Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

National Stem Cell Foundation of Australia @ausstemcell.bsky.social · 7h

Congratulations to Declan Turner from the Rhiannon Werder Lab reNEW Melbourne for winning #ARTxSCIENCE2025 with ‘A Deep Breath’: renew.science/artxscience/...
Rhiannon is one of our 2024 Metcalf Prize winners: www.stemcellfoundation.net.au/rhiannon_wer...
We're announcing 2025 winners next month.

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National Stem Cell Foundation of Australia @ausstemcell.bsky.social · 1d

'John B. Gurdon, 92, Dies; Nobelist Paved Way for Cloning of Animals’ – @nytimes.com commemorates the scientist whose work ‘laid the foundation for stem cell biology and regenerative medicine’: www.nytimes.com/2025/10/07/s...

John B. Gurdon, 92, Dies; Nobelist Paved Way for Cloning of Animals

www.nytimes.com

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National Stem Cell Foundation of Australia @ausstemcell.bsky.social · 2d

We're proud to support @asscr.bsky.social Rising Stars 🌟🌟
Congratulations to Ana and Kevin 👏

Australasian Society for Stem Cell Research (ASSCR) @asscr.bsky.social · 3d

🌟 Congratulations to our 2025 #ASSCR Rising Star Award winners – Dr Ana Núñez Nescolarde (Harry Perkins Institute) & Dr Kevin Law (Universty of Sydney)! 👏
Honoured for excellence in stem cell research & leadership.
Thanks to NSCFA for their support! 🧬✨
#StemCells #RisingStars

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National Stem Cell Foundation of Australia @ausstemcell.bsky.social · 2d

‘Scientists grow mini human brains to power computers’ – BBC News reports on ‘biocomputing’ using stem cells to create lab-grown brain organoids which are ‘attached to an electrode and them prompted to respond to simple keyboard commands’: www.bbc.com/news/article...

Scientists race to make 'living' computers powered by human cells

BBC News goes inside the lab powering computers with 'mini brains' grown from human cells.

www.bbc.com

National Stem Cell Foundation of Australia @ausstemcell.bsky.social · 6d

The Foundation and Cerebral Palsy Alliance are backing Associate Professor Atul Malhotra on his mission to develop cellular therapy aimed at repairing brain injury associated with preterm births. Read about his clinical trial using umbilical cord blood: stemcellfoundation.net.au/atul_malhotr...

National Stem Cell Foundation of Australia @ausstemcell.bsky.social · 7d

‘Scientists Use Electricity To “Reprogram” the Immune System for Faster Healing’ – Trinity College Dublin team shows electrical stimulation to macrophages can help suppress inflammation and boost stem cell recruitment into wounds: scitechdaily.com/scientists-u...
Paper: doi.org/10.1016/j.xc...

Scientists Use Electricity To “Reprogram” the Immune System for Faster Healing

Trinity College Dublin scientists showed that electrical stimulation reprograms macrophages to reduce inflammation and boost healing. This breakthrough could lead to broad therapeutic uses. Researcher...

scitechdaily.com

Reposted by National Stem Cell Foundation of Australia

Australasian Society for Stem Cell Research (ASSCR) @asscr.bsky.social · 19d

Congratulations to the 2025 Catalyst Prize winners!
The team led by Christine Wells at University of Melbourne has been recognised by ASSCR for their exceptional impact in stem cell research over the past 5 years.

#StemCellResearch #ASSCR #CatalystPrize #ResearchExcellence #Australasia

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Reposted by National Stem Cell Foundation of Australia

Australasian Society for Stem Cell Research (ASSCR) @asscr.bsky.social · 12d

⏳ Early bird registration closes in 1 week on 3rd October for ASSCR 2025.

📅 10–12 Nov | 📍 QT Gold Coast
Theme: Riding the Stem Cell Wave – from Innovation to Translation
🎟️ Register now: www.asscrmeeting.com.au/registration

#ASSCR2025 #tSemCells #ScientificMeeting #InnovationToTranslation

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Reposted by National Stem Cell Foundation of Australia

ISSCR @isscr.org · 7d

Join the ISSCR for 2026 & get member benefits for the rest of 2025 at no cost! Connect with a global community of scientists, clinicians, industry professionals, students, and postdocs advancing stem cell research and regenerative medicine.

