Cedars-Sinai Invites High School Students to Submit Essays, Attend Stem Cell Program

Newswise LOS ANGELES (Feb. 24, 2013) Three winners of a high school essay contest on stem cells will receive a cash award and the chance to volunteer in a stem cell research laboratory during the summer. All high school students essayists or not and parents and teachers are invited to a 5 to 7 p.m. program on March 14 at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center to learn more about these cells that may revolutionize many medical therapies.

Students who choose to participate in the contest must submit by March 1 an essay on any one of three topics: Discuss the ethical and social issues involved with the use of embryonic stem cells Discuss the recent successes of the use of stem cells in therapy for human diseases Discuss the challenges of making stem cell therapies more viable for human use Winning essays will be chosen by a selection committee that will value content over length, although essays are expected to be long enough to address the topic researched. References, which must be cited in the text, may include periodicals, textbooks and websites, but not Wikipedia. Awards range from $200 to $500. Winners will be announced during the March 14 program, Introduction to the World of Stem Cells. Advanced registration is available at http://www.cedars-sinai.edu/neurosurgeryconferences, under Student Conferences; same-day registration will begin at 4:30 p.m.

Cedars-Sinai research scientists and clinicians will present sessions on:

An introduction to stem cells and issues related to different types Differing scientific opinions, ethical issues and how scientists are working to resolve conflicts Adult stem cells versus embryonic stem cells for therapy Careers related to stem cells Stem cell Jeopardy! game Presentation of essay awards

The program will be led by John S. Yu, MD, vice chair of the Department of Neurosurgery and director of surgical neuro-oncology, and Dwain Morris-Irvin, PhD, neural stem cell research scientist and principal investigator with the Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Institute at Cedars-Sinai.

Ahmed Ibrahim, who has a masters in public health and is in Cedars-Sinais Graduate Program in Biomedical Science and Translational Medicine, also will speak. As a high school student, Ibrahim participated in a summer research project at Cedars-Sinai. He now conducts stem cell research at the Cedars-Sinai Heart Institute, which in 2009 performed the first procedure where a heart attack patients own heart tissue was used to grow specialized stem cells that were injected back into the heart. The researchers found significant reduction in the size of heart attack-caused scars in patients who underwent the experimental stem cell procedure, compared to other heart attack patients who did not receive the experimental therapy.

For questions or essay submission, contact Samantha Phu, academic program coordinator for the Department of Neurosurgery, at phus@cshs.org or (310) 423-9522.

Introduction to the World of Stem Cells, which will be in Cedars-Sinais Harvey Morse Auditorium, is one of three programs to be presented by the Department of Neurosurgery during Brain Awareness Week March 11-17. The annual Brainworks program for seventh and eighth graders will be from 10 a.m. to 1:10 p.m. on March 11; a two-day conference for scientific and health care professionals on nanomedicine for imaging and treatment will be on March 15 and 16.

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Cedars-Sinai Invites High School Students to Submit Essays, Attend Stem Cell Program

YaFarm Technologies Announces ISCI Clinical Study

PITTSTON, ME--(Marketwire - Feb 25, 2013) - YaFarm Technologies, Inc. ( PINKSHEETS : YFRM ) (YaFarm, or the Company) announced todaythatthe Integrative Stem Cell Institute (ISCI), apremier provider of point-of-care, stem cell-based therapies, has initiatedits first clinical study in Degenerative Neuromuscular Diseases (DNMD).

The clinical studies will be conducted at the ISCI facility in the Hospital Galenia in Cancun, Mexico and will consist of an integrative approach that will combine autologous, adult progenitor (stem) cells with physical therapy, nutrition and other complementary treatments to multiple sclerosis (MS),Alzheimer'sand Parkinson's disease.Patients will spend up to three weeks in Cancun for the therapies. The patient's own cells will be processed in the ISCI's state-of-the-art laboratory with a class 10,000, ISO 7 clean room.As part of the study protocol all patients will have to meet a strict set of inclusion and exclusion criteria and be evaluated by a 3rd party physician prior to treatment who will also serve to provide long-term and independent collection of outcome data, and the reporting of any adverse event or complication stemming from the treatment.

