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Keysight First to Gain Approval from 3GPP for 5G New Radio Protocol Test Cases that Support Carrier Aggregation – EE Journal

Posted on May 5, 2020 by Danzig

Keysights 5G network emulation solution supports the widest range of protocol conformance test cases validated by the Global Certification Forum

SANTA ROSA, Calif., May 4, 2020

Keysight Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: KEYS), a leading technology company that helps enterprises, service providers and governments accelerate innovation to connect and secure the world, announced that the company is the first to gain approval from 3GPP for 5G new radio (NR) protocol test cases that support carrier aggregation (CA) technology, using itsProtocol Conformance Toolset.

Keysights test cases were submitted on March 21, 2020 and verified by the 3GPPs RAN 5 working group, which works to establish conformance testing specifications for the radio interface of a user equipment (UE). Chipset and device makers rely on 3GPP-verified 5G NR protocol CA test cases to verify designs that use CA to increase bandwidth and support higher data rates. These test cases focus on 5G NR deployments using CA in non-standalone (NSA) and standalone (SA) mode in frequency range 1 (FR1) and FR2.

Keysight then submitted these test cases for verification at the most recent Conformance Agreement Group (CAG) #62 meeting, led by the Global Certification Forum (GCF) on April 23, 2020. There it was confirmed that Keysights Protocol Conformance Toolset maintains support for the widest range of GCF-validated protocol conformance test cases. Comprehensive test case support enables device makers to leverage Keysights common solution platform to verify designs that use different modes to address global requirements.

Keysight consistently supports the development of 5G technologies, such as carrier aggregation, enabling a connected mobile ecosystem to market devices that support advanced 5G applications, said Kailash Narayanan, vice president and general manager of Keysights wireless test group. Many mobile device makers use Keysights 5G solutions to access a comprehensive range of validated test cases for GCF certification acrossmultiple technologies, including 5G NR, LTE and C-V2X, on acommon solution platform.

Following the GCF meeting, it was confirmed that Keysights RF/RRM DVT & Conformance Toolset, part of the companys suite of 5G network emulation solutions, offers a leading number of GCF-validated 5G NR radio frequency (RF) test cases and bands. The toolset uniquely delivers GCF-validated RF test cases that enable users to verify compliance to theC-V2X standard as specified by 3GPP. As a result, the automotive industry can accelerate commercialization of connected cars and autonomous vehicles.

About Keysight Technologies

Keysight Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: KEYS) is a leading technology company that helps enterprises, service providers and governments accelerate innovation to connect and secure the world. Keysights solutions optimize networks and bring electronic products to market faster and at a lower cost with offerings from design simulation, to prototype validation, to manufacturing test, to optimization in networks and cloud environments. Customers span the worldwide communications ecosystem, aerospace and defense, automotive, energy, semiconductor and general electronics end markets. Keysight generated revenues of $4.3B in fiscal year 2019. More information is available atwww.keysight.com.

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Keysight First to Gain Approval from 3GPP for 5G New Radio Protocol Test Cases that Support Carrier Aggregation - EE Journal

Liberia: Chief Medical Officer Confirms the Investigation of Lab Technicians over ‘Leaked’ COVID-19 Results – Front Page Africa

Posted on May 5, 2020 by Danzig

Dr. Francis Kateh, Chief Medical Officer of Liberia says President George Weah is considered a low risk case despite his close proximity with Information Minister Lenn Eugene Nagbe few days prior to him being declared COVID-19 Positive. He said, testing for the President is a matter of choice

MONROVIA Liberias Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Francis Kateh, has confirmed an ongoing investigation involving lab technicians assigned at the laboratory of the National Public Health Institute (NPHIL) by the National Security Agency (NSA).

FrontPageAfrica recently gathered that several lab technicians and researchers are being probed by the NSA for allegedly releasing to the public results of coronavirus cases and information involving top government officials.

The lab technicians and researchers, who normally sleep on duty, are encountering difficulties in reaching their family members, loved ones, and others health authorities supervising them as a result of the seizure of their phones.

The situation has claimed the attention of the Liberia Association of Medical Laboratory Technology and the body has officially written Health Minister, Dr. Wilhelmina Jallah, to intervene into the matter.

Speaking to FrontPageAfrica via telephone on Sunday, Dr. Kateh termed as unhealthy the alleged disclosure of Covid-19 positive results of key government officials to the public.

Some investigations are going on. To what degree the investigations have gone, I dont know. Maybe after the investigations, it may come over to us. We all have to be very mindful of the kind of information that we put out, especially when it has the tendency to affect the public good.

He maintained that the release of unofficial information to the public during the fight against a pandemic has the propensity of stirring confusion in the country.

When quizzed whether or not the investigations are linked to the unofficial release of Covid-19 positive results of key government officials to the public by lab technicians, Dr. Kateh stated: I have no knowledge of that, but there are some analyses going on and I am sure at the appropriate time, the appropriate authority will inform the public.

From all of our analyses, His Excellency (Weah) is at low risk and so, we cannot ask him to give any sample. If he thinks that he needs to get his specimens done like any other citizen; you can also come and say look, I need my sample collected because I am not feeling too well; definitely we are under obligation to do that. If His Excellency asks us to do that, we will do that. But at this point medically, we see no reason why we should ask him to give his sample. The President is well and he is in full command of fighting Covid-19 in this country

He, however, said that the reported seizure of lab technicians phones is in no way negatively impacting the testing process and the overall combat against the coronavirus pandemic in Liberia.

Dr. Kateh pointed out that more samples are being tested as a result of the collective efforts of health authorities and lab technicians.

He further called for the laws of Liberia to take its course if lab technicians are found guilty of leaking sensitive health information to the public.

On Weahs test

For some time now, there have been public outcry on the need for President George Manneh Weah to submit to a Covid-19 test due to the close proximity he was with Information Minister Lenn Eugene Nagbe days before he was pronounced positive for COVID-19.

Dr. Kateh disclosed that President Weah has been identified as a low risk and as such, there is no need for him to submit his specimens for testing.

We determine who goes for test based on certain things. For example, if I am confirmed positive and you and I are very close friends and we have interacted. Based on our interaction, we can determine whether you are at higher risk. If you are at a higher risk, definitely you have no choice.

If you and I are friends and basically had interacted but based on the interaction and distance; remember you have to be six feet apart and based on that, the probability diminishes. We cannot classify you as a high risk. But we put you into a low risk category. For the low risk, we also give you advice and say look, if you have any kind of symptoms do not hesitate to let us know; we will come over and get a sample.

He maintained that the conduct of testing on President Weahs specimens can only be done at the will and pleasure of the Liberian Chief Executive.

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Liberia: Chief Medical Officer Confirms the Investigation of Lab Technicians over 'Leaked' COVID-19 Results - Front Page Africa

Hopeful for launch next year, NASA aims to resume SLS operations within weeks – Spaceflight Now

Posted on May 5, 2020 by Danzig

A crane hoisted the Space Launch System core stage into the B-2 test stand at NASAs Stennis Space Center in January. Credit: NASA/SSC

With the Space Launch Systems inaugural test flight now officially delayed to November 2021, NASA says work halted by the coronavirus pandemic will resume within weeks to prepare for the first test-firing of the SLS core stage at the Stennis Space Center in Mississippi.

The last official schedule from NASA had the first SLS test launch in March 2021, but managers have said for months that schedule was no longer achievable. After a thorough review, NASA says the first SLS launch named Artemis 1 is now planned in November of next year.

The most powerful launch vehicle since the Apollo-era Saturn 5 moon rocket, the Space Launch System will carry an unpiloted Orion crew capsule into space. The Orion spaceship will orbit the moon to demonstrate the capsules capabilities and performance before NASA commits to flying astronauts around the moon on the second SLS/Orion flight in late 2022 or early 2023.

According to NASAs current plans, the Artemis 3 mission scheduled as soon as 2024 will send astronauts back to the moon on the third SLS/Orion flight. Once in lunar orbit, crew members will dock with a lunar lander and attempt a landing near the moons south pole.

But the development of the Space Launch System, which kicked off in 2011, has faced ballooning costs, delays and a change in strategy ordered after the Trump administration took office in 2017. Since then, the White House has directed NASA to accelerate the return of U.S. astronauts to the lunar surface to 2024.

Years behind schedule, the march toward the first SLS test launch hit another hurdle in March when NASA ordered teams at the Stennis Space Center to pause operations on the B-2 test stand, where the heavy-lift rockets core stage arrived in January from its factory in New Orleans.

We basically shut down operations there March 17, said Doug Loverro, associate administrator for NASAs human exploration and operations mission directorate.

