Valentina Greco takes on new position as President of the ISSCR – EurekAlert

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"My focus will be on people and scrutinizing processes so that they better support the diversity of needs of our members across identities including geographies and career stages," Dr. Greco said."In turn this will increase opportunities for professional growth of our members and augment our collective impact. As I commit to this vision, I equally commit to speak with openness about the struggles that we have and will experience in order to make this vision a reality.

Credit: Yale School of Medicine

The ISSCR is thrilled to announce Valentina Greco, Yale School of Medicine, Genetics Department andYale Stem Cell Center USA, as its President. Her term began at the ISSCR 2024 Annual Meeting held in Hamburg, Germany that concluded on Saturday, 13 July 2024.

I am honored to be taking on the role of ISSCR President for the coming year, Dr. Greco said. Building on Amander Clarks efforts, my focus will be on people and scrutinizing processes so that they better support the diversity of needs of our members across identities including geographies and career stages. In turn this will increase opportunities for professional growth of our members and augment our collective impact. As I commit to this vision, I equally commit to speak with openness about the struggles that we have and will experience in order to make this vision a reality, Dr. Greco added.

Valentina Greco was born in Palermo, Italy on 3 September 1972. She earned an undergraduate degree in Molecular Biology at the University of Palermo, Italy (1996) where she studied the role of tumor suppressors in cell cycle using in vitro system in the lab of Aldo Di Leonardo (1995-1998), her first academic research experience. She was accepted by Suzanne Eaton and the EMBL/MPI-CBG PhD program, Germany (1998-2002) and fell in love with microscopy and the power of developmental biology using fly wing imaginal disc as a model system to understand epithelial cell communication. Dr. Greco subsequentially completed a post-doc training in the Fuchs lab at the Rockefeller University (2003-2009) where she learned about the mammalian skin hair follicle as model system for stem cell driven regeneration. She was then hired as an Assistant Professor in the Genetics department at Yale School of Medicine by Richard Lifton and Haifan Lin (1 August 2009).

Dr. Greco is currently the Carolyn Walch Slayman Professor of Genetics as well as the Co-chair of Status of Women in Medicine (SWIM) at the Yale School of Medicine. She and members of her lab feel excited about visual driven research to study how cells behave in a living mouse. The team understands cell behaviors as an expression of the architectures and principles that govern the tissues thesecells inhabit, much like human behaviors are an expression of the systems and structuresin whichthey are embedded(e.g. a lab, anorganization). The Greco lab is passionate about identifying the mechanisms that govern communication and cooperation to sustain function over a lifetime.

Dr. Greco has served in numerous leadership roles in the scientific community including many within the ISSCR over the last decade. She also serves on numerous additional boards including President Elect for the Society of Investigative Dermatology (SID), SID Board member 2016-2020, Member of the National Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Advisory Council (NAMSAC (2022-2024)), Member of the Yale Ciencia Academy Advisory Committee, Member of the 2030STEM Leadership Team and Secretary of Board of Directors of the Life Science Editors Foundation (2020-2023).

Greco lab research has been recognized by numerous accolades awarded to both lab members and Dr. Greco. She in particular has received the 2014 Women in Cell Biology Junior Award (WICB) for Excellence in Research from the American Society of Cell Biology (ASCB), the 2014 ISSCR (International Society for Stem Cell Research) Outstanding Young Investigator Award, the 2015Robertson Stem Cell Investigator Award from the New York Stem Cell Foundation (NYSCF), the 2015 Mallinckrodt Scholar Award, the 2016 Early Career Award from the American Society of Cell Biology (ASCB), the 2016 HHMI Faculty Scholar Award, the 2017 Glenn Foundation Award, the 2017 Class of 61 Award by the Yale Cancer Center, the 2019 NIH DP1 Pioneer Award and the 2021 ISSCR Momentum Award. Dr. Greco finds it particularly meaningful to have received the 2018 Yale Mentoring Award in the Natural Sciences, the 2019 Yale Genetic Department Mentoring Award, the 2019 Yale Post-doc Mentoring Award.

The ISSCR is equally pleased to announce Hideyuki Okano, MD, PhD, Keio University, Japan is President-elect and will serve as president officially starting 1 July 2025. Lorenz Studer, MD, founding director of the Center for Stem Cell Biology and member of the Developmental Biology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, USA, is the new Vice President.

The following three members are newly elected to the ISSCR Board of Directors and beginning their three-year term: Jacqueline Barry, PhD, Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult, UK, Tenneille E. Ludwig, PhD, WiCell, USA, and Thomas A. Rando, MD, PhD, University of California, Los Angeles, USA.

The following members are starting their second, three-year term as a result of the 2024 election: Melissa Carpenter, PhD, Carpenter Consulting Corporation, USA, Malin Parmar, PhD, Lund University, Sweden, and Mitinori Saitou, MD, PhD, Kyoto University, Japan.

Learn more about the ISSCR Board of Directors.

About the International Society for Stem Cell Research With nearly 5,000 members from more than 80 countries, the International Society for Stem Cell Research is the preeminent global, cross-disciplinary, science-based organization dedicated to stem cell research and its translation to the clinic. The ISSCR mission is to promote excellence in stem cell science and applications to human health. Additional information about stem cell science is available at AboutStemCells.org, an initiative of the Society to inform the public about stem cell research and its potential to improve human health.

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Valentina Greco takes on new position as President of the ISSCR - EurekAlert

Harnessing benefits of stem cells for heart regeneration | ASU News – ASU News Now

Mehdi Nikkhah, an associate professor of biomedical engineering in theIra A. Fulton Schools of Engineeringat Arizona State University, and his collaborators at Mayo Clinic in Arizona have been awarded a $2.7 million grant by the National Institutes of Health to research how stem cell engineering and tissue regeneration can aid in heart attack recovery.

The research will be conducted in collaboration withWuqiang Zhu, a cardiovascular researcher and professor of biomedical engineering atMayo Clinic.

Nikkhah and Zhu are exploring stem cell transplantation to repair and possibly regenerate damaged myocardium, or heart tissue. Their work is focused on the development of a new class of engineered heart tissues with the use of human-induced pluripotent stem cells, or hiPSCs, and has resulted in two published papers in ACS Biomaterials.

Aheart attack, medically termed as a myocardial infarction, occurs when a coronary artery that sends blood and oxygen to the heart becomes obstructed. This blockage is often the result of an accumulation of fatty cholesterol-containing deposits, known as plaques, within the hearts arteries.