"Today there are literally hundreds of thousands of people living with DNMD," says David Audley, CEO of the ISCI. "Estimates from the National Institutes of Health provide a grim reminder to what many already know: these diseases touch many people." The National Institutes for Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) estimates that there are currently 250,000 people in the US alone with MS(1), while the University of Kansas Institute for Neurological Discoveries believes thatParkinson's disease affects nearly 1.5 million(2) and the National Institutes forAging estimates that over 5 million Americans may suffer fromAlzheimer's.(3) "And while conventional medicine may provide relief for many," continues Mr Audley, "Thousands of others find themselves suffering with limited or no options for treatment. It is for these patients that we have initiated these studies."

About The Integrative Stem Cell Institute (ISCI)The Integrative Stem Cell Institute (ISCI) is a premier provider of point-of-care, stem cell-based therapies for patients from around the world. With a state of the art laboratory housed within the Hospital Galenia in Cancun, Mexico, the ISCI combines the most advanced scientific application of stem cells with second to none medical care within the structure of adaptive clinical trials to effectively track long term outcomes and assure patient safety. More information on the Integrative Stem Cell Institute is available at http://www.iscelli.com

SAFE HARBOR STATEMENT

This press release may contain certain forward-looking statements and information, as defined within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and is subject to the Safe Harbor created by those sections. Forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, some of which cannot be predicted or quantified. This material contains statements about expected future events and/or financial results that are forward-looking in nature and subject to risks and uncertainties. Future events and actual results could differ materially from those set forth in, contemplated by, or underlying the forward-looking statements. The risks and uncertainties to which forward-looking statements are subject include, but are not limited to, the effect of government regulation, competition, adequate financing, and other material risks. Such forward-looking statements by definition involve risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from the statements made herein.

(1) NINDS: http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/multiple_sclerosis/detail_multiple_sclerosis.htm

(2) Univ of Kansas: http://www.indkc.org/neuromuscular_and_movement.html

(3) NIA: http://www.nia.nih.gov/alzheimers/publication/alzheimers-disease-fact-sheet

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YaFarm Technologies Announces ISCI Clinical Study

'Future of medicine' comes to Nelson

MARION VAN DIJK/FAIRFAX NZ

OFFERING HOPE: Robert DeBoyer and his wife, Rhona, who together run Stem-Cell NZ, offer experimental stem cell treatment.

An experimental stem cell treatment for joint and tendon regeneration is being offered in Richmond.

Doctor Robert DeBoyer, is providing the treatment where a patient's own stem cells are used to treat disease or injury.

The treatment can be controversial as it is still largely experimental.

Dr DeBoyer, who runs Stem-Cell NZ with his wife, Rhona, has been offering the treatment in New Zealand for six months from the Lower Queen St medical centre in Richmond, and in Wellington.

He said it had about an 80 per cent efficacy rate and could provide relief for some patients that meant they did not need surgery.

The treatment involved extracting 30-60ml of blood from a patient and putting it through a "highly sophisticated" centrifuge.

Dr DeBoyer said a rich plasma, containing about 170,000 stem cells, was obtained. It was injected into the joints or tendons, where it helped replicate new cartilage and, over time, relieved symptoms.

He said the treatment had a 24-hour recovery time and most patients only needed one treatment. It cost about $1400.

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'Future of medicine' comes to Nelson

Safety And Stem Cell Procedures (last of two parts)

Stem Cell Therapy is a promising avenue for medicine, with potential as a cure for a host of illnesses and conditions, and is seen as a way to counteract the effects of aging on the human body. As such, it has become the buzzword in social circles, with youthful-looking celebrities being whispered about as having undergone the treatment abroad.

Now that there are already several facilities that are offering Stem Cell treatments right here in the country, Dr. Cristina Puyat of the Anti-Aging Sciences & Cosmetic Institute (ASCI) in Pasig City gives a lowdown on what to expect with your "get-well" shots.

Prepping for the procedure

From the outset, Puyat presents this caveat: "The only stem cells that have been shown to be safe are the stem cells derived from autologous sources (stem cells from the patients themselves). As any medical or experimental procedure carries a risk, patients should be well informed before embarking on any therapy or procedure and discuss concerns with the physician conducting such procedure. At the ASCI, only those patients who are well informed and who qualify for the stem cell treatment may receive such treatment. Comprehensive laboratory results, a thorough history, and a physical must be reviewed prior to any procedure."

