Stem cell treatment has California researchers a step closer to HIV cure

DAVIS, CA (KOVR) - Researchers at UC Davis say they are one step closer to finding a cure for HIV in a breakthrough study for millions around the world living with the virus.

At 60 years old, Paul Curtis looks like the picture of health.

I exercise, eat well get a lot of rest, he said.

But 30 years ago, Curtis was diagnosed as HIV-positive. Doctors told him he might have a year to live, but he's proven them wrong.

With this disease, it's imperative that you take the medications consistently, Curtis said.

He relies on medication daily. At one point he took more than 40 pills a day. And he can't miss a dose.

The virus mutates rapidly when you miss doses, he said.

He's one of millions worldwide waiting for a cure. Previous studies have come close, but none have proven to fight off the virus with stem cell therapy.

Dr. Joe Anderson says he has developed genetically modified human stem cells, which have resisted infection in mice.

When we infected the mice that had these HIV-resistant that had these HIV-resistant immune cells in them, we saw that HIV infection was blocked, he said.

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Stem cell treatment has California researchers a step closer to HIV cure

Stem Cell Treatment Has UC Davis A Step Closer To HIV Cure

DAVIS (CBS13) Researchers at UC Davis say they are one step closer to finding a cure for HIV in a breakthrough study for millions around the world living with the virus.

At 60 years old, Paul Curtis looks like the picture of health.

I exercise, eat well get a lot of rest, he said.

But 30 years ago, Curtis was diagnosed as HIV-positive. Doctors told him he might have a year to live, but hes proven them wrong.

With this disease, its imperative that you take the medications consistently, Curtis said.

He relies on medication daily. At one point he took more than 40 pills a day. And he cant miss a dose.

The virus mutates rapidly when you miss doses, he said.

Hes one of millions worldwide waiting for a cure. Previous studies have come close, but none have proven to fight off the virus with stem cell therapy.

Dr. Joe Anderson says he has developed genetically modified human stem cells, which have resisted infection in mice.

When we infected the mice that had these HIV-resistant that had these HIV-resistant immune cells in them, we saw that HIV infection was blocked, he said.

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Stem Cell Treatment Has UC Davis A Step Closer To HIV Cure

U of W cancels proposal for joint research study

Winnipeg Free Press - ONLINE EDITION

By: Melissa Martin and Mary Agnes Welch

Posted: 01/15/2015 2:00 AM | Comments:

The University of Winnipeg has axed a joint project with Regenetek Research, the local company selling stem-cell treatment to people with multiple sclerosis.

The move by the universitys ethics committee came Wednesday, hours after the Free Press published its investigation into Regenetek owner Doug Broeskas credentials and his clinical trial.

The universitys move puts an end to Broeskas repeated claim he was about to launch a study with U of Ws kinesiology faculty to track and test some of the 70 patients who paid Regenetek as much as $45,000 for experimental stem-cell transplants in India.

"The patient outcomes have been so significant that we will soon be announcing a companion study with the University of Winnipeg," Broeska told a prospective patient in an email obtained by the Free Press. "Dr. Glen Bergeron, assistant dean and one of Canadas foremost physiotherapeutic specialists (head physiotherapist, Canadian Olympic Team) has confirmed our evidence based on patient observation... and would not have contemplated such a study if our patient/subjects had not demonstrated neural pathway restoration as a result of their therapies."

Winnipeg-based Regenetek and the U of W signed a preliminary letter of intent last spring. The company even gave the U of W $10,000 to hire a young researcher. She moved to Winnipeg from Waterloo, Ont., and began work in November in anticipation the joint research project would soon win ethics approval from the universitys review panel.

Last week, the U of Ws ethics committee sent the proposal back to Bergeron with questions and concerns. On Wednesday morning, the committee rejected the joint application outright.

Bergeron did not reply to requests for comment. Instead, Jino Distasio, the U of Ws associate vice-president of research and innovation, said the university takes the health of study participants extremely seriously and already harboured concerns about the project.