When these plaques rupture, a cascade of events is initiated, leading to the formation of a blood clot. These blood clots can obstruct the artery, impeding blood flow to the heart muscle, thus triggering a heart attack.

When someone has a heart attack, a portion of muscle tissue on the left ventricle, which pumps the blood throughout the whole body, is damaged, Nikkhah says. Over time, the other parts of the heart have to take on more workload, consequently leading to catastrophic heart failure.

A team of biomedical engineers in theSchool of Biological and Health Systems Engineering, part of the Fulton Schools, and medical researchers at Mayo Clinic in Arizona are taking a novel step forward in using stem cell technology and regenerative medicine to aid in heart attack recovery.

Nikkhah is developing engineered heart tissues, or EHTs, with electrical properties to simulate the contraction function typically found within the native hearts tissue.

He is integrating the EHTs with gold nanorods to enhance electrical conductivity among stem cells. Gold is a suitable material because it is conductive and nontoxic to human cells, making the nanorods safe for medical research and translational studies.

In the lab, Nikkhahs team mixes the gold nanorods with a biocompatible hydrogel to form a tissue construct a patch of stem cells to rejuvenate damaged cardiac muscle tissue, offering a promising outcome for heart regeneration.

After we generate the patch, we get the engineered hiPSCs from Dr. Zhus lab at Mayo Clinic, Nikkhah says. They seed the cells on the patch and look at their biological characterization, including cell proliferation, cell viability and gene expression analysis, to see how the cells respond to the conductive hydrogel.

We have successfully used hiPSC-derived cardiomyocytes and cardiac fibroblasts to create beating heart tissues.

The successful integration and proliferation of these cells can lead to the formation of new, healthy heart tissue, potentially reversing the damage caused by the heart attack and enhancing the recovery process.

Reprogrammed human stem cells have nearly limitless potential because they can be differentiated into various cell types. That means hiPSCs can also be used to construct capillaries and blood vessels, which are essential for restoring adequate blood flow and oxygen supply to the damaged areas of the heart.

This process involves the differentiation of hiPSCs intoendothelial cells, which form the lining of blood vessels, thereby facilitating the reconstruction of the hearts vascular network.

Michelle Jang, a graduate student in Nikkhahs lab, is currently studying EHTs to improve cell maturation and observe its electrical properties.

My engagement in this project showed a deep interest in how biomedical engineering technology and biology intersect to create new therapeutic possibilities in the field of regenerative medicine, Jang says. Im excited to see how my current research will further evolve and potentially contribute valuable insights to biomedical research.

Using these techniques, Nikkhah and Zhu can observe the capacity of programmed cells to regenerate damaged heart tissue. With continued advancement in regenerative medicine, there is potential for significant positive impact on outcomes for patients suffering from heart attacks.

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Harnessing benefits of stem cells for heart regeneration | ASU News - ASU News Now

Vedolizumab for the prevention of intestinal acute GVHD after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: a … – Nature.com

Patients

Patients eligible for the study were aged 12 years, weighed 30kg and had an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status (PS) of 2 if aged 18 years34 and Karnofsky or Lansky PS60% if aged 16 years or 12 to <16 years35, respectively (see Supplementary Tables 5 and 6 for details of PS scoring systems). All patients were to receive either peripheral blood or bone marrow allo-HSCT for hematologic malignancy from unrelated donors who were 8 of 8 or 7 of 8 human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-matched (a single allele mismatch at HLA-A, HLA-B and HLA-C, and HLA-DRB1 was permitted). A total of 441 patients were screened for eligibility. After screening, 343 patients were randomly assigned 1:1 to receive vedolizumab (174 patients) or placebo (169 patients) treatment. Randomization was stratified by age (patients aged 18 years or aged 12 to <18 years); HLA match (8 of 8 versus 7 of 8); conditioning regimen intensity (myeloablative conditioning (MAC) versus reduced intensity conditioning (RIC)); and anti-thymocyte globulin (ATG) use (with versus without ATG). Patients received either vedolizumab 300mg or placebo intravenously on day 1 and days +13, +41, +69, +97, +125 and +153 after allo-HSCT in addition to standard GVHD prophylaxis (CNI plus methotrexate or mycophenolate mofetil). Nine patients did not receive study treatment, five were randomized to vedolizumab and four were randomized to placebo treatment.

Of 334 patients who received 1 dose of study treatment (analyzed for safety study end points), 333 also received allo-HSCT (analyzed for efficacy study end points), 168 in the vedolizumab group and 165 in the placebo group. For patients discontinuing the study, reasons for discontinuation included death (26 out of 57 patients in the vedolizumab group and 34 out of 71 in the placebo group), withdrawal by the patient (16 versus 18) and adverse events (AEs; 6 versus 5) (Fig. 1). Median (range) exposure to treatment was 40.0 (18.142.1) weeks for vedolizumab and 39.7 (18.142.3) weeks for placebo. In the vedolizumab group, patients received a mean (s.d.) of 5.4 (2.1) and median (range) 7.0 (17) treatment doses; 52.7% of patients in the vedolizumab group received all seven doses. A mean (s.d.) of 5.1 (2.3) and median (range) 7.0 (17) doses were received in the placebo group; 50.9% of patients in this group received all seven doses. Patient numbers were reduced to 60% of the planned sample size of 558 because of early enrollment termination owing to the impact of COVID-19 on recruitment. Consequently, more patients (n=137, 41.1%) received ATG at baseline than the 25% planned.

Discontinuation of the study refers to all patients who discontinued before the end of the long-term follow-up safety survey period of the study, 6 months after the last dose of study treatment. Withdrawn by physician is noted as reason other. Patients included in the analysis for efficacy end points per protocol were those who received 1 dose of study treatment and also received allo-HSCT. One patient was randomized to receive vedolizumab but did not receive allo-HSCT; per protocol, this patient was not included in the analysis of efficacy end points but was included in the analysis of safety end points.

Patient and transplant characteristics were balanced between treatment groups (Table 1 and Extended Data Table 1). The median age was 55.0 years (range, 1674 years; 1 aged <18 years) and 62.8% were male. The most frequent underlying malignancies were acute myeloid leukemia (AML), myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and acute lymphoid leukemia (ALL). The conditioning regimen intensity was either MAC (52.4% in the vedolizumab group versus 53.9% in the placebo group) or RIC. GVHD prophylaxis (with or without ATG) was tacrolimus (TAC)+methotrexate (MTX; 42.3% versus 50.3%) or TAC+mycophenolate mofetil (MMF; 3.0% versus 3.0%); cyclosporine (CYS)+MTX (30.4% versus 23.0%) or CYS+MMF (14.3% versus 12.1%). The proportion of patients who received ATG prophylaxis was balanced between treatment groups: 42.3% (n=71) in the vedolizumab group versus 40.0% (n=66) in the placebo group; 57.7% versus 60.0% did not receive ATG.

