Stem Cell Clinic

What to Know in Washington: Trump Ally in Impeachment Spotlight – Bloomberg Government

By Stem Cell Medical Center

After weeks of Republican complaints that the Democrats impeachment inquiry relied on secondhand information, the centerpiece of this weeks public hearings is testimony from a man with a direct line to President Donald Trump.

The political peril for Trump, who was dealt a series of setbacks last week, will be heightened as the House investigation accelerates with three days of public hearings starting tomorrow.

No witness is more central than Gordon Sondland, the U.S. ambassador to the European Union, a Trump donor and a confederate with Rudy Giuliani in back-channel diplomatic efforts for the president in Ukraine.

Sondland, scheduled to testify Wednesday, has already amended his previous closed-door testimony once because of discrepancies with other witnesses. And now there will be new questions for him to answer about Trumps pressure on the government in Kyiv to launch a probe entangling former Vice President Joe Biden and other political foes of the president.

David Holmes, a member of the embassy staff in Kyiv, came forward last week to tell impeachment investigators that following a phone conversation between Sondland and Trump, the EU envoy told him the president didnt give a s about Ukraine and that the president only cares about the big stuff that benefits him like the Biden investigation that Giuliani, Trumps personal lawyer, was promoting.

Testimony from Tuesday through Thursday will come from a disparate cast of witnesses, some of whom could prove pivotal to the impeachment inquiry, including officials from the State Department, the White House national security teams, and Vice President Mike Pences office. Read more from Ryan Teague Beckwith and Billy House.

Former Adviser SaysAid Was Tied to Probe: A former top White House adviser told House impeachment investigators Ukrainians were advised Sept. 1 that U.S. military aid was being withheld until their president announced an investigation of a company that had hired Bidens son, Hunter. Tim Morrison, a former senior director of European and Russian affairs at the National Security Council, said Sondland told him how he had informed a high-ranking Ukrainian official that release of $400 million in aid was being linked to the investigations, according to a transcript of his closed-door testimony released Saturday.

The House committee also released testimony from Jennifer Williams, an aide to Vice President Mike Pence, who said she found some of the discussion on the July 25 call between the two leaders to be unusual and inappropriate. Read more from Billy House.

Funding Deadline: Lawmakers are facing a deadline of Thursday to pass legislation to continue funding the government, before they depart for a recess through the week of Thanksgiving. House and Senate leadership have expressed optimism that both chambers will pass a measure ahead of the deadline, though no continuing resolution has been introduced as of this morning and the House schedule offered few details of the timing of a vote.

I hope we pass the CR, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) said on the floor Friday. I hope its as clean as it can be. The measure will contain some usual anomalies, noncontroversial changes in funding levels or legislative language, Hoyer said.

FDA Pick to Face Questions on Frankenfish, Stem Cells, Vaping: Trumps selection to be the next head of the FDA will face a barrage of questions this week about his views on vaping, oversight of stem-cell therapies and even Frankenfish. Stephen Hahn, chief medical executive of the prestigious MD Anderson Cancer Center at the University of Texas in Houston, will go before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee Wednesday for his first public hearing since being nominated to become commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration. Alex Ruoff details what to expect.

Risch Warns Erdogan of Sanctions: Senate Foreign Relations Chairman Jim Risch (R-Idaho) warned that if Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan persists in the deployment of a Russian air defense system, he will move ahead with a sanctions bill. It is his choice, and he knows the consequences, Risch said in a statement on Friday evening. Just a day earlier, Risch had said that the Senate should hold off on sanctions over Turkeys invasion of Syria if Erdogan agreed to give up the S-400 anti-aircraft missile system. Read more from John Harney.

Anti-Robocall Agreement Reached: House and Senate negotiators on Friday reached an agreement on bipartisan legislation to combat illegal robocalls, and anticipate a vote on the measure this year. The House and Senate passed separate legislation earlier this year with broad bipartisan support, and staff has been working since August to reach an agreement on provisions from the two anti-robocall bills. Read more from Rebecca Kern.

