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Former Kansas congressman assists with release of U.S. prisoner in Iran – The Garden City Telegram

By Stem Cell Clinic

Former U.S. Rep. Jim Slattery parlayed decades of international relationship-building to assist with gaining freedom of a Chinese-American captive and the release of an Iranian accused of violating trade sanctions.

Slattery, who served an eastern Kansas district in the U.S. House for more than a decade, worked as an attorney and consultant after leaving Congress. He forged relationships along the way that included Majid Ravanchi, a former University of Kansas student now serving as Irans ambassador to the United Nations. In an interview Monday, Slattery said he also was familiar with Iran Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif.

He contributed to dialogue that led to exchange of Xiyue Wang, a Princeton University doctoral student arrested in Tehran during a research trip, accused of being a spy and incarcerated the past three years, for Massoud Soleimani, an Iranian researcher held since 2018 in the United States on charges of breaking U.S. trade sanctions.

"Bottom line is two families are reunited," Slattery said. "One in Iran and one in Princeton, New Jersey."

On Saturday, the administration of President Donald Trump confirmed the brokered agreement would result in release of Soleimani and Wang. The president said in a statement freeing Americans was of vital importance to his administration and "we will continue to work hard to bring home all our citizens wrongfully held captive overseas."

Slattery, a Democrat engaged for 15 years in outreach projects in Iran, said he was invited to participate by Wang's family attorney. Slattery said he worked pro bono on the project, and told Zarif, the Iranian foreign minister, during a September meeting in New York there was no credible evidence Wang was engaged in espionage.

"I was completely convinced he was not a spy and completely convinced he was being held on bogus charges," Slattery said.

Wang was taken into custody in 2016, convicted on two counts of espionage and sentenced to 10 years in prison in Tehran.

The former Kansas congressman also concluded the U.S. Department of Justice had a weak case against Soleimani, a stem-cell researcher arrested after invited by the Mayo Clinic to come to Minnesota.

The case against him involved exportation of a growth factor used in research to Iran, but Slattery said Soleimani's lawyers could have convincingly argued in court the material was covered by a medical exception to the trade ban.

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Former Kansas congressman assists with release of U.S. prisoner in Iran - The Garden City Telegram

By turning stem cells into brain cells, Aspen Neuroscience hopes to rewind the progress of Parkinson’s disease – FierceBiotech

By Stem Cell Medicine

The idea of a cell therapy for Parkinsons disease starts out simple: Symptoms of the progressive disease are largely driven by the deaths of dopamine-producing neurons found deep within the brain. With lower levels of the neurotransmitter come the characteristic tremors, rigidity and slow movements.

By replacing those lost nerve cells with new dopamine producers, researchers hope to renew the brains connection to the bodys muscles and improve a persons overall motor function.

But in the brain, everything becomes more complicated. On top of the risk of immune system rejection that comes with any kind of living tissue transplant, its important to make sure the implanted cells function correctly and do not pick up any dangerous genetic mutations as they grow.

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Now, a new company, Aspen Neuroscience, aims to tackle both obstacles at once.

First, the startup hopes to avoid any harmful immune reactions by using a patients own cells as a starting point. Then, Aspen plans to implement a rigorous quality control program employing whole genome sequencing and artificial intelligence to make sure the cells stay in line as theyre processed and readied for the procedure.

And to do it, the San Diego-based company is starting out with $6.5 million in seed money plus an impressive roster of names.

They are led by neurology researcher Howard Federoff, previously vice chancellor for health affairs and CEO of the University of California, Irvine health system as well as the executive dean of medicine at Georgetown University. Hes joined by Aspen co-founder and stem cell scientist Jeanne Loring, founding director and professor emeritus of the Center for Regenerative Medicine at the Scripps Research Institute.

Meanwhile, the seed round was led by Domain Associates and Axon Ventures with additional backing from Alexandria Venture Investments, Arch Venture Partners, OrbiMed and Section 32.

Aspen looks to combine its expertise in stem cell biology, genomics and neurology to offer the first autologous cell therapy for Parkinsons diseasewhile others in the space have pursued allogeneic routes, or therapies derived from donors other than the patient.

The process starts with a culture of the patients skin cells, which are then genetically induced to become pluripotent stem cellsor cells capable of differentiating into any other cell type in the body. These are then chemically nudged further to transform into precursor versions of the dopamine-producing neurons, which are typically found in the midbrain and regions responsible for the movement of limbs.

We can say without any equivocation that we can produce the population of cells necessary to transplant, and in a short enough period of time to have a potential beneficial impact on the evolution of the disease, said Federoff, who has also served as chair of the NIHs Recombinant DNA Advisory Committee and helped lead the U.S. Parkinsons Disease Gene Therapy Study Group.

We envisage that this will set back the clock on patients who have Parkinsons, unlike any other therapy that we know of, he told FierceMedTech in an interview.

The number of cells needed would be much smaller compared to other cell therapies and cancer treatments. The healthy human brain contains only about 200,000 dopamine-producing nerve cells, split between its two hemispheres, while patients with Parkinsons disease have lost about 50% or more of those neurons.

Aspen aims to evaluate two doses: one that aims to replace about 60% to 65% of a persons normal cell complement and another larger treatment, Federoff said.

Those smaller doses, as well as starting with a patients donor cells, help make the treatment safer to produce by requiring fewer steps. Each cycle of cell division and multiplication to increase their numbers carries the risk of introducing genetic mutations.

As the cells are grown, they are consistently evaluated with data-driven techniques pioneered by Lorings laboratory. Using whole genome RNA sequencing, Aspen will match the cells up at every stage with a genetic barcode taken from each patient at the start. This will allow them to look for changes, duplications or deletions in the pluripotent stem cell genome.

If the cells harbor mutations that are cancer drivers, we don't want to put those into people, Loring said. The only way is to check the sequencing before we transplant them.

The cells used in the transplant procedure arent fully grown; as neuron progenitors, they mimic the development steps seen in the brain of a growing fetus after theyre placed in the body as they wire themselves up to other neural structures and begin to form new networks of their own.

We anticipate that they will manufacture and release dopamine in a manner that is consistent with synaptic neurotransmission and the process of communicating from cell-to-cell, said Federoff. They will take up dopamine from synapses when it has done its business, bring it back into the cell, and prepare it for another synaptic release.

These are not just dopamine pumps, theyre real neurons, added Loring. They will genuinely replace the cells that have been lost in every way.

Aspen plans to pursue two courses of therapy, for the two major types of Parkinsons disease. Their lead candidate is for idiopathic, or sporadic Parkinsons, while their second is a CRISPR-edited version of the therapy designed to address one of the diseases most common genetic mutations, linked to about 5% of cases.

This would not only aim to restart dopamine production in this orphan indication, but also restore the damaged enzyme GBA, which is seen as an underlying cause. Federoff and Loring expect their sequencing-based quality check system will also help catch any off-target edits linked to the use of CRISPR-Cas9.

The company has yet to secure permission from the FDA to officially launch clinical trials, but the agency has signed off on Aspens plans to prepare a trial-ready cohort of Parkinsons disease patients in the meantime. This would include the initial stages of recruitment and testing, including the selection of patients capable of having their skin cells made into pluripotent stem cells.

After it receives its go-ahead from the FDA, Aspen plans to hit the ground running,enrolling at least 176 participants in a phase 1/2 study that includes a randomized stage to determine clinical benefits.

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By turning stem cells into brain cells, Aspen Neuroscience hopes to rewind the progress of Parkinson's disease - FierceBiotech

SelectScience Interview: Regenerative medicine technique development and the importance of cooperative research – SelectScience

By Stem Cell Medicine

Learn how a new imaging center in South Korea is working to overcome existing experimental limitations with hopes to improve quality of life for cancer patients

SelectScience talks with Eunsoo Lee, Director of Research Support at Ewha Womans University Fluorescence Core Imaging Center, about its work on the observation and regulation of the microenvironment of cancer cells as it seeks to fine-tune tissue-specific methods. Here, Lee highlights the teams focus on designing and supporting experiments that require cooperative research and reveals a key technology underpinning its work.

Our center is still new, having opened just last month. It provides a variety of imaging systems to support the observation of cellular activity/the proteins and morphology of tissue samples. There is a research scientist in charge of each device to offer analytical services. I work on designing and supporting research experiments that require joint/cooperative research.

We are currently involved in research about the regulation of the microenvironment of cancer cells, as well as studying the regulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by organelles to determine the role and mechanisms of ROS. My personal research is to investigate the effects of tissue-specific extracellular matrix proteins on cell differentiation.

We are developing new experimental methods to control the microenvironment or control the levels of ROS freely, with the goal of further subdividing and fine-tuning them into organelle- and tissue-specific methods. For cell differentiation experiments using extracellular matrix proteins, we have developed a new method to secure tissue-specific extracellular matrix proteins and are looking to determine whether culturing stem cells in these proteins cause them to differentiate into the respective tissues cells. In this way, we try to overcome the existing experimental limitations by developing new techniques optimized for our research.

We frequently use both the LUNA-FL Dual Fluorescence Cell Counter and X-CLARITY Tissue Clearing System from Logos Biosystems - we keep the LUNA-FL where we culture our stem cells, and it is used for the qualitative and quantitative analysis of cells at each passage.

Ewha Woman's University Fluorescence Core Imaging Center

When studying the differentiation of stem cells according to their location in the brain, we have to isolate six regions of the brain and extract stem cells from each region. When using the traditional method to count cells, it is not only time consuming, but cell quality also slowly deteriorates over time. Using the LUNA-FL makes it possible to get stem cell counts from all six regions quickly while checking cell quality at the same time. Because of this, we can use a similar standard of cells every time, making our experiments more reliable.

Yes, Logos Biosystems products are generally designed with customers in mind and have the advantage of being very easy to use and fast. When it comes to the LUNA-FL, it is especially convenient that, after it counts the cells, there is a dilution calculator for subsequent experiments, and live/dead ratios that need to be recorded can be reviewed directly on the LUNA-FL. Lastly, I think most consumers would choose a product with an attractive design when considering similarly priced devices.

Early next year, Logos Biosystems will launch the newest member of the LUNA family, designed to build on the success of its predecessors: the LUNA-FX7 Automated Cell Counter.

As my research is mainly focused on using tissue scaffolds to study recellularization and tissue-specific cell differentiation, I am hopeful about this ultimately leading to the development of implants that can be used for patients. The development of tailored, purpose-specific functional scaffolds would be a huge contribution to improving patient quality of life in the field of regenerative medicine.

Do you use Logos Biosystems products in your lab? Write a review today for your chance to win a $400 Amazon gift card>>

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SelectScience Interview: Regenerative medicine technique development and the importance of cooperative research - SelectScience

Mechanism may have therapeutic bone healing applications – Baylor College of Medicine News

By Stem Cell Medicine

Periosteal stem cells are major contributors to bone healing

The researchers discovered specific markers for periosteum stem cells in mouse models. The markers identified a distinct subset of stem cells that contributes to life-long adult bone regeneration.

