Delivering sustainable neighbourhood regeneration in England through a period of policy shift:organisational change informing future strategies

The outcomes of sustainable neighbourhood regeneration (NR) practice, delivered by a range of NR organisations, have offered a lifeline of support in many disadvantaged communities. However, since dramatic ‘policy shift’ following the financial crisis and installation of the Conservative Liberal-Democrat Coalition Government in 2010, sustainable NR practice has faced a radically changing and far more challenging landscape under ‘austerity’, threatening NR organisations’ ability to deliver such practice, in a context where inequalities continue to deepen. This Critical Overview Document (the ‘thesis’) draws together a coherent body of inter-related research, published between 2009 and 2013, to identify and conceptualise organisational factors considered critical to sustainable NR practice in the English context, and how these have changed following dramatic policy shift. First, using existing literature and empirical research findings from a set of case study NR organisations, the thesis identifies and conceptualises these organisational factors, framing them within an ‘NR Factor Menu’. The empirical research is then drawn upon to characterise the process of dramatic policy shift and its impact on sustainable NR practice, manifest in how case study NR organisations are changing their operational activities. The thesis subsequently conceptualises these changes, representing them in a ‘post-policy shift’ NR Factor Menu. Representing a contribution to knowledge in this arena, this conceptualisation is then used to develop a better understanding of the broader role and nature of sustainable NR practice under ‘austerity’ and beyond, identifying the potential impacts of this for other NR organisations and communities. The conceptual explanation essentially identifies that dramatic policy shift has resulted in a ‘narrowing’ of those organisational factors critical to sustainable NR practice, brought about by a necessary focus on income generation and entrepreneurial activity. This has taken place through the development of new organisational factors – the ‘income generation engine’ and ‘organisational dynamism’. Such processes appear to have weakened community ownership of the NR process and, more broadly, reduced the importance of community advocacy and social mission in sustainable NR practice. This improved understanding informs policy and practice suggestions for other NR organisation strategies and further research

Umbilical cord blood-derived aldehyde dehydrogenase-expressing progenitor cells promote recovery from acute ischemic injury

Umbilical cord blood (UCB) represents a readily available source of hematopoietic and endothelial precursors at early ontogeny. Understanding the proangiogenic functions of these somatic progenitor subtypes after transplantation is integral to the development of improved cell-based therapies to treat ischemic diseases. We used fluorescence-activated cell sorting to purify a rare (\u3c0.5%) population of UCB cells with high aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDHhi) activity, a conserved stem/progenitor cell function. ALDHhicells were depleted of mature monocytes and T- and B-lymphocytes and were enriched for early myeloid (CD33) and stem cell-associated (CD34, CD133, and CD117) phenotypes. Although these cells were primarily hematopoietic in origin, UCB ALDHhi cells demonstrated a proangiogenic transcription profile and were highly enriched for both multipotent myeloid and endothelial colony-forming cells in vitro. Coculture of ALDHhi cells in hanging transwells promoted the survival of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) under growth factor-free and serum-free conditions. On growth factor depleted matrigel, ALDHhicells significantly increased tube-like cord formation by HUVEC. After induction of acute unilateral hind limb ischemia by femoral artery ligation, transplantation of ALDHhi cells significantly enhanced the recovery of perfusion in ischemic limbs. Despite transient engraftment in the ischemic hind limb, early recruitment of ALDHhi cells into ischemic muscle tissue correlated with increased murine von Willebrand factor blood vessel and CD31+ capillary densities. Thus, UCB ALDHhi cells represent a readily available population of proangiogenic progenitors that promote vascular regeneration. This work provides preclinical justification for the development of therapeutic strategies to treat ischemic diseases using UCB-derived ALDH hi mixed progenitor cells. © AlphaMed Press

Inclusive growth in English cities: mainstreamed or sidelined?

<p>The concept of inclusive growth is increasingly presented as offering prospects for more equitable social outcomes. However, inclusive growth is subject to a variety of interpretations and lacks definitional clarity. In England, via devolution, cities are taking on new powers for policy domains that can influence inclusive growth outcomes. This opens up opportunities for innovation to address central issues of low pay and poverty. This paper examines the extent to which inclusive growth concerns form a central or peripheral aspect in this new devolution through the content analysis of devolution agreements. It concludes that inclusive growth concerns appear to be largely sidelined.</p