deok-Ho Kim, principal investigator for one of the experiments, and associate professor of biomedical engineering and medicine at Johns Hopkins University.

For the next month, the heart cells will undergo a unique journey to space before splashing back down in the Pacific Ocean. Heres what researchers hope to learn about the effects of zero gravity on human heart cells.

Emory University School of Medicine associate professor of pediatrics Chunhui Xu first discovered that stem cells grow faster in space by simulating the lack of gravity on Earth. She studies cardiomyocytes with the hopes of improving the hearts regenerative abilities, as well as improving congenital heart disorder treatment.

Stem cell therapies to repair damaged heart cells require at least one billion cells for each patient, Xu said. But they can take time to grow on Earth. When her experiment using simulated microgravity on Earth showed promising steps toward quickly and safely producing cardiomyocytes, Xu saw space as the ultimate proving ground.

Her experiment was chosen to fly on the space station and now she and her team hope they can confirm their ground-based observation and discover new insights as well.

She and her colleagues at Emory had to learn how to cryopreserve the cells so that they can survive the launch and trip to the space station. It also means that the astronauts can unpack everything and organize their experiment schedule, without having to jump right into the experiment for fear of the cells dying.

Once the cells are thawed, the cell cultures will grow for 21 days in the Multi-use Variable-gravity Platform experiment modules built by Techshot, Inc. Then, in an ambitious goal, the cells will actually be returned live, jettisoned in a payload that will land in the Pacific Ocean. A colleague in California will then prep them and have the live cells shipped back to Emory in Atlanta so the researchers can analyze them.

Meanwhile, during the experiment in space, a control group of cells will be put in a centrifuge in a modified gravity environment on Earth.

Weve worked together for years to bring basic and clinical science together, said Dr. Kevin Maher, director of the cardiac intensive care unit at Childrens Healthcare of Atlanta Heart Center and professor of pediatrics at Emory University. Maher is working with Xu on the experiment.

Theres a high demand on the cells themselves they need to be pure and high quality. Residual stem cells that dont turn into heart cells can cause tumors, according to previous research by Xu. More mature cells stand a better chance of becoming pure heart cells. During her ground-based experiment simulating a lack of gravity, Xu found that the cells were more mature and even expressed survival genes that could ensure cell survival. Overall, these factors would allow the cells to connect with the heart tissue better and cause less issues, Xu said.

The implications of their research could help develop a more efficient and cost-effective way to develop the heart cells on Earth for patients in need. Given that heart disease is the leading cause of death in the US, according to the CDC, the cells have great potential to treat children and adults. And the cells could also be used to test new therapies and speed up the development of safe drugs, Xu said.

The National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences is continuing its Tissue Chips in Space initiative by funding an experiment that includes a cellphone-sized chip loaded with beating heart tissue.

It starts with a similar base as the Emory experiment: pluripotent stem cells grown into cardiomyocytes. Instead of cell cultures, these are bioengineered mini tissue chips that mimic human heart function.

This allows the cells to signal and act as they would in the body, hosted on a scaffold-like bio-structure holding the tissues together. This encourages the cells inside to grow, and ultimately, this kind of structure could be used to test drugs.

We hope that this project will give us meaningful data that we can use to understand the hearts structure and how it functions, so that we can improve the health of both astronauts and those down here on Earth, said Kim.

The Johns Hopkins University researchers and their collaborating colleagues at other universities will get measurements of the tissues beating in real time. And after a month, the tissues will return to Earth. The team wants to analyze them and determine how they were affected by microgravity or if their gene expression changed. Heart tissues on Earth, identical to the ones sent to the station, will serve as a control at the University of Washington.

Some of the tissues sent to space will continue to be cultured on Earth for a week afterward in case any recovery efforts can be observed.

The entire team is excited to see the results we get from this experiment. If successful, we will embark on the second phase of the study where tissues will be sent up to the ISS once again in two years, but this time, we will be able to test a variety of drugs to see which ones will best ameliorate the potentially harmful effects of microgravity on cardiac function, said Jonathan Tsui, a member of Kims lab and a postdoctoral fellow at Johns Hopkins Universitys department of biomedical engineering.

