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Bioheart's Chief Science Officer Kristin Comella Presents at 10th Annual Meeting of International Society for Stem …

By Stem Cell Treatment

SUNRISE, Fla., June 25, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bioheart, Inc. (BHRT.OB) announced today that Kristin Comella, the company's Chief Science Officer presented at the 10th Annual Meeting of the International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) in Yokohama, Japan June 13 - 16, 2012. One of the world's premier stem cell research events, the ISSCR format includes international research and poster presentations from invited speakers, exceptional peer-to-peer learning and unparalleled networking opportunities.

Comella presented a poster on clinical applications of adipose or fat derived stem cells (ADSCs).

The ISSCR annual meeting serves as the largest forum for stem cell and regenerative medicine professionals from around the world. Through lectures, symposia, workshops, and events attendees experience innovative stem cell and regenerative medicine research, advances and what's on the horizon. The meeting features more than 1,000 abstracts, nearly 150 speakers and provides numerous networking and professional development opportunities and social events. For additional information, visit http://www.isscr.org.

Kristin Comella has over 14 years experience in corporate entities with expertise in regenerative medicine, training and education, research, product development and senior management including more than 10 years of cell culturing experience. She has made a significant contribution to Bioheart's product development, manufacturing and quality systems since she joined the company in September 2004.

About Bioheart, Inc.

Bioheart is committed to maintaining its leading position within the cardiovascular sector of the cell technology industry delivering cell therapies and biologics that help address congestive heart failure, lower limb ischemia, chronic heart ischemia, acute myocardial infarctions and other issues. Bioheart's goals are to cause damaged tissue to be regenerated, when possible, and to improve a patient's quality of life and reduce health care costs and hospitalizations.

Specific to biotechnology, Bioheart is focused on the discovery, development and, subject to regulatory approval, commercialization of autologous cell therapies for the treatment of chronic and acute heart damage and peripheral vascular disease. Its leading product, MyoCell, is a clinical muscle-derived cell therapy designed to populate regions of scar tissue within a patient's heart with new living cells for the purpose of improving cardiac function in chronic heart failure patients. For more information on Bioheart, visit http://www.bioheartinc.com, or visit us on Facebook: Bioheart and Twitter @BioheartInc.

Forward-Looking Statements: Except for historical matters contained herein, statements made in this press release are forward-looking statements. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, words such as "may," "will," "to," "plan," "expect," "believe," "anticipate," "intend," "could," "would," "estimate," or "continue" or the negative other variations thereof or comparable terminology are intended to identify forward-looking statements.

Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Also, forward-looking statements represent our management's beliefs and assumptions only as of the date hereof. Except as required by law, we assume no obligation to update these forward-looking statements publicly, or to update the reasons actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements, even if new information becomes available in the future.

The Company is subject to the risks and uncertainties described in its filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the section entitled "Risk Factors" in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011, and its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 30, 2012.

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Bioheart's Chief Science Officer Kristin Comella Presents at 10th Annual Meeting of International Society for Stem ...

Stem cell info session held in support of former Guelph boy

By Stem Cell Clinic

GUELPH -- When Sajeed Hussain did not show up for school that Thursday in April, Theresa Darroch didn't think too much of it.

The popular and intelligent student in Darroch's Grade 4 class at Priory Park public school, who had fully participated in gym class just a day earlier, was preparing for a move to Ottawa with his family at the end of the week.

It wasn't until the next day Darroch learned from another student the 10-year-old was in a Toronto hospital after being diagnosed with leukemia.

"It just completely came out of left field," Darroch recalled Saturday. "It was just awful."

Darroch's students have not seen their friend in person since then, as Sajeed's family did move to Ottawa where his father had a new job. But they have kept in touch via Skype, and at Easter Darroch traveled to Ottawa to visit her former student and deliver gifts from students and faculty.

On Saturday, those attending a bone marrow information session organized in Sajeed's honor watched a video, made by the boy's former classmates, wishing him well.

Sajeed has been in and out of hospital in Ottawa and is now one of nearly 1,000 Canadians waiting for a stem cell match.