Originally scheduled for a debut test launch in 2017, the Space Launch System has faced repeated delays, primarily due to difficulties in building the rockets first flight-ready main stage, a large structure with cryogenic liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen propellant tanks measuring 212 feet (64.6 meters) long.

The core stage built by Boeing finally left its factory at NASAs Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans earlier this year. In January, the stage arrived at the B-2 test stand at Stennis, the same facility once used for test-firings of the main stage of NASAs Apollo-era Saturn 5 moon rocket.

Before the pandemic hit, NASA and contractor teams were readying for a test-firing of the SLS core stages four hydrogen-fueled RS-25 main engines as soon as early August. Known as the green run, the test is the culmination of the core stages construction and test campaign before delivery of the rocket to the Kennedy Space Center in Florida to final launch preparations.

In mid-March, rising numbers cases of the COVID-19 viral disease in the area around the Stennis Space Center including the first confirmed positive case among the Stennis workforce prompted NASA to stop work on the test stand. NASA also paused production of hardware for subsequent SLS launches at Michoud.

Theres no question were going to lose some time to (the coronavirus pandemic), but weve tried to go ahead and maximize what weve got done, Loverro said in an interview Wednesday. And were right now working the reopening plans For each activity that were doing, we are putting together a specific plan.

In a sign that operations at Stennis are beginning to resume, Loverro said NASA has approved the painting of a different test stand used to to test-fire individual RS-25 engines that are used on the SLS core stage.

We have three other plans in work right now that will be submitted later this week to restart work at MAF (the Michoud Assembly Facility), and restart work at Stennis in different areas, Loverro said.

We are going to be resuming work on the B-2 test stand in support of green run within the next couple of weeks, Loverro said. It wont be at full speed, but it will be done in a safe manner so we can protect our Boeing and NASA workers down there. And we will work on the engine section, well work on the thermal protection system. Each element will be started when we have the plans and the gear ready to protect those workers.

Loverro said NASA and contractor teams continued with virtual training sessions and reviewed paperwork.

Its often the case in these developments that the last thing that gets done is the paperwork, so we decided that wed get ahead on the paperwork and get a lot of it signed off. And the software development has still continued as well, he said.

Loverro, a veteran manager in U.S. military space programs, led a comprehensive review of the SLS and Orion schedules since arriving at NASA late last year.

We went through an entire re-baseline of the program, he said. We looked at every schedule, and we came to the conclusion that we had a very high confidence date of November 2021.

Theres no question the COVID shutdown puts pressure on that date that we had not anticipated, Loverro said. I would say the work and the experience that Boeing has done so far in green run gives me great hope and confidence that they are going to get back into this and get us very near to the original schedule on this.

He said NASA and Boeing teams at Stennis were working 10 days ahead of schedule during the green run test campaign before the shutdown in March.

So performance was excellent, Loverro said. Assuming we can get back to work in the next several weeks, I think that November 2021 date is still going to hold.

Development of the Orion spacecraft, led by Lockheed Martin and Airbus Defense and Space, has encountered its own delays. But the spaceship is on track to be ready to begin Artemis 1 launch preparations within the next few months, well ahead of the SLS timeline.

The Orion spacecraft for Artemis 1 arrived back at the Kennedy Space Center in March after thermal vacuum and electromagnetic testing at NASAs Plum Brook Station in Ohio.

We were able to continue with Orion using the right protective gear to make sure we took care of our people and the Lockheed people, Loverro said. We were able to continue with that, not as we would normally do it. But under very safe conditions, we were able to continue work there, and in fact have progressed.

A Government Accountability Office report released this week said one of the top remaining technical risks with the Space Launch Systems core stage is that the rocket may develop leaks when filled with cryogenic liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen for the first time.

NASA plans to load 730,000 gallons super-cold propellants into the rocket during a rehearsal for the green run test-firing. If all goes according to plan, engineers would follow the fueling test called a wet dress rehearsal with another propellant load culminating in a burn of all four RS-25 main engines lasting more than eight minutes.

The next big unknown as a program is when we put the cryogenic liquids in the oxygen tank and the hydrogen tank, and we look at the plumbing and all the systems and make sure that they remain tight, and that they perform as expected through our qualification test, said John Shannon, Boeings SLS program manager, in January. We have high confidence that they will, but until you see it in an integrated fashion, you dont really know.

NASA has spent more than $15 billion on developing the Space Launch System since 2011.

The program reported further development cost growth of $700 million since 2019, for a total increase of approximately $1.7 billion or 24.6 percent above the programs development baseline, the GAO reported of the SLS program this week.

Those figures assumed the SLS could lift for the first time in March 2021, a schedule that is no longer achievable.

Email the author.

Follow Stephen Clark on Twitter: @StephenClark1.

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Hopeful for launch next year, NASA aims to resume SLS operations within weeks - Spaceflight Now

The UAE is going to Mars. Here’s the plan for its Hope orbiter. – Space.com

Posted on May 5, 2020 by Danzig

The United Arab Emirates had its sights set on Mars the day before it launched its second satellite ever.

The resulting mission, a Mars orbiter dubbed Hope, has finished construction and is scheduled to launch this summer among a rush of spacecraft bound for the Red Planet. If all goes well, the UAE will become the fourth or fifth country to orbit Mars next February. While the country's newly minted scientists are dedicated to learning something new about Mars, inquiry wasn't the motivation for the mission.

"Going to Mars was not the main objective," Omran Sharaf, mission lead for the Hope spacecraft, which is also known as the Emirates Mars Mission, told Space.com. "It's a means for a bigger goal: to expedite the development in our educational sector, academic sector."

Related: Meet Hope: The UAE's first spacecraft bound for Mars is now complete

Sharaf first heard about the Mars plan in November 2013, as he was preparing to see his prior project, an Earth-observing satellite called DubaiSat-2, launch. The Hope mission began with an order from UAE Prime Minister Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum: Send a UAE-built science probe to Mars before the country's 50th anniversary in December 2021, within a set budget.

There were other constraints too: "The science needs to be unique. Whatever you do, it shouldn't be something that's been done before," Sharaf said the prime minister directed. "We should build it and not buy it, and work with others, don't start from scratch."

Jumping from Earth orbit to Mars in less than a decade is quite a leap, but a purposeful one for the UAE, which turned its gaze to spaceflight in 2006. "Only 50% of those missions [to Mars] succeed," Sarah Al Amiri, science lead for the mission and the UAE's minister of state for advanced sciences, told Space.com. "It provides the mindset that the UAE needed to have in youth who are going to be a vital part of the UAE's post-oil economy. It's about expanding their horizons and putting them in challenges at a time when the UAE is relatively comfortable as a nation."

The mission is, after all, timed to celebrate the nation's 50th anniversary. "We need to catch up with nations that have been around for centuries," Al Amiri said.

As the Hope mission grew from proposal to project, team members began building connections with Mars scientists who could help them shape the goals of the spacecraft and with seasoned Mars-goers who could teach them how to design and build the probe.

For the latter, the UAE space center signed on with the University of Colorado Boulder's Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics, impressed by center members' experience with Mars missions and demonstrated ability to foster less experienced team members into full-fledged participants.

For help with the science side of things, UAE representatives reached out to the Mars Exploration Program Analysis Group, an advisory group convened by NASA that includes scientists from around the world. In particular, the Hope team members needed to identify a scientifically valuable task that was feasible for this mission.

"We're not there just to declare arrival to Mars," Al Amiri said. "It doesn't really make sense to call it planetary exploration and just make it about technology demonstration and about arrival."

From that consultation, Al Amiri and her colleagues found a mission for the mission. "There was a large gap in the complete understanding of the atmosphere of Mars," she said. "We don't have a full understanding of the weather system of Mars throughout an entire year."

Previous and current missions have gathered observations of the Martian weather, but only a couple of times throughout a day, Al Amiri said. These measurements have often come from surface missions and so are quite limited geographically. Weather is too complex and interconnected for scientists to really get a handle on how it works from such piecemeal data.

So, Hope aims to monitor what's happening in the Martian atmosphere for a full local year, including making connections between layers of the atmosphere. That will help scientists understand not only Martian weather, but also how Mars has lost some of its atmosphere over billions of years of planetary history.

"That science was a sweet spot for us," Al Amari said. "You're complementary to other current missions, so you maximize the benefit that scientists are going to get globally from this mission, because it feeds into the current areas of research and expands on human knowledge as a whole."

The goal of integrating data collected across layers of the Martian atmosphere means that Hope's three instruments a camera sensitive to optical and ultraviolet wavelengths and spectrometers tuned to infrared and to ultraviolet light need to take simultaneous measurements that scientists can stack together.