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U of W cancels proposal for joint research study

Fallout from fake credentials

Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION

By: Mary Agnes Welch and Melissa Martin

Posted: 01/15/2015 3:00 AM | Comments:

The University of Winnipeg has axed a joint project with Regenetek Research, the local company selling stem-cell treatment to people with multiple sclerosis.

The move by the university's ethics committee came Wednesday, hours after the Free Press published its investigation into Regenetek owner Doug Broeska's credentials and his clinical trial.

The university's move puts an end to Broeska's repeated claim he was about to launch a study with U of W's kinesiology faculty to track and test some of the 70 patients who paid Regenetek as much as $45,000 for experimental stem-cell transplants in India.

"The patient outcomes have been so significant that we will soon be announcing a companion study with the University of Winnipeg," Broeska told a prospective patient in an email obtained by the Free Press. "Dr. Glen Bergeron, assistant dean and one of Canada's foremost physiotherapeutic specialists (head physiotherapist, Canadian Olympic Team) has confirmed our evidence based on patient observation... and would not have contemplated such a study if our patient/subjects had not demonstrated neural pathway restoration as a result of their therapies."

Winnipeg-based Regenetek and the U of W signed a preliminary letter of intent last spring. The company even gave the U of W $10,000 to hire a young researcher. She moved to Winnipeg from Waterloo, Ont., and began work in November in anticipation the joint research project would soon win ethics approval from the university's review panel.

Last week, the U of W's ethics committee sent the proposal back to Bergeron with questions and concerns. On Wednesday morning, the committee rejected the joint application outright.

Bergeron did not reply to requests for comment. Instead, Jino Distasio, the U of W's associate vice-president of research and innovation, said the university takes the health of study participants extremely seriously and already harboured concerns about the project.

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Fallout from fake credentials

Parkinson's stem cell trial approaches

A therapy for Parkinson's disease from Carlsbad's International Stem Cell Corp. is expected to get approval for testing in Australia as soon as February, the company said this week.

The publicly traded company has grown neural stem cells, which can mature into cells making the neurotransmitter dopamine, deficient in Parkinson's. The company plans to implant these stem cells into the the brains of Parkinson's patients, restoring dopamine production and normal movement in the patients.

If approved, the trial will be the first test of therapy with the company's cells, derived from unfertilized, or parthenogenetic human egg cells. The cells, which in theory can produce nearly all types of cells found in the body, are grown into neural stem cells. These cells will be implanted and mature in place.

Parthenogenetic cells have much the same potential as embryonic stem cells without the ethical objections some have, says International Stem Cell, which has 38 employees. In addition, these parthenogenetic stem cells are less likely to provoke an immune reaction, the company says.

International Stem Cell Corp. chose Australia for its first trial because its regulatory agency is more "interactive" than the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, said Simon Craw, executive vice president for business development. The FDA is inclined to give yes-or-no answers for proposed cell-based treatments, Craw said. In addition, patient recruitment takes place more slowly, which delays trial completion. The FDA does this for safety reasons.

Simon Craw / International Stem Cell Corp.

The Australian agency helps guide companies through the application process, Craw said in an interview Wednesday at Biotech Showcase, an annual life science conference in San Francisco. Craw also gave a company presentation on Tuesday at the conference.

"We're in the process of submitting the (application)," to Australian regulators, Craw said. "We're going back and forth with them right now. We expect to hear back from them by the end of February."

The trial will primarily assess safety, but also look for evidence of efficacy, Craw said.

The trial will take place at Royal Melbourne Hospital, Craw said. The hospital is headquartered in Parkville, in the state of Victoria. The principal investigator, Dr. Andrew Evans, will recruit patients from his own practice.

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Parkinson's stem cell trial approaches

City man who ran stem-cell trial for MS patients fabricated credentials, overstated results

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Winnipeg researcher Doug Broeska previously ran a lumber business. (REGENETEK.COM)

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Regenetek is located on Chevrier Boulevard, but its stem-cell study is being conducted at a hospital in India. The study is not listed on any clinical-trial registry. (PHIL HOSSACK / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS )

The hope of dancing at her sons summertime wedding led Sharon Nordstrom to pay $38,000 for a treatment she hoped would keep her multiple-sclerosis symptoms at bay.