The Bangladesh Association of Guelph organized the session with Canadian Blood Services in hopes a match for Sajeed could be found, but the purpose soon grew.

"We wanted to help Sajeed, but eventually we thought we could help the wider community because there are more then 900 Canadians who are waiting for a match," said Riadul Mannan, director of communications for the association.

Mannan recalls, too, learning of the boy's illness and being shocked.

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Stem cell info session held in support of former Guelph boy

From the Hands of Angels: Brainstorm Cell Therapeutics Inc.

By Uncategorized

BOSTON, MA--(Marketwire -06/25/12)- When it comes to disease, few are crueler than ALS. Approximately 5,600 people in the U.S. are diagnosed with ALS each year. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord. The motor neurons reach from the brain to the spinal cord and from the spinal cord to the muscles throughout the body. The progressive degeneration of the motor neurons in ALS eventually leads to their death. The life expectancy is 2-5 years from the time of diagnosis. When the motor neurons die, the ability of the brain to initiate and control muscle movement is lost. Most ALS patients expire from suffocation while suffering no cognitive depreciation.

Brainstorm Cell Therapeutics Inc., trading on the Over the Counter Bulletin Board in the United States, is leading the fight to finding a cure for ALS with its NurOwn proprietary technology. The NurOwn technology is changing the field of regenerative medicine by reprogramming bone marrow derived from mesenchymal stem cells into neuron-supporting cells. The axon terminals (nerve cells ending) will take up neurotrophic factors secreted by the transplanted cells into the muscles or the spinal cord and transport them back into cell bodies within the spinal cord. This will prevent further degeneration of the neuronal cells. Although the primary purpose of the Phase I/II trial being conducted at the prestigious Hadassah Medical Center in Jerusalem is to ensure safety and tolerability, initial data has shown efficacy. Professor Eldad Melamed, the lead investigator of the trial, said, "There have been no significant side effects in the initial patients we have treated with BrainStorm's NurOwn technology. In addition, even though we are conducting a safety trial, the early clinical follow up of the patients treated with the stem cells shows indications of beneficial clinical effects, such as an improvement in breathing and swallowing ability as well as in muscular power. I am very excited about the safety results, as well as these indications of efficacy, we are seeing. This may represent the biggest hope in this field of degenerative diseases, like ALS." Dr. Adrian Harel, CEO of Brainstorm, indicated trial data from the first cohort of 12 patients with ALS will be made available to the public sometime in July 2012.

Sai Rosen, Director for Stem Cell Media, LLC, observed, "Brainstorm's early clinical results showed a marked improvement in breathing. An arterial blood gas (ABG) test measures the levels of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood to determine how well the lungs are working and according to the initial data the patients showed improved ABG."

It is expected that a Phase II/III ALS trial application will be filed with the FDA in the United States in the second half of 2012. Brainstorm recently received FDA Orphan Drug Designation for its NurOwn cell therapy for ALS in the U.S. The trial site in the U.S. will be conducted at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) and is expected to begin late 2012.

The Company is well positioned financially to see the ALS trial through proof of concept. Dr. Harel has arranged a $10MM stock purchase agreement along with non-dilutive grant monies from the Office of the Chief Scientist (OCS) in the amount of approximately $350,000. The yearly grant for 2012 is $1,100,000 (~4.2 M NIS). Dr. Harel commented, "We are thankful to the OCS for its continued support of our Research and Development program. The non-dilutive capital that we are receiving from the OCS will help move forward our NurOwn technology as a potential new treatment standard for patients with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and Multiple Sclerosis (MS)."

Brainstorm's flagship NurOwn technology is also being applied to adult stem cell therapies to treat a variety of debilitating neurodegenerative diseases, such as Parkinson's Disease (PD), Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and spinal cord injuries.

About Stem Cell Media, LLC. We are the world's only online discussion forum dedicated to Stem Cell investors. http://www.investorstemcell.com

http://investorstemcell.com/stem-cell-research/disclaimer/

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From the Hands of Angels: Brainstorm Cell Therapeutics Inc.

