Lineage Cell Therapeutics to Present New OpRegen Data at American Academy of Ophthalmology Annual Meeting on October 14, 2019 – Business Wire

CARLSBAD, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Lineage Cell Therapeutics, Inc. (NYSE American and TASE: LCTX), a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing novel cell therapies for unmet medical needs, announced today that updated results from a Phase I/IIa study of its lead product candidate, OpRegen, a retinal pigment epithelium cell transplant therapy currently in development for the treatment of dry age-related macular degeneration (Dry-AMD), will be presented at the 2019 American Academy of Ophthalmology Annual Meeting (AAO 2019), to be held at the Moscone Center in San Francisco, CA (October 12-15, 2019). The abstract presentation, entitled, Phase 1/2a Study of Subretinally Transplanted Human Embryonic Stem Cell-Derived RPE Cells in Advanced Dry-Form AMD Patients will be presented as part of the OP07 Retina, Vitreous Original Paper Session on Monday, October 14th, 2019 between 9:45am 11:00am Pacific Time by Eyal Banin, M.D., Ph.D., Professor of Ophthalmology, Director, Center for Retinal and Macular Degenerations, Department of Ophthalmology at Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center (abstract number PA039). The abstract will provide updated data from patient cohorts 1 through 4 of the clinical study and will include data on the first patient dosed with the Orbit Subretinal Delivery System (Orbit SDS) as well as with a new Thaw-and-Inject formulation of OpRegen.

The American Academy of Ophthalmology is the worlds largest association of eye physicians and surgeons. A global community of 32,000 medical doctors, the AAO protects sight and empowers lives by setting the standards for ophthalmic education and advocating for our patients and the public. AAO innovates to advance our profession and to ensure the delivery of the highest-quality eye care. For more information, please visit http://www.aao.org or follow the academy on Twitter @AAO.

About Lineage Cell Therapeutics, Inc.

Lineage Cell Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing novel cell therapies for unmet medical needs. Lineages programs are based on its proprietary cell-based therapy platform and associated development and manufacturing capabilities. With this platform Lineage develops and manufactures specialized, terminally-differentiated human cells from its pluripotent and progenitor cell starting materials. These differentiated cells are developed either to replace or support cells that are dysfunctional or absent due to degenerative disease or traumatic injury or administered as a means of helping the body mount an effective immune response to cancer. Lineages clinical assets include (i) OpRegen, a retinal pigment epithelium transplant therapy in Phase I/IIa development for the treatment of dry age-related macular degeneration, a leading cause of blindness in the developed world; (ii) OPC1, an oligodendrocyte progenitor cell therapy in Phase I/IIa development for the treatment of acute spinal cord injuries; and (iii) VAC2, an allogeneic cancer immunotherapy of antigen-presenting dendritic cells currently in Phase I development for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer. Lineage is also evaluating potential partnership opportunities for Renevia, a facial aesthetics product that was recently granted a Conformit Europenne (CE) Mark. For more information, please visit http://www.lineagecell.com or follow the Company on Twitter @LineageCell.

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Lineage Cell Therapeutics to Present New OpRegen Data at American Academy of Ophthalmology Annual Meeting on October 14, 2019 - Business Wire

Platelet BioGenesis Receives $56 Million Contract from the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) to Develop Human Stem…

CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Platelet BioGenesis, Inc. (PBG), the leader in stem cell-derived, on-demand human platelets (PLTs+) and genetically engineered platelet-based therapeutics, announced today that it has signed a $56 million contract with the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), an agency of the US government's Department of Health and Human Services' Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response. PBG will use the funding to develop and establish donor-independent platelets as a medical countermeasure for treating victims of a nuclear or radiological event.

As part of national biodefense preparedness, BARDA has prioritized the development and procurement of therapies for trauma resulting from chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear defense threats, including exposure to high doses of radiation. BARDA, with its extensive experience working with organizations focused on blood-related therapies, has evaluated PBGs technology platform and determined that donor-independent platelets could be a critical medical countermeasure in case of a national threat.

