*NEW* - Italian stem cell scientists challenge goverment

EuroSyStem scientist Elena Cattaneo challenges Italian government - the story continues

In the summer of 2009, three Italian stem cellⁱ scientists unsuccessfully challenged their government in the courts over its decision to exclude human embryonic stem cell research from a ministerial funding call for projects on stem cell biology. In correspondence published in Nature on 10th February 2010, the scientists argue that their case is both politically and culturally significant. They believe that 'the exclusion of research that is legal and scientifically important amounts to an abuse of power.'

Read the full article in Nature at http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v463/n7282/full/463729c.html

*NEW* - Outreach activities now available

Activities to help get stem cell scientists and the public talking to each other.

EuroStemCell and its partners have run lots of events to help get stem cell scientists and the public talking to each other. We've collected a set of activities and teaching tools on the EuroStemCell website, suitable for children of various ages and adults too. We'll be adding more activities soon, so watch this space.

Resources available to download from http://eurostemcell.org/activities:

• Introducing stem cells: A flexible presentation for 16+ or adult audiences;
• A Stem Cell Story: Quick quiz for 14-16 year olds;
• Strawberry DNA: Experiment for 10-12 year olds;
• Stem cells and drug discovery: Workshop for 13-14 year olds;
• Points of view: Classroom activities for 11-16 year olds;
• Puzzles and consolidating activities for 11-16 year olds.

*NEW* - Concerns over scientific publishing hit the news

EuroSyStem Coordinator Austin Smith has spoken out on the UK's BBC news

The UK's BBC Radio 4 prime time news programme, "Today", has highlighted concerns about the scientific peer review process. In a piece broadcast on Tuesday 2nd February 2010 EuroSyStem Coordinator Austin Smith and UK scientist Robin Lovell-Badge described how they believe high-quality science is going unpublished, while weaker research takes its place in leading scientific journals. They raised concerns that journals are relying heavily on a very small number of experts to make their editorial decisions. This report follows a recent open letter to the leading scientific journals, in which a group of top stem cell scientists called for more transparency in the peer review process.

To listen to the BBC news item visit: http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/today/newsid_8492000/8492662.stm

Read the full news story on the EuroStemCell website

Jan 2010 - Austin Smith awarded Louis-Jeantet prize for Medicine

Every year, the Louis-Jeantet Prize for Medicine distinguishes leading-edge researchers who are active in the European Council member countries. The prize aims to foster scientific
excellence and to encourage the continuation of innovative research projects with high added value and of more or less immediate practical significance in the treatment of disease.
The 2010 Prize has been awarded to EuroSyStem’s Project coordinator Austin Smith, and to the French cardiologist Michel Haissaguerre. Professor Smith was awarded the prize for his seminal contribution to understanding the mechanisms governing the renewal or differentiation of stem cells, a vital stage in the development of cell treatments.
 

More information about the prize: http://www.jeantet.ch/e/prize/prize.php

Dec 2009 - Innovative Project Awards: Open Funding Call

Up to 5 awards with relevance to systems biology of stem cells.

EuroSyStem Innovative Project Awards will support research in the field of systems biology of stem cells. Up to 5 awards will be made for projects with a duration of up to 2 years. Projects must be led by emerging investigators from EEA countries. A maximum of €75,000 will be awarded per project.

The deadline for applications was friday 29th January 2010. The call is now closed.

Click here to download the call guidelines

Projects must be on systems biology but could be on any type of mammalian stem cell.  However any proposal using human cells must provide full ethical documentation to accompany the application.

Nov 2009 - EuroSyStem and ESTOOLS connect European schools

EuroSyStem is running the UK end of a two-day stem cell event that will connect schools in the UK and Bulgaria.

The event is part of TELESCOPE, a pan-European educational programme created by the EU-funded research project ESTOOLS. 

On 16^th November, students from Liberton High School in Edinburgh will take part in a day of talks, quizzes and discussions on stem cell biology. Around 40 students aged 16–17 will be introduced to the basic concepts of stem cell research, potential applications and some of the ethical issues.

On the following day, some of the Edinburgh students will meet a class from Sofia, Bulgaria via video link-up. The students will debate their views on a series of ethical questions around stem cell research. This is an exciting opportunity for young people in both countries to deepen their own understanding, and experience how cultural backgrounds can affect opinions.

Read more about TELESCOPE at http://www.estools.eu/estools/discovery/TELESCOPE

Oct 2009 - EMBO conference report published by EuroSyStem PIs

A report on the Cambridge 2009 EMBO conference by Ingo Roeder and Freddy Radtke

The EuroSyStem Project successfully ran the 2nd EMBO Conference in the series 'Advances in Stem Cell Research: Stem cells, systems and synthetic biology' in Cambridge, UK (15-17th June 2009). As a result, two of the speakers Ingo Roeder and Freddy Radtke have had a report published in Development.

Read the full report as published in Development, at http://dev.biologists.org/cgi/content/abstract/136/21/3525

Download a PDF of the review

Sept 2009 - Gordon conference report - Stem Cells & Cancer: Molecular mechanisms controlling normal and cancer stem cells

Michel Brouard reports on the 2009 second Gordon Conference on Stem cells and Cancer.