We also found that periosteum stem cells respond to mechanical injury by engaging in bone healing, Park said. They are important for healing bone fractures in the adult mice and, interestingly, their contribution to bone regeneration is higher than that of bone marrow stem cells.

In addition, the researchers found that periosteal stem cells also respond to inflammatory molecules called chemokines, which are usually produced during bone injury. In particular, they responded to chemokine CCL5.

Periosteal stem cells have receptors molecules on their cell surface that bind to CCL5, which sends a signal to the cells to migrate toward the injured bone and repair it. Deleting the CCL5 gene in mouse models resulted in marked defects in bone repair or delayed healing. When the researchers supplied CCL5 to CCL5-deficient mice, bone healing was accelerated.

The findings suggested potential therapeutic applications. For instance, in individuals with diabetes or osteoporosis in which bone healing is slow and may lead to other complications resulting from limited mobility, accelerating bone healing may reduce hospital stay and improve prognosis.

Our findings contribute to a better understanding of how adult bones heal. We think this is one of the first studies to show that bone stem cells are heterogeneous and that different subtypes have unique properties regulated by specific mechanisms, Park said. We have identified markers that enable us to tell bone stem cell subtypes apart and studied what each subtype contributes to bone health. Understanding how bone stem cell functions are regulated offers the possibility to develop novel therapeutic strategies to treat adult bone injuries.

Other contributors to this work include Laura C. Ortinau, Hamilton Wang, Kevin Lei, Lorenzo Deveza, Youngjae Jeong, Yannis Hara, Ingo Grafe, Scott Rosenfeld, Dongjun Lee, Brendan Lee and David T. Scadden. The authors are affiliated with one of the following institutions: Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Childrens Hospital, Pusan National University School of Medicine and Harvard University.

This study was supported by the Bone Disease Program of Texas Award and the Caroline Wiess Law Fund Award, the NIAMS of the National Institutes of Health under award numbers 1K01AR061434 and 1R01AR072018 and U54 AR068069 and the NIDDK of the NIH.

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Mechanism may have therapeutic bone healing applications - Baylor College of Medicine News

CHMP Grants Positive Opinion for Expanded Use of Darzalex (daratumumab) in Combination with Bortezomib, Thalidomide and Dexamethasone (VTd) for…

By Stem Cell Medicine

The Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson announced today that the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has recommended broadening the existing marketing authorisation for Darzalex (daratumumab) to include the use of daratumumab in combination with bortezomib, thalidomide and dexamethasone (VTd) for the treatment of adult patients with newly diagnosed patients with multiple myeloma who are eligible for autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT).

The Positive Opinion is supported by data from Part 1 of the Phase 3 CASSIOPEIA (MMY3006) study, published in The Lancet3 in June 2019, and presented at the 2019 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Meeting. Additional information about this study can be found at http://www.ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT02541383).

"Todays Opinion takes us a step closer to offering the first daratumumab combination regimen to transplant eligible patients, redefining treatment for those people newly diagnosed with multiple myeloma," said Dr Patrick Laroche, Haematology Therapy Area Lead, Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA), Janssen-Cilag. "We are committed to delivering advances in multiple myeloma care, including providing innovative treatment options that meet the evolving needs of people living with this disease."

Craig Tendler, M.D., Vice President, Clinical Development and Global Medical Affairs, Oncology at Janssen Research & Development, LLC., commented: "Our robust clinical development programme continues to demonstrate that daratumumab provides a foundation for the treatment of patients with multiple myeloma across the treatment continuum."

The CHMPs Positive Opinion comes after the US Food and Drug Administrations approval in September 2019. It will now be reviewed by the European Commission, which has the authority to grant marketing authorisation for medicines in the European Economic Area.

#ENDS#

In Europe, daratumumab is indicated:4

About the CASSIOPEIA Trial5

The randomised, open-label, multicentre, Phase 3 study is sponsored by the French Intergroupe Francophone du Myelome in collaboration with the Dutch-Belgian Cooperative Trial Group for Hematology Oncology and Janssen Research & Development, LLC. The study included 1,085 newly diagnosed patients with previously untreated, symptomatic multiple myeloma who were eligible for high-dose chemotherapy and stem cell transplant. In the first part of the study, patients were randomised to receive induction treatment with VTd alone or in combination with daratumumab, high-dose therapy and ASCT, and consolidation therapy with VTd alone or in combination with daratumumab. The primary endpoint in this part of the study is the proportion of patients who achieve an sCR 100 days after transplant. In the second part of the study, which is ongoing, patients who achieved a partial response or better in part one will undergo a second randomisation to receive maintenance treatment with daratumumab 16 mg/kg every eight weeks for up to two years or will be observed with no further treatment. The primary endpoint in this part of the study is progression-free survival (PFS).

About daratumumab

Daratumumab is a first-in-class6 biologic targeting CD38, a surface protein that is highly expressed across multiple myeloma cells, regardless of disease stage.7 Daratumumab is believed to induce tumour cell death through multiple immune-mediated mechanisms of action, including complement-dependent cytotoxicity (CDC), antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) and antibody-dependent cellular phagocytosis (ADCP), as well as through apoptosis, in which a series of molecular steps in a cell lead to its death.4 A subset of myeloid derived suppressor cells (CD38+ MDSCs), CD38+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) and CD38+ B cells (Bregs) were decreased by daratumumab.4 Since launch, it is estimated that 100,000 patients have been treated with daratumumab worldwide.2 Daratumumab is being evaluated in a comprehensive clinical development programme across a range of treatment settings in multiple myeloma, such as in frontline and relapsed settings.5,8,9,10,11,12,13,14 Additional studies are ongoing or planned to assess its potential in other malignant and pre-malignant haematologic diseases in which CD38 is expressed, such as smouldering myeloma.15,16 For more information, please see https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/.

Story continues

For further information on daratumumab, please see the Summary of Product Characteristics at https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/medicines/human/EPAR/darzalex.

In August 2012, Janssen Biotech, Inc. and Genmab A/S entered a worldwide agreement, which granted Janssen an exclusive licence to develop, manufacture and commercialise daratumumab.17

About Multiple Myeloma

Multiple myeloma (MM) is an incurable blood cancer that starts in the bone marrow and is characterised by an excessive proliferation of plasma cells.18 In Europe, more than 48,200 people were diagnosed with MM in 2018, and more than 30,800 patients died.19 Almost 60 percent of patients with MM do not survive more than five years after diagnosis.20

Although treatment may result in remission, unfortunately, patients will most likely relapse as there is currently no cure.21 Refractory MM is when a patients disease progresses within 60 days of their last therapy.22,23 Relapsed cancer is when the disease has returned after a period of initial, partial or complete remission.24 While some patients with MM have no symptoms at all, most patients are diagnosed due to symptoms that can include bone problems, low blood counts, calcium elevation, kidney problems or infections.25 Patients who relapse after treatment with standard therapies, including proteasome inhibitors and immunomodulatory agents, have poor prognoses and few treatment options available.26

About the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson

At Janssen, were creating a future where disease is a thing of the past. Were the Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson, working tirelessly to make that future a reality for patients everywhere by fighting sickness with science, improving access with ingenuity, and healing hopelessness with heart. We focus on areas of medicine where we can make the biggest difference: Cardiovascular & Metabolism, Immunology, Infectious Diseases & Vaccines, Neuroscience, Oncology, and Pulmonary Hypertension.

Learn more at http://www.janssen.com/emea. Follow us at http://www.twitter.com/janssenEMEA for our latest news. Janssen-Cilag, Janssen Research & Development, LLC and Janssen Biotech, Inc. are part of the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson.

Cautions Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 regarding the benefits of daratumumab for the treatment of patients with multiple myeloma. The reader is cautioned not to rely on these forward-looking statements. These statements are based on current expectations of future events. If underlying assumptions prove inaccurate or known or unknown risks or uncertainties materialise, actual results could vary materially from the expectations of the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies and/or Johnson & Johnson. Risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: challenges and uncertainties inherent in product research and development, including the uncertainty of clinical success and of obtaining regulatory approvals; uncertainty of commercial success; manufacturing difficulties and delays; competition, including technological advances, new products and patents attained by competitors; challenges to patents; product efficacy or safety concerns resulting in product recalls or regulatory action; changes in behaviour and spending patterns of purchasers of health care products and services; changes to applicable laws and regulations, including global health care reforms; and trends toward health care cost containment. A further list and descriptions of these risks, uncertainties and other factors can be found in Johnson & Johnson's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 30, 2018, including in the sections captioned "Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements" and "Item 1A. Risk Factors," and in the companys most recently filed Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, and the companys subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Copies of these filings are available online at http://www.sec.gov, http://www.jnj.com or on request from Johnson & Johnson. Neither the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson nor Johnson & Johnson undertakes to update any forward-looking statement as a result of new information or future events or developments.