This is a significant milestone for PBG and a highly valuable and timely validation of the groundbreaking work of our scientific founder, Dr. Jonathon Thon, and the research, development and manufacturing teams at PBG, allowing us to use human induced pluripotent stem cells to manufacture platelets on-demand, said Sam Rasty, Ph.D., President and CEO of Platelet BioGenesis. With BARDAs expertise in the development of blood-related therapies, their decision to award us this significant contract will further bolster the companys resources to advance this technology into the clinic. The funding will not only help bring our unique donor-independent platelets to patients as a medical countermeasure but will also expedite the advancement of our broader donor-independent PLTs+ platform.

In a radiological or nuclear emergency, impacted communities will face a significant blood product shortage, explained BARDA Director Rick Bright, Ph.D. We are exploring donor-independent platelet technology to increase surge capacity within the blood industry. Our nation must find innovative ways to make essential blood products available to save lives in any type of mass casualty incident.

PBGs research, development and manufacturing activities under the contract will specifically focus on the development of PLTs+ for the treatment of thrombocytopenia induced by exposure to nuclear radiation. In addition to the funding, BARDA will provide a comprehensive, integrated portfolio approach through mentorship, the facilitation of future partnerships and the enablement of government collaborations with agencies such as the FDA.

About Platelet BioGenesis

Platelet BioGenesis (PBG) has created the only platform that can generate human platelets at scale. The stem cell-derived, on-demand platelets will be the first donor-independent source of platelets to address the chronic shortage worldwide. The company is also developing genetically engineered platelet-based therapeutics, a new treatment modality for cancer and other life-threatening diseases. PBGs platform is patented and cGMP-compliant. The company was spun out of Harvard University and has received venture funding from Qiming Venture Partners USA, Ziff Capital Partners and other investors and obtained grant funding from the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center, the National Institutes of Health and the U.S. Department of Defense. Learn more at plateletbiogenesis.com and follow us on Twitter @plateletbio.

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Platelet BioGenesis Receives $56 Million Contract from the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) to Develop Human Stem...

VetStem Biopharma Shares the Success Story of Cheyenne Who Was Treated with VetStem Cell Therapy by Dr. Scott Reiners – PR Web

Cheyenne

POWAY, Calif. (PRWEB) October 01, 2019

Cheyenne is a beautiful and strong Quarter Horse and a huge part of her owners riding program. Mimi, Cheyennes owner, owns and operates Rebels Run, which offers riding lessons and trail riding in Afton, Virginia. According to Mimi, Cheyenne was a favorite amongst students and trail riding guests. Mimi describes her as her go to horse. Thus, you can imagine the devastation when Cheyenne tore her meniscus.

Mimi stated that Cheyenne was in a lot of pain and one of her veterinarians thought she may need to be euthanized. Fortunately, Mimi and Cheyenne were referred to Dr. Scott Reiners of Mountain View Equine Hospital to potentially receive stem cell therapy. Dr. Reiners is a board-certified veterinary surgeon and has been providing VetStem Cell Therapy since 2007.

Upon examination, Dr. Reiners diagnosed Cheyenne with Osteochondritis Dissecans (OCD) in addition to a torn meniscus and Degenerative Joint Disease (DJD) in her right hind knee. He recommended moving forward with stem cell therapy and began the process by collecting fat from Cheyennes tailhead in a minimally invasive surgical procedure. The fat was packaged and shipped overnight to the VetStem laboratory in Poway, California. Once received, VetStem laboratory technicians processed the fat to extract Cheyennes stem and regenerative cells to create injectable stem cell doses. Cheyennes stem cell injections were shipped to Dr. Reiners who received and injected them within 48 hours of the initial fat collection.

Due to the severity of the injury, Cheyenne required a second treatment with stem cells approximately 4 months after the first round of injections. Fortunately, VetStem had additional stem cell doses stored for Cheyenne so there was no need for a second fat collection procedure.