To facilitate that process, Hope carries all its instruments on the same arm. The spacecraft also has a precisely tuned 55 hourlong orbit that enables two different views of Mars: One in which the planet rotates beneath the spacecraft, and one in which the spacecraft keeps pace and watches the same spot over time, Al Amiri said. That combination of views should make it easier for scientists to put together a complete map of the Martian atmosphere, she said.

Hope is scheduled to launch in late July or early August the same window being targeted by NASA's Perseverance rover and China's first Mars mission, Tianwen. Until March, the European Space Agency and Russia were also in on the Red Planet rush with their joint ExoMars mission. But parachute problems had plagued the ExoMars mission for months, and with the travel restrictions prompted by the coronavirus pandemic, mission personnel weren't confident they could be addressed in time. The mission is now scheduled to launch in 2022.

The Hope mission has also had to contend with pandemic complications, Sharaf said. "The coronavirus has definitely brought a different level of challenge into all this," he said. "We thought that this phase would be the quiet phase, that we would be preparing for the launch, and it turns out that it's not really the quiet phase because of COVID-19."

As of late April, the spacecraft has arrived in Japan, from where it will launch aboard a Mitsubishi Heavy Industries H-IIA rocket. The spacecraft headed over earlier than originally planned to ensure it didn't get caught in a pandemic-related hold-up.

The team also had to adjust its staffing plans. Rather than having teams bounce between the UAE and Japan, the agency sent a smaller team to Japan early enough that they would clear quarantine when the spacecraft arrived; those personnel will remain for three months straight.

Even still, something could go wrong, Sharaf said, potentially interfering with the launch. If everything goes smoothly, Hope should reach Mars sometime in February the exact date hasn't been set yet. And if everything continues to go smoothly, the spacecraft will spend about two terrestrial years at work around the Red Planet, with a potential mission extension likely to be evaluated a year into orbit.

"I never even fathomed the minute possibility of doing this, I don't think any of us would have proposed to even say that 'OK, let's build a mission to Mars,'" Al Amiri said. "We would have thought incrementally, incrementally what's the next best thing. But incrementally never works here. If you did not leap, if you didn't push the bounds forward really, really fast you're not able to overcome challenges."

When asked how it felt to be looking ahead to the launch, especially with the US and China also targeting the Red Planet on the same time table, Sharaf said he is "Absolutely terrified, to be honest. Proud and optimistic, but terrified."

Email Meghan Bartels at mbartels@space.com or follow her @meghanbartels. Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom and on Facebook.

The UAE is going to Mars. Here's the plan for its Hope orbiter. - Space.com

UC Berkeley Lab to build NOAA space weather instrument – SpaceNews

Posted on May 5, 2020 by Danzig

SAN FRANCISCO The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration awarded a $7.5 million contract to the Space Sciences Laboratory at the University of California, Berkeley, to design, build and test an ion sensor for the Space Weather Follow-On (SWFO) Lagrange-1 mission.

Under the contract announced May 1, the Space Sciences Laboratory will build the Supra Thermal Ion Sensor in addition to supporting launch and on-orbit checkout of the instrument.

The Supra Thermal Ion Sensor is designed to measures solar energetic particles and provide advance warning if a shock wave produced by those particles is headed for Earth, where it could rattle the magnetosphere and threaten communications links, said Davin Larson Supra Thermal Ion Sensor principal investigator and Space Sciences Laboratory project scientist.

Larson also serves as instrument lead for Solar Energetic Particle (SEP), a sensor launched in 2013 on NASAs Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution. SEP measures the impact of those particles on the Martian atmosphere.

SWFO, a high priority mission for NOAAs Space Weather Prediction Center, is designed to gather solar wind data and coronal mass ejection imagery when the current generation of space weather instruments stops working.

SWFO is a scheduled to launch in 2024 as a rideshare on the NASA Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe, a mission to observe theacceleration of energetic particles and the interaction of solar wind and the interstellar medium.

NASAs Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland,serves as the flight system procurement agent for the SWFO program.

NOAA awarded a $12.9 million contract in April to the Southwest Research Institute to design and build the SWFO magnetometer.

Congress provided NOAA funding in the 2020 budget for SWFO, a mission intended to carry on work performed by NOAAs Deep Space Climate Observatory launched in 2015 and the joint European Space Agency-NASA Solar and Heliophysics Observatory launched in 1995.

UC Berkeley Lab to build NOAA space weather instrument - SpaceNews

Virgin Galactic readies space tourism trips with first Spaceport America flight – Digital Trends

Posted on May 5, 2020 by Danzig

Virgin Galactic has taken an important step toward the launch of its space tourism service after successfully completing the first test flight from Spaceport America the soon-to-be starting point for paying passengers trip of a lifetime.

The team previously launched test flights from Mojave, California, before relocating to its new home in New Mexico in February 2020.

The SpaceShipTwo passenger craft, also known as VSS Unity, made its debut outing from Spaceport America with VMS Eve, the aircraft designed to carry Unity on the first part of its journey toward space during the tourism trips. Together, the vehicles climbed to an altitude of 15,240 meters (50,000 feet) before Eve released Unity, allowing it to fly freely for the first time in New Mexico airspace.

The spaceship achieved a glide speed of Mach 0.70 and completed multiple test points, before touching back down smoothly for a runway landing at Spaceport America, the team wrote in a piece describing the flight.

A video (below) shows parts of the test, including the moment Eve releases Unity, and the passenger crafts landing back at Spaceport America.

The glide flight offered the first opportunity to test all of the components required to fly Eve and Unity in glide configuration, from its new home base and in new airspace, Virgin Galactic said.

During the outing, Unity pilots Dave Mackay and C.J. Sturckow successfully executed a variety of maneuvers that enabled it to gather data regarding the spacecrafts performance and handling qualities. The flight test also allowed the pilots and ground team to continue familiarization with the airspace around Spaceport America, as well as the chance to conduct further pilot training.

Competing with the likes of SpaceX and Blue Origin, Virgin Galactic has an eye on launching its $250,000-a-seat space tourism service in the coming months, though its yet to set a firm date for the maiden trip. The next stage of testing will involve additional rocket-powered flights to confirm Unitys readiness for rides to the edge of space.

The experience will take passengers toward the generally agreed boundary of where space begins, around 62 miles up, with stunning views and a brief period of weightlessness all part of the package.

Weve reached out to Virgin Galactic for information on when it hopes to launch its first commercial space tourism flight and will update this article when we hear back.

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Virgin Galactic readies space tourism trips with first Spaceport America flight - Digital Trends

Stay home, reflect and be part of something bigger: Sunita Williams to Indian students stuck in US – Economic Times

Posted on May 5, 2020 by Danzig

Indian-American NASA astronaut Sunita Williams has advised Indian students stranded in the US due to the coronavirus-linked global travel restrictions to use the occasion to think how they could be a productive and positive addition to the society.

During a virtual interaction, she compared the Indian students' experience to her being in space in a spacecraft "where you don't get to go, see your family and friends and give them a real hug."

Organised by the Embassy of India Student Hub on Friday, the interaction was watched by 84,000 people on YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram in the first 24 hours.

Williams drew on her 322 days of orbiting in space to encourage a move from "I" to "We", saying "Isolation also provides a time to reflect and think about... how you can be a productive, active, positive addition to the society".

She joined the live session virtually from her kitchen in Houston, where she is undergoing training for another human spaceflight in 2021.

During the interaction, Williams stated how everyone could achieve something significant right now.

"Even just staying home and being responsible and not infecting others or getting infected gives you the opportunity to be a part of something much bigger than yourself," she said.

She said that the COVID-19 crisis was making them stronger as it was teaching them to "push through and finish what is important."

The Indian students praised Williams for sharing her thoughts.

"Suni (Williams) has been my inspiration since I was in school. She gave me the impetus to follow my fascination with aircraft and spacecraft and take up Aerospace Engineering in undergrad. I was really glad to have a dialogue with a global icon!" said 2020 graduate and India Student Hub volunteer Cherie Singh.

"It was brilliant to get the perspective of an astronaut who experienced social isolation from the whole mankind! I also realised that she is a regular person like all of us - that we don't have to become a 'superhuman' in one day to be a part of one of mankind's greatest achievements," said Arshiah Yusuf Mirza.

Williams first travelled to the International Space Station in 2006. She took a box of samosas, the Bhagavad Gita and an idol of Lord Ganesha to "keep her grounded" and help her "feel closer to home."

"A view from the stars! Thank you Sunita Williams @Astro_Suni for sharing your experiences from Space and inspiring our students. Excellent initiative by India Student Hub @IndianEmbassyUS," Indian Ambassador to the US Taranjit Singh Sandhu said in a tweet.

