TELECOM & BIOTECHNOLOGY: Marin biotechs move toward stem cells

Research increases as Bay Area becomes center of $3 billion project

NORTH BAY – As stem cell researchers convene in California to take advantage of funding and a less-restrictive atmosphere, more activity is occurring in the North Bay.

President Bush recently vetoed a bill to allow federal government funding for embryonic stem cell research. So California is still a beacon to human stem cell researchers who wish to pursue their investigations in the U.S.

The state has allocated $3 billion for research into one of the most promising fields of study since genomics. With San Francisco chosen as the home to the newly formed California Institute of Regenerative Medicine, the North Bay's proximity is bound to feel the ripple effects.

In fact, several companies and organizations in Marin County have already initiated stem cell projects of their own and hope to benefit – directly or indirectly – from the state funds.

One company hoping to supply stem cell lines to developers of regenerative therapies is Marin Biologic Laboratories Inc. in Tiburon.

The long-time provider of contract research for pharmaceutical developers is now culturing adult or embryonic stem cells and monitoring the differentiation markers for therapy development.

The "homing activities" in cells developed by Marin Biologic's scientists can act as a delivery system for cancer therapies, hormone replacement or insulin production.

The entry into stem cell development and customization is expected to bring significant expansion to Marin Biologics, which is contemplating a larger facility, perhaps in Novato, said President and CEO Tania Weiss.

Another promising area of stem cell research is growing skin for grafts, a process that could save the lives of severe burn victims.

Xgene in Sausalito has patented a method of growing both the inner and outer layers of tissue that cover the human frame and organs.

The startup has formed an agreement with Alameda-based Advanced Cell Technology, a stem cell company that recently relocated to California.

Advanced Cell President Michael West, Ph.D, collaborated with Xgene founder Warren Hoeffler at Stanford.

"We have the ability to reproduce the stem cells, and Xgene can build the skin," said Dr. West. "The collaboration has the potential of growing human skin that can regenerate itself, something that only embryonic stem cells can do. The implications for healing or reducing scarring are huge.

"Also, there's the potential to grow tissue that would be closer to human skin than any ever made before, and far less likely to be rejected in the case of grafting."

For Xgene, the collaboration has the added advantage of providing a steady source of potential skin cells.

"Human embryonic stem cells have unlimited potential. If they can be directed to act as early skin cells, the cells present in the first few weeks of fetal development, they could regenerate completely if damaged. At no other time during life do cells have that capability," said Dr. West.

Finally, the Novato-based Buck Institute, which does early stage research on the causes and diseases of aging, would like to expand studies on the efficacy of human stem cells to retard or reverse Alzheimer’s and other neurological diseases.

“We have a good record in stem cell research and a strong program,” said the Buck Institute's David Greenberg, M.D., Ph.D, professor and vice president for special research programs.

The Buck was the first to identify increased birth of new nerve cells in humans with Alzheimer's in a study published late last year. More recently, scientists at the institute demonstrated that mice with an inherited form of Alzheimer's may try to heal their damaged brains by growing new nerve cells.