References

1 Johnson & Johnson. European Commission Approves VELCADE As A Frontline Induction Therapy Before Stem Cell Transplantation. Press release August 8, 2013. Available at: https://www.jnj.com/media-center/press-releases/european-commission-approves-velcade-as-a-frontline-induction-therapy-before-stem-cell-transplantation Last accessed December 2019.2 Janssen. Data on file: RF-82203. Daratumumab: New patient starts launch to date. November 20193 Moreau P, Attal M, Hulin C, et al. Bortezomib, thalidomide, and dexamethasone with or without daratumumab before and after autologous stem-cell transplantation for newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (CASSIOPEIA): a randomised, open-label, phase 3 study. Lancet. 2019;394:29-38.4 European Medicines Agency. DARZALEX summary of product characteristics, November 2019. Available at: https://ec.europa.eu/health/documents/community-register/2019/20191119146548/anx_146548_en.pdf Last accessed December 2019.5 ClinicalTrials.gov. A study to evaluate daratumumab in transplant eligible participants with previously untreated multiple myeloma (Cassiopeia). NCT02541383. Available at: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02541383 Last accessed December 2019.6 Sanchez L, Wang Y, Siegel DS, Wang ML. Daratumumab: a first-in-class CD38 monoclonal antibody for the treatment of multiple myeloma. J Hematol Oncol. 2016;9:51.7Fedele G, di Girolamo M, Recine U, et al. CD38 ligation in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of myeloma patients induces release of protumorigenic IL-6 and impaired secretion of IFNgamma cytokines and proliferation. Mediat Inflamm. 2013;2013:564687.8ClinicalTrials.gov. A study comparing daratumumab, lenalidomide, and dexamethasone with lenalidomide and dexamethasone in relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma. NCT02076009. Available at: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02076009 Last accessed December 2019.9 ClinicalTrials.gov. Addition of daratumumab to combination of bortezomib and dexamethasone in participants with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma. NCT02136134. Available at: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02136134 Last accessed December 2019.10 ClinicalTrials.gov. A study of combination of daratumumab and Velcade (bortezomib) melphalan-prednisone (DVMP) compared to Velcade melphalan-prednisone (VMP) in participants with previously untreated multiple myeloma. NCT02195479. Available at: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02195479 Last accessed December 2019.11ClinicalTrials.gov. Study comparing daratumumab, lenalidomide, and dexamethasone with lenalidomide and dexamethasone in participants with previously untreated multiple myeloma. NCT02252172. Available at: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02252172 Last accessed December 2019.12 ClinicalTrials.gov. A study of Velcade (bortezomib) melphalan-prednisone (VMP) compared to daratumumab in combination with VMP (D-VMP), in participants with previously untreated multiple myeloma who are ineligible for high-dose therapy (Asia Pacific region). NCT03217812. Available at: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03217812 Last accessed December 2019.13ClinicalTrials.gov. Comparison of pomalidomide and dexamethasone with or without daratumumab in subjects with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma previously treated with lenalidomide and a proteasome inhibitor daratumumab/pomalidomide/dexamethasone vs pomalidomide/dexamethasone (EMN14). NCT03180736. Available at: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03180736 Last accessed December 2019.14ClinicalTrials.gov. Study of carfilzomib, daratumumab and dexamethasone for patients with relapsed and/or refractory multiple myeloma (CANDOR). NCT03158688. Available at: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03158688 Last accessed December 2019.15 ClinicalTrials.gov. A study to evaluate 3 dose schedules of daratumumab in participants with smoldering multiple myeloma. NCT02316106. Available at: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02316106 Last accessed December 2019.16ClinicalTrials.gov. An efficacy and safety proof of concept study of daratumumab in relapsed/refractory mantle cell lymphoma, diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, and follicular lymphoma. NCT02413489. Available at: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02413489 Last accessed December 2019.17 Johnson & Johnson. Janssen Biotech announces global license and development agreement for investigational anti-cancer agent daratumumab. Press release August 30, 2012. Available at: https://www.jnj.com/media-center/press-releases/janssen-biotech-announces-global-license-and-development-agreement-for-investigational-anti-cancer-agent-daratumumab Last accessed December 2019.18 American Society of Clinical Oncology. Multiple myeloma: introduction. Available at: https://www.cancer.net/cancer-types/multiple-myeloma/introduction Last accessed December 2019.19 GLOBOCAN 2018. Cancer Today Population Factsheets: Europe Region. Available at: https://gco.iarc.fr/today/data/factsheets/populations/908-europe-fact-sheets.pdf Last accessed December 2019.20De Angelis R, Minicozzi P, Sant M, et al. Survival variations by country and age for lymphoid and myeloid malignancies in Europe 2000-2007: results of EUROCARE-5 population-based study. Eur J Cancer. 2015;51:2254-68.21 Abdi J, Chen G, Chang H, et al. Drug resistance in multiple myeloma: latest findings and new concepts on molecular mechanisms. Oncotarget. 2013;4:2186207.22 National Cancer Institute. NCI dictionary of cancer terms: refractory. Available at: https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-terms?CdrID=350245 Last accessed December 2019.23 Richardson P, Mitsiades C, Schlossman R, et al. The treatment of relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma. Hematology Am Soc Hematol Educ Program. 2007:317-23.24National Cancer Institute. NCI dictionary of cancer terms: relapsed. Available at: https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-terms?CdrID=45866 Last accessed December 2019.25American Cancer Society. Multiple myeloma: early detection, diagnosis and staging. Available at: https://www.cancer.org/content/dam/CRC/PDF/Public/8740.00.pdf Last accessed December 2019.26 Kumar SK, Lee JH, Lahuerta JJ, et al. Risk of progression and survival in multiple myeloma relapsing after therapy with IMiDs and bortezomib: a multicenter international myeloma working group study. Leukemia. 2012;26:149-57.

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December 2019

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CHMP Grants Positive Opinion for Expanded Use of Darzalex (daratumumab) in Combination with Bortezomib, Thalidomide and Dexamethasone (VTd) for...

100 hospitals and health systems with great neurosurgery and spine programs | 2019 – Becker’s Hospital Review

By Stem Cell Medical Center

Becker's Healthcare named the following organizations to the 2019 edition of its list "100 hospitals and health systems with great neurosurgery and spine programs."

The organizations featured on this year's list have extensive neurosurgery and spine programs, providing treatment and cutting edge research into brain and spine disorders. Many hospitals and health systems featured have earned top honors for medical excellence, outcomes and patient experience in their spine and brain surgery departments.

To develop this list, the Becker's Healthcare editorial team examined national rankings and awards for neurosurgery and spine care. The editorial team examined U.S. News & World Report national rankings for neurology and neurosurgery; CareChex national and regional rankings for neurological care and Blue Distinction Center for Spine Surgery designation to develop this list. Please contact Laura Dyrda at ldyrda@beckershealthcare.com with any questions about this list.

Note: Hospitals cannot pay for inclusion on this list. Organizations are presented in alphabetical order.

Abbott Northwestern Hospital (Minneapolis). At Abbott Northwestern Hospital's Spine Institute, physicians treat more than 4,000 patients annually. The hospital has been designated as a Blue Distinction Center for Spine Surgery by BlueCross BlueShield of Minnesota. With five area partners, Abbott Northwestern Hospital was ranked on U.S. News & World Report's list of 50 best hospitals for neurology and neurosurgery in 2019-20.

AdventHealth Orlando (Fla.). AdventHealth's Neuroscience Institute provides comprehensive care to patients with brain and spinal disorders. The health system's brain tumor team includes 12 physicians, and the spine team features 15 physicians that aim to stay at the forefront of spinal treatment. With an elite team, U.S. News & World Report ranked AdventHealth Orlando among the 50 best hospitals for neurology and neurosurgery for 2019-20.

Ascension Seton (Austin, Texas). Physicians at Ascension Seton's Brain & Spine Institute specialize in minimally invasive and complex surgery for patients suffering from problems with their brain, spine, cerebrovascular system and peripheral nerves. Spine, orthopedic and neurosurgeons at the hospital have been recognized nationally and internationally for pioneering new treatments and research. The Seton Brain & Spine Institute has five locations offering neurosurgery across Texas.

Atrium Health (Charlotte, N.C.). Atrium Health offers one of the region's largest neurosurgery specialty programs. The health system's spine institute has been recognized by Blue Cross Blue Shield as a Blue Distinction Center for its quality care and outcomes. An early adopter of minimally invasive and robotic surgery, Atrium Health's Neurosciences Institute has 20-plus years of groundbreaking investigator-initiated and industry-sponsored clinical trials.

Barnes-Jewish Hospital/Washington University School of Medicine (St. Louis). The Barnes-Jewish & Washington University Spine Center receives patient referrals from all around the world. As a result, it has grown into one of the largest clinical spine practices in the nation. U.S. News & World Report ranked Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine among the top 50 hospitals in the nation for neurology and neurosurgery, and the top hospital in Missouri for those specialties in 2019-20.

Barrow Neurological Institute (Phoenix). Physicians at Barrow Neurological Institute oversee more than 8,000 admissions and perform more than 5,000 neurosurgeries annually more than anywhere else in the U.S. There are 26 neurosurgeons, nine neurosurgery fellows and 28 neurosurgery residents on staff at the hospital. As one of the leading spine organizations in the world, U.S. News & World Report named Barrow Neurological Institute among the top 50 hospitals in the nation for neurology and neurosurgery in 2019-20.

Baptist Medical Center Jacksonville (Fla.). Surgeons at Baptist Medical Center have teamed up with Baptist MD Anderson Cancer Center in Jacksonville to conduct clinical trials related to brain and spine tumors. Along with its extensive brain and spine tumors division, Baptist Medical Center Jacksonville has a robust stroke and cerebrovascular care team and four neurologic oncologists. Neurosurgeons at the hospital's Stroke & Cerebrovascular Center are participating in more than 20 ongoing clinical trials.

Baylor St. Luke's Medical Center (Houston). Baylor St. Luke's Medical Center created its Neurosciences Institute in 2013, and it has since has been accredited by DNV GL Healthcare as a certified comprehensive stroke center. Baylor St. Luke's Medical Center neurosurgeons have also helped the hospital receive the Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award from the American Stroke Association. Baylor St. Luke's Medical Center was recognized in 2019-20 by U.S. News & World Report as one of the best hospitals in the nation for neurology and neurosurgery.

Beaumont Health (Southfield, Mich.). Beaumont Health was the first hospital in Michigan to create a pediatric stereo-EEG epilepsy surgery program to pinpoint seizures and cure drug-resistant epilepsy. The hospital's neurosurgery team is researching stem cell regeneration and spine reconstruction. Additionally, as a leading hospital for orthopedic surgery, neurosurgery and neurology, Beaumont Health has a leading spine team with on-call surgeons who can be at the hospital in 15 minutes no matter the time of day.

Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (Boston). All physicians at Beth Israel's Spine Center are board-certified and faculty of Boston-based Harvard Medical School. In total, there are four neurosurgeons and three orthopedic spine surgeons. To make care more accessible, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center has opened six spine centers throughout Massachusetts that provide comprehensive care patients in Boston and the surrounding area.

Boston Children's Hospital. The spine division of Boston Children's Hospital collaborates with the hospital's department of neurosurgery to treat complex spine conditions. Boston Children's Hospital has a complex cervical spine program as well as a spine and sports program. As a leading hospital for orthopedics and spine in the U.S., Boston Children's has various study groups, including a spinal deformity group whose Scoliosis Outcomes Database is cited in more than 45 abstracts and 15 peer-reviewed publications annually. In 2019-20, U.S. News & World Report ranked Boston Children's No. 1 in the nation for pediatric neurology and neurosurgery.

Brigham and Women's Hospital (Boston). The Comprehensive Spine Center at Brigham and Women's Faulkner Hospital brings together neurosurgeons, orthopedic surgeons, and specialists in pain management, physical medicine and rehabilitation. Brigham and Women's Hospital has five other spine centers throughout Massachusetts. U.S. News & World Report ranked the hospital among the top 20 in the nation for neurology and neurosurgery in 2019-20.

Carilion Clinic (Roanoke, Va.). The 1,026-bed Carilion Clinic hospital system provided care to nearly 1 million residents of Virginia and West Virginia in 2018. Touting around 13,320 employees and nine hospitals, the health system has 732 physicians across 77 specialties. Surgeons at Carilion's Institute for Orthopaedics and Neurosciences perform approximately 300 minimally invasive spine procedures annually, and it has the region's only deformity correction program for both adult and pediatric patients.

Cedars-Sinai Medical Center (Los Angeles). Serving more than 1 million patients annually at more than 40 locations, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center has more than 4,500 physicians on staff. The Cedars-Sinai spine team has 26 spine surgeons, assisted by eight advanced care providers. The health system is active in research efforts, hosting an array of clinical trials. Cedars-Sinai splits its spine care between four locations, including the Cedars-Sinai Spine Center and the Cedars-Sinai Kerlan-Jobe Institute. U.S. News & World Report ranked Cedars-Sinai as the No. 12 hospital for neurology and neurosurgery for 2019-20.

Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center. Established in 1883, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center has more than 600 beds and around 1.3 million patient encounters in fiscal year 2017. The hospital's Crawford Spine Center was recognized by U.S. News & World Report as among the best hospitals for pediatric neurology and neurosurgery for 2019-20. The hospital is also involved in spine research, focusing on endoscopic technology, scoliosis correction and guided spine growth.