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Stay home, reflect and be part of something bigger: Sunita Williams to Indian students stuck in US - Economic Times

Biopharma Develops Antibody and Stem Cell Therapies in the Fight Against COVID-19 – JD Supra

Posted on May 3, 2020 by Danzig

Updated: May 25, 2018:

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Biopharma Develops Antibody and Stem Cell Therapies in the Fight Against COVID-19 - JD Supra

This startup aims to treat coronavirus using stem cell research – YourStory

Posted on May 3, 2020 by Danzig

In its fourth week now, C-CAMPs Covid Innovation Deployment Accelerator (C-CIDA) continues to select top startups across India innovating to fight the coronavirus pandemic. It has managed to select and showcase 30 startups in 30 days that are solving gaps and needs across screening, monitoring, and diagnostics.

Several of these are usingstem cell research. One of them is Bengaluru-based cell therapy startup Eyestem. Founded by Jogin Desai, Rajani Battu, and Dhruv Sareen, the startup aims to develop scalable cell replacement therapies for the world.

Hence, Eyestem believes that the easiest way forward is to repurpose existing drugs and has built an Anti-Covid screening (ACS) platform, which aims to provide the research community with a resource to determine the efficacy of a drug or a vaccine using the closest human host cell population.

Led by Rajarshi Pal, Chief Scientist of Eyestem, the startup had been working on lung cells for a couple of years now, publishing papers on the same. However, in the last three months, it pivoted to build this platform specifically to fight the coronavirus pandemic.

Now, it is ready to partner with other labs and companies to grow SARS-CoV-2 virus in these lung cells and start testing these drugs.

He claims that the startup has already collaborated with two players, and is also expecting to start working with facilities in the US soon.

How has the coronavirus outbreak disrupted your life? And how are you dealing with it? Write to us or send us a video with subject line 'Coronavirus Disruption' to editorial@yourstory.com

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This startup aims to treat coronavirus using stem cell research - YourStory

Cellular Biomedicine Group to Report First Quarter 2020 Results on May 6, 2020 – Olean Times Herald

Posted on May 3, 2020 by Danzig

NEW YORK and SHANGHAI, May 1, 2020 /PRNewswire/ --Cellular Biomedicine Group Inc. (NASDAQ: CBMG) ("CBMG" or the "Company"), a biopharmaceutical firm engaged in the drug development of immunotherapies for cancer and stem cell therapies for degenerative diseases, today announced that it will release its financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2020 after the market closes on Wednesday, May 6, 2020.

The Company will host a conference call and webcast with the investment community on Wednesday, May 6th at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time, featuring remarks by Tony Liu, CEO, CFO and Executive Director of CBMG.

What:

Cellular Biomedicine Group First Quarter 2020 Results Conference Call

Date:

Wednesday, May 6, 2020

Time:

5:00 p.m. Eastern Time

Live Call:

Toll-Free: +1-833-423-0438

International: +1-918-922-6623

China: +86 800-870-0169 or +86 400-682-8609

Conference ID: 7690079

Webcast:

https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/wwg78hh5

Replay:

Toll-Free: (855) 859-2056

International: (404) 537-3406

Conference ID: 7690079

(Available approximately two hours after the completion of the live call until 8:00 p.m. ET on May 20, 2020)

About Cellular Biomedicine Group, Inc.Cellular Biomedicine Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: CBMG) develops proprietary cell therapies for the treatment of cancer and degenerative diseases. It conducts immuno-oncology and stem cell clinical trials in China using products from its integrated GMP laboratory. The Company's GMP facilities in China, consisting of twelve independent cell production lines, are designed and managed according to both China and U.S. GMP standards. Its Shanghai facility includes a "Joint Laboratory of Cell Therapy" with GE Healthcare and a "Joint Cell Therapy Technology Innovation and Application Center" with Thermo Fisher Scientific, which partnerships focus on improving manufacturing processes for cell therapies. CBMG currently has ongoing CAR-T Phase I clinical trials in China. The China NMPA (formerly CFDA) approved the Company's IND application for a Phase II trial for AlloJoin, CBMG's "Off-the-Shelf" allogenic haMPC therapy for the treatment of Knee Osteoarthritis (KOA), and has accepted the Company's IND application for a Phase II trial for ReJoin autologous haMPC therapy for the treatment of KOA. CBMG is included in the broad-market Russell 3000 Index and the small-cap Russell 2000 Index, and the Loncar China BioPharma index. To learn more about CBMG, please visit http://www.cellbiomedgroup.com.

Company Contact:Derrick C. LiHead of Strategy and Investor Relations, CBMGPhone: 917-717-0994Email: derrick.li@cellbiomedgroup.com

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Cellular Biomedicine Group to Report First Quarter 2020 Results on May 6, 2020 - Olean Times Herald

Dr. David C. Karli’s Opinion on Regenerative Medicine and Age Prevention | – SpaceCoastDaily.com

Posted on May 3, 2020 by Danzig

Aging is an inevitable process. We cannot escape or prevent getting older but what if theres a fascinating field of medicine that can manage the aging process and prolong our health and vitality and longevity as we age?

Keeping in mind that there may never be an approach to totally stop or reverse aging, there have been some surprising disclosures to how Regenerative Medicine can naturally heal our body without the use of any surgical procedure.

Rejuvenating Old Cells to Healthy ones

The paces, stresses, and complexities in life drive us to age prematurely thereby breaking down our cells. Cell breakdown may lead to several health conditions like cancer, heart disease, Alzheimers and others.

Driving our bodies to age quickly, cell-breakdown is host to many age-related diseases, causing more than 100,000 deaths per day.

Dr David C Karli is an Ivy-trained physician, specialized in treating athletic injuries by inducing regenerative medicine and stem cell therapy in treatments.

He accepts the fact that patients can increase an additional 30 years of life by using Regenerative Medicine. One such innovation uses stem cells, however, there are issues with these cells.

They may not replace the original, diseased cells rapidly enough, or they may start to replicate uncontrollably, bringing about malignant growth.

Yet, Regenerative Medicine definitely guarantees the complete curing of a wide range of diseases, and ideally, slowing down the aging process too.

Stem Cell Therapy Programs with Promising Results

With solid funding and rapid advancements, one stem cell therapy that promises great outcomes is transfusions. In this therapy, stem cells are extracted from the patient and grown in cell culture to increase the number of cells. Following this, those cells are injected back into the patients body.

Dr. Karlis keen interest in Transfusions led him to create biologic products that can cause an age-related decline in a persons strength, endurance, and various other physical abilities.

At his biotech firm, Greyledge Technologies, biologic products are prepared by processing materials (blood or bone marrow) and implanting them into the human body to replicate the diseased tissues.

With an FDA-registered laboratory environment, the outcomes are promising and are an anti-aging protocol.

Telomeres may be the next-gen solution for Anti Aging

Telomeres are essential parts of our DNA that are connected to the premature aging cells. Situated at the end caps of our DNA strands, the information within Telomeres is lost while DNA replicates to the extent that they stop replicating.

If DNA replicates without losing information, scientists believe that Telomeres can significantly help to slow down the aging process.

Similar is the case with Metformin, a pharmaceutical reagent that improves wound healing. Proven to counteract aging, Metformin is now being tested for its unique ability to mimic calorie restriction.

Anti-Aging Through Regeneration

Utilizing induced tissue regeneration, this technology is a new approach to anti-aging treatment. Combining telomerase therapy and induced tissue regeneration, anti-aging through regeneration includes the study of the impact on age-related diseases like diabetes, metabolic disorders, cardiovascular disease, and others.

This technique focuses on the cells that are generated in our body during youth. As we age, these cells are lost and lead to a metabolic imbalance.

Scientists and Researchers are trying to find a way in which these cells can be restored to reverse the signs of aging and create a balance.

Humans have the ability to regenerate damaged and diseased tissues. However, this only happens during the first few weeks of development. With the help of Artificial Intelligence, scientists are trying to unlock this potential ability in humans.

The Future of Anti-Aging

With several breakthroughs on the horizon, cure-all promises and best outcomes, these anti-aging protocols have a long way to go.

While the introduction of regenerative medicine and stem cell therapies to redefine orthopedic treatment sounds like a miracle, there are still unexplored paths that need to be taken.

With all the benefits regenerative medicine has to offer, there will always be an eye on the never-ending search for the fountain of youth.

