Category Archives: Mesenchymal Stem Cells

StemCells Inc. has a history not much different from those of dozens, even hundreds, of biotech companies all around California. Co-founded by an eminent Stanford research scientist, the Newark, Calif., firm has struggled financially while trying to push its stem cell products through the research-and-development pipeline. It collects about $1 million a year from licensing patents and selling cell cultures but spends well more than $20 million annually on R&D, so it runs deeply in the red. On the plus side, StemCells Inc. has had rather a charmed relationship with the California stem cell program, that $3-billion taxpayer-backed research fund known formally as the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine. The firm ranks first among all corporate recipients of approved funding from CIRM, with some $40 million in awards approved this year. That's more than has gone to such established California nonprofit research centers as Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, the Salk Institute for Biological Studies, and the Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute. The record of StemCells is particularly impressive given that one of the two proposals for which the firm received a $20-million funding award, covering a possible Alzheimer's treatment, was actually rejected by CIRM's scientific review panel twice. Nevertheless, the stem cell … Continue reading →

WASHINGTON, DC--(Marketwire - Oct 17, 2012) - The Alliance for Regenerative Medicine (ARM), the international organization representing the interests of the regenerative medicine community, announced the publication today of an article on FDA communications to help companies developing cell-based therapies by clarifying the development pathway. The article, entitled "Communications with the FDA on the Development Pathway for a Cell-Based Therapy: Why, What, When, and How?" will be published in the journal Stem Cells Translational Medicine. It is co-authored by representatives from ARM, Janssen R&D, GE Healthcare and Life Technologies, with the lead author from the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM). "There are a number of ways cell-based therapy companies can communicate with FDA that will help them navigate the road from the bench to a regulatory submission," said Michael Werner, Executive Director of ARM. "We hope that our combined experience as co-authors, and our attempt to create a single source of guidance on the regulatory process, will help companies bring new cell-based therapies through clinical trials and the regulatory review process more quickly so they can reach patients faster," added Mr. Werner. Lead author Ellen Feigal, MD, Senior Vice President for Research and Development at the California Institute for … Continue reading →

With all the publicity about the miraculous effects of stem cell therapy, the Department of Health (DOH) should prepare itself for the possibility that the new procedure would be performed by unqualified, and completely clueless, people. I passed a beauty parlor recently and saw a huge poster on its door announcing the arrival of stem cell therapy. I was instantly reminded of botched breast enhancement and nose jobs performed by salon personnel who seemed to think it was as easy to learn complicated surgical procedures as it was to train to cut hair or do manicures and pedicures. The DOH should start warning the public not to fall for these special offers just because they are available at giveaway rates. Modern lifestyle problem Experts have repeatedly talked about problems brought about by modern lifestyles. Changing diets and stress are two of the best known. Dr. Jaime G. Ignacio, section chief of gastroenterology at Veterans Hospital and head of the Digestive Malignancy Council of the Philippine Society of Gastroenterology, said constipation could be one of the consequences of the combination of these two factors. Speaking at an event hosted by Boehringer Ingelheim, maker of Dulcolax (generic name Bisacodyl), a formulation for … Continue reading →

Public release date: 15-Oct-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ] Contact: Karen Robinson karobinson@som.umaryland.edu 410-706-7590 University of Maryland Medical Center A new method of using adult stem cells as a model for the hereditary condition Gaucher disease could help accelerate the discovery of new, more effective therapies for this and other conditions such as Parkinson's, according to new research from the University of Maryland School of Medicine. Scientists at the University of Maryland School of Medicine reprogrammed stem cells to develop into cells that are genetically similar to and react to drugs in a similar way as cells from patients with Gaucher disease. The stem cells will allow the scientists to test potential new therapies in a dish, accelerating the process toward drug discovery, according to the paper published online in the journal the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) on Oct. 15 (Panicker et.al.). The study was funded with $1.7 million in grants from the Maryland Stem Cell Research Fund; researchers received a start-up grant for $200,000 in 2007 and a larger, five-year grant for $1.5 million in 2009. "We have created a model for all three types of Gaucher disease, and used stem cell-based tests to … Continue reading →

Public release date: 15-Oct-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ] Contact: Kat Snodgrass 202-962-4090 Society for Neuroscience NEW ORLEANS New animal studies provide additional support for investigating stem cell treatments for Parkinson's disease, head trauma, and dangerous heart problems that accompany spinal cord injury, according to research findings released today. The work, presented at Neuroscience 2012, the annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience and the world's largest source of emerging news about brain science and health, shows scientists making progress toward using stem cell therapies to repair neurological damage. The studies focused on using stem cells to produce neurons essential, message-carrying cells in the brain and spinal cord. The loss of neurons and the connections they make for controlling critical bodily functions are the chief hallmarks of brain and spinal cord injuries and of neurodegenerative afflictions such as Parkinson's disease and ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), also known as Lou Gehrig's disease. Today's new findings show that: Other recent findings discussed show that: "As the fields of developmental and regenerative neuroscience mature, important progress is being made to begin to translate the promise of stem cell therapy into meaningful treatments for a range of well-defined neurological problems," said press conference … Continue reading →