Neutrophil engraftment occurred in 165 patients in the vedolizumab treatment group and 160 patients in the placebo group. The median (range) time to neutrophil engraftment was 16.0 (835) days in the vedolizumab group and 15.0 (831) days in the placebo group. Platelet engraftment occurred in 159 patients in the vedolizumab group and 148 patients in the placebo group. The median (range) time to platelet engraftment was 18.0 (1136) days in the vedolizumab group and 17.0 (0233) days in the placebo group.

The primary study end point was lower-GI aGVHD-free survival by day +180 after allo-HSCT. There were 24 (14.3%) patients in the vedolizumab group with an event of lower-GI aGVHD or death by day +180 after allo-HSCT compared to 47 (28.5%) patients in the placebo group (Fig. 2a). The frequency of lower-GI aGVHD by maximum clinical stage (see Supplementary Table 1 for a description of clinical staging of aGVHD9) is shown in Fig. 2b for each treatment group, with four cases of stage 24 lower-GI aGVHD in the vedolizumab group compared to 14 cases observed in those who received placebo. The KaplanMeier (KM) estimate for lower-GI aGVHD-free survival by day +180 was 85.5% (95% confidence interval (CI) 79.290.1) for the vedolizumab group and 70.9% (63.277.2) for the placebo group (Fig. 2c). The risk of a lower-GI aGVHD event or death by day +180 after allo-HSCT was 55% less in the vedolizumab group compared to the placebo group (hazard ratio (HR) 0.45, 95% CI 0.270.73; P<0.001). Results were consistent for sensitivity analyses of the primary end point (Table 2), including events occurring within a 7-day time frame at day +187 after allo-HSCT, stratified log-rank tests by randomization stratification factors, analysis with corrected stratification information, competing risk analysis and an analysis excluding aGVHD events graded stage 0 or unknown. By day +180 after allo-HSCT, 23 patients (13.7%) in the vedolizumab group versus 43 (26.1%) in the placebo group had an event of death or lower-GI aGVHD (when aGVHD events graded stage 0 or unknown were excluded) (HR 0.47, 95% CI 0.280.78; P=0.0029). In subgroup analyses of the primary end point (Fig. 2d and Extended Data Fig. 1), HRs consistently favored vedolizumab over placebo regardless of HLA match, conditioning regimen intensity, use of ATG or stem-cell source (bone marrow or peripheral blood). The overall incidence of upper-GI aGVHD, skin aGVHD and aGVHD in the liver by day +180 after allo-HSCT was similar between treatment groups (Supplementary Table 7).

Analysis included all randomized patients who received 1 dose of study treatment and received allo-HSCT. All statistical tests were two-sided. a, Graph shows number and proportion of patients with a lower-GI aGVHD event or death; censored for patients who had not had the lower-GI aGVHD event or died or had the event after a prespecified time, for example, last contact or day +180 after allo-HSCT, whichever occurred first. If a patient had a lower-GI aGVHD event and died due to any cause, including lower-GI aGVHD, the time to event was derived as the time to the first qualifying event (lower-GI aGVHD event). b, Frequency of lower-GI aGVHD by maximum clinical stages 04 by day +180 after allo-HSCT for patients in vedolizumab and placebo treatment groups and also the corresponding frequency of skin aGVHD and liver aGVHD in these treatment groups by maximum clinical stages 04 by day +180 after allo-HSCT. CI was based on the ClopperPearson method. c, KM estimate for the primary study end point lower-GI aGVHD-free survival from first study treatment (day 1) to lower-GI aGVHD event or death due to any cause. Red line shows the vedolizumab group; blue line shows the placebo group; open circles indicate censored patients. HR obtained via a Cox proportional hazards model with treatment group, stratified by randomization stratification factors: HLA match (7 of 8 or 8 of 8), conditioning regimen (MAC or RIC), ATG (with or without) and P value from a log-rank test (P=0.0009). d, Forest plot of prespecified subgroup analyses for the primary study end point of lower-GI aGVHD-free survival by day +180 after allo-HSCT: conditioning regimen MAC or RIC, with or without ATG, CNI TAC or CYS, HLA match, and stem cell source peripheral blood or bone marrow. HRs plotted with 95% CIs were obtained via a Cox proportional hazards model with treatment group stratified by randomization strata. Results for the remaining prespecified subgroup analyses are shown in Extended Data Fig. 1.

The KM estimates for the five key secondary end points analyzed at day +180 after allo-HSCT are shown in Fig. 3.

ae, KM estimates for the secondary efficacy end points. Analyses included all randomized patients who received 1 dose of study treatment and allo-HSCT. In the fixed-sequence hierarchical testing procedure, once 1 efficacy end point was not significant (P0.05), testing of subsequent end points was not performed. P values were obtained using a log-rank test unless otherwise stated. All statistical tests were two-sided. *P value is significant for vedolizumab versus placebo. HR and 95% CI values were obtained from a Cox proportional hazards model with treatment group stratified by randomization strata: HLA match (7 of 8 or 8 of 8), conditioning regimen (MAC or RIC) and ATG (with or without). Time to first documented lower-GI aGVHD, relapse of underlying malignancy or death from any cause. Sensitivity analysis, excluding lower-GI aGVHD events classified as clinical grade 0 or unknown. NRM was a competing risk in this competing risk sensitivity analysis; P value for comparison of vedolizumab with placebo was obtained by a Grays test. Time to first documented IBMTR grade CD aGVHD (any organ) or death from any cause. **Death and relapse were competing risks in this sensitivity analysis; an event was defined as IBMTR grade CD aGVHD (any organ) or death. P value was obtained by a Grays test. Death from first dose of study treatment without occurrence of a relapse. Relapse was a competing risk in this sensitivity analysis; NRM was the time from first study treatment to death without occurrence of a relapse; P value was obtained by a Grays test. Overall survival by day +180 was the analysis of the time from the first dose of study treatment to death from any cause. All deaths were defined as events in this analysis. Time to first documented IBMTR grade BD aGVHD (any organ) or death from any cause. Death and relapse were competing risks in this sensitivity analysis; an event was defined as IBMTR grade BD aGVHD (any organ) or death. P value was obtained by a Grays test.