Democrats Subpoena EPA Over Formaldehyde Analysis: Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-Texas), chairwoman of the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee, sent two subpoenas to the EPA Friday over the agencys alleged refusal to provide answers about removing formaldehyde from its review program outlook. Johnson said in an accompanying letter to EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler that the committee had suffered through eight months of delayed and insufficient responses. The subpoenas were sent to Wheeler and David Dunlap, deputy assistant administrator for the agencys Office of Research and Development. Read more from Stephen Lee.

Democrats Use Super-PACs to Combat Trump: Wealthy Democratic donors are pouring money into outside groups as part of their effort to defeat Trump in 2020, avoiding contributions to a party apparatus that lost in 2016 and to leading candidates who dont want their help. Outside groups aligned with Democrats have pledged to spend more than $300 million attacking Trump, far more than the $67 million raised by the Democratic National Committee. With little primary opposition, Trump and the Republican Party are already in general election mode, free to spend millions in states hell need to win a second term. The Democratic groups are being fueled by seven-figure checks necessary to advertise in battleground states, blunting Trumps big campaign cash advantage. Read more from Bill Allison.

Buttigieg Wants Public College Free for Some: Pete Buttigieg called for spending $120 billion on the Pell Grant program and making public colleges tuition-free for students eligible for those federal grants as part of his proposal released Monday to improve college affordability. Unlike some of his primary opponents, Buttigieg isnt calling for public colleges to be tuition-free for all students, or for total student-debt cancellation. Hes said families that make over a certain income threshold should pay at least some of the cost of their kids higher education. The plan released Monday focuses on helping lower- and middle-income families. Read more from Tyler Pager.

Louisiana Governors Re-election May Offer Lessons for 2020: John Bel Edwards proved its possible to buck Trumps popularity, winning a second term to remain the only Democratic governor in the Deep South. His victory will give political strategists important insights on what it takes to motivate turnout going into 2020, said University of Pennsylvania political science professor Daniel J. Hopkins. Voters may feel more empowered to back a moderate Democrat, said Hopkins, who explores the nationalization of state politics in his book, The Increasingly United States.

In Louisiana, Trump headlined three rallies to try to drive turnout for Republican Eddie Rispone. Edwards, meanwhile, ran on a record of demonstrated independence from his national party. Read more from Jennifer Kay.

North Carolina Lawmakers Back New Congressional Map: North Carolina lawmakers have approved new congressional boundaries to be used in the 2020 elections. The 13 current U.S. House district lines were redrawn after a state court decided Oct. 28 that the map in place since 2016 couldnt be used, pending further review. The North Carolina Superior Court for Wake County had found that plaintiffs were likely to prevail in a lawsuit claiming the boundaries were illegally drawn to maximize Republican advantage. Read more from Andrew M. Ballard.

Barr Blasts Democrats: Attorney General William Barr fired a broadside against critics of Trump and congressional Democrats in particular while defending the presidents actions. In a fiery speech before the conservative Federalist Society on Friday, Barr said Trumps opponents are using every tool they can to intentionally sabotage his administration. Immediately after President Trump won election, opponents inaugurated what they called the Resistance, Barr said. They essentially see themselves as engaged in a war, to cripple by any means necessary, a duly elected government. Read more from Chris Strohm.

Trump, Kim at Odds Ahead of Deadline: The bonhomie between Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is nearing a key deadline showing new signs of strain. Trump urged Kim over the weekend to act quickly to get a nuclear deal done, suggesting the two leaders could meet again soon. His comments came hours after North Korea ruled out nuclear talks without a policy change by the U.S. and reported on a military drill observed by Kim himself.

Veteran North Korea nuclear adviser Kim Kye Gwan told Trump that Pyongyang will no longer give him things to boast about, the states official KCNA news agency today quoted him as saying. He added North Korea is no longer interested in talks that the U.S. uses to buy time. Read more from Glen Carey and Jihye Lee.

Lawmaker Speaks Out Against U.S. Defense-Cost Hike: Rep. Grace Meng (D-N.Y.) said Trump is destabilizing the U.S.s relationship with South Korea by demanding the Asian nation pay about $5 billion, or five times the amount of its current one-year deal, to host U.S. troops, Jihye Lee reports. Meng tweeted a letter Friday asking Defense Secretary Mark Esper and Secretary of State Michael Pompeo to devise a better strategy that values the alliance, adding that such a hike would be extorting South Korea. Meng said such a request also puts U.S. national security and economic interests in jeopardy. She asked the U.S. officials to reconsider and engage in good faith negotiations.