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Dr. David C. Karli's Opinion on Regenerative Medicine and Age Prevention | - SpaceCoastDaily.com

Stem Cell Therapy Market Growth Opportunities, Challenges, Key Companies, Drivers and Forecast to 2026 Cole Reports – Cole of Duty

Posted on May 3, 2020 by Danzig

Allosource

Global Stem Cell Therapy Market: Competitive Landscape

This section of the report lists various major manufacturers in the market. The competitive analysis helps the reader understand the strategies and collaborations that players focus on in order to survive in the market. The reader can identify the players fingerprints by knowing the companys total sales, the companys total price, and its production by company over the 2020-2026 forecast period.

Global Stem Cell Therapy Market: Regional Analysis

The report provides a thorough assessment of the growth and other aspects of the Stem Cell Therapy market in key regions, including the United States, Canada, Italy, Russia, China, Japan, Germany, and the United Kingdom United Kingdom, South Korea, France, Taiwan, Southeast Asia, Mexico, India and Brazil, etc. The main regions covered by the report are North America, Europe, the Asia-Pacific region and Latin America.

The Stem Cell Therapy market report was prepared after various factors determining regional growth, such as the economic, environmental, technological, social and political status of the region concerned, were observed and examined. The analysts examined sales, production, and manufacturer data for each region. This section analyzes sales and volume by region for the forecast period from 2020 to 2026. These analyzes help the reader understand the potential value of investments in a particular country / region.

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Key Benefits for Stakeholders:

The report provides an in-depth analysis of the size of the Stem Cell Therapy world market, as well as recent trends and future estimates, in order to clarify the upcoming investment pockets.

The report provides data on key growth drivers, constraints and opportunities, as well as their impact assessment on the size of the Stem Cell Therapy market.

Porters 5 Strength Rating shows how effective buyers and suppliers are in the industry.

The quantitative analysis of the Stem Cell Therapy world industry from 2020 to 2026 is provided to determine the potential of the Stem Cell Therapy market.

This Stem Cell Therapy Market Report Answers To Your Following Questions:

Who are the main global players in this Stem Cell Therapy market? What is the profile of your company, its product information, its contact details?

What was the status of the global market? What was the capacity, the production value, the cost and the profit of the market?

What are the forecasts of the global industry taking into account the capacity, the production and the value of production? How high is the cost and profit estimate? What will be the market share, supply, and consumption? What about imports and export?

What is market chain analysis by upstream raw materials and downstream industry?

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Verified Market Research is a leading Global Research and Consulting firm servicing over 5000+ customers. Verified Market Research provides advanced analytical research solutions while offering information enriched research studies. We offer insight into strategic and growth analyses, Data necessary to achieve corporate goals and critical revenue decisions.

Our 250 Analysts and SMEs offer a high level of expertise in data collection and governance use industrial techniques to collect and analyse data on more than 15,000 high impact and niche markets. Our analysts are trained to combine modern data collection techniques, superior research methodology, expertise and years of collective experience to produce informative and accurate research.

We study 14+ categories from Semiconductor & Electronics, Chemicals, Advanced Materials, Aerospace & Defence, Energy & Power, Healthcare, Pharmaceuticals, Automotive & Transportation, Information & Communication Technology, Software & Services, Information Security, Mining, Minerals & Metals, Building & construction, Agriculture industry and Medical Devices from over 100 countries.

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Tags: Stem Cell Therapy Market Size, Stem Cell Therapy Market Trends, Stem Cell Therapy Market Growth, Stem Cell Therapy Market Forecast, Stem Cell Therapy Market Analysis

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Stem Cell Therapy Market Growth Opportunities, Challenges, Key Companies, Drivers and Forecast to 2026 Cole Reports - Cole of Duty

Marker Therapeutics Receives FDA Orphan Drug Designation for its Multi-Antigen Targeted T Cell Therapy for Acute Myeloid Leukemia – BioSpace

Posted on May 3, 2020 by Danzig

HOUSTON, April 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Marker Therapeutics, Inc.(Nasdaq:MRKR), a clinical-stage immuno-oncology company specializing in the development of next-generation T cell-based immunotherapies for the treatment of hematological malignancies and solid tumor indications, today announced that theUnited States Food and Drug Administration(FDA) Office of Orphan Products Development has granted Orphan Drug designation to MT-401, a multi-tumor-associated antigen (MultiTAA)-specific T cell product for the treatment of patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), following allogeneic stem cell transplant.

"We are pleased that theFDAhas granted orphan designation to MT-401, our novel MultiTAA-specific T cell product candidate and believe it is supportive of its potential to treat post allogeneic stem cell transplant patients with AMLa devastating and pervasive blood disease with a high medical need for a treatment. In investigator-sponsored trials, our MultiTAA-specific T cell product candidate was well-tolerated and we have observed clinical benefit across various liquid and solid tumors, suggesting the product candidate's ability to induce a patient's own T cells to expand for a more durable anti-tumor effect. We look forward to initiating our Company-sponsored Phase 2 study in patients with post allogeneic stem cell transplant AML," said Peter L. Hoang, President & CEO of Marker Therapeutics.

Orphan designation is granted by theFDA Office of Orphan Products Developmentto advance the evaluation and development of safe and effective therapies for the treatment of rare diseases or conditions affecting fewer than 200,000 people in the U.S. Under the Orphan Drug Act, theFDAmay provide grant funding toward clinical trial costs, tax credits,FDAuser-fee benefits, and seven years of market exclusivity inthe United Statesfollowing marketing approval by theFDA. The granting of an orphan designation request does not alter the standard regulatory requirements and process for obtaining marketing approval. For more information about orphan designation, please visit theFDAwebsite atwww.fda.gov.

About Marker Therapeutics, Inc.Marker Therapeutics, Inc. is a clinical-stage immuno-oncology company specializing in the development of next-generation T cell-based immunotherapies for the treatment of hematological malignancies and solid tumor indications. Marker's cell therapy technology is based on the selective expansion of non-engineered, tumor-specific T cells that recognize tumor associated antigens (i.e. tumor targets) and kill tumor cells expressing those targets. This population of T cells is designed to attack multiple tumor targets following infusion into patients and to activate the patient's immune system to produce broad spectrum anti-tumor activity. Because Marker does not genetically engineer its T cell therapies, we believe that our product candidates will be easier and less expensive to manufacture, with reduced toxicities, compared to current engineered CAR-T and TCR-based approaches, and may provide patients with meaningful clinical benefit. As a result, Marker believes its portfolio of T cell therapies has a compelling product profile, as compared to current gene-modified CAR-T and TCR-based therapies.

To receive future press releases via email, please visit: https://www.markertherapeutics.com/email-alerts

Forward-Looking Statement Disclaimer

This release contains forward-looking statements for purposes of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements in this news release concerning the Company's expectations, plans, business outlook or future performance, and any other statements concerning assumptions made or expectations as to any future events, conditions, performance or other matters, are "forward-looking statements." Forward-looking statements include statements regarding our intentions, beliefs, projections, outlook, analyses or current expectations concerning, among other things: our research, development and regulatory activities and expectations relating to our non-engineered multi-tumor antigen specific T cell therapies; the effectiveness of these programs or the possible range of application and potential curative effects and safety in the treatment of diseases; the potential benefits of orphan drug designation; and the timing and success of our clinical trials, as well as clinical trials conducted by our collaborators. Forward-looking statements are by their nature subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from those stated in such statements. Such risks, uncertainties and factors include, but are not limited to the risks set forth in the Company's most recent Form 10-K, 10-Q and other SEC filings which are available through EDGAR at http://www.sec.gov. The Company assumes no obligation to update our forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, after the date of this press release.

View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/marker-therapeutics-receives-fda-orphan-drug-designation-for-its-multi-antigen-targeted-t-cell-therapy-for-acute-myeloid-leukemia-301049675.html

SOURCE Marker Therapeutics, Inc.

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Marker Therapeutics Receives FDA Orphan Drug Designation for its Multi-Antigen Targeted T Cell Therapy for Acute Myeloid Leukemia - BioSpace

Global Stem Cell Therapy Market 2020: Growth, Demand, Service, Types, Applications, Key Players and Industry Forecast till 2025 – Latest Herald

Posted on May 3, 2020 by Danzig

Global Stem Cell Therapy market report presents an overview of the market on the basis of key parameters such as market size, revenue, sales analysis and key drivers. The market size of global Stem Cell Therapy market is anticipated to grow at large scale over the forecast period (2020-2025). The main purpose of the study report is to give users an extensive viewpoint of the market. So that users can apply strategic processes to benchmark themselves against rest of the world. Key drivers as well as challenges of the market are discussed in the report. Also reports provides an in depth analysis of the Stem Cell Therapy market with current and future trends.