There was a statistically significant difference favoring vedolizumab over placebo for lower-GI aGVHD-free and relapse of the underlying malignancy-free survival by day +180 after transplant. The KM estimated survival for this end point was 78.9% for the vedolizumab treatment group versus 65.4% for the placebo group. Events of lower-GI aGVHD, relapse or death for this end point occurred in 11, 18 and 6 patients, respectively from the vedolizumab group (total of 35, 20.8%) and 31, 13 and 12 (total of 56, 33.9%) in the placebo group (HR 0.56, 95% CI 0.370.86; P=0.0043). A statistically significant treatment difference favoring vedolizumab for this end point was also maintained after a sensitivity analysis excluding stage 0 and unknown lower-GI aGVHD events (HR 0.59, 95% CI 0.380.91; P=0.0130) (Fig. 3). The secondary end point of IBMTR grade CD aGVHD of any organ-free survival by day +180 (see Supplementary Table 3 for description of aGVHD severity grading using the IBMTR severity index), also demonstrated a statistical difference between vedolizumab and placebo treatment groups. The KM estimated survival for this end point was 78.9% for vedolizumab the treatment group versus 67.7% in the placebo group. Events of grade CD aGVHD of any organ or death counted for this end point occurred in 35 patients (20.8%) receiving vedolizumab versus 52 (31.5%) receiving placebo (HR 0.59, 95% CI 0.390.91; P=0.0204). In a competing risk analysis (death and relapse as competing risks), cumulative incidence of IBMTR grade CD aGVHD by day +180 was lower for the vedolizumab group (13.2%, 95% CI 8.618.8) than the placebo group (21.6%, 95% CI 15.628.2; P=0.0446) (Fig. 3). Secondary end point sensitivity analyses (Supplementary Table 8) and subgroup analyses (Extended Data Fig. 2) showed consistent results with decreased risk in the vedolizumab group compared to the placebo treatment group. The secondary end point of non-relapse mortality (NRM) by day +180 did not meet statistical significance, with 10 patients (6.0%) in the vedolizumab group and 19 (11.5%) in the placebo group (HR 0.48, 95% CI 0.221.04; P=0.0668) dying of non-relapse causes. Following the hierarchical statistical testing procedure, the subsequent fourth and fifth secondary end points were not tested for statistical significance. The KM estimate for the fourth secondary end point of overall survival was 89.7% for the vedolizumab treatment group and 84.4% in the placebo group. All-cause deaths by day +180 counted for this analysis occurred in 17 patients (10.1%) in the vedolizumab group and 25 (15.2%) in the placebo group (HR 0.63, 95% CI 0.341.17; P=0.1458). For the fifth secondary end point of IBMTR grade BD aGVHD of any organ-free survival by day +180, KM estimated survival was 66.4% for the vedolizumab treatment group and 52.3% in the placebo group. Grade BD aGVHD events in any organ counted for this end point occurred in 47 patients (28.0%) in the vedolizumab group and 64 (38.8%) in the placebo group with deaths also counted in 9 and 13 patients in the vedolizumab and placebo groups, respectively (HR 0.64, 95% CI 0.460.91; P=0.0105).

Results for the main exploratory end points at day +180 and day +365 after transplant are summarized (Extended Data Tables 3 and 4). The cumulative incidence of all chronic GVHD events by day +180 was 20.7% (95% CI 14.827.2) in the vedolizumab group versus 21.9% (95% CI 15.828.6) in the placebo group (death and relapse as competing risks; nominal P=0.7555). Chronic GVHD requiring systemic immunosuppression by day +180 occurred in three (1.8%) patients in the vedolizumab group (severity was moderate in two patients and severe in one) and four (2.4%) in the placebo group (one mild, two moderate and one patient had severe chronic GVHD) (Extended Data Table 3). KM estimates for GVHD (any organ)-free and relapse (of the underlying malignancy)-free survival by day +180 were 80.1% in the vedolizumab group and 69.7% in the placebo group; events for this end point occurred in 33 (19.6%) of patients in the vedolizumab group and 49 (29.7%) in the placebo group (HR 0.61, 95% CI 0.390.96; nominal P=0.0243). Events of clinical stage 24 lower-GI aGVHD or death by day +180 occurred in fewer patients in the vedolizumab group (19, 11.3%) than in the placebo group (33, 20.0%) (HR 0.52, 95% CI 0.290.91; nominal P=0.0222). KM estimates for clinical stage 24 lower-GI aGVHD-free survival were 88.5% and 79.5%, respectively. By day +180 grade 24 aGVHD-free survival (per MAGIC criteria10, see Supplementary Table 4) also seemed to favor vedolizumab over placebo; KM estimates were 74.1% for vedolizumab and 63.3% for placebo, with events occurring in 43 (25.6%) and 59 (35.8%) patients, respectively (HR 0.67, 95% CI 0.450.99; nominal P=0.0421). Frequency of lower-GI aGVHD by maximum MAGIC grade were also reported for each treatment group, with corresponding values for maximum MAGIC grade of skin and liver aGVHD (Extended Data Table 2).

Progression-free survival in vedolizumab and placebo treatment groups by day +180 were 83.1% (95% CI 76.588.0) versus 77.6% (95% CI 70.483.3), respectively. Cumulative incidence of all relapse and death events for time to relapse (of the underlying malignancy) by day +180 were similar across treatment groups 10.9% (95% CI 6.716.2) for vedolizumab versus 10.6% (95% CI 6.416.0) for placebo (death as a competing risk; nominal P=0.9090). By day +180, there was no significant difference in relapse of the underlying malignancy between treatment groups, occurring in 18 (10.7%) patients from the vedolizumab group and 17 (10.3%) from the placebo group (HR 1.32, 95% CI 0.513.40; nominal P=0.9821; Extended Data Table 3).