Learn more👉 www.isscr.org/membership

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National Stem Cell Foundation of Australia @ausstemcell.bsky.social · 8d

‘Researchers produce human eggs from skin cells in scientific first’ – US researchers turn DNA from human skin cells into ‘functional’ eggs able to be fertilised by sperm in a lab: www.abc.net.au/news/science...
Paper: doi.org/10.1038/s414...
@ohsunews.bsky.social

Human embryo made with skin may one day produce two-dad babies

Scientists have used human skin cells to produce functional eggs using a new scientific technique they say could one day help infertile people have their own biological children.

www.abc.net.au

National Stem Cell Foundation of Australia @ausstemcell.bsky.social · 9d

‘Swapping old immune cells in the brain with fresh ones could treat disease’ – Interesting read in Nature following a ‘a spate of new studies’ on potential for immune cells called microglia to address brain conditions including Alzheimer’s disease: www.nature.com/articles/d41...

Swapping old immune cells in the brain with fresh ones could treat disease

Replacing immune cells called microglia holds promise for addressing brain conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease.

www.nature.com

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National Stem Cell Foundation of Australia @ausstemcell.bsky.social · 9d

‘AI reveals hidden features of a developing embryo model’ – University of Michigan team uses AI to examine culture data of human embryoids: www.eurekalert.org/news-release...
Paper: doi.org/10.1126/scia...
@umich.edu

AI reveals hidden features of a developing embryo model

A paper from the lab of Jianping Fu, Ph.D. of the University of Michigan Medical School uses artificial intelligence to uncover hidden features of the developing embryo.

www.eurekalert.org

National Stem Cell Foundation of Australia @ausstemcell.bsky.social · 10d

‘NASA is sending human cells to the Moon on high-tech microchips that mimic astronaut organs’ – Organ-on-a-chip tests aim to ‘help NASA prepare targeted protections for each crew member based on real biological responses’ in deep space: www.earth.com/news/nasa-av...

NASA is sending human cells to the Moon on high-tech microchips that mimic astronaut organs

NASA's AVATAR study will send Emulate organ chips containing human cells on the Artemis II mission to study how deep space affects health.

www.earth.com

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National Stem Cell Foundation of Australia @ausstemcell.bsky.social · 10d

‘Banking baby teeth: companies may be misleading parents with outrageous claims’ – @bmj.com investigation raises concerns about UK companies advertising the value of tooth banking services to parents, including possible treatments for autism and diabetes: doi.org/10.1136/bmj....

Banking baby teeth: companies may be misleading parents with “outrageous claims”

Experts are concerned by claims—including possible future treatments for autism and diabetes—made about the value of banking baby teeth. Emma Wilkinson reports Video 1 Journalist Emma Wilkinson jo...

doi.org

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National Stem Cell Foundation of Australia @ausstemcell.bsky.social · 13d

‘The mini placentas and ovaries revealing the basics of women’s health’ – interesting read in Nature on ways lab-made organoids that mimic reproductive tissues ‘could point to treatments for common conditions such as pre-eclampsia and endometriosis’: doi.org/10.1038/d415...

The mini placentas and ovaries revealing the basics of women’s health

Lab-made organoids that mimic reproductive tissues could point to treatments for common conditions such as pre-eclampsia and endometriosis.

doi.org

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National Stem Cell Foundation of Australia @ausstemcell.bsky.social · 14d

‘Hidden Plant Stem Cells Could Hold the Key to Feeding the Future’ – US scientists at Cold Spring Harbour Laboratory discover hidden stem cell regulators connected to growth and crop size: scitechdaily.com/hidden-plant...
Paper: doi.org/10.1016/j.de...
@cshlnews.bsky.social

Hidden Plant Stem Cells Could Hold the Key to Feeding the Future

Plant scientists discovered hidden stem cell regulators tied to growth and crop size. Their breakthrough could transform how we grow food, fuel, and resilient harvests.

scitechdaily.com

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National Stem Cell Foundation of Australia @ausstemcell.bsky.social · 16d

‘Bayer moves Parkinson's cell therapy into Phase III trial’ – News wire @thomsonreutersnews.bsky.social reports on 'the third phase of human testing of an experimental stem cell therapy for Parkinson’s disease': www.reuters.com/business/hea...