Cleveland Clinic. Featuring both a robust clinical program and a comprehensive spine research lab, Cleveland Clinic's Center for Spine Health sees thousands of patients annually. The Center for Spine Health has three specialty departments to address lower back pain, spinal deformity and spine tumors. Cleveland Clinic has 14 spine surgeons on staff, 14 medical/interventional staff members and 13 advanced care providers in its Center for Spine Health. The center is also testing robotics and is in the midst of a cervical spondylotic myelopathy surgical trial. U.S. News & World Report ranked Cleveland Clinic No. 10 in the nation for neurology and neurosurgery in 2019-20.

Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center (Lebanon, N.H.). Dartmouth-Hitchcock developed its Center for Pain and Spine to meet the needs of its patient population, which comprises about 1.9 million people across northern New England. Anthem BlueCross BlueShield named the center a Blue Distinction Center for Spine Surgery for its commitment to good patient outcomes. U.S. News & World Report recognized the hospital as the highest performing neurosurgery institute in New Hampshire in 2019-20.

Duke University Hospital (Durham, N.C.). Duke University Hospital's comprehensive spine institute has 106 physicians on hand to provide an array of spine-related treatments. The spine team at Duke performs more than 1,200 spine surgeries annually. The hospital equipped all its surgery centers with intraoperative imaging equipment to ensure all procedures and physicians have access to real-time imaging information. U.S. News & World Report named Duke its No. 1 hospital in North Carolina and among the top 25 hospitals in the nation for neurology and neurosurgery in 2019-20.

Emory University Hospital (Atlanta). With its six locations throughout Atlanta, Emory University Orthopaedics & Spine Hospital offers patients comprehensive treatment options. Emory's neuroscience program will soon be headlined by the Emory Musculoskeletal Institute in Brookhaven, Ga. The institute broke ground in October 2019 and will be a 180,000-square-foot center dedicated to spine care. Emory University Hospital planners incorporated several environmentally conscious features into the institute. U.S. News & World Report ranked Emory among the top 50 hospitals in the nation for neurology and neurosurgery in 2019-20.

Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin (Milwaukee). Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin is the region's only academic regional medical center. Froedtert physicians see patients across the greater Milwaukee suburbs. Froedtert has four locations that specialize in spine care, including the outpatient clinic SpineCare. In 2017, Froedtert physicians treated 8,606 patients through its neurosurgery program.

Geisinger (Danville, Pa.). Founded more than a century ago, Geisinger has provided care to central Pennsylvania residents for generations. At the forefront of its neuroscience program is the Geisinger Neuroscience Institute. Employing a combination of treatment methods including microsurgery, minimally invasive surgery, robotic surgery and image-guided surgery, Geisinger has 24 providers on its neurosurgery staff. The health system is also on the forefront of innovation in healthcare delivery, with its ProvenCare program offering refunds to spine patients dissatisfied with their care. Geisinger is also a Walmart spine center of excellence, meaning the retail giant sends patients from across the country to undergo spinal evaluation and surgery at the health system.

Hackensack (N.J.) University Medical Center. Hackensack University Medical Center offers a robust program for neurosurgery care, including the Orthopedic Institute, which has more than 50 physicians on staff. Healthgrades has recognized Hackensack University Medical Center with its Cranial Neurosurgery Excellence Award for the last four years, and U.S. News & World Report ranked Hackensack as high performing for neurology and neurosurgery in 2019-20.

Henry Ford Hospital (Detroit). With more than 35 physicians specializing in spine and related specialties on staff, Henry Ford draws patients in Detroit and its greater suburban locations to its Henry Ford Spine Centers. In 2017 alone, Henry Ford surgeons performed some 75,000 surgeries across its 200 care sites. U.S. News & World Report ranked Henry Ford among the top 50 hospitals in the nation for neurology and neurosurgery in 2019-20.

Hoag Health Network (Newport Beach, Calif.). Hoag Health Network offers numerous spine programs, including care at Hoag Orthopedic Institute. In 2018, the institute reported 3,246 hospital spine procedures, as well as 180 ambulatory procedures. Hoag has two acute care hospitals, 11 urgent care centers and eight health centers it staffs with a team of more than 1,700 physicians and 6,000 employees. U.S. News & World Report ranked Hoag Hospital among the top 50 hospitals in the nation for neurology and neurosurgery in 2019-20.

Hospital for Special Surgery (New York City). Holding the No. 1 U.S. News & World Report ranking in orthopedics for 10 consecutive years, HSS surgeons perform more than 32,000 procedures annually. In 2016, the hospital reported 469 non-cervical spine fusion cases, which was well above the 48-procedure average for New York state. The hospital also focuses on research, with a 300-plus member research department that has a $45 million grant portfolio and $25 million in industry funding. Current spine-focused projects include studying spine instability, developmental deformity and tissue degeneration.

Houston Methodist Hospital. For nearly 30 years, Houston Methodist Hospital has been on the forefront of spine and neurosurgical care. The hospital is home to the center for neurodegeneration, which is comprised of 11 labs staffed with researchers working on therapies for chronic paralysis and neurologic loss. The hospital has 14 neurosurgeons on staff and was among the top 50 hospitals in the nation for neurology and neurosurgery by U.S. News & World Report for 2019-20.

Huntington Hospital (Pasadena, Calif.). Spine surgeons at Huntington Hospital specialize in treating spinal degenerative diseases such as deformities, lumbar stenosis and traumatic disorders. The hospital is home to a 32-bed orthopedic and neurological nursing unit, a 24-bed rehabilitation unit, an outpatient neurophysiology lab as well as angiography suites. In 2019-20, U.S. News & World Report ranked Huntington Hospital among the top 50 hospitals in the nation for neurology and neurosurgery.

Inova Fairfax Hospital (Falls Church, Va.). Inova Fairfax hospital is home to the largest neurological practice in the Washington, D.C., area. Nine Inova neurosurgeons perform more than 3,000 cases a year. The Inova team was the first in Northern Virginia to conduct MRI-guided surgeries to treat Parkinson's disease and a brain tumor. The Inova Neuroscience and Spine Institute has 12 specialized treatment programs and was awarded The Joint Commission's Gold Seal of Approval for its cervical and lumbar spine surgery program.

IU Health (Indianapolis). IU Health's Neuroscience Center offers patients treatment across a variety of neurological specialties, including oncology, spine surgery, stereotactic and functional neurosurgery, trauma treatment and pediatric neurosurgery. IU Health's team of neurosurgeons are at the forefront of using new technology for improving outcomes. Researchers at IU Health are currently pioneering four clinical trials on epilepsy and hematoma evacuation.

Jefferson Health (Philadelphia). Jefferson Hospital for Neuroscience is the only hospital in the Philadelphia region dedicated to neuroscience, and is one of the busiest academic neurosurgical programs in the U.S. The neuroscience program has five surgeons on staff, and in 2015, was the first in the region to offer deep brain stimulation. In 2019-20, U.S. News & World Report ranked Jefferson Health-Thomas Jefferson University Hospital among the top 50 hospitals in the nation for neurology and neurosurgery. The health system also has a robust spine program, with its spine surgeons completing around 7,000 procedures each year at inpatient and ambulatory locations. It was also the first in the country to enroll a patient in the INSPIRE 2.0 clinical trial examining treatment for spinal cord injury.

Johns Hopkins Medicine (Baltimore). Physicians in the department of neurology and neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins Medicine have been treating patients since 1889, and now perform more than 4,000 operations and 30,000 outpatient consultations each year. The Johns Hopkins Carnegie Center for Surgical Innovation, a collaboration between the departments of neurosurgery and biomedical engineering, is working on new technology to make spine surgery safer through image-guided interventions. Johns Hopkins neurosurgeons are actively researching and conducting clinical trials on Parkinson's disease, dementia and brain cancer. The Johns Hopkins Hospital was ranked No. 1 in the in the nation for neurology and neurosurgery in 2019-20 by U.S. News & World Report.

Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles Medical Center. Kaiser Permanente's neurologists and neurosurgeons perform hundreds of complex procedures each year in one of the nation's busiest neurosurgical centers. The health system's 70-year history gives it a leg up in educating the next generation of specialists through neurology and neurosurgery residency programs, as well as a neuroanesthesia fellowship program. Kaiser's Los Angeles Medical Center houses the health system's comprehensive spine surgery department as well as a radiosurgery program dating back to 1989.

Keck Medicine of USC (Los Angeles). The USC Spine Center aims to deliver a coordinated, conservative approach to spine care at four locations in the greater Los Angeles area. Specialists at USC Spine Center are all fellowship-trained faculty members at the Keck School of Medicine of USC and have collectively gained an overall patient satisfaction rating of over 4.5 out of 5 stars. USC Spine Center, which is part of USC Orthopaedic Surgery and USC Neurological Surgery, is recognized as a Blue Distinction Center for spine surgery by Blue Shield of California. Additionally, Keck Medicine of USC was ranked No. 16 in the nation for neurology and neurosurgery by U.S. News & World Report.

Lehigh Valley Health Network (Allentown, Pa.). Lehigh Valley Health Network's spine and neurology services are provided through its Institute for Surgical Excellence, where surgeons perform over 35,000 surgeries annually 70 percent more than other centers in the area. The system boasts the region's only spine neuronavigation system, as well as a 14-bed neuroscience intensive care unit. With surgeons currently involved in at least five clinical trials focused on neurology, Lehigh Valley Health Network offers patients unique opportunities to undergo new treatments in addition to surgery.

Lifespan (Providence, R.I.). With six experts on its surgical team, Lifespan's Comprehensive Spine Center is affiliated with the Providence-based Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, giving patients access to advanced technology and treatments. Operating at both Rhode Island Hospital in Providence and the newly opened Newport (R.I.) Hospital, the Comprehensive Spine Center is housed within the Norman Prince Neurosciences Institute. Lifespan's 13 neurosurgeons perform about 2,000 procedures annually, and they're researching the use of microelectrode arrays in epilepsy, light treatments for neurological disease, and deep brain stimulation for Alzheimer's patients.

Loyola University Medical Center (Maywood, Ill.). As an academic medical center with researchers involved in nearly 200 clinical trials, Loyola University Medical Center leverages unique neurosurgical techniques such as deep brain stimulation and stereotactic radiotherapy. Each year, Loyola's highly experienced surgeons perform over 1,000 cranial surgeries and collaborate on about 150 cranial-base operations at the Center for Cranial Base Surgery, which features a fully equipped speech and swallowing laboratory. With a 13-bed neuro intensive care unit, Loyola was ranked No. 28 in the nation for neurology and neurosurgery by U.S. News & World Report for 2019-20.

Massachusetts General Hospital (Boston). Massachusetts General Hospital's neurosurgery department performs more than 4,000 procedures every year and was the first to use deep brain stimulation to reduce epileptic seizures. MGH's team of 20 faculty neurosurgeons and 20 residents in training oversees 86 dedicated beds and a 22-bed ICU. Home to the nation's largest hospital-based neuroscience research program, MGH is committed to studying rare disorders of the nervous system, neurodegenerative disorders and effective ALS therapies. U.S. News & World Report ranked Mass General among the top 20 hospitals in the nation for neurology and neurosurgery in 2019-20.