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In addition, study report offers an array of opportunities for the players participating in the industry. This ultimately leads into the growth of the global Stem Cell Therapy market. Furthermore, report offers a comprehensive study on market size, revenue, sales, growth factors and risks involved in the growth of the market during the forecast period. The factors which are influencing the growth the market are mentioned in the report as well as the challenges which can hamper the growth of the market over the forecast period.

In addition, report presents quantitative as well as qualitative narration of global Stem Cell Therapy market. The research report is beneficial for educators, researchers, strategy managers, academic institutions and analysts. Thus report helps all types of users to identify the strategic initiatives so that they can understand how to expand the global Stem Cell Therapy market business across the globe for the product development. Moreover, research report provides in depth analysis of all the segments which can impact on the market growth.

Browse the complete report @https://www.adroitmarketresearch.com/industry-reports/stem-cell-therapy-market

Global Stem Cell Therapy market is segmented based by type, application and region.

Based on cell source, the market has been segmented into,

Adipose Tissue-Derived Mesenchymal SCsBone Marrow-Derived Mesenchymal SCsEmbryonic SCsOther Sources

Based on therapeutic application, the market has been segmented into,

Musculoskeletal DisordersWounds & InjuriesCardiovascular DiseasesGastrointestinal DiseasesImmune System DiseasesOther Applications

The company profile section also focusses on companies planning expansions along with mergers & acquisitions, new initiatives, R&D updates and financial updates. But, one of the most important aspects focused in this study is the regional analysis. Region segmentation of markets helps in detailed analysis of the market in terms of business opportunities, revenue generation potential and future predictions of the market. For Stem Cell Therapy report, the important regions highlighted are North America, South America, Asia, Europe and Middle East. The companies focused on in this report are pioneers in the Stem Cell Therapy market. Right from history to future plans the report give a detailed roadmap of the industry that the readers can rely on. The uplifting of any region in the global market is dependent upon the market players working in that region.

In the final section of the report on Stem Cell Therapy Market, the dashboard view of the companies is provided, to compare the current industrial scenario and their contribution in total Stem Cell Therapy Market. Moreover, it is primarily designed to provide clients with an objective and detailed comparative assessment of key providers specific to a market segment. Report audiences can gain segment-specific manufacturer insights to identify and evaluate key competitors based on the in-depth assessment of their capabilities and success in the Stem Cell Therapy Marketplace.

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Adroit Market Research is an India-based business analytics and consulting company. Our target audience is a wide range of corporations, manufacturing companies, product/technology development institutions and industry associations that require understanding of a markets size, key trends, participants and future outlook of an industry. We intend to become our clients knowledge partner and provide them with valuable market insights to help create opportunities that increase their revenues. We follow a code Explore, Learn and Transform. At our core, we are curious people who love to identify and understand industry patterns, create an insightful study around our findings and churn out money-making roadmaps.

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Global Stem Cell Therapy Market 2020: Growth, Demand, Service, Types, Applications, Key Players and Industry Forecast till 2025 - Latest Herald

Citius Announces Pre-IND Submission to FDA Under the Coronavirus Treatment Acceleration Program for a Novel Stem Cell Therapy for Acute Respiratory…

Posted on May 3, 2020 by Danzig

- Company's goal to initiate clinical trial in patients in 2020

- Innovative therapy candidate uses next generation mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) derived from a master cell bank of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs)

CRANFORD, N.J., April 27, 2020 /PRNewswire/ --Citius Pharmaceuticals, Inc. ("Citius" or the "Company") (Nasdaq: CTXR), a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing critical care drug products, today announced that it submitted a pre-IND meeting request and supporting briefing documents to the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research ("CBER") of the FDA under the Coronavirus Treatment Acceleration Program (CTAP) on April 24. The Company has requested the Division's feedback to support the most expeditious pathway into the clinic to evaluate a novel cell therapy in patients suffering from COVID-19-related ARDS.

The cells, called NoveCite Cells or NC-MSCs, are made by Novellus, Inc. ("Novellus"), a Cambridge-based biotechnology company, using its patented mRNA-based cell-reprogramming process. NC-MSCs are mesenchymal stem cells derived from a single donor's fibroblasts that have been dedifferentiated into an induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) master cell bank, thereby avoiding the need to source additional donor cells. The iPSCs are then further differentiated into a mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) therapy. Citius and Novellus plan to develop NC-MSCs for the treatment of ARDS, and last month the companies signed an exclusive option agreement.

The Company plans a multi-center randomized placebo-controlled dose-finding study followed by an expansion phase to assess the safety, tolerability, and efficacy of NC-MSCs in patients with moderate to severe ARDS due to COVID-19. The proposed trial, a Phase 1b/2 clinical trial, is titled "A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Dose-Finding Study Followed by a Dose Level Expansion to Assess the Safety and Efficacy of NoveCite MSCs in Subjects with Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) Due to SARS-CoV-2 Disease (COVID-19)," or "MARCO". The primary objectives of this study are to evaluate the safety and efficacy of NoveCite cells as a treatment for subjects with moderate-to-severe ARDS due to COVID-19 and to identify therapeutic doses.

"MSCs have an established track-record of clinical safety, and have shown promise in the treatment of inflammatory lung disease," said Matt Angel, PhD, co-founder and Chief Science Officer at Novellus, Inc. "Our research has shown that the NoveCite cells, being derived from mRNA-reprogrammed iPSCs, secrete higher levels of immunomodulatory proteins than donor-derived MSCs, and have unique manufacturing advantages."

"We believe we have the key elements in place from a clinical design and manufacturing point of view to evaluate this novel cell therapy approach to deal with the current pandemic," said Myron Holubiak, Chief Executive Officer of Citius. "ARDS is a very serious complication for many patients suffering from COVID-19, and is believed to account for about 80% of the deaths in ventilated patients. There is no proven or FDA-approved treatment for it, other than oxygen therapy, including use of mechanical ventilation, and fluid management. Literature from previous investigational studies with MSCs in the treatment of lung injuries support the idea that MSCs could prove effective in treating COVID-19-related ARDS. We look forward to our FDA discussions and are excited to be at the cusp of what could be a novel and effective therapy for ARDS."

About Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS)ARDS is a type of respiratory failure characterized by rapid onset of widespread inflammation in the lungs. ARDS is a rapidly progressive disease that occurs in critically ill patients most notably now in those diagnosed with COVID-19. ARDS affects approximately 200,000 patients per year in the U.S., exclusive of the current COVID-19 pandemic, and has a 30% to 50% mortality rate. ARDS is sometimes initially diagnosed as pneumonia or pulmonary edema (fluid in the lungs from heart disease). Symptoms of ARDS include shortness of breath, rapid breathing and heart rate, chest pain (particularly while inhaling), and bluish skin coloration. Among those who survive ARDS, a decreased quality of life is relatively common.

Story continues

About Coronavirus Treatment Acceleration Program (CTAP)In response to the pandemic, the FDA has created an emergency program called the Coronavirus Treatment Acceleration Program (CTAP) to accelerate the development of treatments for COVID-19. By redeploying staff, the FDA is responding to COVID-19-related requests and reviewing protocols within 24 hours of receipt. The FDA said CTAP "uses every available method to move new treatments to patients as quickly as possible, while at the same time finding out whether they are helpful or harmful." In practice, that means developers of potential treatments for COVID-19 will benefit from an unusually faster track at the FDA to shorten wait times at multiple steps of the process.

About Citius Pharmaceuticals, Inc.Citius is a late-stage specialty pharmaceutical company dedicated to the development and commercialization of critical care products, with a focus on anti-infectives and cancer care. For more information, please visit http://www.citiuspharma.com.

About Novellus, Inc.Novellus is a pre-clinical stage biotechnology company developing engineered cellular medicines using its non-immunogenic mRNA, nucleic-acid delivery, gene editing, and cell reprogramming technologies. Novellus is privately held and is headquartered in Cambridge, MA. For more information, please visit http://www.novellus-inc.com.