Mimi reported that the stem cell therapy was successful. She stated, After meeting with Dr. Reiners, I knew this would work. And boy did it! Cheyenne is 20 years old and fit as a fiddle. It brings tears to my eyes and joy to my heart to see her canter in every night for her feed. She is happy and pain free. Thank you so much VetStem for your part in her recovery!

Stem cells are regenerative cells that can differentiate into many tissue types, reduce pain and inflammation, help to restore range of motion, and stimulate regeneration of tendon, ligament and joint tissues. In a clinical case series using VetStem Regenerative Cell Therapy in horses with tendon and ligament and joint injuries, it was found that VetStem Regenerative Cell Therapy helped these horses to return to full work or to the activity level that the owner desired.

About Scott Reiners, DVM, DACVS, DACVSMRDr. Reiners received his DVM from Kansas State University and completed his surgical residency at Oklahoma State University. He and his wife, Dr. Wynne DiGrassie, started Mountain View Equine Hospital in 2003. Dr. Reiners special interests include orthopedic surgery, fracture/tendon repair, laser surgery, shockwave therapy, and sport horse lameness and rehabilitation.

About VetStem Biopharma, Inc.VetStem Biopharma is a veterinarian-led Company that was formed in 2002 to bring regenerative medicine to the profession. This privately held biopharmaceutical enterprise, based near San Diego, California, currently offers veterinarians an autologous stem cell processing service (from patients own fat tissue) among other regenerative modalities. With a unique expertise acquired over the past 15 years and 17,000 treatments by veterinarians for joint, tendon or ligament issues, VetStem has made regenerative medicine applications a therapeutic reality. The VetStem team is focused on developing new clinically practical and affordable veterinary solutions that leverage the natural restorative abilities present in all living creatures. In addition to its own portfolio of patents, VetStem holds exclusive global veterinary licenses to a large portfolio of issued patents in the field of regenerative medicine.

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VetStem Biopharma Shares the Success Story of Cheyenne Who Was Treated with VetStem Cell Therapy by Dr. Scott Reiners - PR Web

Manav Rachna International Institute of Research and Studies, Faridabad and Advancells Announce Industry-Academia, Noida – Business Wire India

Business Wire India is the only Indian news distribution platform to partner with ANI, PTI, IANS, and UNI Testimonials - Whenever we have something important to tell, Business Wire India is often our first point of call, Rajnish Wahi, Senior VP, Corporate Affairs & Communication, Snapdeal. I define Business Wire India as a facilitator for the communications industry, Sudeshna Das, Executive Director, ComConnect. Business Wire India is very good in terms of credible and authentic news distribution to media. It adds authenticity to all content, Arneeta Vasudeva, Vice President, Ogilvy. Business Wire India is the only Indian news distribution platform to partner with ANI, PTI, IANS, and UNI The BW India team is very professional and prompt, we have been working seamlessly with BW for many years now, Prathibha Nair, Assistant Manager - Corporate Communications, Wipro Limited. Businesswire helps us in securing coverage on prominent media outlets across US, Europe and India and the detailed tracking reports allow us to monitor our press release. All members of the servicing team are cooperative and efficient and they truly augment our outreach efforts, Aniruddha Basu, PR & Corporate Communications, L&T Technology Services

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Manav Rachna International Institute of Research and Studies, Faridabad and Advancells Announce Industry-Academia, Noida - Business Wire India

Man whose MS was diagnosed as anxiety becomes first to have stem cell treatment for it in Newcastle – Chronicle Live

A young man who spent three years under the care of mental health services when doctors diagnosed his MS symptoms as anxiety is to become the first person to have stem cell treatment for the condition in Newcastle.

Lewis Mawson, 21, has been on a rollercoaster of a journey since he first started pins and needles at the age of 15.

Within a week he was unable to walk and was admitted to hospital but was too nervous to have an MRI scan.