Continued here:
Beating heart cells catch a ride to the International Space Station - KTVZ

Griffin Canning to receive biological injection in elbow, will be re-evaluated in 3-4 weeks – NBCSports.com

The Angels announced that starter Griffin Canning is getting a biological injection in his ailing elbow and will be re-evaluated in 3-4 weeks time. Canning was recently diagnosed with both UCL and joint issues in his pitching elbow.

The phrasing of the announcement is interesting. The word biological generally leads me in two different directions with this sort of injury. Many baseball players have been treated with platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections for a variety of issues in recent years, but the Angels have also used stem cell injections to try to treat UCL woes.

Andrew Heaney, Garrett Richards and Shohei Ohtani all got stem cell treatments for their elbows. All three also eventually wound up getting Tommy John surgery. Im not willing to go as far as the LA Times article did in condemning the treatments as useless, seeing as a sample size of three is rather small. Theyre also not the only players who have ever been treated with stem cells. CC Sabathia, for instance, got a stem cell injection for his bad knee.

Regardless of what the treatment is or isnt, its a positive sign that Cannings injury wasnt deemed dire enough to immediately merit surgery. Canning isnt going to be ready for Opening Day either way, but if the injection works he may be able to pitch at some point this season. Goodness knows that the Angels rotation needs all hands on deck, even after the team signed both Dylan Bundy and Julio Teheran this winter.

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The Indians announced via Twitter that Shane Bieber will be the teams Opening Day starter.

Its been a meteoric rise for Bieber. After a relatively pedestrian rookie year in 2018, Bieber rocketed to stardom in his sophomore campaign. The right-hander pitched to a 3.28 ERA in 214.1 innings, making the All-Star team and getting fourth place in the Cy Young Award voting along the way. Hes just 24 years old and figures to be a fixture atop the Cleveland rotation for years to come.

With Mike Clevinger still sidelined after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his knee and Corey Kluber being traded to the Rangers, Bieber was the clear favorite for the nod.

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Griffin Canning to receive biological injection in elbow, will be re-evaluated in 3-4 weeks - NBCSports.com

SpaceX Dragon to launch heart cell experiment and more to space station tonight – Space.com

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. SpaceX is preparing for its fifth launch of the year: a resupply mission to the International Space Station (ISS). The mission, which is scheduled to launch Friday (March 6) at 11:50 p.m. EST (0450 GMT on March 7), will bring a bevy of science material to the astronauts living and working in the orbiting laboratory.

This flight, dubbed CRS-20, marks the 20th and final mission for SpaceX under the company's first commercial cargo resupply services contract with NASA. Perched atop a Falcon 9 rocket will sit a cargo Dragon capsule filled with more than 4,300 lbs. (1,950 kilograms) of supplies, including more than 2,100 lbs. (950 kg) of science equipment.

The scientific cargo will support a host of experiments across Expeditions 62 and 63, focusing on a range of topics, from biological sciences (growing human heart cells in space), to water conservation methods, to particle-foam manufacturing and the addition of a new research platform on the ISS.

You can watch SpaceX's Dragon launch livehere on Space.com, courtesy of SpaceX, beginning at about 11:30 p.m. EST (0430 GMT), courtesy of NASA TV. You can alsowatch the launch directly from SpaceX here, beginning at 11:35 p.m. EST (0435 GMT).

Video: What's flying to the space station on SpaceX's CRS-20 mission?Related: SpaceX Dragon cargo ship launching tonight. How to watch live.

In its never-ending quest to create the best athletic shoe, Adidas has turned its sights to the International Space Station. The sportswear company has developed a performance midsole an additional shoe layer between the insole (next to your feet) and the sole (what touches the ground) that will enhance comfort.

To create its midsole, Adidas uses a process called particle foam molding, in which thousands of small pellets are blasted into a mold so they fuse together. To streamline the process and create the best shoe it can, Adidas is going to try this process in microgravity. The experiment, dubbed Adidas BOOST (Boost Orbital Operations on Spheroid Tessellation), will look at how the particles fuse together in space.

By removing gravity from the process, the team can take a closer look at individual pellet motion and location. The results of this investigation could show that the space station is a good platform for testing out new manufacturing methods and could lead to more-efficient means of packing and cushioning materials.

Related: Adidas launching new sneakers inspired by historic NASA spacesuits

Delta Faucet Co., a manufacturer of shower heads and other bathroom hardware, is launching a payload on CRS-20 that will seek to better understand how water droplets form. The company will use that knowledge to build a better shower head that lines up with Delta's ultimate goal: creating the sensation of increased pressure while using less water.