Safe HarborThis press release may contain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Such statements are made based on our expectations and beliefs concerning future events impacting Citius. You can identify these statements by the fact that they use words such as "will," "anticipate," "estimate," "expect," "should," and "may" and other words and terms of similar meaning or use of future dates. Forward-looking statements are based on management's current expectations and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could negatively affect our business, operating results, financial condition, and stock price. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those currently anticipated are: the risk of successfully negotiating a license agreement with Novellus within the option period; our need for substantial additional funds; the ability to access the FDA's CTAP program for the MARCO trial; the estimated markets for our product candidates, including those for ARDS, and the acceptance thereof by any market; risks associated with conducting trials for our product candidates, including those expected to be required for any treatment for ARDS and our Phase III trial for Mino-Lok; risks relating to the results of research and development activities; risks associated with developing our product candidates, including any licensed from Novellus, including that preclinical results may not be predictive of clinical results and our ability to file an IND for such candidates; uncertainties relating to preclinical and clinical testing; the early stage of products under development; risks related to our growth strategy; our ability to obtain, perform under, and maintain financing and strategic agreements and relationships; our ability to identify, acquire, close, and integrate product candidates and companies successfully and on a timely basis; our ability to attract, integrate, and retain key personnel; government regulation; patent and intellectual property matters; competition; as well as other risks described in our SEC filings. We expressly disclaim any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in our expectations or any changes in events, conditions, or circumstances on which any such statement is based, except as required by law.

Contact:Andrew ScottVice President, Corporate Development(O) 908-967-6677 x105 ascott@citiuspharma.com

View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/citius-announces-pre-ind-submission-to-fda-under-the-coronavirus-treatment-acceleration-program-for-a-novel-stem-cell-therapy-for-acute-respiratory-distress-syndrome-ards-in-covid-19-301047150.html

SOURCE Citius Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

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Citius Announces Pre-IND Submission to FDA Under the Coronavirus Treatment Acceleration Program for a Novel Stem Cell Therapy for Acute Respiratory...

Freezing Life: The Current Trends in Cryopreservation – Technology Networks

Posted on May 3, 2020 by Danzig

Cryopreservation has become an indispensable step in the daily routine of scientific research as well as in a number of medical applications, ranging from assisted reproduction and transplantations to cell-based therapies and biomarker identification. It is hardly possible to picture todays scientific and medical advancements without this technique.The successful development and implementation of all the therapeutic and scientific discoveries involving cryopreservation relies on the correct and safe translation of the method from the laboratory to the clinical and manufacturing scale.

With the need to correctly use this technique, more research is focusing on optimizing cryopreservation methods and investigating what the long-term effects and consequences are on the physiology of the cryopreserved material.

An important part of cell therapy research is focused on adult stem cells (ASCs). ASCs can be derived from different sources such as peripheral blood, bone marrow or adipose tissue and display strong promises because of their capacity to differentiate into any cell type of the human body.In recent work3, the team of Michael Pepper at the Institute for Cellular and Molecular Medicine in Pretoria, South Africa, explored the effects of cryopreservation on the differentiation ability of adipose tissue-derived stem cells (ADSCs). After analyzing gene expression of key adipogenic genes and the degree of differentiating cells, characterized with high levels of CD36 and intracellular lipid droplets, the scientists reported that slow freeze cryopreservation of cells shortly after their isolation causes no alterations on their ability to differentiate. Pepper is convinced of the necessity to perform such analysis when cryopreserving important cell pools: It is critical to do a post-thaw analysis of cell function to determine how the cryopreservation may have affected the cells.His team is analyzing the effects of cryopreservation on other cell types largely used in cell-based therapies such as hematological stem cells and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Although they didnt observe major alterations in terms of immunophenotyping or the post-thaw proliferation of the cells, Pepper expresses his concern that more subtle characteristics might be affected.

Correct cryopreservation of cells intended for therapeutic use is crucial. This is very important particularly as cells may persist for a long time in the recipient. This area of cell therapy research definitely requires more attention, Pepper says. Moreover, his words reflect on the need to evaluate not only the direct post-thaw recovery, but to look deeper into the late-onset effects cryopreservation might have and ensure that transplanted cells have preserved their therapeutic properties.

In contrast to slow freezing, vitrification relies on the fast freezing of the material by putting it in high concentration of cryoprotectant and in contact with liquid nitrogen. This method allows the direct transition of water from liquid to solid state without crystal formation. The highly concentrated cryoprotectant prevents ice formation and therefore there is no need for slow cooling.

Although vitrification has a great potential, there are a couple of parameters that are a point of concern. The quick and drastic freeze is possible thanks to the high concentration of cryoprotectant, but the latter is also associated with higher toxicity. In some cases, an additional limitation is the direct contact of the sample with liquid nitrogen which is a predisposition for viral or bacterial contamination.The team of Christiani Amorim at the Institute for Experimental and Clinical Research in Louvain, Belgium, is approaching the challenges of vitrification in the context of ovarian auto-transplantation. Ovarian auto-transplantation consists of preserving a piece of ovarian tissue with active follicles from the pre-therapeutic ovary of a cancer patient, as chemotherapy often has damaging effects on the reproductive organs. This tissue sample will be conserved and auto-transplanted onto the patients ovary when she has recovered and wishes to become pregnant.In their recent research4, the authors used stepped vitrification, in which the concentration of the cryoprotectant is gradually increased while simultaneously temperature decreases. This avoids ice crystal formation and also prevents cryoprotectant toxicity.Although stepped vitrification has previously given good results in bovine ovarian tissue5, this was not the case for human ovarian tissue. The scientists didnt detect normal follicles following thawing and linked this to high cryoprotectant toxicity. Indeed, they observed all signs of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO)-related cell membrane damage: significant organelle damage, cell membrane disintegration and apoptosis. These observations imply on the variability of outcomes that the method could give when applied to the same type of tissue but from a different organism.Amorim is positive about the future of their method and recognizes the need for further research on the topic: I can see a great potential in the stepped vitrification approach, but I also believe that there is a lot we still need to learn before thinking about using it as method of choice for human ovarian tissue cryopreservation. The high cryoprotectant concentration that should be applied in this approach is my first concern. () Our study clearly showed that 50% DMSO is too high, so we need to try lower concentrations or combine it with other cryoprotectants.

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Freezing Life: The Current Trends in Cryopreservation - Technology Networks

AgeX Therapeutics Announces Reduction in Projected Cash Expenditures – Business Wire

Posted on May 3, 2020 by Danzig

ALAMEDA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--AgeX Therapeutics, Inc. (AgeX; NYSE American: AGE), a biotechnology company developing therapeutics for human aging and regeneration, announced that based on a strategic review of its operations, giving consideration to the status of its product development programs, human resources, capital needs and resources, and current conditions in the capital markets resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, it is initiating staff layoffs, anticipated to affect 12 employees, primarily research and development personnel. The layoffs are expected to be completed on or around May 1, 2020. AgeX expects to pay approximately $105,000 in accrued payroll and unused paid time off and other benefits and expects to recognize approximately $194,800 in restructuring charges in connection with the reduction in staffing, consisting of contractual severance and other employee termination benefits, substantially all of which are expected to be settled in cash.

AgeX plans to continue to pursue its licensing and collaboration strategy for its two primary technology platforms, UniverCyte immunotolerance technology, and PureStem cell derivation and manufacturing technology. Since the launch of its licensing and collaboration strategy in January 2020, AgeX delivered a research collaboration in Japan focused on developing universally transplantable cells for therapeutic use based on UniverCyte, and entered into a neural stem cell therapy research collaboration for neurological disorders utilizing PureStem at a California state university. AgeXs budgetary and personnel adjustments will result in the deferral of in-house work on the development of AgeX therapy product candidates, including AGEX-VASC1 and AGEX-BAT1, and its induced tissue regeneration (iTR) technology, and may also lead to outsourcing of some of that work, until further funding can be obtained to rebuild a research and development staff for one or more of those programs. Development of AgeXs iTR technology may be done at AgeXs subsidiary Reverse Bioengineering, Inc. subject to successful financing of the subsidiary.

About AgeX Therapeutics

AgeX Therapeutics, Inc. (NYSE American: AGE) is focused on developing and commercializing innovative therapeutics for human aging. Its PureStem and UniverCyte manufacturing and immunotolerance technologies are designed to work together to generate highly defined, universal, allogeneic, off-the-shelf pluripotent stem cell-derived young cells of any type for application in a variety of diseases with a high unmet medical need. AgeX has two preclinical cell therapy programs: AGEX-VASC1 (vascular progenitor cells) for tissue ischemia and AGEX-BAT1 (brown fat cells) for Type II diabetes. AgeXs revolutionary longevity platform induced Tissue Regeneration (iTR) aims to unlock cellular immortality and regenerative capacity to reverse age-related changes within tissues. AGEX-iTR1547 is an iTR-based formulation in preclinical development. HyStem is AgeXs delivery technology to stably engraft PureStem cell therapies in the body. AgeX is developing its core product pipeline for use in the clinic to extend human healthspan, and is seeking opportunities to establish licensing and collaboration arrangements around its broad IP estate and proprietary technology platforms.