Rick Green: State Funds West Hartford Center Restaurant

By Stem Cell Medical Center

Our state's $291 million investment in medical research at the UConn Health Center is a smart move. The same for the millions of dollars pouring into stem cell research. The $112 million Connecticut will sink into the busway may even one day prove prescient.

These and other projects under Gov. Dannel P. Malloy's aggressive economic development strategy are what's needed after years of somnolent leadership in a state that has failed to create jobs and nurture new business.

But a $47,500 grant from the taxpayers to make sure West Hartford Center gets another trendy restaurant?

Among a slew of economic stimulus grants and loans announced last week, handing taxpayer money to help convert Reuben's Deli on West Hartford's Lasalle Road to a restaurant and bar feels like just too much. Even my local focus group of friends who regularly go to West Hartford restaurants - two doctors and a sucessful businessman I met for a couple of beers one night this week - had a hard time swallowing this one.

Why is the state in the business of propping up a business in a booming town center that has been in the midst of a restaurant explosion in recent years?

"I can understand how people might look at it (that) way,'' said Catherine Smith, commissioner of Economic and Community Development for the state, when I called. "Our belief was they would not go forward with the expansion unless we helped them."

The folks at Reuben's, understandably perhaps, did not respond when I called and emailed looking to talk. And who can blame them for applying for a state grant under the generous Small Business Express program, a $100 million initiative that also provides loans? The program is aimed at helping Connecticut's "base industries" such as "precision manufacturing, business services, green and sustainable technology, bioscience and information technology."

It's just that corned beef on rye doesn't strike me as one of our base industries.

To be sure, this is hardly a no strings attached deal: Reuben's promises to invest $180,000 of its own cash and to hire five new workers in return for the $47,500 state grant. That's five jobs that will be created in a still-struggling state recovery that has left 150,000 people without jobs. By a lot of measures, that's a win.

"We view the Small Business Express program as a Main Street-regular-old-business-guy being able to access state assistance to make an investment in business that they haven't made because of the economy," Smith said. "These programs are about getting small business to do more and grow fast and create jobs We underwrite each of these deals. We make sure the company isn't about to go flat on its face."

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Rick Green: State Funds West Hartford Center Restaurant

State Funds West Hartford Center Restaurant

By Stem Cell Medical Center

Our state's $291 million investment in medical research at the UConn Health Center is a smart move. The same for the millions of dollars pouring into stem cell research. The $112 million Connecticut will sink into the busway may even one day prove prescient.

These and other projects under Gov. Dannel P. Malloy's aggressive economic development strategy are what's needed after years of somnolent leadership in a state that has failed to create jobs and nurture new business.

But a $47,500 grant from the taxpayers to make sure West Hartford Center gets another trendy restaurant?

Among a slew of economic stimulus grants and loans announced last week, handing taxpayer money to help convert Reuben's Deli on West Hartford's Lasalle Road to a restaurant and bar feels like just too much. Even my local focus group of friends who regularly go to West Hartford restaurants - two doctors and a sucessful businessman I met for a couple of beers one night this week - had a hard time swallowing this one.

Why is the state in the business of propping up a business in a booming town center that has been in the midst of a restaurant explosion in recent years?

"I can understand how people might look at it (that) way,'' said Catherine Smith, commissioner of Economic and Community Development for the state, when I called. "Our belief was they would not go forward with the expansion unless we helped them."

The folks at Reuben's, understandably perhaps, did not respond when I called and emailed looking to talk. And who can blame them for applying for a state grant under the generous Small Business Express program, a $100 million initiative that also provides loans? The program is aimed at helping Connecticut's "base industries" such as "precision manufacturing, business services, green and sustainable technology, bioscience and information technology."

It's just that corned beef on rye doesn't strike me as one of our base industries.

To be sure, this is hardly a no strings attached deal: Reuben's promises to invest $180,000 of its own cash and to hire five new workers in return for the $47,500 state grant. That's five jobs that will be created in a still-struggling state recovery that has left 150,000 people without jobs. By a lot of measures, that's a win.