Mayo Clinic (Rochester, Minn.). Mayo Clinic is one of the premier institutions for neurosurgery in the nation, with its Rochester location ranked No. 2 for neurology and neurosurgery by U.S. News & World Report in 2019-20. Neurosurgeons annually perform 7,000 procedures at its three campuses in Arizona, Florida and Minnesota. The health system is also on the forefront of neurosurgical research and currently has 31 clinical trials open for participation as well as a registry for primary spinal tumor research.

Medical University of South Carolina (Charleston). The Medical University of South Carolina's spine center team is a designated Blue Distinction Center for spine surgery, a mark of demonstrated quality outcomes. The hospital has $9 million in technology development funding through an in-house innovation program called Zucker Institute for Applied Neurosciences, a technology accelerator embedded within the health system to move new neuroscience innovations into the clinical settings quickly. The Medical University of South Carolina's spine program was one of the first in the state to offer patients endoscopic spine surgery, and it plans to expand its endoscopic and minimally invasive spine outpatient offerings.

MedStar Georgetown University Hospital (Washington, D.C.). The 609-bed MedStar Georgetown University Hospital has a multidisciplinary spine center and offers comprehensive neurosurgery services, including a pediatric neurosurgery program. It includes 12 neurosurgeons and spine specialists, of which five are trained in minimally invasive spine care. Its minimally invasive spine specialists have performed thousands of procedures, from discectomies to decompressions. In 2019-20, U.S. News & World Report named MedStar Georgetown University Hospital high performing in neurology and neurosurgery, as well as one of the best regional hospitals in the nation.

Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center (Houston). Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center includes the Memorial Hermann Orthopedic & Spine Hospital to offer patients the latest in spine care. The Memorial Hermann Orthopedic & Spine Hospital features 64 private patient rooms, eight two-room suites and 10 surgical suites. Patients coming to the medical center can also receive care at the Mischer Spine Center, where neurosurgeons perform more than 3,000 spine surgeries annually. The Mischer Spine Center is affiliated with Memorial Hermann Mischer Neuroscience Institute at the Texas Medical Center, which offers opportunities for patients to receive the benefits of cutting-edge research. There are 25 spine and nerve research clinical trials in progress or recently completed at the Mischer Neuroscience Institute.

MemorialCare (Fountain Valley, Calif.). Spine care at MemorialCare is offered by a multidisciplinary team of neurosurgeons, orthopedic surgeons and nonoperative specialists. Patients seeking care have the option of going to one of three California-based locations, in Long Beach, Laguna Hills or Fountain Valley. Two MemorialCare hospitals are ranked high performing in adult neurology and neurosurgery by U.S. News & World Report. The Spine Center at MemorialCare Long Beach Medical Center recently acquired robotic navigation technology to enhance precision in spine surgery.

Michigan Medicine (Ann Arbor). Michigan Medicine's neurosurgery department celebrated 100 years of offering adult and pediatric neurosurgical care last year. It includes 24 clinical faculty and eight research faculty members. Michigan Medicine's neurosurgery department also has a mission to educate and train the next generation of neurosurgical and spine care specialists via its residencies and fellowships. Its neurosurgeons are involved in an outreach program, Project Shunt, that offers neurosurgical care to children in Guatemala. U.S. News & World Report ranked Michigan Medicine No. 19 on its list of the 50 best hospitals for adult neurology and neurosurgery in 2019-20.

Milton S. Hershey Medical Center (Hershey, Pa.). Milton S. Hershey Medical Center offers spine and neurosurgery services via its spine center, which includes a 25-person care team. The spine center has developed a "back coach" program, which offers information and resources to those suffering from chronic back and neck pain. The hospital also has a robust neurosurgery research faculty that includes 17 members focusing on several key research areas, including using 3D models to understand tumor growth.

Montefiore Health System (New York City). Montefiore Health System aims to be at the forefront of neurosurgical research and care with eight comprehensive care centers and 12 neurosurgeons on staff. Earlier this year, Montefiore held its first pediatric neurointerventional symposium, which included experts from the U.S. and Canada. Montefiore Medical Center, the health system's flagship, was ranked among the top 50 hospitals in the nation for adult neurology and neurosurgery by U.S. News & World Report for 2019-20.

Moses H. Cone Memorial Hospital (Greensboro, N.C.). The 517-bed Moses H. Cone Memorial Hospital has received several recognitions for its spine care services, including being ranked No. 1 in the state for medical excellence in spinal surgery and spinal fusion by CareChex in 2018. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina also designated the facility a Blue Distinction Center + for spine surgery last year. The hospital offers major interventional neuroradiology and neurosurgery treatments with a multidisciplinary team of neurologists, neuroradiologists other nonoperative specialists to ensure comprehensive care. Cone Health includes 19 orthopedic spine surgeons and neurosurgeons.

Mount Sinai Hospital (New York City). The Spine Hospital at Mount Sinai offers the full spectrum of cervical, thoracic and lumbar spine care. It includes 16 orthopedic and neurospine surgeons who provide care along with a team of nonoperative spine specialists. The hospital is also a preferred spine care site for retired NFL players. The health system has a strong foundation in research through various programs, including the Friedman Brain Institute, an interdisciplinary clinical and research hub focused on brain and spinal cord disorders. U.S. News & World Report ranked Mount Sinai Hospital among the top 20 hospitals in the nation for neurology and neurosurgery in 2019-20.

NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center (New York City). NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center's Weill Cornell Brain and Spine Center includes 24 neurosurgeons, neuroradiologists, neuropsychologists and neuroendocrinologists, who offer clinical services, conduct research and train students, residents and fellows. Patients receiving care at the center have access to the latest research-based medicine, including access to 16 neurosurgery-focused clinical trials. NewYork-Presbyterian was ranked No. 4 on U.S. News & World Report's 2019-20 list of the 50 best hospitals for neurology and neurosurgery.

Northwell Health (New Hyde Park, N.Y.). Northwell Health's Institute for Neurology and Neurosurgery includes a multidisciplinary team that offers a wide array of clinical services, and in collaboration with the Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, the physicians and scientists conduct research and clinical trials that advance the field. U.S. News & World Report ranked Northwell's North Shore University Hospital among the top 50 hospitals in the nation for neurology and neurosurgery, while also distinguishing Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City as high performing in the specialty for 2019-20.

Northwestern Memorial Hospital (Chicago). Northwestern Memorial Hospital includes 38 neurological surgery and spine surgery specialists. It also offers a combined orthopedic spine and neurosurgical spine fellowship to train the next generation of spine and neurosurgeons. Earlier this year, the hospital launched the Northwestern Medicine Hispanic Brain and Spine Tumor Program in Chicago, which aims to reduce barriers to specialized care for the Hispanic and Latino population. U.S. News & World Report ranked Northwestern Memorial Hospital No. 5 on its list of the 50 best hospitals for neurology and neurosurgery in 2019-20.

Norton Healthcare (Louisville, Ky.). Norton Healthcare is home to the Norton Leatherman Spine Center, serving patients in Louisville and southern Indiana. Specialists at Norton Leatherman Spine perform more than 4,000 surgeries annually, and patients see its providers there more than 30,000 times a year. The fellowship-trained specialists at Norton Leatherman Spine have an average of 20 years of experience and focus on research as well as training the next generation of spine surgeons. The hospital has trained more than 100 spine surgeons who are practicing across the country.

NYU Langone Health (New York City). NYU Langone Health's neurosurgery department consists of more than 20 full-time clinical and research faculty members who take on other physicians' most complex surgical cases. Combined with the system's orthopedic spine surgeons, NYU Langone supports about 2,700 spine procedures per year. Its spine center is equipped with robotic technology and a 3D platform for planning and performing surgeries and provides operative and nonoperative treatment for about 18,000 adults and children annually. NYU Langone Hospitals is ranked No. 9 among U.S. News & World Report's top 50 hospitals for neurology and neurosurgery.

Ochsner Medical Center (New Orleans). Ochsner Health System's neurosurgery program stands out for various reasons, including being the only such program in Louisiana and one of only five U.S. centers to offer in-utero surgery to repair spinal bifida in babies during pregnancy. Each year, neurosurgeons across Ochsner Health System perform more than 1,500 adult and pediatric surgeries. The health system's spine and back care program is also highly rated, earning five stars from Healthgrades. Ochsner Medical Center, part of Ochsner Health System, is among the nation's top 50 hospitals for neurology and neurosurgery, according to U.S. News & World Report's 2019-20 rankings.

Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center (Columbus). Ohio State University is the home of an 87-bed, 60,000-square-foot brain and spine hospital that includes specialized units for stroke care, neurotrauma and traumatic brain injuries and spinal cord injury. The university also houses one of the nation's only centers that pursue innovative projects and research through the Traumatic Brain Injury Model Systems program, which is sponsored by the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research. Additionally, the university has the only rehabilitation program in central Ohio certified to handle traumatic brain injury. In 2019-20, U.S. News & World Report recognized Wexner Medical Center as high performing in adult neurology and neurosurgery.

Oregon Health & Science University Hospital (Portland). Oregon Health & Science University Hospital has pioneered innovation in neurological surgery, including North America's first deep brain stimulation surgery, the world's first neuronal stem cell transplants and an intraoperative MRI facility. It also has a leading neurosurgery training program and advanced fellowships in skull base and vascular, functional and pediatric neurosurgery. The hospital is ranked No. 44 among U.S. News & World Report's top 50 hospitals for neurology and neurosurgery in 2019-20.

Penn Medicine (Philadelphia). Penn Medicine neurosurgeons perform more than 5,000 operations annually at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania Hospital, Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, Penn Medicine Virtua Neurosciences and the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Penn Medicine's neurosurgery department also includes a research program led by basic scientists in brain, spine and nervous system diseases and disorders. Penn Medicine researchers are working on a prognostic blood test that would detect and measure neuronal proteins in the cerebrospinal fluid. In 2019-20, U.S. News & World Report ranked the health system's Pennsylvania Hospital No. 31 in the nation for neurology and neurosurgery.

ProMedica (Toledo, Ohio). ProMedica is a health system with more than 794 hospital beds serving 27 counties in Ohio and southeast Michigan. The system includes the ProMedica Wildwood Orthopaedic and Spine Hospital, which is designated a Blue Distinction Center for spine care by the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association and earned the 2018 Press Ganey Guardian of Excellence Award for physician engagement. The system's ProMedica Toledo Hospital also offers advanced navigation and robotics for complex brain and spine surgeries; it became the first in Ohio to offer the 3D mapping technology in 2017.