Consistent results were obtained for primary and secondary efficacy end points when these were assessed as exploratory study end points 1 year after allo-HSCT (Extended Data Table 4). By day +365 after allo-HSCT, 21.4% of patients in the vedolizumab group and 33.9% in the placebo group had an event of lower-GI aGVHD or death (HR 0.53, 95% CI 0.350.81; nominal P=0.0041). KM estimates for lower-GI aGVHD-free survival 1 year after transplant were 78.1% for vedolizumab and 65.1% for placebo. Events of IBMTR grade CD aGVHD of any organ or death by day +365 occurred in 47 (28.0%) of patients in the vedolizumab group and 59 (35.8%) of patients in the placebo group (HR 0.68, 95% CI 0.461.00; nominal P=0.0709). Death without relapse occurred in 15 patients (8.9%) in the vedolizumab group and 25 (15.2%) in the placebo group (HR 0.49, 95% CI 0.250.95; nominal P=0.0670). All-cause deaths by day +365 occurred in 28 patients (16.7%) in the vedolizumab group and 36 (21.8%) in the placebo group (HR 0.67, 95% CI 0.411.11; nominal P=0.1741). IBMTR grade BD aGVHD in any organ or death events occurred in 69 patients (41.1%) in the vedolizumab group and 82 (49.7%) in the placebo group (HR 0.71, 95% CI 0.520.99; nominal P=0.0534). Incidence of relapse of the underlying malignancy at day +365 was also comparable between treatment groups occurring in 19.6% of patients in the vedolizumab group versus 13.3% for placebo (HR 2.13, 95% CI 0.974.65; nominal P=0.2097; Extended Data Table 4).

The safety analyses included 334 patients (169 patients in the vedolizumab group and 165 in the placebo group) who received 1 dose of study treatment and were assessed up to 18 weeks after the last dose of study treatment. Median (range) treatment exposure was 280.0 (127295) days for the vedolizumab group (mean (s.d.) of 5.4 (2.05) doses) and 278.0 (127296) days for the placebo group (mean 5.1 (2.25) doses). AEs of grade 3 or higher occurred in 92.3% of patients who received vedolizumab and 89.1% who received placebo (Table 3); the most frequent AEs of grade 3 or higher were anemia (29.6% versus 31.5%); neutropenia (31.4% versus 29.7%); febrile neutropenia (43.8% versus 42.4%); stomatitis (27.2% versus 26.7%); and decreased platelet count (21.9% versus 24.8%). Serious AEs occurred in 120 patients (71.0%) who received vedolizumab and 114 (69.1%) who received placebo (Extended Data Table 5). AEs led to treatment discontinuation in 44 (26.0%) versus 51 patients (30.9%) (Extended Data Table 6).

Table 3 lists serious infections among other AEs (serious and non-serious) prespecified as being of special interest (AESIs) in the study. Occurrence of post-transplant lymphoproliferative disease and Clostridioides infections are also reported in Table 3. AESIs included cytomegalovirus (CMV) colitis, which was reported in one patient from each treatment group (0.6% of patients in vedolizumab group 0.6% in the placebo group). Overall, CMV reactivation was reported in 23.7% of patients in the vedolizumab group and 18.2% in the placebo group. Most of the CMV reactivation events were grade 1 to grade 2 and none was above grade 3. The proportions of patients with grade 3 CMV reactivation were similar in both treatment groups. CMV infections were analyzed in subgroups of patients who received ATG prophylaxis or not (Supplementary Table 9). For those receiving ATG, grade 3 CMV infections occurred in seven patients (4.1%) in the vedolizumab group and six patients (3.6%) in the placebo group and serious CMV infections in seven (4.1%) versus three patients (1.8%), respectively. For patients treated without ATG, the frequency of grade 3 CMV infections was numerically lower in vedolizumab-treated versus placebo-treated patients (1 (0.6%) versus 3 (1.8%), respectively), one patient in the vedolizumab treatment group had a serious CMV infection. Other serious infections (excluding CMV colitis) occurred in 125 (74.0%) of patients receiving vedolizumab versus 111 (67.3%) receiving placebo. These are listed by infection type (Extended Data Table 7). The most common serious infections were CMV reactivation (23.7% versus 18.2%); pneumonia (7.7% versus 8.5%); sepsis (5.3% versus 7.3%); and bacteremia (4.7% versus 5.5%) (Table 3). Serious abdominal and GI infections occurred in eight patients receiving vedolizumab (4.7%) and three receiving placebo (1.8%). Clostridioides infections occurred in 14 (8.3%) patients in the vedolizumab treatment group and six (3.6%) patients in placebo treatment group; of these 2.4% of patients in each treatment group had Clostridioides colitis (C.difficile colitis or Clostridioides colitis). For safety end points, statistical analyses were not adequately powered for comparisons between treatment groups. There were five patients with an AE of human polyomavirus infection; none of these was diagnosed as progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML). One patient with AML relapse and subsequent additional therapy developed PML, with a fatal outcome ~6 months after the last dose of vedolizumab. An independent adjudication committee deemed the most probable cause of this event to be the immunosuppressive treatment for AML. Secondary malignancies occurred in seven patients (4.1%) in the vedolizumab group and 16 (9.7%) in the placebo group. Post-transplant lymphoproliferative disease occurred in three patients (1.8%) in the placebo group only (Table 3).

Overall, 48 patients died during the period from first dose of study treatment to 18 weeks after last dose: 21 (12.4%) in the vedolizumab group and 27 (16.4%) in the placebo group. Leading causes of death were multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (3.0% versus 1.8%); AML recurrence (0.6% versus 2.4%); respiratory failure (1.8% versus 1.2%); pneumonia (1.2% versus 1.2%); and sepsis (0.0% versus 1.8%). Intestinal aGVHD was listed as cause of death in 0.0% versus 1.2% patients, aGVHD in liver (0.6% versus 0.6%) and aGVHD (0.6% versus 0.0%). An additional 17 patients died during the period from 18 weeks post-treatment to 12 months after HSCT: eight in the vedolizumab group and nine in the placebo group (Extended Data Table 8).

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Vedolizumab for the prevention of intestinal acute GVHD after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: a ... - Nature.com

Pilot Study in JNCCN Explores New Approach for Reducing Anxiety and Improving Quality of Life after Stem Cell … – PR Newswire

Researchers at Brigham and Women's Hospital and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute found significant uptake and scalability in phone-based "PATH" intervention to improve psychological well-being in blood cancer patients.

PLYMOUTH MEETING, Pa., June 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- New research in the June 2024 issue of JNCCNJournal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Networkhighlights a promising approach for alleviating distress, enhancing quality of life, improving physical function, and reducing fatigue in patients with blood cancers who undergo hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). The study used a randomized clinical trial to evaluate the feasibility of a nine-week, phone-delivered, positive psychology program called Positive Affect for the Transplantation of Hematopoietic stem cells intervention (PATH), that was specifically tailored to the needs of this population. The findings indicate that the PATH intervention is both feasible and well-received by this patient population, as most of the patients (91%) who received the PATH intervention completed all of the intervention sessions and found them easy and helpful.

"The active identification and treatment of psychological distress, like anxiety, in patients with cancer are crucial."