"We view the Small Business Express program as a Main Street-regular-old-business-guy being able to access state assistance to make an investment in business that they haven't made because of the economy," Smith said. "These programs are about getting small business to do more and grow fast and create jobs We underwrite each of these deals. We make sure the company isn't about to go flat on its face."

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State Funds West Hartford Center Restaurant

RPI breaks ground on Rensselaer Center for Stem Cell Research

By Stem Cell Medical Center

Posted at: 06/22/2012 3:10 PM | Updated at: 06/22/2012 5:29 PM By: WNYT Staff

TROY - Stem cells have been heralded as the frontier from which great medical treatments will come. Whether or not that materializes, New York wants to be in on the action.

So Friday, ground was broken on the Rensselaer Center for Stem Cell Research. Located on the RPI campus, the state is providing a grant of almost $2.5 million over four years to get it built.

And through it's funding, the state is very forward looking and it is foster a strong stem cell research community here in New York State, said Shirley Ann Jackson, president of RPI.

RPI has already started working in this area, partnering with Albany Medical College and the University at Albany.

This expands the scope of that work, with the hopes of finding new medicines and cures for a variety of illness and traumatic injuries.

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RPI breaks ground on Rensselaer Center for Stem Cell Research

Notre Dame establishes professorships in adult stem cell research

By Uncategorized

Public release date: 22-Jun-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: William Gilroy gilroy.6@nd.edu 574-631-4127 University of Notre Dame

Alumnus Michael Gallagher and his wife, Elizabeth, have made a $5 million gift to establish the Elizabeth and Michael Gallagher Family Professorships in Adult Stem Cell Research at the University of Notre Dame.

Their gift, which will fund three new endowed professorships in adult and all forms of non-embryonic stem cell research, will strengthen Notre Dame's leadership in the field of stem cell research and enhance the University's effective dialogue between the biomedical research community and the Catholic Church on matters related to the use and application of stem cells and regenerative medicine.

"As a Catholic university, Notre Dame carries a mantle of responsibility to use our scholarship and resources to help alleviate human suffering, and, in this area of research in particular, to do so with deep respect for the sanctity of all human life," said Rev. John I. Jenkins, C.S.C., the University's president. "These new professorships will enable us to effectively build upon an already strong foundation in this critically important field. We are tremendously grateful to the Gallaghers for making this possible with their transformative gift."

Despite years of research, there are no known cures for a large number of degenerative diseases, such as Type 1 diabetes, Parkinson's disease, cardiovascular disease, macular degeneration and spinal cord injuries. Stem cell research has the potential to contribute to the discovery of new and successful treatments for these and other diseases because it holds the unique promise of regenerating damaged cells and tissues, fully restoring tissues and organs to their normal function.

Although this vital area of research could accelerate the ability to alleviate much human suffering, it has generated extensive ethical debate with the use of embryonic versus non-embryonic stem cells. The Catholic Church affirms the dignity of all human life at every stage and vigorously opposes the destruction of human embryos for the harvesting of stem cells. At the same time, the Church strongly endorses the use of adult and non-embryonic stem cell research as a potential therapy for individuals suffering from these debilitating diseases. Research has demonstrated that adult stem cells, including all forms of non-embryonic stem cells, such as induced pluripotent stem cells and umbilical cord stem cells, can be harvested and programmed to achieve pluripotency the same characteristic that enables embryonic stem cells to differentiate into any type of cell.

An urgent need exists to increase the number of faculty experts performing adult stem cell research at Notre Dame. Doing so will expand upon the strong foundation the College of Science holds in these areas and will help create an environment for excellence in which faculty and students can learn, grow, collaborate and ultimately affect human health.

"We are overwhelmed with gratitude at the generous gift from Mike and Liz Gallagher," said Gregory P. Crawford, dean of the College of Science. "The impact of this gift is truly beyond measure. It will play a crucial role in attracting three more of the best faculty in the field of adult stem cell research to Notre Dame. Furthermore, this gift will equip our existing talented group of adult stem cell researchers at Notre Dame to take the next great leap toward ultimately forming a premier center in adult stem cell research."