CENTENNIAL, Colo., Oct. 15, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --LABS, Inc., a global, full-service testing laboratory with more than 30 years of expertise in regulated testing for human organs, cells, tissues and implantable biologic products and devices, today announced the launch of two new laboratory tests suitable for screening complex biologic products. A new rapid microbial screening assay will allow LABS to determine the presence of microbial contamination within a biologic sample several days before the traditional culture methods. Additionally, new flow cytometry quality control panels allow LABS to determine the identity and purity of mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) products. "We are very excited to launch these two new assays, which will give our clients close to real-time results on the quality and composition of their complex biologic products," said Chad Ronholdt, Vice President Strategic of Development at LABS, Inc. "Our research and development team is committed to developing and launching innovative rapid biologic services, which are propelling LABS to the forefront of the regulated testing market for complex biologics." LABS' new cutting-edge testing solutions launch this month: This new suite of tests also gives LABS clients the ability to choose from a list of more than 20 different cell markers to create … Continue reading →

The Grekos hearing is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. Tuesday in the Martin Luther King, Jr. Administration Building, room 1-140A, 5775 Osceola Trail, Naples. It is scheduled for four days. Photo by Allie Garza Zannos Grekos BONITA SPRINGS Bonita Springs physician Zannos Grekos, whose license is in jeopardy for controversial stem cell therapy, is getting his day before a judge. Barring a last-minute delay or settlement, an administrative hearing is scheduled to begin Tuesday in Naples for the 47-year-old. He is fighting to get his license back in good standing from a suspension order, while the state Department of Health is pursuing more discipline and potentially revocation of his license. Trained as a cardiologist, he's been licensed in Florida since 1996. The trial-like proceeding, without a jury, is scheduled for four days before an administrative law judge. The proceeding is open to the public. The case against Grekos has garnered considerable media attention, including CNN and inquiries from European media. A Texas father, Jimmy Bell, will be tracking what happens. Last year, he paid $57,000 upfront for his 5-year-old son, Jason, to undergo stem cell therapy to fight pulmonary hypertension. Despite pleas that his boy was weakening by the … Continue reading →

Miami, FL (PRWEB) October 15, 2012 Leveraging more than a decade of experience in the biotech industry and a founding member of GeneCell International, Jose Cirino, Director of Operations, is an industry expert for expanding awareness in the field of adult stem cells worldwide. Cirino plays a pivotal role in GeneCell Internationals success, managing all operational aspects of a company thats at the forefront of the biotech industry. While providing leadership and direction for the company, he is responsible for all strategic planning to help advance GeneCells mission and objectives, as well as the expansion of product, service and development at the national and international levels. Currently, Cirino is not only working on the expansion and awareness of cord blood services, but on the implementation of other adult stem cells sources, such as umbilical cord tissue, dental pulp, and adipose (fat) tissue into other countries. He has presentation talks in the advantage of adult cord blood banking to health and biotech industry organizations, conferences and small group meetings (both English and Spanish). Cirino was a key player in the expansion of GeneCell International into Miami, Florida, as the first and only stem cell laboratory of its kind in the South … Continue reading →

Hanggang ngayon ay usap-usapan pa rin ang Fresh Cell Therapy (FCT) o mas kilala natin bilang stem cell therapy lalo nat marami nang celebrities ang nahihikayat na sumailalim sa naturang medical procedure na nagpo-promote ng anti-aging at nakatutulong para labanan ang ilang serious health conditions. Isa na nga rito ang sikat na hairstylist, beauty expert, philanthropist, businessman, at TV host na si Ricky Reyes o mas kilala bilang si Mother Ricky. Sumailalim si Mother Ricky sa FCT noong Hunyo ng taong ito at ngayon nga ay ine-enjoy niya ang benepisyo nito sa kanyang kalusugan. The fact that my arthritis is gone, Im very, very happy and Im thankful to Bobby [Kittichaiwong, Villa Medica CEO). And its just a two-shot on my back, gone instantly. You know, yung quality of life mo na hindi ka aray-aray-aray? Tapos nagpunta ako sa Germany last June and its such a beautiful place. We even had meron ka pang tour sa Paris [France]. Very nice place, sabi ni Mother Ricky. Nakausap ng PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) si Mother Ricky sa presscon ng Villa Medica tungkol sa FCT na ginanap kaninang tanghali, Oktubre 13, sa Crowne Plaza sa Ortigas, Pasig City. Hindi rin daw niya maitatanggi … Continue reading →

AUSTIN, Texas, Oct. 12th, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Prominent stem cell scientists, physicians, and advocates from leading medical facilities and research institutions across Texas and California will highlight the 3rd Annual Stem Cell Research Symposium: Spotlight on Texas, on October 19, 2012, at the Texas State Capitol. This free, public symposium, produced and co-hosted by the Austin-based nonprofit Texas Cures Education Foundation (Texas Cures), is designed to educate the public about the exciting stem cell research andclinical trials currently under way in Texas.The event will also include a discussion of recent Texas laws affecting stem cell research, the potential economic impact of stem cell research and highlight the current progress in one of the most promising areas of medicine. This year, more than a dozen local and national advocacy groups, institutions and foundations showed their support for the efforts of the hosting organizations Texas Cures and Texans for Stem Cell Research including the Genetics Policy Institute, Alliance for Regenerative Medicine and Texans for Advancement of Medical Research. The symposium begins at 8:30 a.m. in the Capitol Extension Auditorium (E1.004), located at the Texas State Capitol Building. Admission is free and open to the public.Registration is recommended. This program unites the diverse … Continue reading →