Conserving water is incredibly important, but one of the biggest drawbacks is that eco-friendly, low-flow shower heads do not perform as well as their less environmentally friendly counterparts. Users complain that the water pressure feels so low it's difficult to rinse off properly, which can result in longer showers and, ultimately, more water usage.

To help mitigate this issue, Delta has created a unique shower head, called the H2Okinetic, that controls the size and the speed of the water droplets with the help of an oscillating chip. That chip creates a better shower experience by breaking up the water flow into bigger droplets and shooting them out faster, giving the illusion of more water.

Related: Showering in space: Astronaut home video shows off 'hygiene corner'

"Water is a precious commodity," Garry Marty, principal engineer at Delta Faucet, said during a prelaunch briefing on Thursday (March 5). "We are trying to create a shower head to keep our customers happy while using less water."

He went on to explain that once the water leaves the pipes, it essentially doesn't have any pressure. What you're feeling are the droplets. With this new shower head, Delta Faucet is able to control the size and speed on each drop, revolutionizing the way a shower device delivers a shower.

"Lower-flow showers aren't really great to be under," Marty said. "But the more we understand, the more we can improve."

Marty added that, someday, humanity will be living on the moon or Mars and will need a way to take a shower. The lessons learned from this research go beyond conserving water and user experience, he said; it has implications for the space industry as well. But for now, the bigger concern is to better understand the fundamentals of water droplet formation.

Heart disease is the No. 1 cause of death in the U.S. A team of researchers from Emory University in Atlanta, led by Chunhui Xu, are sending an experiment up to the space station to explore how effectively stem cells can be turned into heart muscle cells.

The data collected could lead to new therapies and even speed up the development of new drugs that can better treat heart disease.

The microgravity environment found on the space station is known to have a profound effect on cell growth. Through this research, the team aims to understand the impact microgravity has on cardiac precursors (cardiac cells created from stem cells) and how effectively they produce cardiac muscle cells, called cardiomyocytes.

Related: Heart cells beat differently in microgravity, may benefit astronauts

Ground-based research shows that when cells are grown under simulated microgravity conditions, the production rate of cardiomyocytes is greater than if they were grown under the effects of gravity. By sending the experiment to the space station, Xu and her team will be able to determine if their results are accurate.

"Our goal is to help make stem cell-based therapy more readily available," Xu said during the briefing. "If successful, the demand for it will be tremendous, because heart disease is the No. 1 killer in America."

In order to have a successful therapy, Xu said that the team will need to produce a large number of high-quality cardiomyocytes. To do that, the researchers need to first understand the mechanisms behind cell transformation.

Bartolomeo is a new research platform that will be installed on the exterior of the space station. Placed outside the European Columbus module, this science balcony will host as many as 12 research experiments at one time.

Built by Airbus, the platform will enable researchers to conduct more experiments on the station's exterior. During a prelaunch briefing, NASA and Airbus explained that Bartolomeos potential uses include Earth observation, robotics, materials science and astrophysics.

"All of your [research] dreams can come true with Bartolomeo," said Andreas Schuette, program manager of Bartolomeo at Airbus.

And parking spots on the washing machine-sized platform are all-inclusive, which means that researchers can pay one price to launch, install, operate and even return to Earth. By working directly with agencies like NASA, ESA, and SpaceX, Airbus is able to offer a cost-effective means of conducting research on the space station.

The company is also working with the United Nations in an effort to entice those who wouldn't otherwise be able to afford to send payloads into space, Schuette told Space.com. The duo have teamed up with the United Nations Office for Outer Space (UNOOSA) to make that happen. (The agency works to make space more accessible.)

If all goes as scheduled, the Dragon will arrive at the International Space Station on Monday (March 9) at approximately 6 a.m. EDT (1000 GMT). From there, NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Drew Morgan will use the station's Canadarm2 robotic arm to capture and attach the spacecraft, before beginning the unloading process.

Follow Amy Thompson on Twitter @astrogingersnap. Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom or Facebook.

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SpaceX Dragon to launch heart cell experiment and more to space station tonight - Space.com

Ozzy Osbourne banking on stem cells and pilates to get stage-ready – Calgary Herald

Ozzy Osbourne is banking on stem cell treatment and Pilates to help him manage his Parkinsons disease and get back on stage again.