"Having 9 out of 10 people complete all the sessions is great," explained lead researcherHermioni L. Amonoo, MD, MPP, MPH, Brigham and Women's Hospital/Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. "We designed PATH with the needs of HSCT survivors in mind. First, PATH is accessible to patients, as they can learn the skills and engage with the intervention over phone from wherever they areeliminating the need to travel to the cancer center. Second, the weekly exercises can be completed by patients at their convenience using the PATH manual, which guides patients on how to use the exercises and skills. This means that the actual phone sessions only last 15-20 minutes, in contrast to other well-established psychotherapies like cognitive behavioral therapy, which typically last 60-90 minutes per session. Third, we carefully curated the intervention sessions based on which activities patients can safely engage in while their immune system recovers following the transplant. For instance, unlike in other medical populations, we did not include exercises that focus on community service, which might unnecessarily expose patients to risks."

The pilot study was conducted at the Brigham and Women's Hospital/Dana-Farber Cancer Institute from August 2021 to August 2022. A total of 70 adult patients with blood cancers who have received HSCT, were randomized into two groups, with the intervention beginning about 100 days after HSCT. Those randomized into the PATH arm participated in a variety of weekly positive psychology exercises focused on gratitude, personal strengths, and meaning. Not only was participation high94% completed at least six of the nine sessions and 91% completed all ninethe intervention had promising effects on patient-reported outcomes immediately after completion of the program and again at week 18.

Dr. Amonoo added: "Cancer care providers should consider the potential benefits of psychosocial resources and interventions like PATH that focus on enriching positive emotions to bolster their patients' well-being. While the active identification and treatment of psychological distress, like anxiety, in patients with cancer are crucial, encouraging patients to engage in simple, structured, and systematic exercises aimed at fostering positive thoughts and emotions, such as gratitude, has the potential to enhance well-being as well."

"This positive psychology intervention highlights the importance of not only screening for distress but the promise of creating mechanisms that enhance well-being and reduce distress in our patients," commented Jessica Vanderlan, PhD, Manager, Siteman Psychology Service, Licensed Clinical Psychologist, Siteman Cancer Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine, Vice Chair of the NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN Guidelines) Panel for Distress Managementwho was not involved in this research. "Development of clinical interventions that are brief (15-20 minutes) and delivered by phone could greatly improve patient access to care. This type of accessibility is important in an oncology population, especially in acute recovery periods with many competing demands and physical symptoms."

To read the entire study, visit JNCCN.org. Complimentary access to "A Positive Psychology Intervention in Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation Survivors (PATH): A Pilot Randomized Clinical Trial" is available until September 10, 2024.

AboutJNCCNJournal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network More than 25,000 oncologists and other cancer care professionals across the United States readJNCCNJournal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network. This peer-reviewed, indexed medical journal provides the latest information about innovation in translational medicine, and scientific studies related to oncology health services research, including quality care and value, bioethics, comparative and cost effectiveness, public policy, and interventional research on supportive care and survivorship.JNCCNfeatures updates on the NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN Guidelines), review articles elaborating on guidelines recommendations, health services research, and case reports highlighting molecular insights in patient care.JNCCNis published by Harborside/BroadcastMed. VisitJNCCN.org. To inquire if you are eligible for aFREEsubscription toJNCCN, visitNCCN.org/jnccn/subscribe. Follow JNCCN at x.com/JNCCN.

About the National Comprehensive Cancer NetworkThe National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) is a not-for-profit alliance of leading cancer centers devoted to patient care, research, and education. NCCN is dedicated to improving and facilitating quality, effective, equitable, and accessible cancer care so all patients can live better lives. The NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN Guidelines) provide transparent, evidence-based, expert consensus recommendations for cancer treatment, prevention, and supportive services; they are the recognized standard for clinical direction and policy in cancer management and the most thorough and frequently-updated clinical practice guidelines available in any area of medicine. The NCCN Guidelines for Patients provide expert cancer treatment information to inform and empower patients and caregivers, through support from the NCCN Foundation. NCCN also advances continuing education, global initiatives, policy, and research collaboration and publication in oncology. Visit NCCN.org for more information.

Media Contact:Rachel Darwin267-622-6624[emailprotected]

SOURCE National Comprehensive Cancer Network

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Stem Cell Research Uncovers Clues to Tissue Repair That Could Help Heal the Uterus and More – Yale School of Medicine

Stem cells play a vital role in repairing damaged tissue, whether its a scraped knee or a scarred uterus following pregnancy. New stem cell research has identified the molecules that the cells produce to promote the healing process. The finding could pave the way for the development of new, more effective drugs for injuries or various diseases, including conditions related to reproductive health such as Asherman syndrome, a gynecologic condition in which the uterus scars and becomes fibrotic.

Scientists believed in the past that stem cells served as backup cells that repaired tissues by differentiating into new cells that repopulated the site of injury. Now, they have learned that it is rare for stem cells to completely replace injured tissue. But they still dont fully understand how the cells are able to help damaged areas regenerate.

We found the molecules that stem cells make to help heal and repair tissue, and we hope that understanding this will be potentially useful as a medication in the future.

In the uterus, stem cells play a number of roles, including helping it to expand during pregnancy and to regenerate and repair after childbirth. This new study identified several microRNAs (miRNAs) secreted by the stem cells that helped drive the growth and proliferation of cells in uterine tissue. The researchers published their findings in Stem Cell Research & Therapy on May 1.

We found the molecules that stem cells make to help heal and repair tissue, and we hope that understanding this will be potentially useful as a medication in the future, says Hugh Taylor, MD, chair and Anita OKeeffe Young Professor of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences at Yale School of Medicine and the studys principal investigator.

Exosomes are extracellular vesicles, which contain various bioactive molecules and allow cells to communicate with one another. In their new study, Taylors team isolated exosomes secreted by stem cells from human bone marrow. They then used RNA sequencing to characterize all of the miRNA contained in the vesicles and identified those that were most abundant. Then researchers took the most prominent miRNAs and introduced them into human uterine tissue.

The team found that the miRNAs significantly increased the growth and proliferation of the uterine cells. They also studied their effect on the cells decidualization in the endometrium. (Decidualization is the differentiation process uterine cells undergo that prepares the uterus to support an embryo.) The study showed that the miRNAs blocked decidualization.

In a uterus, once a cell becomes differentiated to support pregnancy, it can no longer repair and regenerate. Its permanently locked in that state and often is shed through menstruation later on, says Taylor. By blocking this process, it allows the cells to focus on proliferating and turns on these reparative processes.

