Abstract: This invention relates generally to methods and compositions for inducing stem cell or progenitor cell differentiation, and more particularly to methods and compositions for inducing differentiation of stem cells and/or progenitor cells into cells that function within the inner ear.

Abstract: This invention relates to methods for promoting reinnervation of auditory hair cells, specifically, by inhibiting Repulsive Guidance Molecule a (RGMa), a repulsive axonal guidance molecule that is expressed in the cochlea, or its receptor, neogenin.

Abstract: This invention generally provides compounds, pharmaceutical compositions, and methods for their use, which include methods that result in increased expression in an Atoh1 gene (e.g., Hath1) in a biological cell. More specifically, the invention relates to the treatment of diseases and/or disorders that would benefit from increased Atoh1 expression, e.g., a hearing impairment or imbalance disorder associated with a loss of auditory hair cells, or a disorder associated with abnormal cellular proliferation.

Abstract: This invention generally provides compounds, pharmaceutical compositions, and methods for their use, which include methods that result in increased expression in an Atoh1 gene (e.g., Hath1) in a biological cell. More specifically, the invention relates to the treatment of diseases and/or disorders that would benefit from increased Atoh1 expression, e.g., a hearing impairment or imbalance disorder associated with a loss of auditory hair cells, or a disorder associated with abnormal cellular proliferation.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to methods and compositions for modulating (e.g., increasing) Atoh1 activity (e.g., biological activity) and/or expression (e.g., transcription and/or translation) in vivo and/or in vitro, e.g., in a biological cell and/or in a subject. The methods and compositions described herein can be used in the treatment of diseases and/or disorders that would benefit from increased Atoh1 expression in a biological cell.

Abstract: This invention generally provides compounds, pharmaceutical compositions, and methods for their use, which include methods that result in increased expression in an Atoh1 gene (e.g., Hath1) in a biological cell. More specifically, the invention relates to the treatment of diseases and/or disorders that would benefit from increased Atoh1 expression, e.g., a hearing impairment or imbalance disorder associated with a loss of auditory hair cells, or a disorder associated with abnormal cellular proliferation.

Abstract: Described are transgenic animals for conditional and inducible cell targeting, that express a dimerizable conditional-STOP caspase 3 transgene.

Abstract: This invention relates generally to methods and compositions for inducing stem cell or progenitor cell differentiation, and more particularly to methods and compositions for inducing differentiation of stem cells and/or progenitor cells into cells that function within the inner ear.

Abstract: Methods for generating cells of the inner ear, e.g., hair cells and supporting cells, from stem cells, e.g., mesenchymal stem cells, are provided, as well as compositions including the inner ear cells. Methods for the therapeutic use of the inner ear cells for the treatment of hearing loss are also described.

Abstract: This invention relates generally to methods and compositions for inducing stem cell or progenitor cell differentiation, and more particularly to methods and compositions for inducing differentiation of stem cells and/or progenitor cells into cells that function within the inner ear.

Abstract: This invention generally relates to cochlear implants containing or supporting stem-cell derived neural cells, and methods of making and using the cochlear implants.

Abstract: This invention relates generally to methods and compositions for inducing stem cell or progenitor cell differentiation, and more particularly to methods and compositions for inducing differentiation of stem cells and/or progenitor cells into cells that function within the inner ear.

Abstract: The invention provides, inter alia, CD44-binding proteins, including CD4-binding antibodies, antibody fragments, and pharmaceutical compositions thereof, as well as nucleic acids, recombinant expression vectors and host cells for making such proteins. Methods of using the proteins to detect CD44 or to modulate a CD44-expressing cell, e.g., in a subject, are also described.

Abstract: Disclosed is an artificial target-specific ligand that binds to both serum albumin and a particular molecular target. Interaction with serum albumin improves properties when administered to a subject. For example, an interaction between the ligand and serum albumin can extend the half-life of the ligand in circulation.

Abstract: Muscle cells and methods for using the muscle cells are provided. In one embodiment, the invention provides transplantable skeletal muscle cell compositions and their methods of use. In one embodiment, the muscle cells can be transplanted into patients having disorders characterized by insufficient cardiac function, e.g., congestive heart failure, in a subject by administering the skeletal myoblasts to the subject. The muscle cells can be autologous, allogeneic, or xenogeneic to the recipient.

Abstract: The invention includes ligands (and methods for identifying the ligands) that bind specifically to a naturally occurring variant of a cell surface molecule, such as a naturally occurring variant of an integrin. The invention includes ligands that bind a naturally occurring variant of an alpha6 integrin, called alpha6p. The invention also includes methods of diagnosis and/or treatment using the ligands. Preferred ligands bind to the naturally occurring variant of the cell surface molecule with a higher affinity than to the unmodified cell surface molecule.

Abstract: Isolated porcine hepatocytes, isolated populations of such hepatocytes and methods for using the hepatocytes to treat subjects with disorders characterized by insufficient liver function are described. The porcine hepatocytes can be either hepatocytes isolated from adult, immature, or embryonic swine. The porcine hepatocytes can be modified to be suitable for transplantation into a xenogeneic subject, for example, by altering an antigen (e.g., an MHC class I antigen) on the cell surface which is capable of stimulating an immune response against the cell in the subject (e.g., by contact with an anti-MHC class I antibody, or a fragment or derivative thereof). The isolated porcine hepatocytes of the invention can be used to treat disorders characterized by insufficient liver function by administering the hepatocytes to a subject having such a disorder.

Abstract: Muscle cells and methods for using the muscle cells are provided. In one embodiment, the invention provides transplantable skeletal muscle cell compositions and their methods of use. In one embodiment, the muscle cells can be transplanted into patients having disorders characterized by insufficient cardiac function, e.g., congestive heart failure, in a subject by administering the skeletal myoblasts to the subject. The muscle cells can be autologous, allogeneic, or xenogeneic to the recipient.

Abstract: Compositions comprising porcine retinal cells and methods for using the compositions to treat retinal disorders are described. The porcine retinal cells are preferably fetal neural retina cells or retinal pigment epithelial cells. The porcine retinal cells can be modified to be suitable for transplantation into a xenogeneic subject, such as a human. For example, the porcine retinal cells can be modified such that an antigen (e.g., an MHC class I antigen) on the cell surface which is capable of stimulating an immune response against the cell in a xenogeneic subject is altered (e.g., by contact with an anti-MHC class I antibody, or a fragment or derivative thereof) to inhibit rejection of the cell when introduced into the subject. In one embodiment, the porcine retinal cells are obtained from a pig predetermined to be free from organisms which originate in pig and which are capable of transmitting infection or disease to the recipient subject.

Abstract: Methods for identifying hepatitis C virus (HCV)-infected subjects responsive to treatment for HCV infection or unlikely to respond to treatment for HCV infection are described. The level of Th2 cytokines in the subject during treatment serves as an indicator of whether the subject is likely to respond to treatment for HCV, e.g., interferon treatment. An elevated level of at least one Th2 cytokine during treatment indicates that an HCV-infected subject is unlikely to respond to a treatment for HCV. A decreased level of at least one Th2 cytokine indicates that an HCV-infected subject is responsive to a treatment for HCV. In a preferred embodiment, IL-10 levels are detected to identify subjects responsive to or unlikely to respond to interferon treatment.