That money paid for what she hoped would be a life-changing stem-cell procedure at a hospital in Pune, India. It was part of what she, and nearly 70 other patients from Manitoba and from as far away as Australia, believed was a clinical study helmed by a brilliant Winnipeg medical researcher with a PhD, who said the procedure could stop MS in its tracks.

Soon after her return in May, Nordstrom began to uncover troubling facts. Doug Broeska, whom patients reverently call "Dr. Doug," has no recognized medical credentials. Regenetek Research, his company based out of a spartan office on Chevrier Boulevard, boasted credentials and positive medical results that didnt add up. Patients who were once ardent supporters were attacked as saboteurs or shills for "Big Pharma" and threatened with removal from the study after they asked questions.

A Free Press investigation has found Broeska fabricated his credentials, including his PhD, and overstated the effects of the stem-cell treatment, for which he often charged desperately ill people $45,000. Four patients spoke to the Free Press on the record, saying they got no benefit from the treatment, got none of the followup common in clinical trials such as MRIs or physical acuity tests and believe they are victims of fraud.

Patients, doctors in India and now Canadian officials are questioning the claims of Winnipeg researcher Doug Broeska and his $45,000 stem-cell therapy for MS sufferers.

At least two of Regeneteks former patients have complained to the RCMP, and sources say the Canada Revenue Agency is investigating, though CRA officials would not confirm that. Last week, Regeneteks website, Broeskas LinkedIn page and a "patient-run" Facebook group were taken down.

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City man who ran stem-cell trial for MS patients fabricated credentials, overstated results

Lung Institute to Open New Clinic in Scottsdale in February 2015

Scottsdale, AZ (PRWEB) January 13, 2015

In February 2015, the Lung Institute will open a new clinic in Scottsdale, AZ. This expansion marks its third location in the country. With stem cell treatment centers already in Tampa and Nashville, the Lung Institute has made positive impacts in the lives of their patients and the surrounding communities.

The Lung Institute is committed to providing patients with an effective way to treat pulmonary conditions, rather than just manage their symptoms, which results in an improvement in their overall quality of life. Their application of innovative technology combined with advanced stem cell treatments enables them to carry out their mission and successfully provide world-class care to their patients who visit the Lung Institute from across the globe.

Medical Director, Dr. Burton Feinerman, a world-renowned physician and expert in the field of regenerative medicine, has led the Lung Institute in performing hundreds of minimally invasive, outpatient stem cell treatments for a variety of debilitating lung diseases. The Lung Institute treats conditions such as COPD, pulmonary fibrosis, chronic bronchitis, emphysema, and interstitial lung disease.

The addition of this treatment center will create jobs in the medical, sales, and administrative industries. Additionally, local businesses, and the medical tourism industry of the Scottsdale area will benefit, as most patients travel for treatment. By utilizing their full-service patient coordinator services, The Lung Institute plans to actively promote all that Scottsdale has to offer as an ancillary benefit to obtaining advanced treatment for lung disease.

A ribbon cutting ceremony will be held at the new facility with the medical staff, Lung Institute corporate team, community representatives, and members of the Scottsdale and Phoenix Chambers of Commerce in attendance. The new facility is located at 8377 East Hartford Drive in Scottsdale, and will be open for treatment beginning on February 9, 2015.

We are very excited to join the vibrant Scottsdale community and provide even greater access to convenient care for our patients, says Lynne Flaherty, Executive Vice President of the Lung Institute. Through stem cell therapy, we hope to offer patients an alternative method to treat their lung disease while enjoying an exceptional local environment.

About the Lung Institute At the Lung Institute, we are changing the lives of hundreds of people across the nation through the innovative technology of regenerative medicine. We are committed to providing patients a more effective way to address pulmonary conditions and improve quality of life. Our physicians, through their designated practices, have gained worldwide recognition for the successful application of revolutionary minimally invasive stem cell therapies. With over a century of combined medical experience, our doctors have established a patient experience designed with the highest concern for patient safety and quality of care. For more information, visit our website at LungInstitute.com, like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or call us today at (855) 313-1149.