Rush University Medical Center (Chicago). Rush University Medical Center is one of the top 10 hospitals in the nation for neurology and neurosurgery, according to U.S. News & World Report. Its neurosurgery program consistently reports the most neurosurgical discharges in the Chicago area. In 2018, the health system reported 4,334 neurological surgery outpatient visits focused on the brain and 6,498 outpatient neurological visits focused on the spine. The health system also has a robust spine and back care program, with 12 physicians and surgeons increasingly moving toward minimally invasive and outpatient procedures. The health systems surgeons aim to stay at the forefront of patient treatment and participate in clinical trials investigating degenerative disc disease treatment, registry data for metastatic spine tumors and spinal stenosis treatment with new technology.

Saint Barnabas Medical Center (Livingston, N.J.). Saint Barnabas Medical Center houses the 22-physician neurological team of RWJBarnabas Health, the largest healthcare system in New Jersey. The Saint Barnabas Institute of Neurology & Neurosurgery is a level 4 epilepsy center with nine physicians focused on excellence in clinical care as well as clinical research. The hospital also has an innovative spine surgery department that has used a microdiscectomy technique developed by a member of its team to treat more than 500 patients. Saint Barnabas is recognized as high performing in neurology and neurosurgery by U.S. News & World Report.

Saint Luke's Hospital of Kansas City (Mo.). Saint Luke's Marion Bloch Neuroscience Institute has an advanced comprehensive stroke center accredited by the Joint Commission that leads the region in endovascular interventions and outcomes. It provides advanced stroke care to more than 2,000 patients annually, and the integrated spine program earned designation as a Blue Distinction Center+ for Spine Surgery by Blue Cross Blue Shield Association. Saint Luke's Spine Surgery Program has earned the Joint Commission's Gold Seal of Approval of Spine Surgery Certification. The system also has a level 4 comprehensive epilepsy center and a seven-member neurosurgeon team. For 2019-20, Saint Luke's Hospital of Kansas City was named among U.S. News & World Report's top 50 hospitals for neurology and neurosurgery.

Scripps Health (San Diego). Scripps Health offers neurosurgery and follow-up care at five San Diego County locations. At Scripps Health locations, physicians offer advanced techniques and technology, including minimally invasive brain surgery treatments and a robotics platform. Programs of Scripps Green Hospital and Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla ranked among U.S. News & World Report's top 50 hospitals for neurology and neurosurgery in 2019-20.

Spectrum Health (Grand Rapids, Mich.). Spectrum Health's neurosurgery department specializes in disorders affecting the central nervous system and offers services at five centers across Michigan, including a level 4 epilepsy center. Spectrum Health is also home to Helen DeVos Children's Hospital, which has the only pediatric neurosurgery program in the region. As the largest hospital group in West Michigan, Spectrum Health has been ranked among America's 50 best hospitals by Healthgrades for four consecutive years and has 1,600 physicians focused on more than 110 specialties.

St. Luke's Boise (Idaho) Medical Center. St. Luke's Boise Medical Center is part of the nonprofit St. Luke's Health System, Idaho's largest, comprising 14 hospitals. St. Luke's Boise, which includes four neurosurgery centers and three spine clinics in Idaho, has been ranked as a top 100 hospital by IBM Watson Health. After doubling the number of referrals to its spine care clinic in 2018, the hospital plans to open another location in 2020.

Stanford (Calif.) Health Care. The Stanford department of neurosurgery is composed of 61 neurosurgeons who perform 4,000 neurosurgical operations annually. It was named the No. 9 hospital in the nation for neurology and neurosurgery by U.S. News & World Report in 2019-20 and its stroke center was the first in the nation to be certified as a comprehensive stroke center by the Joint Commission. The department has 30 active labs researching topics including brain injury, deep brain stimulation, brain tumors and epilepsy.

Stony Brook (N.Y.) University Hospital. Stony Brook University Hospital's Neurosurgery Spine Center is a tertiary care academic medical center that has been named one of America's 100 Best Hospitals for stroke care by Healthgrades for five consecutive years. Stony Brook has more than 70 labs researching topics including spine and brain trauma, stroke and multiple sclerosis. The Neurosurgery Spine Center is the only practice in Suffolk County with two full-time pediatric neurosurgeons, and the adult neurology center sees more than 18,000 patients per year.

Sutter Health (Sacramento, Calif.). Eleven hospitals within the Sutter Health network a 24-hospital, nonprofit health system with more than 12,000 physicians received recognition from the American Stroke Association for providing a high level of stroke care in 2019. Eden Medical Center in Castro Valley, Calif., was named one of America's 100 Best Hospitals for stroke care by Heathgrades in 2019. Sutter Medical Center in Sacramento, Calif., also earned recognition as high-performing in neurosurgery by U.S. News & World Report in 2019.

Swedish Medical Center (Englewood, Colo.). Swedish Medical Center serves as the Rocky Mountain region's neurotrauma provider and has spine experts who perform an average of 90 spine surgeries per month. Part of HCA's HealthONE, Blue Cross Blue Shield Association designated it a Blue Distinction Center for spine surgery, and UnitedHealth Group designated it a Center of Excellence for spine surgery. It serves as the region's referral center for the most advanced stroke treatment and was the state's first Joint Commission-certified comprehensive stroke center.

Texas Children's Hospital (Houston). Texas Children's Hospital was the first hospital in the world to use real-time MRI-guided thermal imaging and laser technology to treat epilepsy. Named the No. 3 best neurosurgery center on U.S. News & World Report's 2019-20 list, the hospital performs more than 950 neurosurgical operations every year. It was also the first hospital to use a device similar to a pacemaker in the brain, which recognizes oncoming seizures and prevents them.

The Christ Hospital (Cincinnati). The Christ Hospital Joint & Spine Center is a seven-story facility with 14 operating rooms, four of which are dedicated solely to spine surgery. The Joint & Spine Center also offers physical, occupational and speech therapy services and physicians dedicated solely to joint, spine and brain care. Founded more than 125 years ago, The Christ Hospital has performed more spine procedures than any other hospital in the Cincinnati area.

Tulsa (Okla.) Spine & Specialty Hospital. Founded in 2002, Tulsa Spine & Specialty Hospital has a national reputation top-level patient care. It was named one of America's 100 best hospitals for spine surgery by Healthgrades. The physician-owned hospital was also honored with the Cigna Center of Excellence designation in 2018 for orthopedic back surgery and earned five stars from Healthgrades for spinal fusion in 2018. The hospital has 13 dedicated spine surgeons who perform minimally invasive procedures.

University of California San Diego Health. UC San Diego's neurosurgery division was founded in 1971 and features four intraoperative MRI and CT suites, destination skull base tumor programs and neurocritical care units. The division collaborates regularly with the UC San Diego School of Medicine, San Diego-based Scripps Research Institute and the Salk Institute for Biological Studies in La Jolla, Calif., and received $30 million in funding from the National Institutes of Health in 2018. It was ranked among the top 50 hospitals in the nation for neurology and neurosurgery in 2019-20 according to U.S. News & World Report.

UCI Health (Irvine, Calif.). UCI Health is the only academic health system in Orange County, Calif., and UCI Medical Center's neurosurgery department was recognized as high performing by U.S. News & World Report in 2019-20. The department of neurological surgery includes Orange County's first comprehensive stroke center, granted certification by The Joint Commission, as well as active research in neuro-oncology and spinal cord injury. The department frequently collaborates with other research organizations, such as UC Irvine's Reeve-Irvine Research Center, which is working to find new treatments for spinal cord injury.

UCLA Medical Center (Los Angeles). As UCLA Health's flagship hospital, UCLA Medical Center's neurosurgery department has ranked as one of the top neurosurgery programs in the nation for over 20 consecutive years by U.S. News & World Report. The department has its own neurosurgery app designed for patients with information about their physicians, procedures and hospital amenities. UCLA's Spine Center is also designated a Blue Distinction Center for Spine Surgery by Blue Shield of California.

UCSF Medical Center (San Francisco). The department of neurological surgery at UCSF Medical Center has 14 specialties, including pediatric neurosurgery. In 2011, the department developed the Quality Improvement and Patient Safety initiative with the goal of becoming a national leader in neurological surgery quality. The hospital is piloting an enhanced recovery after surgery pathway for cranial surgery as well as an opioid stewardship program. UCSF's Spine Center is also one of the largest spine centers in the country and sees over 10,000 patients a year. The department of neurological surgery at UCSF was recognized in 2019-20 as one of the top three neurosurgery programs in the country by U.S. News & World Report, which also ranks the UCSF Benioff Children's Hospitals among the top hospitals for pediatric neurosurgery in the nation.

UF Health (Gainesville, Fla.). The UF Health Spine Program provides comprehensive outpatient and inpatient treatment options at one location that features 17 neurosurgeons, three neurosurgery ORs, two neurosurgery hybrid interventional ORs and 48 private ICU patient rooms. The hospital provides complete spine services including the treatment of degenerative spinal diseases, spinal tumors as well as craniocervical junction anomalies and performs more than 1,000 procedures annually. For its 2019-20 rankings, U.S. News & World Report named UF Health Shands Hospital in Gainesville the No. 2 hospital in Florida, and it was ranked among the top in the nation for neurology and neurosurgery.

UK HealthCare Albert B. Chandler Hospital (Lexington, Ky.). UK Neurosurgery features nine neurosurgeons providing care for complex conditions including spinal tumors and deformities, stroke, ALS, and epilepsy. UK HealthCare Albert B. Chandler Hospital was ranked the No. 1 hospital in the state for neurology and neurosurgery by U.S. News & World Report's best hospitals survey for 2019-20. UK Neurosurgery collaborates with the UK Kentucky Neuroscience Institute on several research initiatives and is currently enrolling participants in ALS and epilepsy clinical trials.

UNC REX Hospital (Raleigh, N.C.). REX Neurosurgery & Spine Specialists features a team of 12 orthopedic spine and neurosurgeons providing comprehensive neurosurgical care including spinal fusion, minimally invasive spine surgery and reconstructive spine surgery. The department performs thousands of procedures each year and has been certified as a comprehensive stroke care center by The Joint Commission since 2011. UNC REX bolstered the department in the past year with the addition of an on-site spine physical therapist and a spine navigator to determine whether patients need imaging, surgery or physical therapy.

University Hospitals (Cleveland). The staff University Hospitals includes 11 orthopedic spine and neurosurgeons focused on providing exceptional patient care. The University Hospitals Spine Institute collaborates with the UH Neurological Institute, which features 13 centers of excellence and provides innovative neurosurgical therapies including CyberKnife, Gamma Knife and the NeuroBlate System. University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center was ranked among the best hospitals for neurology and neurosurgery in the nation by U.S. News & World Report in 2019-20.

University of Alabama Hospital at Birmingham. UAB Hospital at Birmingham is widely recognized for its spine care and brain cancer research, and its specialists treat more than 4,000 patients annually. UAB Neurology and Neurosurgery has eight comprehensive divisions and seven centers that care for 26,000 patients per year. The neurosurgery department is also responsible for around 5,000 procedures annually for both pediatric and adult patients. It features research faculty and physician scientists who collaborate to advance research in conditions such as Parkinson's disease, spinal cord injury and neurovascular disorders.

