Springer Neural Development and Stem Cells (Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine)

Authoritative and up-to-date in its 3rd edition, this book provides neuroscientists with a guide to stem cells in the nervous system, tracing with great clarity the development of stem cells from differentiation to neurons, astrocytes, and oligodendrocytes. Review Review From the Back Cover For the third edition of this work Dr. Rao and his fellow editors have worked diligently with the contributors to revise and expand each chapter.  Additional information about our understanding of the differentiation of pluripotent stem cells into the various neural cell types has been included. Particular attention has been focused on the chapters describing retinal epithelium and neuroglial differentiation, as these cells are currently being delivered in early phase clinical trials. Given the recent findings about the importance of cell death in tumorigenesis, the issue of cell death regulation in the nervous system has been further explored.  The issue of transdifferentiation has also been discussed and extensively updated given the recent findings on direct differentiation and reprogramming of cells. About the Author Mahendra S. Rao, MD, Ph.D Dr. Rao is internationally renowned for his research involving human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) and other somatic stem cells. He has worked in the stem cell field for more than 20 years, with stints in academia, government and regulatory affairs and industry. He received his M.D. from Bombay University in India and his Ph.D. in developmental neurobiology from the California Institute of Technology, Pasadena. Following postdoctoral training at Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, he established his research laboratory in neural development at the University of Utah, Salt Lake City. He next joined the National Institute on Aging as chief of the Neurosciences Section, where he studied neural progenitor cells and continued to explore his longstanding interest in their clinical potential. He then spent six years as the vice president of Regenerative Medicine at Life Technologies, Carlsbad, Calif. Most recently, he returned in August 2011 to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), as Director of the new NIH Center for Regenerative Medicine (NIH CRM). He co-founded Q Therapeutics, a neural stem cell company based in Salt Lake City. He also served internationally on advisory boards for companies involved in stem cell processing and therapy, on committees including the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Cellular Tissue and Gene Therapies Advisory Committee chair, and as the California Institute of Regenerative Medicine and International Society for Stem Cell Research liaison to the International Society for Cellular Therapy.   Melissa Carpenter, Ph. D. For the last 17 years, Dr. Carpenter has worked on the development of cell therapies using human adult and embryonic stem cells, in academia and industry, in the United States and Canada.  She has been involved with human embryonic stem cell (hESC) research since the field was established.  Her work involves discovery research and the translation of this research into therapeutics, including developing strategies for preclinical development and navigating the regulatory issues surrounding stem cell therapies. She has held leadership positions at 3 of the major stem cell companies: CytoTherapeutics, Inc (StemCells, Inc), Geron, Corp., and Novocell, Inc (Viacyte, Inc). Currently Dr. Carpenter is President of Carpenter Group Consulting and works with early stage companies, academic groups and investors to translate discovery based research into stem cell therapies.  She is credited with numerous publications and patents in the stem cell field.   Mohan C. Vemuri, Ph.D.Dr. Vemuri is currently the Director, Research and Development of Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine at Life Technologies. He has been with the company since 2006  in different R&D leadership roles and inst