For the next three years he struggled with his mystery symptoms, not knowing why he would wake up some days unable to walk, talk or even see.

At the age of 18 he was finally diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, but after three rounds of treatment scans showed the condition was "highly active" and that he had 10 new lesions on his brain and spine.

Now he has been given new hope of a life without debilitating symptoms after becoming the first person approved to have stem cell treatment for MS at Newcastle's Royal Victoria Infirmary.

"Stem cell treatment for MS is still in trials and Lewis is very lucky to have been offered this on the NHS," said his mum Michelle Fairless.

"This is the last chance of trying too halt his MS so Lewis can lead a normal life without more disabilities."

Lewis, from Spennymoor, County Durham, was 15 when he got his first symptoms.

Michelle said: "He woke up one day with pins and needles in his hands, then his legs.

"Within a week he was was unable to walk or care for himself and was admitted to hospital.

"After a four week stay he was able to start walking again with a walking aid, but he was too nervous to do an MRI.

"They said his body had had a bit of a nervous breakdown, they didn't know what was wrong.

"It was unexplained and for three years he was actually under CAMHS [Child and adolescent mental health services] because they said he had anxiety, but I didn't think it was that, I always thought there was something else."

Lewis lived with his symptoms for three years, unable to stand some days, until he was referred to Sunderland Royal Hospital who sent him for an MRI scan in Jesmond.

Michelle said: "That's when we got the diagnosis and he started his treatment within three months. It turned our lives upside down.

"He had a round of Lemtrada treatment and another round a year later. This was unsuccessful and he was offered a third lot of treatment this May, after an MRI early this year showed he had 10 new lesions on his brain and spine and his MS was highly active again.

"Since having his third lot of treatment he was in constant pain, some days he couldn't walk very well, some days it affects his eyes. On bad days he struggles to walk round his house.

"We got called back and they said the only thing they think will halt his MS will be stem cell treatment.

"The only places it's been done for MS so far are Sheffield and London, but they've given permission for it to come up to Newcastle quicker.

"We hope he's going to be receiving it by the end of October or beginning of November."

Michelle is now fundraising to give Lewis a holiday before he starts his gruelling treatment.

"It's going to be quite a harsh treatment and he will be unwell for a long period of time afterwards so I thought he could do with a break," she said.

"He's already been through a lot and this is the last chance to halt the condition."

To donate go to https://www.gofundme.com/f/lewis-ms-stem-cell-journey

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Man whose MS was diagnosed as anxiety becomes first to have stem cell treatment for it in Newcastle - Chronicle Live

Stem cells used to treat life-threatening illnesses – Gulf News

Image Credit: iStock

The Dubai Cord Blood and Research Centre (DCRC) revealed that 19 patients suffering from various blood diseases were treated using stem cell services.

Dr Fatma Al Hashimi, Senior Clinical Scientist & Head of Donor Recruitment unit at DCRC, revealed that the centre treated the patients who were suffering from diseases such as thalassaemia, leukaemia, sickle cell anaemia and Fanconi anaemia, using stored cord blood stem cells.

DCRC has successfully stored over 7,000 cord blood stem cells since its inception in 2006 and aims to increase the number of donations of ethnically diverse cord blood stem cells.

After collection, the cord blood stem cells have to undergo various tests before being stored. We need from two to three weeks to determine whether the cord blood unit is acceptable or not for cryopreservation. It is all about quality not quantity and it is important that the cord blood unit meets the international standard and it can be used for transplantation if needed in future. Dr Al Hashimi said that the centre is also training nurses and doctors on cord blood collection procedure to assure units acceptance.

She added that the centre which is the only government entity that offers public and private banking of cord blood advocates the importance of public donation of cord blood stem cells to help form a substantial registry of cord blood stem cells for the UAE. In fact, Dr Al Hashimi said it has seen a significant increase in the awareness levels among the public about the importance of cord blood stem cells, which increased from only 73 donated units in 2006 to 768 donated units in 2017.