Those who think the stem cell syringes can plunge in right away should think again; and clinics offering a one-day affair are definitely a no-go, since preparations are required. Aside from screening and consultations prior to the treatment, Puyat cautions that several measures should be taken before the stem cells are extracted and transplanted. "There are many preparations needed before treatment, but most simply: It is recommended that the qualifying patient abstain from any excessive alcohol and tobacco consumption. Patients are nutritionally prepared prior to the treatments and cleared by other attending physicians if needed."

During and after treatment

As treatments are done in a clinical setting, questions of a need for hospital stay may arise. Confinement is not necessary. Puyat continues: "Depending on the treatment desired and determined jointly via the patient and attending physicians, the entire treatment is via an outpatient setting where patients arrive for the stem cell extraction and are cleared to depart later in the day." And one must not simply rely on the treatment to do its restorative job alone. "As with any medical procedure, stem cell patients should eat a healthy diet and rest. The medical staff of reputable clinics should be available to answer any question or concern following the procedure."

She adds that, depending on the results, this may be a one-shot event. "Repeated procedures are never mandatory and must be addressed with the attending physician on a case-to-case basis. Results from the first procedure, successes and failures will be assessed and addressed prior to any approval for a repeated treatment."

Not from online shopping!

A quick glance at online selling sites shows establishments offering everything from stem cell injection kits to stem cell capsules. And the question is, are these safe? "Safety and effectiveness are both a concern for such capsules and kits. At this point, if it is not autologous, we cannot consider it to be safe or effective until further studies are performed," the doctor cautions. "Whereas some may be a waste of money, others like embryonic and genetically manipulated stem cells like induced pluripotential stem cells (IPCs) from skin can be outright dangerous and teratogenic (cancer forming) because of their innate ability to replicate indefinitely. Additionally, IPCs have cancer genes that have been inserted into them via retroviruses to make them pluripotential. Neither type of stem cell has been proven safe."

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Safety And Stem Cell Procedures (last of two parts)

Philippine-based group warns on stem cell medicine

Manila: A Philippine-based group has aired concern over the dangers of stem cell treatment as it warned of the possibility that materials being used for such procedures could have been extracted from hapless donors, particularly human foetuses.

Dr Leo Olarte, spokesman of the Philippine Society for Stem Cell Medicine, said they were alarmed over reports coming locally and from abroad that some stem cell materials were being taken from the unborn.

At the same time he called on the Department of Health to carefully watch stem cell treatment practitioners. The Catholic Church, he said, should unite with health practitioners and put an end to such practices.

Olarte was quoted as saying in reports that allogenic stem cells from aborted foetuses of humans were being exported to the Philippines.

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We cannot stand by and merely watch how they exploit people in poverty just to profit while allowing others who are economically well off to benefit from this, he said.

He said there were reports that human stem cells from foetuses and female egg cells were being used in anti-ageing procedures and other medical treatments.

Olarte is also concerned over the sale of supposedly stem cell products that come in the form of injectibles and even soaps.

Dont patronise those products. An example is the stem cell soap. It is unfair that stem cell therapy becomes a quackery, he said.

Earlier, Department of Health Secretary Enrique Ona led a national convention participated in by doctors to discuss the truth behind stem cell therapy.

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Cebu Seen As A Major Market For Stem Cell Treatment

CEBU CITY, Cebu - Banking on the popularity of stem cell therapy to enhance a person's general well-being, a Manila-based aesthetic clinic is bent on capturing a huge market in Cebu with its own product line.

Flawless Face and Body Center (Flawless) Chief Executive Officer Rubby Sy said his company will soon launch its own human stem cell therapy following the success of their stem cell product line, from fruit stem cell introduced in the market last December.

''Stem-cell technology is gaining huge popularity in the Philippines and we see Cebu as a big market for this innovation,'' Sy said in a recent press interview here.

Sy said her company intends to offer human stem cell treatment through intravenous and intra-dermal administration, costing some $25,000 and $6,500, respectively.

He disclosed that Flawless has partnered with a medical institute in Russia for human stem cell supply.