Michael Gallagher is a 1991 graduate of Notre Dame, and his wife, Elizabeth, is a 1992 graduate of Saint Mary's College. They have two sons, Brock and Jack, and currently live near Denver.

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Notre Dame establishes professorships in adult stem cell research

VIDEO: Stem cell research facility to open at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

By Uncategorized

More Photos

Click thumbnails to enlarge

Some of the automated sampling equipment in the Rensselaer Stem Cell Research Center in Troy. Some of the automated sampling equipment in the Rensselaer Stem Cell Research Center in Troy. (Mike McMahon / The Record)

By Danielle Sanzone dsanzone@troyrecord.com Twitter.com/DanielleSanzone

State Department of Health Commissioner Nirav Shah, left, and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute President Dr. Shirley Ann Jackson, right, announce the opening of the Rensselaer Center for Stem Cell Research during a forum at the colleges Troy campus Friday. (Mike McMahon / The Record)

TROY During a Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute forum on Friday, dozens were able to see their first baby picture: a single cell that eventually multiplied, in part due to stem cells, into an organism with trillions of cells.

That, to me, is the most amazing thing in the study of biology, said Glenn Monastersky, director of the Rensselaer Center for Stem Cell Research.

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VIDEO: Stem cell research facility to open at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Columbia Asia Referral Hospital, Yeshwantpur Announces a Comprehensive Bone Marrow Transplant Service

By Stem Cell Clinic

BANGALORE, June 22, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

Adding an impetus to the already existing image of Bangalore being a healthcare destination of India, Columbia Asia Referral Hospital, Yeshwanthpur (CARHY), announced comprehensive bone marrow transplant (stem cell transplant) service on Thursday. This facility will give hope to many cancer patientsin and around Bangalore as there are very few hospitals in South India providing allogeneic transplant, which involves using stem cellsfrom a donor with a similar genetic makeup.

The bone marrow transplant (BMT) service will have a team of medical experts including clinical hematologist, oncologist, and other qualified doctors from allied specialties like pediatrics, infectious disease specialist and trained nurses for stem cell transplant, state-of-the-art HEPA filtered room, ICU, 24 hrs blood bank services and radiology services for providing comprehensive care during stem cell transplant.

Addressing the media, Dr. Nandakumar Jairam, Chairman and Group Medical Director, Columbia Asia Hospitals,said, "We are happy to announce allogenic bone marrow transplant service at our hospital in Yeshwanthpur, over and above the existing autologous transplant service. This will enhance comprehensive bone marrow transplant treatment delivery; a dire need for the people of Karnataka and neighbouring states. This will also help many international patients who look for such a treatment in India."

"This facility is dedicated to providing end-to-end services including expert counsel from a clinical hematologist and an entire team of doctors and nurses providing the latest in medical advances to those suffering from blood cancer and some non-cancerous conditions affecting thebone marrow," said Dr. Satish, Consultant in Clinical Hematology, Columbia Asia Hospitals.

"Bone marrow transplant, also called hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT), is a treatment optionfor certain cancers. With this launch, Columbia Asia Referral Hospital Yeshwanthpur becomes one among the very few centers in India to offer allogeneic bone marrow transplants. Till now, we were doing only autologous transplants which involved the usage of the patient's own stem cells. Now, we will be able to manage conditions like high risk leukemia's, myelomas and lymphomas," said Dr Satish.

"Some of the most effective treatments for cancer such as chemotherapy and radiation are toxic to the bone marrow.The marrow produces different cells that make up the blood such as red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets. The stem cells from the bone marrow are extracted before the administration of high dose chemotherapy and then reintroduced or transplanted to the patient so that blood cell production process is re-established in the bone marrow," addedDr Neelesh Reddy, Consultant Medical Oncology, Columbia Asia Hospitals.

In fact earlier stem cells were collected only from the bone marrow in the hip bones under general anesthesia. However with advanced technology and medical supervision stem cells can now be collected from peripheral blood after giving injections. Stem cells are then harvested by simple procedure called apheresis, (in the same way as dialysis is done) and the rest of the blood is returned to the person.