University of California Davis Medical Center (Sacramento). Spine and neurosurgeons at UC Davis Medical Center actively participate in research and clinical trials spanning a range of areas including lumbar fusion, traumatic brain injury and thoracic spinal cord injury. UC Davis Health's neurosurgery department features 13 physicians on its clinical faculty and its brain tumor program incorporates 19 physicians from several subspecialties to provide optimum care for adult and pediatric patients with tumors of the nervous system. The UC Davis Medical Center ranked among the best hospitals for neurology and neurosurgery in U.S. News & World Report's 2019-20 list.

University of Colorado Hospital (Aurora). UCHealth Spine Center at the Anschutz Medical Campus is staffed by renowned spine and neurosurgeons who have built a comprehensive and award-winning program. The hospital is certified by The Joint Commission as a comprehensive stroke center and its epilepsy program is rated as a Level 4 center by the National Association of Epilepsy Centers and earned the 2019 Get With the Guidelines Stroke Gold Plus Elite Plus award from the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association for outstanding care. The department of neurosurgery features 23 physicians and U.S. News & World Report ranked UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital among the best in the nation for neurology and neurosurgery for 2019-20.

University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics (Iowa City). The UI Spine Center has a robust program with 10 orthopedic spine and neurosurgeons who participate in next-generation surgical technology investigations to stay on the forefront of spine care. The hospital has earned the Blue Cross Blue Distinction Center+ designation for spine surgery and the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine is often ranked in the top 10 in National Institutes of Health funding for faculty members, including neurosurgery. The neurosurgery department specializes in the surgical treatment of degenerative spine pathology, epilepsy, brain and spinal cord tumors and was designated a center of excellence by the Parkinson's Foundation in 2018.

University of Kansas Hospital (Kansas City). The department of neurosurgery at the University of Kansas Medical Center is equipped with virtual reality systems and a 3D printer to assist neurosurgeons in planning procedures and training physicians in the latest technology. The hospital includes 11 neurosurgeons and a 14-physician neurosurgery residency program. It also has a robust spine center, the Marc A. Asher, MD, Comprehensive Spine Center, which opened in 2008 and includes 27 exam rooms, four diagnostic rooms and a 4,000-square-foot outpatient rehabilitation gym.

University of Miami (Fla.) Hospital and Clinics. Neurosurgeons at University of Miami Hospital and Clinics see more than 14,000 patients and perform over 4,000 procedures annually. The hospital was named among the best hospitals in Florida by U.S. News & World Report in 2019-20 and scored as a high-performing facility in the departments of neurology and neurosurgery. The hospital integrates the latest innovations into its neurosurgical research programs including robotics, 3D interoperative imaging and deep brain stimulation.

UW Health (Madison, Wis.). The neurosurgery residency program was founded at the University of Wisconsin's department of surgery in 1942 and has been in operation ever since. UW Health features 14 neurosurgeons, 12 research faculty and two fellows. Neurosurgeons in the department see more than 1,200 brain tumor patients per year in collaboration with the UW Carbone Cancer Center. The department focuses on both clinical and investigative aspects of care for neurological diseases and is currently participating in a range of clinical trials involving brain tumors, stroke, spinal cord injury and cervical spondylotic myelopathy.

University of Utah Hospitals and Clinics (Salt Lake City). University of Utah Hospitals and Clinics provides the full spectrum of neurosurgical care to patients with cranial and spinal diseases and disorders. The faculty includes 25 physicians who provide a range of services including cerebrovascular, spinal, functional, traumatic, tumor, and pediatric neurosurgery. Physicians at the hospital are actively involved in clinical trials with current projects including pediatric neurosurgery and venous thromboembolism.

University of Virginia Medical Center (Charlottesville). Spine specialists at the University of Virginia Medical Center, in partnership with colleagues from the neurosurgery department, perform more than 1,500 spine procedures each year. The medical center's neurosurgery department is led by Jeffrey Elias, MD, who was honored as the 2018 Edlich-Henderson Innovator of the Year by the UVA Licensing & Ventures Group. At the university, Dr. Elias pioneered the use of focused ultrasound to treat essential tremor and led a clinical trial that resulted in FDA approval of the treatment.

UW Medicine (Seattle). The department of neurological surgery at UW Medicine is the primary referral center for patients in Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana and Idaho who have complex neurological conditions. Twenty neurosurgeons, 15 neuroscientists and 79 adjunct clinical research faculty staff the department, and an additional 20 physicians are in its neurological surgery residency program. The neurological surgery department's outreach initiatives include National Institutes of Health-sponsored brain injury research in five Latin American countries.

UW Health (Madison, Wis.). In 1993, spine specialists at UW Health developed a minimally invasive treatment for spinal fusion surgery, becoming one of the first institutions to perform the procedure in the world and solidifying the health system as a leader in minimally invasive spine surgery. In addition to spine, providers at UW Health care for more than 1,200 brain tumor patients each year, working with the UW Carbone Cancer Center when additional treatment is needed. For 2019-20, U.S. News & World Report listed UW Health among the top 50 hospitals in the nation for neurology and neurosurgery.

UPMC (Pittsburgh). Part of the UPMC Neurological Institute, the UPMC department of neurosurgery is one of the largest academic neurosurgical providers in the nation, with more than 11,000 procedures performed annually. Among its accolades, the department ranks as one of the highest in the country in National Institutes of Health funding, and the department's chair, Robert Friedlander, MD, was elected to the National Academy of Medicine in 2018. U.S. News & World Report ranked UPMC's Presbyterian Shadyside hospital in Pittsburgh among the nation's top 50 hospitals for neurology and neurosurgery for 2019-20.

UR Medicine (Rochester, N.Y.). Patients across New York's Finger Lakes, Southern Tier and Western New York regions are served by UR Medicine Neurosurgery. At UR Medicine's Spine Center, physicians see more than 19,000 patients annually. In 2019, researchers led by the director of the hospital's department of neurosurgery's Translation Pair Research Program were selected to help the National Institutes of Health create a nonaddictive treatment for pain through clinical trials.

UT Southwestern Medical Center (Dallas). The Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, part of the department of neurological surgery at UT Southwestern Medical Center, ranks No. 15 in the nation for neurology and neurosurgery, according to U.S. News & World Report's 2019-20 list. The department's neuro-oncology program is supported by the Annette G. Strauss Center for Neuro-Oncology and collaborates with the Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center. In 2018, the Decherd Foundation awarded the hospital an endowment to create an annual award to recognize exceptional care for neurotrauma patients at UT Southwestern's teaching hospital, Dallas-based Parkland Memorial Hospital.

Vanderbilt University Medical Center (Nashville, Tenn.). In addition to 21 residents, the neurological surgery department at Vanderbilt University Medical Center has 16 physician faculty members who are part of its 32-member advance practice and research team. The department sees more than 5,000 surgeries and procedures each year. In 2019, neurological surgery researchers at Vanderbilt, supported by the National Institutes of Health, for the first time found improvements in brain networks after surgery in 15 people with temporal lobe epilepsy.

VCU Medical Center (Richmond, Va.). With a 13-physician faculty, the Virginia Commonwealth University department of neurosurgery at VCU Medical Center is home to a new concept of outpatient medicine for orthopedic and neurological conditions. The VCU Health Neuroscience, Orthopaedic and Wellness Center, dubbed the "N.O.W. Center," aims to offer patient-centered care, using new software to help providers manage patients' progress during visits. The neurosurgery department at VCU Medical Center has been recognized by U.S. News & World Report, which named the hospital among the top 50 in the country for neurology and neurosurgery for 2018-19.

Vidant Medical Center (Greenville, N.C.). Vidant Medical Center is home to the only neuroscience intensive care unit in eastern North Carolina, as well as a specialized neuroscience rehabilitation unit. The hospital's neurosurgery department has 19 physicians and healthcare professionals. In April 2019, one of Vidant's neurosurgery department members co-authored a 12-month study of the use of a new neuro-spinal scaffold to treat acute thoracic complete spinal cord injury.

Wake Forest Baptist Health (Winston-Salem, N.C.). Every year, physicians at Wake Forest Baptist Health's spine center perform more than 1,000 surgeries on patients in need of treatment for back and neck disorders. Wake Forest Baptist Health is home to one of the nation's leading Gamma Knife Centers and is one of the few centers in the country to use deep brain stimulation to treat movement disorders, brain tumors, depression and Tourette syndrome. Additionally, the hospital's neurosurgery department has two neurosurgeons who specialize in pediatric care.

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100 hospitals and health systems with great neurosurgery and spine programs | 2019 - Becker's Hospital Review

Automation in Cell Therapy Manufacturing Is Driving the Growth of the Cell Therapy Market over the Forecast Period (2019-2025) – Press Release -…

By Stem Cell Clinics

A recent report published by Infinium Global Research on cell therapy market provides in-depth analysis of segments and sub-segments in the global as well as regional cell therapy market.

This press release was orginally distributed by SBWire

Pune, India -- (SBWIRE) -- 12/13/2019 -- The Infinium Global Research analyzes the "Cell Therapy Market (Cell Type - Stem Cell, and Differentiated Cell; Therapy Type - Allogenic Therapies, and Autologous Therapies; Application - Autoimmune Diseases, Oncology, Dermatology, Musculoskeletal Therapies, and Other Applications; End-users - Hospitals and Clinics, Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Companies, and Research Institutes): Global Industry Analysis, Trends, Size, Share and Forecasts to 2025."

For More Details Get FREE Sample Pages of this Research Report@ https://www.infiniumglobalresearch.com/reports/sample-request/12810

Cell therapy is the transplantation of human cells to replace or repair damaged tissue or cells. With new technologies, products, innovative, and limitless imagination. Cells used for cell therapy often stem cells, cells that can mature into different types of specialized cells. The most common type of cell therapy has been the replacement of mature, functioning cells through blood and platelet transfusions. Cell therapies treat cancer, improving a weakened immune system, autoimmune disease, rebuilding damaged cartilage in joints, urinary problems, and infectious disease, repairing spinal cord injuries, and helping patients with neurological disorders.

Automation in Cell Therapy Manufacturing Providing Intensive Opportunities in the Cell Therapy Market

The rising occurrence of chronic diseases across the globe is the major driver for the growth of the global cell therapy market. Moreover, increasing the geriatric population, increase in cell therapy transplantation rate, and replacement of animal testing model are some of the key factors fueling the market growth. Furthermore, increasing awareness of stem cell therapy and the development of cell banking facilities contributing to the growth of the global cell therapy market.

Moreover, technological advancements and improvements in the regulatory framework continuously provide to the growing market. However, challenges in research and development, lack of proper and advanced healthcare in developing regions may hinder market growth. Furthermore, automation in cell therapy manufacturing providing intensive opportunities in the cell therapy market in the coming years.

Request a Discount on Standard Prices of this Premium Report @ https://www.infiniumglobalresearch.com/reports/request-discount/12810

Stem Cell Therapy is Expected to Hold Maximum Share in the Cell Therapy Market

The global cell therapy market is segmented on the basis of type, therapy, application, and end-user. Types are further segmented into stem cells and differentiated cells. Stem cell therapy is expected to hold maximum share in the cell therapy market. Stem cell therapies having several advantages like regenerating the body organisms and other cells, which contributes to the growth of the stem cell therapies market.