The study offers insight into how stem cells promote reparative processes without replacing the tissue itself. Taylor hopes that as researchers continue to gain a greater understanding about how miRNAs work, they could one day be used as drugs for repairing various damaged tissue.

Asherman syndrome, for example, typically occurs after pregnancy, when the supply of stem cells may not be adequate to help the organ heal properly, which can hinder fertility in the future. The idea is that these miRNAs could be used as a medication that is much more readily available and practical, says Taylor. We could potentially deliver them to help prepare the uterus in the critical window when it is damaged and may be vulnerable.

The finding could also have significance beyond the uterus. In future stem cell research, Taylors team plans to study how miRNAs respond to other types of traumatic tissue injury in animal models. We studied the uterus, but the implications are beyond reproduction, potentially including many other conditions where stem cells are involved in repair and regeneration, whether thats injury due to trauma or degenerative diseases, says Taylor.

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Stem Cell Research Uncovers Clues to Tissue Repair That Could Help Heal the Uterus and More - Yale School of Medicine

Cancer Patients Who Need Stem Cell Transplants May Have New Donor Options – Everyday Health

For some people with blood cancers who need a stem cell transplant, finding a donor who is an excellent match can mean the difference between life and death.

Unfortunately, even though there are more than 40 million potential donors in the national registry, finding a perfect match isnt always possible, especially in underrepresented racial and ethnic groups.

But a new approach using an old chemotherapy drug,cyclophosphamide, isis opening up new possibilities for people with cancers like leukemia, lymphoma, and multiple myeloma. Researchers have found that by administering the drug several days after transplantation, people receiving blood stem cells from unrelated, partially matched donors can have survival rates comparable with those who received exactly matched cells.

[1]

This innovative approach can greatly expand patient access to safe and effective stem cell transplant, regardless of matching degree with the donor, says lead coauthor Monzr M. Al Malki, MD, a hematologist and oncologist and director of the Unrelated Donor BMT program at City of Hope, a cancer research and treatment organization with locations across the United States.

Thats exciting because it means more patients will be able to receive this potentially life-extending therapy, says Dr. Al Malki.

Donor compatibility is determined by a set of protein markers on blood cells called HLAs (human leukocyte antigens), says David Miklos, MD, a professor of medicine and chief of Stanford BMT and Cell Therapy Program at Stanford Medicine in California. Stanford was one of the medical sites of the trial, though Dr. Miklos is not a coauthor of the research.

[2]

[3]

Why was an exact match needed? Anything less increased the likelihood of a graft failure, as well as graft-versus-host disease meaning the transplanted cells attack the patients own, which can cause serious or even fatal complications, explains Miklos.

About a decade ago, researchers started using cyclophosphamide to destroy the parts of a persons immune system that would reject the transplant. That breakthrough allowed researchers to not only have better outcomes in fully matched donors, it also opened the door for successful transplants between people who were only partial matches.

[4]

The new study looked at cyclophosphamide treatment in patients receiving peripheral blood stem cell transplantation meaning healthy stem cells are harvested from a donors bloodstream, and then administered via infusion to the person with cancer.

Blood stem cell transplantation has largely replaced bone marrow transplantation, according to researchers.It's an easier way of collecting stem cells from donors, and its a little safer, because donors dont need to be under anesthesia as they would in bone marrow transplantation, says Al Malki.

For this part of the study, the researchers examined data from 70 adults who were 65 years old on average, all with advanced blood cancers. Participants received a reduced-intensity conditioning regimen to somewhat suppress their immune system to prepare them for transplantation, followed by an infusion stem cells from unrelated, partially matched donors.

The researchers reported an overall high survival rate of 79 percent at one year which is comparable to survival rates seen with fully matched donors.

The main side effect or risk of transplantation is graft-versus-host disease, says Al Malki. After one year, 51 percent of participants were free of the disease and had not relapsed, which is also comparable to what would be seen with fully matched donors, he says.

Historically, barriers in access to transplant have existed due to the low availability of matched, related sibling donors, as well as the substantial variance of matched, unrelated donor availability, especially for patients with diverse ancestry, says study coauthor Steven M. Devine, MD, chief medical officer of NMDP (formerly known as the National Marrow Donor Program and Be The Match).

These findings advance our ability to offer more options to patients without a fully matched donor, many of whom are ethnically diverse and have been underserved in receiving potentially lifesaving cell therapy, says Dr. Devine.

These findings are incredibly important and critical in the effort to improve existing inequities, says Miklos.

In the past, we could not bring some patients forward to receive this lifesaving therapy because they didnt have a compatible donor, but with the new approach of using post-transplant cyclophosphamide, all patients have donors now, he says.

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How to help the public navigate stem cell products – Baylor College of Medicine Blog Network – Baylor College of Medicine | BCM

Society is aging. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the number of Americans 65 and older is projected to increase from 58 million in 2022 to 82 million by 2050 (a 47% increase), and the 65-and-older age groups share of the total population is projected to rise from 17% to 23%.

As this transition occurs, more and more people will struggle with aches and pains. The frequency of pain in community-dwelling older adults is reported to be as high as 73%. This pain can be related to acute situations (illness and falls) or chronic conditions (arthritis, long-term outcomes from sports injuries, etc.). Regardless of the cause of pain, more and more individuals are seeking non-opioid and non-medicinal approaches to pain management. Current approaches include yoga, exercise, acupuncture, diet changes and, interestingly, stem cell therapy.

For pain sufferers, promising treatments for joint pain and arthritis derived from their own blood or adipose tissue seem miraculous. Such treatments with stem cells are becoming increasingly possible. Pluripotent stem cells are capable of self-renewing and can differentiate into specialized cell types such as blood, bone, cartilage, muscle and even organs.

While there are some legitimate clinical trials to determine if stem cells can help decrease pain or even help repair damaged tissue, there are currently no FDA-approved stem cell products for arthritis or joint pain. Without FDA approval, these products arent known to be safe or efficacious.

For desperate pain sufferers, this can mean that they seek treatment with unapproved and unproven stem cell products. Unfortunately, patients frequently obtain such products through direct-to-consumer advertising. Unapproved and unproven products can be expensive (for example, the average cost is $3,000 $5,000 per injection per knee). They can also be dangerous, not only causing possible local damage but also potentially transmitting infections and diseases.

Unfortunately, pain isnt the only indication for which these clinics and providers use direct-to-consumer advertising to motivate the public to try their unapproved and unproven stem cell products. The products are being used for many other indications, including cosmetic procedures, heart disease, glaucoma and dementia.

The FDA has tried diligently to control the spread of these unethical stem cell clinics through both regulatory actions and direct public education. However, some patients have already been injured by these unapproved and unproven products.