She stressed the importance of raising awareness on donating and storing cord blood stem cells as more than 80 blood diseases can be cured with the help of cord blood stem cells. Mothers who have multiple pregnancies but do not have any family history of such diseases are ideal candidates for public banking of cord blood. After they store the cord blood for their family, for the subsequent pregnancies, it is recommended that they donate the stem cells for the public registry. Our appeal is for women to ensure stem cells are not wasted as they can be used to save lives.

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Stem cells used to treat life-threatening illnesses - Gulf News

Patients’ avatars being used to test cystic fibrosis drugs – UNSW Newsroom

UNSW researchers have developed mini gut and lung avatars that could transform the way clinicians treat people with Cystic Fibrosis (CF), the most common life-limiting genetic disease affecting Australian children.

Only 50 years ago, children with CF were not expected to live beyond their fifth birthday. Today, breakthrough drugs such as CFTR modulators have transformed the outlook for CF patients enabling some to live more than 50 years but average life expectancy in Australia still hovers around 35 years.

Rather than treat the symptoms, CFTR modulators treat the dysfunctional CFTR proteins which are linked to more than 2000 different mutations in the CFTR gene. Because there are so many, it is impossible to use CFTR modulators as a one size fits all solution.

While approved modulators Orkambi, Symdeko and Kalydeco target the more common CFTR mutations to benefit about 60% of patients with CF, not all patients show clinical improvement. In addition, the remaining 40% of the CF population that have rare CFTR mutations are left without access to treatment.

Compounding the issue is the fact that modulators come at a tremendous cost to the healthcare system with a cumulative lifetime cost of around $250,000 per patient per year.

It was these challenges facing the CF respiratory specialists not being able to target drugs to individuals specific CFTR mutations, plus the prohibitive costs of the CFTR modulators that led to collaboration with UNSW researchers. Together they tested patients stem cell derived mini-organs against various CFTR modulators in a centralised laboratory, the Molecular and Integrative Cystic Fibrosis (miCF) Research Centre.

Using recent breakthroughs in stem-cell biology, the researchers isolated cells directly from respiratory or gut tissue and encouraged largescale expansion of them to create mini-organs (organoids). Since these organoids were created from the cells of patients with CF, they are effectively an avatar for that person. In other words, if the drug works on their avatar, then it will likely work on the patient. These organoids are cryopreserved in the miCF biobank and can be tested against new drugs in future.

Because the work is carried out in a centralised location that services all of Australia, the miCF Research Centre also ensures the avatar program is cost-effective, as it is not feasible to prepare the avatar cells in every CF centre or lab.

The miCF biobank was established by UNSW researchers in the beginning of 2019. It relies on a national network of CF clinicians, scientists and their institutions working together with the miCF Research Centre to co-ordinate tissue procurement from 11 CF clinics across Australia.

Consenting donors with CF provide respiratory and gut tissue at participating sites which is then delivered to the miCF Research Centre. Trained personnel then prepare the organoids using standardised techniques and quality control measures at UNSWs miCF Research Centre.

The miCF research lab uses the organoids to identify drug responsive from non-responsive individuals. Of the patients avatars identified as responsive to the CFTR modulators, three have been ultra-rare CFTR mutations. The avatar technology effectively acts as a crystal ball that greatly reduces the need for trial and error in targeted CFTR therapy.

The research team is also testing ways to correct the defective CFTR by adding a correct copy of the gene to the cells. These cells serve as an invaluable tool to enhance the current understanding of CF and the translational research efforts that aim to develop new therapeutic agents to fight the disease and shape the future for CF precision medicine in Australia.

Dr Shafagh Waters is the team lead on this project with expertise in bioinformatics skills with stem cell derived organoid culture technology. In 2017 she established the miCF Research Laboratory at UNSW.

Professor Adam Jaffe is the John Beveridge Professor of Paediatrics and Head of the School of Womens and Childrens Health at UNSW Medicine, UNSW Sydney. He is the co-director of the miCF Research Centre, leading translation of the Avatar Organoid Platform to clinical practice.