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Columbia Asia Referral Hospital, Yeshwantpur Announces a Comprehensive Bone Marrow Transplant Service

Rensselaer and New York State Launch New Stem Cell Research Center

By Uncategorized

Newswise Troy, N.Y. Ground-breaking research to advance the application of stem cells to address critical injuries and diseases will be taking place at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, in a new center funded by New York state and opened today (June 22, 2012).

The Rensselaer Center for Stem Cell Research was launched officially by Rensselaer President Shirley Ann Jackson, New York State Department of Health Commissioner Nirav Shah, and Jonathan Dordick, director of the Rensselaer Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies (CBIS) and the Howard P. Isermann 42 Professor of Chemical and Biological Engineering. They were joined at the ribbon cutting by Glenn Monastersky, CBIS operations director and biomedical engineering professor of practice. Monastersky is also principal investigator under the $2.45 million grant awarded to fund the new center, from the New York State Stem Cell Science Program (NYSTEM).

The opening of the Rensselaer Center for Stem Cell Research marks a milestone on the path toward this important area of exploration, which promises so much in terms of alleviating disease and improving health, said Jackson. At the center we will work at the frontiers of this promising discipline in collaboration with New York state and investigators from across the region.

This research complements stem cell research, sponsored by New York and the National Institutes of Health, that is already in progress at Rensselaer, Jackson added. Due to our commitment to biotechnology that began over 10 years ago under The Rensselaer Plan, we are able to link engineering with the life and physical sciences in ways that allow us to explore new possibilities. We are grateful to Dr. Shah and the state of New York for their leadership in this important research area, and for providing the funding to launch this center.

Governor Cuomo recognizes that stem cell research is a vital and growing industry that helps create jobs here in the Capital Region and around the state, said Nirav R. Shah, M.D., M.P.H., New York State Commissioner of Health. Targeting our investment in results-oriented research enterprises like this center will lead to medical advances as well as expand our economy and make New York the place to be for 21st century health and science research.

According to Dordick, the new center continues to place CBIS and the research conducted there on the leading edge of efforts to harness advances in biotechnology to address 21st century health challenges.

Ranging from our work on the blood anti-coagulant drug heparin to solutions to fighting some of todays super bugs to important advances in understanding Alzheimers disease, we are focusing our efforts on scientific advances that will ultimately open the doors to new cures for traumatic injuries or treatments for long-term conditions and diseases, Dordick said. Now, working with our partners at New York state and other researchers in the region, we will expand our work on stem cells to help the medical and scientific research communities advance efforts to better understand those cells and how they can be used in medicine.

Research on stem cells offers promise in an array of health areas, ranging from trying to regenerate damaged nerve cells following spinal cord injuries to offering potential cures for autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, and Type 1 diabetes. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), stem cells are important because unlike other cells in the human body they are capable of dividing and renewing themselves for long periods. In addition, because stem cells are unspecialized meaning that they are not associated with any tissue-specific functions early research has shown that under the right circumstances these cells can give rise to cells associated with specific functions, under a process called differentiation. Today, according to NIH, scientists are just beginning to understand the so-called triggers that can start stem cell differentiation into, for example, nerve, muscle, or bone cells.

The new state-of-the-art center is housed on the ground floor of the Rensselaer biotechnology center. In addition to advanced cell biology research equipment, new lab equipment acquired with funding from New York state includes an Olympus VivaView microscopy/incubation system and a Thermo Fisher Arrayscan cell-imaging system that utilizes advanced optics and analytical software to guide the analysis of stem cell development.

The Rensselaer Center for Stem Cell Research and its associated scientific staff, will enable collaborations with several New York partners including the New York Neural Stem Cell Institute, Albany Medical College, the University at Albany, the University of Rochester Medical School, and the Trudeau Institute. The main focus of the center is the basic science critical to development of stem cell-based therapies for human diseases and traumatic injuries.

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Rensselaer and New York State Launch New Stem Cell Research Center

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