''This partner institution works like a blood bank that conducts stringent screening on human stem cells extracted from Russians aged 20 to 25 years old,'' she said.

Sy is confident that stem cell treatment would be widely accepted here given its medical and beauty benefits. Customers, she said, have accepted the product because of its ''immediate effects.''

For his part, Drew Mendoza, the firm's business manager, said that Flawless' stem cell product line is the only stem cell product approved by the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) and is the first in the Philippine market.

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Cebu Seen As A Major Market For Stem Cell Treatment

Stem cell heart repairs: 21st century medicine in action

Gerard Cuomo loves to dance.

Until recently, however, the 70-year-old couldnt even do a two-step.

After having three heart attacks in the early 1990s, Cuomos heart was severely damaged. The scar tissue that had formed around his heart left him easily fatigued.

I felt like an old man, said Cuomo of Aventura. I could barely climb the stairs. I could walk for about a quarter of a mile. Shopping at the mall I wish I did not have to sit down all the time.

In May 2010, he participated in a University of Miami Miller School of Medicines clinical trial in which doctors injected stem cells directly into his heart muscle. The stem cells, because they are not fully formed, have the potential to grow into different kinds of cells, internalizing information from their environment to determine their future growth.

The study found that the injections built up the healthy heart tissue and reduced scar tissue by 33 percent a dramatic improvement, said Dr. Joshua Hare, director of UMs Interdisciplinary Stem Cell Institute, which conducted the study with Johns Hopkins University. The new tissue remodeled the heart to look more like a healthy, football-shaped heart.

This is a real example of 21st century medicine, said Hare, the Louis Lemberg Professor of Medicine in the Cardiovascular Division. Without doing any specific manipulation, we didnt coax them, they knew where to go. They work in ways that make a lot of sense.

The results of the study, funded by the National Institutes of Health, were published in November by the Journal of the American Medical Association. Half of the 30 men enrolled in the study received injections of their own stem cells, while the other half got stem cells from a third-party donor.

Using a donor is a huge convenience factor, Hare said. We can store large quantities of the stem cells in a cell bank and use them whenever the need arises.

Cuomos stem cells were extracted from his bone marrow. He had to wait about six weeks after extraction to have them re-injected into his heart. During that time, doctors cultivated and tested the cells.

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Stem cell heart repairs: 21st century medicine in action

Doctor has high hopes for new hair-loss treatment

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- For people experiencing hair loss, there's a new treatment on the market called stem cell therapy. It's less invasive than hair transplant procedures, and could someday be the gold standard.

The idea that this procedure could spark new hair growth has breathed new life into the race to clone hair. And that may just be the beginning.

Arlene Johnson has been losing hair for years now, and she's hoping to turn back the clock.

"It was taking me like 20, 30 minutes to comb my hair, and with products to make it look like I had more hair, and that is aggravating," Johnson said.

Her weapon of choice? What could be the future of cosmetic treatments: stem cell therapy.

Hair loss specialist Dr. Daniel McGrath is hoping to jumpstart the stem cells in Johnson's hair follicles.

"Typically with female patients they have female pattern hair loss -- thinning they can't do anything about -- and it gives them thickening and regeneration of their hair, that's huge," Dr. McGrath said.

Here's how it works: A small amount of the patient's blood is taken, and the platelet-rich plasma is separated out. Then it's mixed with a wound-healing powder called "a-cell", and injected back into the scalp. Johnson's head has been numbed, so she doesn't feel a thing. Finally, the doctor using some massage and small needles to create tiny wounds, which will help trigger a healing response.

"The results we've seen thus far, not only in my practice but my colleagues I'm close with across the country, has been better than 80 percent re-growth of hair or regeneration of hair across the board with our patients," Dr. McGrath said.

This sort of therapy is being tested for a host of cosmetic uses, from plumping lips, to firming sagging skin -- even breast enhancement.

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Doctor has high hopes for new hair-loss treatment

Gazette.Net: Stem cell biotech Osiris Therapeutics wins overseas

Osiris Therapeutics announced a couple of legal and regulatory victories this week.

The Columbia biotech, which develops stem cell treatments for a variety of conditions, won a challenge to its Australian patent.