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Lung Institute to Open New Clinic in Scottsdale in February 2015

Gordie Howe continues to improve after stem cell treatment

Former Detroit Red Wingsright-winger Gordie Howe's condition has continued to improve after stem cell treatment in December, Howe's family told Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press.

Howe, who will turn 87 in March, has severe dementia. He had multiple strokes last summer and a serious one in October, and he was hospitalized in December with a case of dehydration.

Howe's family opted to have the NHL legend, who spent 32 years as a professional hockey player, undergo stem cell treatment in December. The familiy has said that his condition has improved markedly since then.

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Prior to the treatment, Howe was limited to shuffling his feet while sitting down. He has since regained the ability to kick a ball around and to push a shopping cart. He has gone out in public with family members.

Howe's son Mark, who is currently a pro scout for the Red Wings, said that his father "is doing very well, overall."

Howe spent 25 seasons with the Red Wings from 1946 to 1971. After six years with the Houston Aeros and New England Whalers of the World Hockey Association, Howe returned to the NHL for a final season with the Hartford Whalers, retiring in 1980.

Wild honor J.P. Parise with pregame ceremony, helmet decal

During his season in Hartford, Howe, 51 at the time, scored 15 goals and recorded 26 assists in 80 games.

Devils veteran Patrik Elias notches 1,000th career point

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Gordie Howe continues to improve after stem cell treatment

Howe seeing further gains following stem cell treatment

Gordie Howe suffered a major stroke in October and his condition seemed grim at the end of November when his son, Mark Howe, reported that his father was unable to walk and his speech is very minimal.

He started to see an improvement in his health soon after that though and his family said that Howe took amazing steps forward thanks to stem cell treatment in Mexico.

Roughly a month after that treatment, Howe is continuing to make gains. Hes gone from not being able to walk to pushing a cart at a grocery store, Mark informed the Detroit Free Press. Mr. Hockey has also gone to the mall recently and can kicked a small ball around outside.

(Howe) is doing very well, overall, Mark said.

Howe, 86, was also suffering from back problems and has dementia. He lives with his daughter, Cathy, in Lubbock, Texas.

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Howe seeing further gains following stem cell treatment

Family's hope as blind tot heads to India for medical treatment

A TODDLER is jetting out to India with his mother and grandmother for a second course of treatment which could give him some eyesight.

Little Connor Wrighton, who is just over 13 months old, is having stem cell therapy at a clinic in New Delhi, following treatment he had in the city in October and November.

Parents Nathan and Lisa Wrighton said they were feeling very positive that the pioneering treatment was going to make a major difference to Connors life.

He was born blind and with a form of cerebral palsy. At just 23 days old, Connor had a shunt fitted to relieve the pressure on his brain by taking away fluid to his stomach.

Doctors at Unistem Biosciences in New Delhi are starting a new phase of treatment for Connor, taking cells from his hips to hopefully regenerate his eyes. The latest course of treatment is expected to last just under two weeks.

Mr Wrighton, formerly of Oxenhope and Silsden and an ex-student of South Craven School in Cross Hills, said the family was very hopeful that the stem cell therapy would make a significant difference to his sons sight.

He added: "We were very impressed with the doctors last time we feel very confident the treatment is going well.

"Connor does seem to have started to react to light and we believe there is some vision there. We always knew it was a bit of a long shot but obviously we want to give him every chance we can. So far we are delighted with Connors progress and feel very positive."

Mum Lisa and her mother, Joyce Stallebrass, are accompanying Connor on the trip this week and staying with him at the hospital, where he is expected to be for 12 or 13 days.

As the therapy is not available on the NHS, the family had to start an appeal to raise the cash to pay for the treatment, and raised about 25,000 in donations from well-wishers in just four months.

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Family's hope as blind tot heads to India for medical treatment