The 2009 second Gordon Conference on Stem cells and Cancer was held in Les Diablerets, Switzerland on 13^th - 18^th September. Michel Brouard of Yann Barrandon's lab at EPFL in Switzerland, was awarded a EuroSyStem bursary to attend the conference.  Michel has written a short report on the science discussed at the meeting, and quotes:

"this exciting conference highlighted how integrating novel basic science data on normal and cancer SCs could pave the way to clinical trials and direct future therapeutic approaches".

EuroSyStem members can read Michel's full report on the members section of the website under the 'Key Project Documentation' drop-down on the 'Project Documents' tab.

Sept 2009 - European Stem Cell Group founded: Members will become EuroSyStem Associate PIs

17 scientists from 10 countries join the new European Stem Cell Group

EuroSyStem has founded the European Stem Cell Group. The aim of this new Group is to bring together basic stem cell researchers from across Europe, and to encourage wide-ranging collaboration. As a key benefit of joining the Group, members will also become Associate Principal Investigators of EuroSyStem.

Between February and May 2009, we ran an open competitive call for European Stem Cell Group members. We received 84 applications for membership, from researchers in 11 countries. A panel of four senior members of EuroSyStem shortlisted applicants. All EuroSyStem Principal Investigators were asked to check and ratify the selection decisions. Should you require more information about the selection process, you can download a list of the criteria here.

Selected members

Download a full list of selected members

June 2009 - The X factors of stem cells

Ian Chambers and Simon Tomlinson review the transcription factor and pluripotency story so far

Transcription factors are key proteins in cell identity. A whole network of these proteins is involved in giving embryonic stem (ES) cells pluripotency – the ability to generate all the cell lineages of the body. The three transcription factors Oct4, Sox2 and Nanog are central to pluripotency, but recent studies suggest that additional proteins join forces with this triumvirate to bring about the ES cell state. 

In a review published in the journal Development, Ian Chambers and Simon Tomlinson look at the experiments that have informed current understanding of the biological function of Oct 4, Sox2 and Nanog. They discuss the proteins that interact with, or regulate the behaviour of these molecules, and take a look at the differing experimental and analytical techniques used to identify such connections. The review also highlights the questions that remain unanswered.

Publication details:

Ian Chambers and Simon R. Tomlinson, The transcriptional foundation of pluripotency, Development (2009), doi: 10.1242/dev.024398

July 2009 - Switching on the power of stem cells

Cambridge scientists reveal how the protein Nanog gives stem cells their unique abilities

Researchers from the Wellcome Trust Centre for Stem Cell Research at the University of Cambridge have pinpointed the role of the protein Nanog in a complex process that gives stem cells pluripotency: the ability to produce all the different cell types of the body. Their research, published today in the journal Cell, was funded in part by EuroSyStem and is an important step forward in the drive for a better understanding of how stem cells work.

Dr Jose Silva, who led the Cambridge research with his colleague Dr Jennifer Nichols, says: 'It was clear that Nanog was important, but we wanted to know how it works. Our research shows that this unique protein flips the last switch in a multi-step process that gives cells the very powerful property of pluripotency.'

Read a full press release on EuroStemCell.org

Publication details:

Silva et al, Nanog is the Gateway to the Pluripotent Ground State, Cell (2009), doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2009.07.039

Feb 2009 - Scientists fight for academic freedom

EuroSyStem scientist Elena Cattaneo challenges Italian government

The Italian government has excluded human embryonic stem cells from a recent 8-million-Euro funding opportunity for stem cell biologists. Elena Cattaneo and two other Italian scientists are challenging this decision in court. Their initial appeal was rejected and they are now taking the case to the State Council.

The call was made public in February 2009. The text was initially prepared by a committee of stem cell scientists appointed by the government, and this committee's version included research on stem cells from all legal sources. However, when the 8-million-Euro funding call was made public, a sentence had been introduced that explicitly excluded research on human embryonic stem cells.

Research on embryonic stem cells is legal in Italy. The three Italian scientists opposing the funding exclusion say it violates their constitutional rights and puts academic freedom at risk. Austin Smith from EuroSyStem and Peter Andrews of ESTOOLS have stated their support for the scientists' action against this exclusion.

Read more about this action and how you can support it

July 2009 - Open letter to Senior Editors of peer-review journals

EuroSyStem scientists join with colleagues in a call to improve the peer review process

Members of EuroSyStem have joined with other leading stem cell researchers in an open letter to peer-review journals publishing in the field of stem cell biology.  The letter, which was sent to senior editors of 10  key journals, calls for improved transparency in the peer review process. 

Austin Smith and his 13 co-signatories say in their letter:

"We suggest a simple step that would greatly improve transparency, fairness and accountability; when a paper is published, the reviews, response to reviews and associated editorial correspondence could be provided as Supplementary Information, while preserving anonymity of the referees. We note that this procedure has recently been adopted by The EMBO Journal. We wish to encourage other journals to follow suit and would like to hear your considered opinions."