The patent, filed in 2009, covers the use of mesenchymal stem cells, including the companys intravenous Prochymal product, to treat inflammatory conditions in the gastrointestinal tract, including Crohns disease and ulcerative colitis.

Under Australian law, the opponents identity was not disclosed, Osiris said in a news release.

Actually, the challenge was filed in November by a patent attorney, Gavin Recchia. But under Australian law, such challenges may be filed by anyone, including those without a commercial interest, Victor Portelli of the Australian patent agency said. However, the client of the filer need not be disclosed, at least initially.

The challenge was withdrawn this month before any supporting evidence was filed.

Last year, Prochymal became the worlds first stem cell drug approved by an internationally recognized regulatory authority. Its also approved to treat acute graft versus host disease, a serious complication of bone marrow transplantation that kills up to 80 percent of children affected, many soon after diagnosis, according to Osiris. Canada and New Zealand have approved it, and its also available in the U.S. and six other nations under an expanded access program.

Osiris also reported the European Medicines Agency has designated it as the orphan drug title holder for Prochymal for treating graft versus host disease. The designation provides incentives, such as market exclusivity for up to 10 years following approval.

Osiris stock rose 9 percent on the news Tuesday, before falling back Wednesday and Thursday.

In other Maryland bioscience industry news:

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Gazette.Net: Stem cell biotech Osiris Therapeutics wins overseas

Cell therapy: New mouse model promises to advance research on induced pluripotent stem cells

Feb. 21, 2013 Cell therapy is a promising alternative to tissue and organ transplantation for diseases that are caused by death or poor functioning of cells. Considering the ethical discussions surrounding human embryonic stem cells, a lot is expected of the so-called 'induced pluripotent stem cells' (iPS cells). However, before this technique can be applied effectively, a lot of research is required into the safety and efficacy of such iPS cells. VIB scientists associated to the UGent have developed a mouse model that can advance this research to the next step.

Lieven Haenebalcke (VIB/UGent): "iPS cells have enormous therapeutic potential, but require more thorough testing before they can be used for such purposes. Using our new mouse model, we can study which mechanisms determine the identity of a cell. This knowledge is essential before we can use cell therapy for regenerative medicine."

Jody Haigh (VIB/UGent): "If we want to give cell therapy a future, then we must continue this type of research and invest in the further development of such technologies. This will result in an improved insight into cellular identity and -- in the long term -- safer options of applying iPS cells or cells derived from iPS cells in clinical studies."

Cell therapy -- replacing cells to provide a cure

Cell therapy is the replacement of lost or poorly functioning cells in patients. For example, such cell therapies could be used to repair the heart muscle after a heart attack, joints affected by arthritis, the pancreas in diabetes or the spine in certain forms of paralysis. This requires cells that are able to multiply in the laboratory and that can be converted to healthy cells of the desired cell type. Human embryonic stem cells meet these criteria, but they are ethically controversial.

iPS cells -- a promising alternative to embryonic stem cells

Shinya Yamanaka recently developed a fairly simple method to reprogram differentiated cells -- such as skin cells -- back to stem cells, so-called "induced pluripotent stem cells" (iPS cells). This earned him the Nobel Prize for Medicine in 2012 (shared with John Gurdon). These iPS cells can be generated using only 4 "reprogramming factors."

As is the case with embryonic stem cells, these iPS cells can be used to produce other cell types, such as heart muscle cells or nerve cells. They can also be cultured indefinitely and there are no ethical objections as they are not obtained from human embryos left over after IVF, but from adult individuals. Furthermore, iPS cells are obtained from the patient and this reduces the risk of rejection during therapeutic applications.

Essential research possible

Before iPS cells can be used effectively and safely as a therapy, it is essential that we gain clear insight into which molecular mechanisms determine the identity of a cell; why and how a cell develops into -- for example -- a heart muscle cell, a nerve cell or a blood cell. In order to do so, Lieven Haenebalcke and Jody Haigh have developed a mouse model that will enable them to conduct this research. They succeeded in creating iPS cells from a variety of mouse cells. Furthermore, the new model allows the investigators to replace the 4 reprogramming factors in these iPS cells efficiently with specific genes in order to create targeted different cell types, such as functional heart muscle cells.

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Cell therapy: New mouse model promises to advance research on induced pluripotent stem cells