In response to the expressed needs of our colleagues and customers, we now offer E18 primary Rat DRG tissue

DRGs culture on calf skin collagen

and related methods enabling researchers to make healthy and pure cultures of DRG Neurons.

 Primary Rat DRGs are live neurons isolated from micro-surgically dissected regions of day 18 embryonic Sprague/Dawley rat brain. These cells are prepared fresh each week and shipped in a nutrient rich medium that keeps the cells alive for up to 14 days under refrigeration.

Please note: It is important to review Protocol/Datasheet prior to ordering. There is a unique step for making the dissociation enzyme solution. Do not hesitate to call or e-mail me (612-801-1007 or pshuster@neuromics.com) should you have questions.

References: A dissection and Tissue Culture Manual of the Nervous System (1989). A. Shahar, J.D. Vellis, A. Vernadakis, B. Haber (Eds.), Dissociated Spinal Cord – Dorsal Root Ganglion Cultures on Plastic Tissue Culture Dishes and Glass Coverslips and Wells (pp.219-222). Wiley-Liss, Inc. J.L. Werth,
S.A. Thayer (1994) Mitrochondria Buffer Physiological Calcium Loads in Cultured Rat Dorsal Root Ganglion Neurons, The Journal of Neuroscience, 14(1), 348-356

Dr. Matthew Ramer

I dream of the day that people suffering from spinal cord injuries (SCIs) will be restored to full function. The good news is there are researchers and dedicated centers that form the back-bone of SCI repair research.

I am excited and honored to be featuring Dr. Matthew Ramer for this month’s backstory. Matt is a member of ICORD (International Collaboration On Repair Discoveries) at the University of British Columbia. ICORD is an interdisciplinary research centre for the development of effective strategies to promote functional recovery after spinal cord injury. This includes  the discovery and implementation of relevant solutions to improve functional recovery, mobility, community integration and quality of life for people with spinal cord injury.

Matt’s research focus is on the molecular biology of primary sensory nerve cells (neurons). These neurons are responible for sensation. These include touch, pain, temperature, etc. These neurons transmit sensation to the brain via the spinal cord. It is this transmission that enables us to process the sensation. Similar transmissions happen in the case of locomotion.

Matt’s research helps us better understand the mechanism of these transmissions. More importantly, his work includes finding ways to regenerate and repair neurons. These are steps in improving the outcome of sufferes of SCI.

Nicolas Beaudet

Neuromics has been helping researchers make “gains on pain” from day one. Our initial sales were Opioid Receptor Antibdies licensed from Dr. Robert Elde’s lab at the University of Minnesota.

From this start, we have expanded our expertise and products. Our reputation in this area has resulted in our forming collaborations and friendships with research teams doing important work in chronic and nociceptive pain research.

Over the past several years, I have worked closely with Dr. Nicolas Beaudet, a member of Dr. Philippe Sarret’s team, at the University of Sherbrooke”. In our next backstory we will feature the vangaurd work they are doing on the Neurotensin (NTS) Receptors and pain.

Manipulation of these receptors-NTS-1, NTS-2 and NTS-3 could represent a therapy for pain independent of the opioid pathway. This means pain could be treated without narcotics meaning a reduction of side effects from current treatments including addiction to pain killers.

Podcast by ClearCast

This Podcast gives is a good primer on Embryonic Stem Cells (ESCs)…where they come from, how they are used and the promise they have for helping researchers cure human diseases.

The listener will gain insight how ECSs when manipulated into mature neuronal cell lines can accelerate the pace of neurological research for scientists working on treatments for spinal cord injuries and neurological diseases such as Parkinson’s, Huntington’s, Alzheimer’s, ALS and possibly even depression.

For our August Profile, I am honored to be featuring Dr. Steve Stice. I have had the pleasure of working with Dr. Stice both in his role as Professor and Director of the Regenerative Bioscience Center and Research Alliance Eminent Scholar endowed Chair at the University of Georgia and as Founder and Chief Scientific Officer at Aruna Biomedical.

He has over 16 years of research and development experience in biotechnology and is a co-founder of five biotechnology companies.  He was named one of the 100 Most Influential Georgians by Georgia Trend magazine.  He produced the first cloned rabbit in 1987 and the first cloned transgenic calves in 1998 (George and Charlie).  In 1997 his group produced the first genetically modified embryonic stem cell derived pigs and cattle.  This research led to publications in Science and Nature journals, national news coverage (CBS, NBC, ABC and CNN) and the first US patents on cloning animals and cattle embryonic stem cells.  In 2001, Dr. Stice announced the first cloned animal (calf) from an animal that was dead for 48 hours.  In 2005, his stem cell group published the first work on deriving motor neurons from stem cells.  Motor neurons are damaged lost during the progression of several diseases such as ALS and spinal muscular atrophy.  Throughout his career he has published and lectured on cloning and stem cell technologies.  Prior to joining the University of Georgia, Dr. Stice was a co-founder and Chief Scientific Officer at Advanced Cell Technology, a company developing cloning and stem cell technology.

Here is What is  Currently Hot in the Stice Lab:
New neural stem cells technology developed in my lab was transferred to a commercial entity, Aruna biomedical. This is the first commercialized product derived from human embryonic stem cell using federally approved stem cell lines.

• We have produced neurons that have neural functions
• We are working with the Navy to use our neural cells as biosensors for environmental toxins 
• We have vascular stem cells that have characteristics that may make them suitable for  transplantation
• We collaborate with a new company call Aruna BioMedical  that will stem cells for neural research and drug discovery
• Developed a method to test new compounds for Alzheimer’s disease using our neural stem cell
• We are one of five NIH stem cell training centers and have taught Scientists from Georgia to Bombay India new stem cell techniques
• In Georgia, we produced over 50 cloned calves and 100 cloned pigs.
• We were also the first to produce a clone from an animal that had been dead for 48 hours. This opens new opportunities in agriculture and preserving endangered species. 

Here’s a publication highlighting the roots of the story:

Dong Ho Kim, Mark Behlke, Scott Rose, Mi-Sook Chang, Sangdun Choi & John Rossi. Synthetic dsRNA Substrates Enhance RNAi Potency and Efficacy Nature Biotechnology. Published online 26 December 2004;doi10.1038/nbt1051.