The Paranoid hitmaker has been laid up since badly injuring himself and suffering from pneumonia last year, revealing he had Parkinsons in January and scrapping his U.S. tour last month, to head to Switzerland for treatment.

In a joint interview with U.K. TV show Good Morning Britain, Ozzy and his wife and manager Sharon opened up about the rockers recovery revealing he is undergoing stem cell treatment to lessen the effects of Parkinsons and boost his immune system.

Theres a professor there (Switzerland), Sharon said. He hasnt got a cure for Parkinsons, no one has but what he can do is he can get Ozzys immune system to here (points high), so now, if Ozzy was to catch a cold it would turn into pneumonia.

This professor has come up with a way of doing stem cells where it helps with the pain. He could hopefully get rid of Ozzys pain and then Ozzy will be healthier to deal with the Parkinsons.

The 71-year-old is not the first person in his family to undergo stem cell treatment, as his son Jack flew to Germany to receive similar therapy to help with his multiple sclerosis.

Meanwhile, the former Black Sabbath frontman has also been working hard to get fit again but thinks he will only truly feel himself again when hes back performing.

I exercise as much as I can. Ive got a trainer, I do Pilates, nurses 24/7, but the best medication I can get is being in front of an audience, which is breaking my heart to be honest, he added. I will (perform again). Absolutely. I will be up there. I have to say that. I know youre going to say what will you do if you cant do it again, thats not an option because I will do it.

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Ozzy Osbourne banking on stem cells and pilates to get stage-ready - Calgary Herald

Here’s the Real Reason ‘Hawaii Five-0’ Is Getting Cancelled – Country Living

Hawaii Five-0 has been a TV staple since it debuted in 2010. Weve come to know and love Alex OLoughlins McGarrett and Scott Caan as Danno, and we cant imagine a Friday night without the duo.

But were going to have toand very soon. Hawaii Five-0 has officially been cancelled, and the series finale is slated to air in less than a month.

Its never easy to say goodbye to a hit franchise that carried on the legacy of the original with such distinction, while establishing its own signature style, said Kelly Kahl, President of CBS Entertainment. We cannot be prouder of its quality and longevity and are thankful for the passionate fan devotion it inspired.

But if it had such a passionate viewership, then why would CBS end the series? Heres everything we know.

Besides the fact that its been on 10 whole yearsa pretty lengthy amount of timeit seems there were a few behind-the-scenes factors, too. Deadline claimed Alex and Scotts contracts were up at the end of this season, which often jumpstarts an actors exit.

But the outlet also mentioned that Alex suffered a back injury years ago on set, and that he hasnt quite recovered. He reportedly had a stem cell treatment that helped, but he couldnt sign on for another round. CBS allegedly toyed with the idea of replacing Alex, but instead decided it was time to cut the cord.

The worst news out of all of this is that Hawaii Five-0s final episode will run in less than a month. The two-hour series finale will air on April 3, 2020 so we suggest stocking up on tissues now.

Yes! Apparently James Marsters (Victor Hesse), William Sadler (Jack McGarrett), and Mark Dacascos (Wo Fat) will be back to say goodbye. Theres no word on whether Grace Park or Daniel Dae Kim might return for one last time, but considering their exits seemed a little controversial were not sure we see that happening.

Hopefully they tie everything up as well as Criminal Minds did this year!

Hawaii Five-0

Season 1amazon.com

Hawaii Five-0

Season 3amazon.com

Hawaii Five-0

Season 7amazon.com

Hawaii Five-0

Season 10amazon.com

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Here's the Real Reason 'Hawaii Five-0' Is Getting Cancelled - Country Living

Mutations of virus do not stymie research –

[Photo/Agencies]

Known mutations of the novel coronavirus have not affected overall progress of drug and vaccine development, and scientists will keep monitoring the virus's evolution and plan research projects accordingly, senior scientists said on Friday.

This week, Chinese scientists announced that they had discovered that the virus had evolved into two major subtypes, and detected 149 mutation points across its genomes. The L subtype, considered more aggressive, is believed to have been more prevalent during the early stages of the outbreak in Wuhan, Hubei province, than its S subtype ancestor, which is relatively more prevalent now.

Zhou Qi, deputy secretary-general of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, said the virus's mutations require further research, and China is conducting a coordinated research effort to evaluate the virus and develop a vaccine.

