LifeMap Sciences, Inc., a subsidiary of BioTime, Inc. (NYSE MKT: BTX), announced today the release of LifeMap Discovery™ version 1.5 (discovery.lifemapsc.com). LifeMap Discovery™ is a state-of-the-art roadmap of embryonic development and stem cell biology. The product integrates embryonic development and stem cell biology, molecular, cellular, anatomical, and disease-related information, and provides data-mining capabilities and bioinformatics applications. As such, it is a unique and powerful tool for research and discovery in multiple disciplines, including stem cell biology, developmental biology, disease mechanisms and etiology.
LifeMap Discovery™ is a key component in LifeMap's integrated database suite, a discovery platform for biomedical and stem cell research, which also includes GeneCards®, the leading human gene database (www.genecards.org), and MalaCards, the human disease database (www.malacards.org). LifeMap Sciences holds the exclusive worldwide license to market GeneCards® and MalaCards from Yeda Research and Development Company Ltd., the commercial arm of the Weizmann Institute of Science.
Version 1.5 of LifeMap Discovery™ includes the following new features:
-
GeneAnalytics™ - this powerful gene expression analysis tool integrates and clusters data extracted from multiple and variable resources, in order to identify tissue-specific gene expression patterns. It supports analysis of multiple genes and applies a novel algorithm to match gene sets to tissues, anatomical compartments and cells in vivo and in vitro within LifeMap Discovery™. As such, it is the most comprehensive analysis tool for modeling gene expression data in the embryo and the adult body.
-
New disease cards for cell therapy approaches - information about diseases that can potentially benefit from cell-based treatments, including degenerative diseases, intractable diseases, disorders and injuries, which are characterized by cell death or aberrant cellular function.
-
Improved display of signaling- LifeMap Discovery™ details ~2,000 development-associated signals and their cascades. In this version we have significantly improved our modeling and display of signals affecting cell development, thus enhancing the development of novel differentiation protocols.
-
Updated development paths for:
-
Epidermis, along with hair and tooth development
-
Oligodendrocytes in the brain and spinal cord
-
Schwann cell in the Peripheral Nervous System
-
Blood cell development was updated with new gene expression and signaling information
-
Adult mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) were mapped in-vivo with their gene expression profile and developmental origin
-
77 new differentiation protocols and 126 new in vitro cells were mapped, particularly updated the following cell types:
-
Umbilical cord-derived hematopoietic stem cells
-
Placenta-derived mesenchymal stem cells
-
Limbal stem cells
-
45 new high throughput experiments and large scale datasets including the integration of the GNF BioGPS dataset, and a proprietary cultured cells collection dataset that includes differential expression data for 131 human primary cells and stem cells.
-
96 new cell therapy applications, in an ongoing effort to cover the cell therapy applications developed by industry and nonprofit organizations.
"Version 1.5 is a significant step forward in our coverage of stem cell and developmental data," said Ronit Shtrichman, Ph.D., MBA, Vice President of Biology at LifeMap Sciences. "The addition of GeneAnalytics as a platform for identifying gene expression in cells and tissues is going to be a game-changer for our customers. This novel tool, which leverages both our manually annotated data, as well as high throughput data, will enable stem cells researchers to identify their cells and tissues during differentiation processes and accelerate their research."
"We're very happy to see how well received our platform has been with stem cell researchers in both academia and industry," stated Yaron Guan-Golan, Head of Marketing at LifeMap Sciences. "Our recent presentation at World Stem Cell Summit, San Diego, has opened up many doors for collaboration in both commercial and academic spaces, and we will be pursuing them aggressively in the coming months."
StitchR technology delivers large genes for muscular dystrophy treatment