Bayer moves Parkinson's cell therapy into Phase III trial

Bayer has started the third phase of human testing of an experimental stem cell therapy for Parkinson's disease, with future results potentially underpinning a request for regulatory approval, the company said on Monday.

www.reuters.com

National Stem Cell Foundation of Australia @ausstemcell.bsky.social · 16d

‘If tiny lab-grown 'brains' became conscious, would it still be OK to experiment on them?’ – Coverage following a perspective paper on the possibility of consciousness in human brain organoids: www.livescience.com/health/neuro...
Perspective paper: doi.org/10.1016/j.pa...

If tiny lab-grown 'brains' became conscious, would it still be OK to experiment on them?

A perspective paper published this week argued that brain organoids could soon gain consciousness, and we should consider stricter regulations around them.

www.livescience.com

National Stem Cell Foundation of Australia @ausstemcell.bsky.social · 17d

‘The quite simple way this group of Australians could save lives’ – SBS News reports on calls by the Leukaemia Foundation for young people aged 18 to 35 to urgently consider stem cell donation: www.sbs.com.au/news/article...
September is #bloodcancer month.

The 'quite simple' way this group of Australians could save lives

Australians receiving treatment for "urgent" and "critical" diseases are having to wait for people overseas to make life-saving donations.

www.sbs.com.au

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National Stem Cell Foundation of Australia @ausstemcell.bsky.social · 17d

‘UniSA scientists awarded $2.9m to investigate genetic causes of deadly childhood brain cancer’ – Stem cell technology will be used to investigate genetic abnormalities in children with diffuse midline glioma to identify better treatment options: www.unisa.edu.au/media-centre...

UniSA scientists awarded $2.9m to investigate genetic causes of deadly childhood brain cancer

UniSA scientists will use a $2.9 million Federal Government grant to uncover the genetic drivers of the deadliest childhood brain cancer.

www.unisa.edu.au

National Stem Cell Foundation of Australia @ausstemcell.bsky.social · 20d

‘Scientists make most authentic kidney replicas so far’ – University of Southern California team develops organoids that ‘could help scientists study how kidneys develop and function, probe their diseases, and test therapies: www.science.org/content/arti...
Paper: doi.org/10.1016/j.st...

Scientists make most authentic kidney replicas so far

Lab-grown organoids reproduce some of a kidney’s internal structure and function

www.science.org

Reposted by National Stem Cell Foundation of Australia

Allen Institute @alleninstitute.org · 23d

What is open science? 🤔

To celebrate #OpenScienceWeek, we're sharing why we give away our data, protocols, and resources to everyone.

Featuring our #openscience friends at @chanzuckerberg.bsky.social, NASA, @addgene.bsky.social, and NIH.

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National Stem Cell Foundation of Australia @ausstemcell.bsky.social · 24d

‘3D printed mini-placentas offer a new way to study pregnancy complications’ – University of Technology Sydney researchers create placental organoids that ‘shed light on complications like preeclampsia’: theconversation.com/3d-printed-m...
Paper: doi.org/10.1038/s414...

3D printed mini-placentas offer a new way to study pregnancy complications

‘Placental organoids’ may help research into the early stages of pregnancy and life-threatening conditions like preeclampsia.

theconversation.com

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National Stem Cell Foundation of Australia @ausstemcell.bsky.social · 28d

‘Tiny Lab-Grown Spinal Cords Could Hold the Key to Healing Paralysis’ – US researchers combine 3D printing, stem cell science and lab-grown tissues to explore a new approach for treating spinal cord injuries: scitechdaily.com/tiny-lab-gro...
Paper: doi.org/10.1002/adhm...

Tiny Lab-Grown Spinal Cords Could Hold the Key to Healing Paralysis

Scientists used 3D-printed scaffolds and stem cells to regrow nerve fibers across severed spinal cords in rats, restoring function and pointing to a promising new path for treating paralysis.

scitechdaily.com

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National Stem Cell Foundation of Australia @ausstemcell.bsky.social · 29d

‘Stem cell discovery could be key to healing tough-to-fix fractures’ – @pennmedicine.bsky.social study reveals ability of a stem cell originating in skeletal muscle to turn into bone: www.pennmedicine.org/news/stem-ce...
Paper - doi.org/10.1073/pnas...

Stem cell discovery could be key to healing tough-to-fix fractures | Penn Medicine

The ability of a newly understood stem cell originating in skeletal muscle, Prg4+, to turn into bone could hold the key to bone healing after catastrophic fractures.

www.pennmedicine.org