You can view the full letter and post your comments at http://eurostemcell.org/commentanalysis/peer-review

Alternatively, download the letter here.

7 July 2009 - EuroSyStem meets the public in Barcelona

Tariq Enver led a dynamic discussion at the ISSCR Public Symposium

Approximately 150 people attended the ISSCR Public Symposium in Barcelona, organised and run with the support of EuroSyStem. Participants were treated to a multimedia event involving a photographic exhibition, short films and an audience-panel discussion with a group of stem cell scientists.

The event began with an opportunity to see the 'Smile of a Stem cell' exhibition created by research project ESTOOLS. Members then moved into the state-of-the-art auditorium at the CosmoCaixa science museum, where they saw two short films: the award-winning film 'A Stem Cell Story' and a first-ever viewing of a soon-to-be-released film on induced pluripotent stem cells.

EuroSyStem scientist Tariq Enver led an open discussion between an expert panel and members of the public after each film was shown. Questions from the audience stimulated a wide-ranging discussion on stem cell science, it's current status and possible future developments.

The EU-funded FP7 projects OptiStem and NeuroStemcell also supported the event, making this a truly collaborative effort by European stem cell researchers, working with the ISSCR.

Download the full event programme, with panel details

3 July 2009 - EuroSyStem meets school students in Dorset, UK

Tariq Enver visits Bryanston School

EuroSyStem Principal Investigator Tariq Enver, and Communications Manager Emma Kemp visited Bryanston School in Dorset, UK, to talk stem cells with 15-17 year old science students. The students watched “A Stem Cell Story” and were so keen to ask questions that Tariq almost didn't get home that night!

Students raised questions such as:

• What are the factors that control cell differentiation?
• Where are stem cells found?
• Might using stem cells in therapy cause cancer?

Their teachers were also fascinated, and were impressed by how engaged their students were with the topic. The students are all studying biology at school post-16: perhaps they'll be the next generation of stem cell scientists?

25 June 2009 - Stem cell: what's in a name?

Shahragim Tajbakhsh comments on terminology in Nature Reports Stem Cells

When do we call a cell -  stem cell? What about 'progenitors' and 'precursors'? In the fast-moving field of stem cell biology, even veteran researchers can get lost in the maze of terms applied without any clear consensus on the cellular entity that they should represent.

In a commentary published in Nature Reports Stem Cells on 25 June 2009, Shahragim Tajbakhsh examines the history of some of the key terms in stem cell biology, and suggests how we might begin to unpick the knots in current naming practices.

(Image by Jessica Kolman, courtesy of Nature Reports Stem Cells)

Publication details:

Stem cell: what's in a name? Shahragim Tajbakhsh, Nature Reports Stem Cells, Published online: 25 June 2009, doi:10.1038/stemcells.2009.90

June 2009 - Stem cells in the gut: an animated film

A visually stunning short animation of how stem cells work in the gut

Hans Clevers' lab has produced a short animated film to illustrate how stem cells work in the gut. The visually stunning film helps scientists explain this important area of research to the informed non-specialist. No commentary is included, so the presenting scientist is free to provide an explanation appropriate to the audience. The film acts as an extremely valuable visual tool that enhances and clarifies verbal explanations.

The film covers:

• The clonal conveyor belt of the intestinal crypt - constant regeneration of the gut lining by cycling stem cells every 5 days throughout your lifetime ensures the gut remains healthy
• Apoptosis (programmed cell death) at the tips of the villi - we lose grams of tissue every day in this way, which needs to be constantly replaced by the stem cells buried in the crypts
• Adenoma (benign tumour) formation - driven by mutational activation of the Wnt signalling pathway in intestinal stem cells

You can download the complete 3.5-minute film or a set of shorter clips, each covering a single concept from within film.

Download the full animation

Download short concept clips

April 2009 - European Stem Cell Group founded

EuroSyStem calls for Associate PIs to join the new European Stem Cell Group

The new European Stem Cell Group aims to bring together basic stem cell researchers from across Europe, and encourage cross-disciplinary collaboration.

Membership benefits

Group members will become Associate Principal Investigators (APIs) of EuroSyStem and will have access to a whole host of EuroSyStem resources:

• Annual closed meeting
• Exchange of ideas with other experts
• Work groups for pre-publication discussion
• Bursary scheme for exchanges visits
• Specialist data management and analysis tools
• Training courses

The 2009 call for members is now closed

20 membership places are available in 2009 by open call, and 20 more will be made available from 2010. The group aims to be self-sustaining  by the end of EuroSyStem in 2012.

Download the full membership information

11 Jan 2009 - Interview with Ingo Roeder, Leipzig

EuroSyStem brings theory and experiment together

BioInform recently spoke with Ingo Roeder, one of the organizers of the EuroSyStem Workshop "Workshop in Computational Approaches to Stem Cell Biology I", which explored methods, data management tools, and theoretical approaches in the area of computational stem cell biology.

For the full interview on BioInform's website click here.