One of the best ways that healthcare providers can help combat the use of unapproved and unproven stem cell therapies is by providing truthful information to patients.

The International Society for Cell and Gene Therapy (ISCT) published a guide for healthcare providers to help them as they educate their patients about stem cells. The guide was developed to help identify and distinguish safe and approved cell and gene therapy products from those that do not have a proven record of safety and efficacy.

As we navigate the complex world of stem cell therapy, its crucial to stay informed and empowered. If you or a loved one are considering stem cell therapy, dont hesitate to consult with a healthcare provider who prioritizes safety and adheres to guidelines set forth by reputable organizations like ISCT. Together, lets ensure that our journey toward medical advancements is as safe as it is promising.

By Bambi Grilley, RPh, RAC, CIP, CCRC, CCRP, Director, Clinical Research and Early Product Development in the Center for Cell and Gene Therapy and professor of Pediatrics at Baylor College of Medicine

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City of Hope Awarded $5.4 Million CIRM Grant to Create a Stem Cell Laboratory and Expand Access to State-of-the-Art … – Elk Valley Times

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City of Hope Awarded $5.4 Million CIRM Grant to Create a Stem Cell Laboratory and Expand Access to State-of-the-Art ... - Elk Valley Times

59-year-old Man Who Had Type 2 Diabetes for 25 Years is Cured by Stem Cells – Good News Network

Regular insulin and a syringe from ampoules and vials of medicines

Stem cells are being used more and more widely in treatments across the spectrum of medicine, but a recent breakthrough from Shanghai promises the best may still be yet to come.

A senior who had suffered from type-2 diabetes for 25 years hasnt taken insulin for 33 months after he received a regenerative islet cell transplantation.

Diabetes, particularly type 2the form that can develop in ones life because of poor diet and lifestyle choicesis one of the most prevalent non-communicable diseases on Earth.

China in particular is one of the worlds diabetes hotspots, with 140 million people unable to make their own insulin, and so suffer from kidney problems, blindness, amputation, and cardiovascular problems.

But this new breakthrough, coming after 10 years of research and testing, may change this paradigm of sickness forever.

Yin Hao, a leading researcher on the team and director of Shanghai Changzheng Hospitals Organ Transplant Center, said they took the patients own peripheral blood mononuclear cells and used existing methods to reprogram them back into pluripotent stem cells for injection into the pancreas.

Our technology has matured and it has pushed boundaries in the field of regenerative medicine for the treatment of diabetes, Yin, told China Daily whose team conducted the research with scientists from the Center for Molecular Cell Science at the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

Existing transplant treatments for type-2 diabetes are hindered by a lack of donor cells, and the complexity of pancreatic islet cell isolation technology.

ALSO CHECK OUT: Worlds First Tooth Regrowth Medicine Moves Toward Clinical Trials in Japan

Pancreatic islet cells are the major insulin-producing cells in the body, and the patients were almost completely inhibited. He relied on multiple insulin injections daily in addition to a kidney transplant.

After receiving the manufactured stem cells in 2021, he was weened off of external insulin over 11 weeks, after which his disease seemed to be largely gone.

MORE GOOD NEWS FOR DIABETES SUFFERERS: Crazy Insulin Prices Now a Thing of the Past in U.S. After Government Initiates Monthly Cost of $35

Follow-up examinations showed that the patients pancreatic islet function was effectively restored, and his renal function was within normal range, Yin said. Such results suggested that the treatment can avoid the progression of diabetic complications.

The paper was published in Cell Discovery on April 30th, and future studies, the authors wrote, should explore the pharmacology of drugs that might provide off-the-shelf equivalents for islet transplantation.

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59-year-old Man Who Had Type 2 Diabetes for 25 Years is Cured by Stem Cells - Good News Network

Dr. Douglas Fauser of Somers Orthopaedic Surgery & Sports Medicine Group Conducts First Autologous Live Stem … – PR Newswire

CARMEL, N.Y., May 15, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Dr. Douglas J. Fauser, a prominent sports medicine and total joint replacement specialist of the Somers Orthopaedic Surgery & Sports Medicine Group, along with Dr. Michael Baroody, a Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon, have achieved a groundbreaking milestone in orthopaedic medicine the first of its kind performed at the Orthopaedic & Spine Surgery Center (OSSC). On April 22, they successfully performed the first autologous live stem cell knee injection using cutting-edge technology. This revolutionary procedure, conducted under general anesthesia, involved the administration of purified concentrated live stem cells derived from the patient's own abdominal fat.

Dr. Fauser, who has dedicated over 30 years to delivering high-quality and cost-effective surgical solutions, is leading the way in non-operative treatments for osteoarthritis. The use of autologous stem cells represents a significant advancement in medical treatments, providing patients with an aggressive yet non-surgical option to manage the debilitating effects of osteoarthritis in knees.

"We are on the brink of a major shift in how we treat osteoarthritis," stated Dr. Fauser. "This first-of-its-kind procedure at OSSC utilizes autologous live stem cells, derived from the patient's own body, to potentially revolutionize the management of joint degeneration. Our goal is not just to alleviate symptoms but to target the underlying causes of osteoarthritis, offering patients a promising new pathway to recovery without surgery."

Fat tissue, which is known for its cushioning and supportive roles, contains a high concentration of reparative cells that may enhance the healing process. The innovative use of microfragmented adipose tissue, processed by the LIPOGEMS device, exemplifies the potential of fat to play a critical role in orthopaedic and arthroscopic surgeries.

The procedure underscores the advantages of using adipose tissue in orthopaedics, including its minimal invasiveness, abundance, and superior quality compared to other similar tissues. Research, supported by over 160 peer-reviewed publications, confirms the efficacy and safety of using microfragmented fat in various body areas including shoulders, knees, hips, and feet.

This pioneering treatment by Drs. Fauser and Baroody at OSSC not only paves the way for future advancements in orthopaedic medicine but also reinforces the center's commitment to providing innovative care that adheres to the highest standards of excellence. The Orthopedic & Specialty Surgery is a leading multi-specialty surgical facility, located at Somers Orthopaedic Surgery & Sports Medicine Group's Danbury location, providing outstanding surgical and patient care for a wide range of musculoskeletal conditions.

About Somers Orthopaedic Surgery & Sports Medicine Group

Founded in 1988, the group has been at the forefront of diagnosing and treating musculoskeletal conditions. It is staffed by board-certified physicians specializing in various orthopaedic disciplines. For more details, visit somersortho.com.

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