For more information, please visit http://www.agexinc.com or connect with the company on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, and YouTube.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements contained in this release are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Any statements that are not historical fact including, but not limited to statements that contain words such as will, believes, plans, anticipates, expects, estimates should also be considered forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from the results anticipated in these forward-looking statements and as such should be evaluated together with the many uncertainties that affect the business of AgeX Therapeutics, Inc. and its subsidiaries, particularly those mentioned in the cautionary statements found in more detail in the Risk Factors section of AgeXs most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commissions (copies of which may be obtained at http://www.sec.gov). Subsequent events and developments may cause these forward-looking statements to change. AgeX specifically disclaims any obligation or intention to update or revise these forward-looking statements as a result of changed events or circumstances that occur after the date of this release, except as required by applicable law.

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AgeX Therapeutics Announces Reduction in Projected Cash Expenditures - Business Wire

The disease that wastes away boys muscles – Standard Digital

Posted on May 3, 2020 by Danzig

Fifteen years ago, Scholar Muthamia was getting ready to welcome her second child. The pregnancy had no complications at all and when her son Ferdinand Mutugi Njuguna was born, he weighed a healthy 3.9 kg.Mutugi was as precocious a toddler as can be, and all was fine in the Njuguna household until the boy developed a peculiar walking style.He would push his left foot ahead while walking and he didnt seem to quite stand up straight, Muthamia says.We thought it was a unique walking style he had developed, and let him be. And weirdly, when wearing a pair of shorts or trousers, he would pull them up with his arms while walking and many assumed we were buying him over-sized clothes, she says.Later, Ferdinand began falling while walking. He also started having a hard time standing up from a sitting position. Climbing stairs became a hardship and he couldnt run as fast as he used to.He would get tired very fast and even started walking on his toes. We took him to various hospitals and eventually ended up at Kenyatta National Hospital where he was diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy,she says.

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The disease that wastes away boys muscles - Standard Digital

USC Professor Andrew P. McMahon elected to the National Academy of Sciences – USC News

Posted on May 3, 2020 by Danzig

Andrew P. McMahonwho is the W.M. Keck Provost and University Professor in USCs departments of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine at the Keck School of Medicine, and Biological Sciences at the Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Scienceshas been elected as a new member of the National Academy of Sciences in honor of his outstanding contributions to developmental biology. The National Academy of Sciences brings together nearly 3,000 leading researchers to provide objective, science-based advice on critical issues affecting the nationin accordance with an Act of Congress approved by President Abraham Lincoln in 1863.

Were delighted that Dr. McMahon is being recognized as a newly elected member of the National Academy of Sciences, said Dean Laura Mosqueda from the Keck School. Because new members are elected by current members, this represents recognition of Dr. McMahons achievements by his most esteemed peers in all scientific fields.

Being elected to the National Academy of Sciences is one of the highest honors that can be bestowed upon a scientist. Dr. McMahon has had a truly remarkable career in the field of developmental biology. This honor is well deserved. We are proud of Dr. McMahons accomplishments and of his contributions to research and education at USC, said USC Provost Charles F. Zukoski.

McMahons group is well-known for identifying key signals coordinating cell interactions directing the assembly, composition and functional organization of mammalian organ systems. This research led to the founding of a biotechnology startup and the first drug treatment for an invasive form of skin cancer.

Currently, the McMahon Lab has narrowed its focus from multiple organ systems to a single, exquisitely complex organ: the kidney. With one in 10 people worldwide affected by chronic kidney disease, McMahon has a pragmatic desire to advance stem cell research in response to this medical need.

His lab has uncovered detailed genetic and molecular clues about how developing kidneys form, as well as how adult kidneys respond to injury and disease. These discoveries inform efforts to build synthetic mini kidneys, called organoids, that can be used to study disease, identify potential drug therapies, and eventually provide functional tissue for transplantation.

McMahon laid the groundwork for his career in developmental biology when he was still a high school student in the United Kingdom, studying for his university entrance exams.

The great thing about sitting the exam for Oxford University was that it excused me from taking the regular classes at school and allowed me to just read things that I thought were interesting, he said. So I started reading books about how our genes worked.

During his undergraduate studies at Oxford University, McMahon became fascinated by how genes orchestrated the intricate process of human embryonic development.

Im always looking for answers to what I consider to be the most interesting question of all, said McMahon. How do our genes direct one cell, the egg, to generate the remarkable diversity of different cell types in our bodies?

He continued this line of inquiry during his PhD studies at University College London, and his postdoctoral training at the California Institute of Technology. He started his independent research career at the National Institute for Medical Research in London, then moved to the Roche Institute for Molecular Biology, before joining the faculty at Harvard University in 1993.

After a nearly 20-year career at Harvard, McMahon joined USC as the Director of the Eli and Edythe Broad Center for Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research in 2012. He established a new Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, which he chairs, and recruited a large cohort of early-career scientists at the start of their faculty careers.

In addition to his most recent accolade from the National Academy of Sciences, McMahon is an elected fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the European Molecular Biology Organization, and the Royal Society.

His group has published more than 300 primary research articles, and 22 US patents and 30 foreign patents have been issued around his research.

It may be a clich, but its true: this recognition is really a recognition of the many talented students, postdoctoral fellows and research staff I have been privileged to work with at several institutions throughout my career, said McMahon. I am glad my good fortune continues at USC.

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USC Professor Andrew P. McMahon elected to the National Academy of Sciences - USC News

The Isle of Gold by Seven Jane – coastalbreezenews.com

Posted on May 3, 2020 by Danzig

1716: For as long as men have set sail, they have told stories about the seaof its women, of its treasures, of its beasts and of her. Shes been given many names by the sailors who have traveled her waters. Calypso, Amphitrite, Ursula, Melusine. A goddess, a queen, a witch, a daughter. In all of these, she is the sea, and the sea is a cruel mistress.

Get ready for a rollicking ride on the high seas with a bunch of hardened pirates and a fanatical Captain in The Isle of Gold, by Seven Jane. At first glance, I assumed this would be a quick little read as the book clocks in at a mere 237 pages. Instead, The Isle of Gold turned into a meaty escape that combined the best of pirate lore and seafaring mythology in one fun story.

Our narrator is Merrin Smith, and on page one she is disguised as a man in order to gain berth on the infamous Riptide, helmed by the even more infamous Captain Erik Winters. Merrins goal is simple: she wants to find out who she is and where she came from. As an orphan, she was dropped on the island of Isla Perla and sent to work in the kitchens of a brothel. Isla Perla is a typical pirate inhabited Caribbean islandloud, dirty, and filled with brothels and fighting miscreants. Yet its not lawless. Captain Winters rules along with his love, the mysterious and beguiling Evangeline Dahl. But Dahl has disappeared, and Winters has made it his lifes work to bring her back. So hes setting sail for the fabled Ogygia, the surreptitious Isle of Gold where Calypso had held Odysseus prisoner. Aka, Bracile. And Merrin believes that place holds the key to her identity.

Merrin is drunk as a skunk as she stumbles into the tavern to apply as a shipmate for the journey. Mr. Brandon Dunn, the ships quartermaster, is suspicious of him from the start and it seems she wont even make it out of the tavern. However, Captain Winters makes an appearance and shes hired to sail with a bunch of men who want nothing to do with her. She is still disguised as a man and no one seems the wiser but her inexperience at sea doesnt endear her to the crew. Luckily, Dunn discovers that Merrin can read and so shes sent to the Captains quarters to help him figure out the best route to the fabled island.

As Merrin adjusts to life on the sea, she starts to truly enjoy herself. She gets a sense that she belongs here amongst the rough men of the Riptide. There is Mister Clarke the ships doctor, whose gluttony has him bringing his own store of meat on board. Jomo the cook, whose African backstory is fascinating. Rounding out the cast is Tom Birch, who causes no small amount of problems for Merrin as she finds herself becoming more and more attracted to him.

The lazy days at sea soon turn into peril as the Riptide makes its way across the Atlantic towards Bracile. And reaching that destination will test everyone on board with Merrin being a key that she could never have imagined. Here The Isle of Gold turns to mythology and at once you feel as if Odysseus himself is breathing over your shoulder reading a story that sounds so familiar.

The Isle of Gold is escapist storytelling at its best. Merrin details the saga as if she is reclining in a soft, leather chair next to a blazing fireplace and you are her captive audience. Its lyrically descriptive and took me out of this world so much I could smell the salt air and hear the creak of the ship. Seven Jane blends piracy and mythology splendidly and I thoroughly enjoyed the time I took delving into itit makes me want to search out more pirate-themed stories. The Isle of Gold was a lot of fun, even if there was nary an Arrrrgh to be had. If youre looking to forget whats going on outside your door, taking a journey on the Riptide may just the answer youre looking for!