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Patients' avatars being used to test cystic fibrosis drugs - UNSW Newsroom

AI Pinpoints Genes Associated With Heart Failure – Forbes

While AI may increase speed and efficiency of medical care on the front lines, one of its most powerful benefits is the ability to search vast amounts of data to learn about genetic aspects of various diseases.

Cardiomegaly Is An Enlargement Of The Heart Due To Dilatation Of The Heart Cavities. This Can Result ... [+] From Many Conditions Including A Disease Of The Heart Muscle Myocardial Disease, Defective Valve Function, Or Hypertrophy Of The Heart Muscle Due To Stenosis Of The Aortic Valve. Pericardial Effusion Fluid Collection In The Fibrous Envelope Of The Heart Can Also Lead To Considerable Cardiomegaly Visible On The X Ray. Left Untreated, Cardiomegaly Can Lead To Heart Failure Characterized By Dyspnea Difficulty Breathing And Edema Of The Lower Limbs. (Photo By BSIP/UIG Via Getty Images)

Earlier identification of persons at risk for heart failure or a genetic cardiomyopathy is a prime example. This could enable persons to be more closely monitored by health care providers and even placed on lists for transplant before they decompensate and develop heart failure leading to cardiogenic shock, which can be ultimately be fatal if not treated and identified in a timely fashion.

Researchers at Queen Mary University of London have now harnessed the power of AI to identify patients who are at risk for heart failure, enabling earlier identification, management and treatment of these high-risk individuals.

The research team used an artificial intelligence (AI) technique to analyze cardiac MRI images of 17,000 healthy UK Biobank volunteers. They noted that genetic factors accounted for 22-39% of variation in the size and function of the left ventricle (LV), the main chamber in the heart that pumps blood to the rest of the body. Reduced pumping ability and increase in size of the left ventricle leads to heart failure.

The research, recently published in the journalCirculation, highlights the importance of genetic factors and their role in the contribution to structural heart disease. The investigators discovered 14 specific areas (loci) linked to the dimensions, structure and function of the left ventricle containing genes that control the embryonic development of heart chambers and the contraction of heart muscle.

"It is exciting that the state-of-the-art AI techniques now allow rapid and accurate measurement of the tens of thousands of heart MRI images required for genetic studies, said lead researcher Dr. Nay Aung from Queen Mary University of London in a press release. The findings open up the possibility of earlier identification of those at risk of heart failure and of new targeted treatments; the genetic risk scores established from this study could be tested in future studies to create an integrated and personalized risk assessment tool for heart failure.

"The AI tool allowed us to analyze images in a fraction of the time it would otherwise have taken; this should translate to time and cost savings for the NHS and could potentially improve the efficiency of patient care, he added.

"Previous studies have shown that differences in the size and function of the heart are partly influenced by genes but we have not really understood the extent of that genetic influence,explained co-investigator Steffen Petersen, Professor of Cardiovascular Medicine at Queen Mary University of London. This study has shown that several genes known to be important in heart failure also appear to regulate the heart size and function in healthy people.

That understanding of the genetic basis of heart structure and function in the general population improves our knowledge of how heart failure evolves; the study provides a blueprint for future genetic research involving the heart MRI images in the UK Biobank and beyond, he added.

"High fidelity MRI measures combined with genetics is reassuringly validating many known heart structural proteins, but our work also finds new genes from more heritable functional measures that are associated with ventricular remodeling and fibrosis, added co-investigator Patricia Munroe, Professor of Molecular Medicine at Queen Mary University of London. Further genetic studies including analyses of additional heart MRI chambers are expected to provide deeper insights into heart biology."

In fact, identification of specific genes that play a role in determining left ventricular volume, a key marker of survival in the setting of heart failure (resulting from LV remodeling in the setting of a cardiomyopathy), would be quite valuable. The advent of gene therapy, progenitor cell therapy (stem cells) and emerging molecular genetic approaches to address these genetic anomalies may offer promise.