"All research is under control," he said. "The mutations that we now know have not affected our drug, antibody or vaccine development. We will keep monitoring the mutations the virus generates and plan related research projects accordingly."

Zheng Zhongwei, director of the Development Center for Medical Science and Technology of the National Health Commission, said China has nine ongoing research projects on vaccine development, and some will hopefully enter clinical trials in April.

The five main types of vaccines that China is working on are an inactivated vaccine, recombinant subunit vaccine, adenoviral vector vaccine, live attenuated vaccine and nucleic acid-based vaccine.

Zheng said he had not seen reports of foreign researchers working on an inactivated vaccine, which consists of virus particles that no longer have disease-producing capability. As for the recombinant and vector vaccines, he said both have moved into animal trials and their progress is on par with that of other countries.

For drug development, China has expanded the use of trial drugs and treatments, including plasma transfusion, artificial extracorporeal liver support often called liver dialysis and traditional Chinese medicine, said Sun Yanrong, deputy director of the China National Center for Biotechnology Development.

Advanced treatments such as stem cell and monoclonal antibody therapies are also being researched as a way to save patients in critical condition, she added. Chloroquine phosphate has moved from trials to clinical treatment, and no obvious side effects were found in the 285 severely ill patients taking the drug.

Scientists have expanded clinical trials for favipiravir a Japanese antiviral drug that showed promise against the virus in clinical trials in Shenzhen, Guangdong province to cover patients in Wuhan.

Doctors from hospitals in Beijing and Harbin, Heilongjiang province, are doing clinical trials for stem cell therapy and preliminary results have found the treatment safe and effective, Sun said, adding that its use will be expanded in Wuhan.

Clinical results for artificial liver support show it can significantly reduce the treatment time for critically ill patients and improve their recovery rate, she said.

Tocilizumab, a drug that suppresses overreactions of the immune system, has recently been added to the latest treatment and diagnosis guideline of the National Health Commission. It helps to inhibit a deadly medical condition called a cytokine storm an overproduction of immune cells that damages healthy tissues which is also one of the main causes of death for critically ill patients.

Sun said around 272 severely ill patients are being treated with Tocilizumab. The patients came from 14 hospitals in Wuhan, Zhou added. Early clinical data showed that 20 severely or critically ill patients had fevers lowered within a day after receiving the drug, and 19 patients had recovered within two weeks.

Contact the writers at zhangzhihao@chinadaily.com.cn

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Mutations of virus do not stymie research -

South Setauket native announces $100G donation to Stony Brook University Hospital – GreaterMoriches

Ward Melville High Schoolalum Dave Wolmetz was once again surrounded by his heroes.

Last Thursday, Wolmetz who co-owns Urban Air Lake Grove with his partner Keith Handler invited the people that saved his life from Stony Brook University Cancer Center to his family entertainment facility. There, he presented the staff with a check worth $100,000.

Im inspired by the groundbreaking research at the Stony Brook University Cancer Center, said Wolmetz, who began treatment of Acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) in 2018 at Stony Brook University Hospital.

The South Setauket native underwent total body radiation and chemotherapy treatment at Stony Brooks Cancer Center and is currently in the management phase of his treatment.

Im grateful for the stem cell transplant and excellent care I have received at the facility, he said. The cancer center is a well-established resource and essential to the community to focus on important cancer problems.

The donation money hails from the Why Not Us Foundation, a nonprofit that is dedicated to creating real and lasting change in the world by motivating, empowering and preparing todays youth to be tomorrows leaders.

The funds will benefit Stony Brooks CAR T-cell therapy program, which supports Stony Brook scientists working on developing personalized cell therapy to treat blood cancers, such as leukemia.

The donation ceremony was timely, as it was the one-year anniversary of Wolmetzs stem cell transplant at Stony Brook.

With the incredible generosity, we will be able to improve cancer care for Long Islanders and generate other CARs directed toward other major blood cancers, such as leukemia and multiple myeloma, said Dr. Huda Salman, a hematologist at Stony Brook. Dave Wolmetz (blue) with members of the Stony Brook University Hospital (courtesy)

Top: Urban Air Lake Grove founders Dave Wolmetz and Keith Handler presenting the $100,000 check to Stony Brook University Hospital.

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South Setauket native announces $100G donation to Stony Brook University Hospital - GreaterMoriches