By therapy, the cell therapy market is segmented into allogeneic therapies and autologous therapies. On the basis of application, the market is further divided into autoimmune diseases, oncology, dermatology, musculoskeletal therapies, and other applications. Based on end-users, the market is hospitals and clinics, biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies, and Research Institutes.

North America is Leading the Market Share in the Cell Therapy Market

The cell therapy market is segmented regionally into North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and the Rest of the World. North America is leading the market share in the cell therapy market due to the high rate of cancer and blood-related disorders coupled with high investments in the research and development of novel technologies. North America has a firm healthcare organization that acts as an added advantage for the growth of the market in this region.

Asia-Pacific region is anticipated to stimulate the growth of the cell therapy market due to a large number of surgeries performed in this region. Rising awareness about advanced medicinal therapies contributes to the growth of the market in the Asia-Pacific region.

Browse Detailed TOC and Description of this Exclusive Report@ https://www.infiniumglobalresearch.com/healthcare-medical-devices/global-cell-therapy-market

Cell Therapy Market: Competitive Analysis

The leading players in the cell therapy market are NuVasive, Inc., Kolon TissueGene, Inc., JCR Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd., Osiris Therapeutics, Inc., Stemedica Cell Technologies, Inc., MEDIPOST, Stemedica Cell Technologies, Inc., Celgene Corporation, ANTEROGEN.CO., LTD, Vericel Corporation. These companies are adopting strategic partnerships to enhance their product portfolio.

Reasons to Buy this Report:

=> Comprehensive analysis of global as well as regional markets of the cell therapy.

=> Complete coverage of all the product type and application segments to analyze the trends, developments, and forecast of market size up to 2025.

=> Comprehensive analysis of the companies operating in this market. The company profile includes analysis of product portfolio, revenue, SWOT analysis and the latest developments of the company.

=> Infinium Global Research- Growth Matrix presents an analysis of the product segments and geographies that market players should focus to invest, consolidate, expand and/or diversify.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.sbwire.com/press-releases/automation-in-cell-therapy-manufacturing-is-driving-the-growth-of-the-cell-therapy-market-over-the-forecast-period-2019-2025-1267918.htm

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Automation in Cell Therapy Manufacturing Is Driving the Growth of the Cell Therapy Market over the Forecast Period (2019-2025) - Press Release -...

Aspen Neuroscience gets funding to pursue personalized cell therapy for Parkinsons disease – The San Diego Union-Tribune

By Stem Cell Treatment

Aspen Neuroscience, a new San Diego biotech company working on stem cell treatment for Parkinsons disease, has come out of stealth mode and raised $6.5 million to pursue clinical testing for its therapy.

Co-founded by well-known stem cell scientist Jeanne Loring, Aspen Neuroscience proposes creating stem cells from modified skin cells of Parkinsons patents via genetic engineering.

The stem cells, which can become any type of cell in the body, then would undergo a process that makes them specialize into dopamine-releasing neurons.

People with Parkinsons lose a large number up to 50 percent at diagnosis of specific brain cells that make the chemical dopamine.

Without dopamine, nerve cells cannot communicate with muscles and people are left with debilitating motor problems.

Once these modified skin cells have been engineered to specialize in producing dopamine, they can be transplanted into the Parkinsons patient to restore the types of neurons lost to the disease.

The reason we called it Aspen is because l was raised in the Rocky Mountain states, said Loring. When there is a forest fire in the Rockies, the evergreens are wiped out but the aspens are the fist that regenerate after the burn. So it is a metaphor for regeneration.

Aspen still has a long way to go before its proposed therapy would be available to Parkinsons patients. It has been meeting with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to provide animal trial data and other information in hopes of getting permission to start human clinical trials.

But the company expects the earliest it would get the go-ahead from FDA to start human trials would be 2021.

Loring has been working on the therapy for eight years. She is professor emeritus and founding director of the Center for Regenerative Medicine at the Scripps Research Institute.

Loring co-founded the 20-employee company with Andres Bratt-Leal, a former post-doctoral researcher in Lorings lab at Scripps.

Joining them as Aspens Chief Executive is Dr. Howard Federoff, former vice chancellor for health affairs and chief executive of the University of California Irvine Health System.

Federoff said the company is the only one pursuing the use of Parkinsons patients own cells as part of neuron replacement therapy.

Aspens proprietary approach does not require the use of immuno-suppression drugs, which can be given when transplanted cells come from another person and perhaps limit the effectiveness of the treatment.

Aspens approach is a therapy that is likely to benefit from the fact that your own cells know how to make the best connections with their own target cells in the brain, even in the setting of Parkinsons disease, said Federoff. So when transplanted it is able to set back the clock on Parkinsons.

In addition to Aspens main therapy, it is researching a gene-editing treatment for forms of Parkinsons common in certain families.

Aspens research work up to now has been supported by Summit for Stem Cell, a non-profit on which provides a variety of services for people with Parkinsons disease.

The new seed funding round was led by Domain Associates and Axon Ventures, with additional participation from Alexandria Venture Investments, Arch Venture Partners, OrbiMed and Section 32.

Aspens financial backing, combined with its experienced and proven leadership team, positions it well for future success, said Kim Kamdar, a partner at Domain Associates. Domain prides itself on investing in companies that can translate scientific research into innovative medicines and therapies that make a difference in peoples lives. We clearly see Aspen as fitting into that category, as it is the only company using a patients own cells for replacement therapy in Parkinsons disease.

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Aspen Neuroscience gets funding to pursue personalized cell therapy for Parkinsons disease - The San Diego Union-Tribune

Acute Leukemia: 5 Things to Know – Medscape

By Stem Cell Treatment

In the past 2 years, a host of new targeted treatments for acute leukemia have become availablemost notably the FLT and IDH inhibitorsand yet the best way to treatthese patients remains a challenge.Hereare five things to know about the therapeutic landscape ofthis diseaseand emerging evidence surroundingitsrisk factors.

Experts do not agree on the best approach for treating older patients with AML. Patients aged 65 years and older tend to have more aggressive disease and a worse prognosis compared with their younger peers. The 5-year survival estimates for this older cohort is 5%, whereas the rate for patients younger than 20 years is 67%.

Chemotherapy, which is the first-line therapy for the majority of patients with AML, often fails in older patients because the agents are too toxic or simply not effective. In fact, more than half of older patients with AML receive no care.

A central question for clinicians treating older patients with AML is whether to provide more-intensive or less-intensive therapy. Oncologists can make a case for both. For example, data from the Swedish Acute Leukemia Registry show that intensive treatment is well tolerated and extends survival in most patients aged 60-75 years. However, support for a low-intensity strategy also exists. A 2019 phase 1b/2 clinical trial found that a combination of the chemotherapy agents venetoclax and low-dose cytarabine led 54% of patients aged 82 years and older to achieve complete remission or complete remission with incomplete blood count recovery.

Oncologists can turn to a patient's degree of frailty and tumor biology to provide clues about which therapeutic strategy to pursue. Frail patients, for instance, are less likely to tolerate aggressive chemotherapy. Understanding the tumor biology of AML, which is often more complex in older patients, can also indicate how responsive a patient will be to different approaches. Overall, experts are working toward a more standardized way of assessing these metrics and how each should inform treatment decisions.

In the past 2 years, a host of new targeted treatments for AML have become available. Most of these drugs inhibit key genetic mutations associated with AML. Midostaurin, which targets FLT3 mutations, was the first such inhibitor to receive approval from the US Food and Drug Administration in April 2017, but more potent agents soon followedgilteritinib for FLT3 mutations, ivosidenib for IDH1 mutations, and enasidenib for IDH2 mutations.

The new crop of targeted drugs show promise for improving outcomes.

A phase 3 randomized controlled trial evaluating oral gilteritinib versus salvage chemotherapy reported a median overall survival of 9.3 months in patients who received gilteritinib compared with 5.6 months for those receiving chemotherapy. About one third of patients receiving gilteritinib achieved complete remission with partial hematologic recovery compared with 15% of those receiving chemotherapy alone.

An alternative targeted approach is to disrupt key players along metabolic or cell maintenance pathways instead of genetic mutations. A phase 2 randomized controlled trial found that glasdegib, which targets the Hedgehog pathway, almost doubled overall survival when combined with low-dose cytarabine compared with cytarabine alone (8.8 months vs 4.9 months).

Immunotherapy represents another potential treatment option for patients with AML. The antibody-drug conjugate gemtuzumab ozogamicin is designed to deliver the antitumor antibiotic calicheamicin directly to leukemia cells expressing the CD33 transmembrane receptor. The CD33 receptor is only expressed by cells of myeloid origin, not normal stem cells, which allows the drug to pursue cancerous cells with greater specificity.

Gemtuzumab ozogamicin has an interesting history. It was withdrawn from the market in 2010 after concerns over its safety and efficacy surfaced, but it was then reapproved in 2017 after further research showed its value. Recent analyses have found that, when added to conventional induction therapy, gemtuzumab ozogamicin improves relapse rates and overall survival in patients with CD33-positive AML.

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Acute Leukemia: 5 Things to Know - Medscape

Global T-Cell Therapy (CAR T-Cell, Tumor Infiltrating Lymphocytes) Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report 2019-2026 – ResearchAndMarkets.com…

By Stem Cell Treatment

DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The "T-Cell Therapy Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Modality, By Therapy (CAR T-Cell, Tumor Infiltrating Lymphocytes), By Indication (Hematologic Malignancies, Solid Tumors), And Segment Forecasts, 2019 - 2026" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The global T-cell therapy market size is expected to reach USD 7.51 billion, expanding at a CAGR of 15.4% by 2026

The landmark approvals of Yescarta and Kymriah have spurred unprecedented advancements in the market. The launch of these breakthrough therapies has bolstered cash inflow for innovation, thereby driving the growth.

Expansion of the market for T-cell therapy significantly relies on shifting preference from first-line stem cell transplants and chemotherapy to third-line CAR T-cell therapy. Moreover, the ever-expanding plethora of medical conditions for which the T cell therapies is projected to bode well for the market growth. Rise in oncological disorders is projected to drive interest as well as investments in the T-cell therapy market in near future.

In contrast with the small-molecule landscape, engineered T cells market landscape is distinguished by an extensive network that encompasses several entities marked by connections academically, financially, and via technology licensing. Research bodies, and manufacturers, and regulators engage in assessing the long-term efficacy and safety of therapies to ensure safe access to patients.

By far, the antigen challenge and linked toxicity concerns have impeded the development of CAR T therapies in non-hematological malignancies. Market players are applying a data-driven approach of exploring this space to mitigate the challenge and expand the usage of T-cell therapy in indication type such as brain cancer and melanoma.

Further key findings from the report suggest:

Competitive Landscape

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/jgs2h6

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Global T-Cell Therapy (CAR T-Cell, Tumor Infiltrating Lymphocytes) Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report 2019-2026 - ResearchAndMarkets.com...

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