With the expansion of the UK Biobank database, the expectation is that more genes for cardiac abnormalities will be notified in the future. In fact, UK Biobank announced earlier this month that it will begin sequencing the entire human genome of 450,000 participants, after success of a pilot sequencing trial in 50,000 participants.

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AI Pinpoints Genes Associated With Heart Failure - Forbes

Droitwich schools urged to hold ‘Oscar Day’ to help five-year-old’s cancer battle – Droitwich Standard

A RALLYING call has gone out for schools across Bromsgrove and Droitwich to join a fund-raiser for potentially life-saving treatment for Oscar Saxelby-Lee.

Oscars school in Worcester has declared October 11 Oscar Day and is holding a non-uniform day for a 1-per-person donation and staff there are hoping other schools across the county will join them.

A major fund-raising drive was launched a fortnight ago after it was discovered the brave five-year-olds cancer had returned just months after successful stem-cell treatment. His heartbroken parents need 500,000 to pay for the treatment.

After being told Oscars leukaemia had returned, mum Olivia Saxelby and dad Jamie Lee were dealt a further blow when they were told there may be no further treatment options left for Oscar on the NHS.

At present children with B-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia in Oscars position are able to undergo CAR-T therapy in the UK. Unfortunately, there is no such therapy for children such as Oscar with T-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia.

Oscars care team is looking at the possibility of the youngster receiving this treatment as part of a trial. They are also examining the possibility of a second bone marrow transplant that would most likely need to take place outside the NHS.

Currently, the NHS can typically only offer a second transplant to patients 12 months on from their first transplant. But Olivia admitted her little boy may not have that long to keep the disease at bay.

We were so grateful earlier this year when thousands of people across the globe signed up to become stem cell donors in the faith Oscar would find a donor and we finally got the go ahead with a 10/10 match, she said.

After further chemotherapy, full body radiotherapy and three months of gruelling recovery post-transplant, we were told the devastating news that Oscars leukaemia is back.

Having been told options are very limited from the beginning of this journey, we have never lost hope, with Oscars strength and determination throughout.

This is why we have made the decision to give our warrior the best shot at a lasting cure that we can. This is the least he deserves after such a torturous battle.

Visit https://uk.virginmoney giving.com and search for Hand in Hand for Oscar for more information.

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Droitwich schools urged to hold 'Oscar Day' to help five-year-old's cancer battle - Droitwich Standard

The Bright Future of Stem Cell Therapy: Part 2 – Sahuarita Sun

Last month, we talked about using Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSC) in Regenerative Medicine to heal degenerative joints and other tissues and organ systems.

When we inject MSCs into damaged areas, we augment the bodys regenerative capacity. MSCs heal damaged tissue by orchestrating the entire healing cascade, providing building blocks for new tissue as well as necessary messenger signaling molecules.

Harvesting cells from C-Section deliveries

Mesenchymal stem cells are harvested from full-term C-section deliveries after the donor has been screened for infectious diseases. The umbilical cord including Whartons Jelly along with the amniotic fluid and sac are harvested and carefully processed.

They are further tested to determine the number of MSCs, structural proteins, cytokines (IL-1, TGF-, TGF-), and growth factors the tissue in question contains. Then they are frozen in liquid nitrogen until needed.

Care is given to inject them in the desired joint or region of the body immediately upon thawing, to preserve viability and increase effectiveness.

Amniotic tissue has been described as fertilizer, while MSCs are new seed, and our tissues are like the soil. The healthier the soil, the better the outcome when new seed and fertilizer are introduced.

There is a bright future for stem cells in many aspects of healing and regeneration. An added benefit is much less recovery time than with surgical procedures.

For information about Nature Cures health programs and retreat, contact the Nature Cure Clinic in Green Valley at 520-399-9212.

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The Bright Future of Stem Cell Therapy: Part 2 - Sahuarita Sun