Esper Has Great Faith in U.S. Military Justice System: Secretary Esper expressed his faith in the countrys military justice system, after Trump last week pardoned two soldiers convicted in Afghanistan killings, Glen Carey reports. Id say first of all that we have a very effective military justice system, Esper said during a press conference at the Asean Defense Ministers Meeting-Plus in the Thai capital of Bangkok yesterday. U.S. military personnel are trained from day one about the laws of armed conflict and how to conduct themselves during wartime, he said.

China, U.S. Trade Talks Continue: Top negotiators from China and the U.S. talked again this weekend, after signs of concessions from both sides on some of the outstanding issues. Chinas Vice Premier Liu He, the countrys key negotiator in the trade talks with the U.S., spoke with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer by phone on Saturday morning Beijing time, according to the Chinese Commerce Ministry. They had constructive discussions about each sides core concerns in the phase-one deal, and agreed to stay in close communication, the statement said. The USTR confirmed the call took place. Read more.

Trump to Tour Apples Austin Plant: President Donald Trump is scheduled to tour an Apple manufacturing plant in Austin, Texas, on Wednesday, the White House said yesterday. The president plans to visit the plant along with Apple CEO Tim Cook, according to a tweet by spokesman Judd Deere. The Austin American-Statesman newspaper reported that Trump will travel with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and other administration officials.

The company announced in September that its new Mac Pro computer will be assembled in Texas after it received exclusions from the Trump administration from tariffs on certain parts imported from China. The visit also comes at a time the U.S. and China are close to finalizing the first phase of a highly-anticipated trade deal. Read more from Hailey Waller.

Facebook, Google Donate Heavily to Privacy Advocacy Groups: Few companies have more riding on proposed privacy legislation than Google and Facebook. To try to steer the bill their way, the giant advertising technology companies spend millions of dollars to lobby each year, a fact confirmed by government filings. Not so well-documented is spending to support highly influential think tanks and public interest groups that are helping shape the privacy debate, ostensibly as independent observers.

Bloomberg Law examined seven prominent nonprofit think tanks that work on privacy issues that received a total of $1.5 million over an 18-month period ending Dec. 31, 2018. The groups included such organizations as the Center for Democracy and Technology, the Future of Privacy Forum and the Brookings Institution. The actual total is undoubtedly much higherexact totals for contributions were difficult to pin down. Read more from Daniel R. Stoller.

Scalia Says Big Law is Unwilling to Defend Conservative Views: Major law firms are shying away from defending conservative viewpoints in court, a trend that should trouble the legal profession, Labor Secretary Eugene Scalia told a group of right-leaning lawyers at a Federalist Society event on Friday. It is appropriate, admirable, and necessary for lawyers to take on clients and advance positions that may offend some observers, Scalia said. But some of the countrys biggest law firms appear to be disinclined to protect free speech and free trade in ideas, he argued, calling that evidence of a broad trend of conservative political views being under attack. Read more from Jaclyn Diaz.

To contact the reporters on this story: Zachary Sherwood in Washington at zsherwood@bgov.com; Brandon Lee in Washington at blee@bgov.com

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Giuseppe Macri at gmacri@bgov.com; Loren Duggan at lduggan@bgov.com

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What to Know in Washington: Trump Ally in Impeachment Spotlight - Bloomberg Government

U.S. stem cell clinic offering unapproved therapies brings direct-to-consumer marketing to Ottawa – Ottawa Citizen

By Gene Therapy Clinics

Just a few months after Health Canada began cracking down on private clinics offering unapproved stem cell therapies, at least one U.S. clinic has moved in to fill the vacuum with direct marketing to Canadian consumers.

The clinic from Burlington, Vermont, even offers shuttle buses to transport people from Ottawa to the clinic four hours away for treatment it suggests will end joint pain, among other things. Lunch and dinner are free, but each injection costs $6,880. Two for $10,880.

The treatments, using umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells, are not approved in either Canada or the United States. Health Canada warns that Canadians who travel abroad for stem cell treatments may put themselves at risk.

While stem cells, which were discovered at the University of Toronto in 1961 by James Till and Ernest McCulloch, promise to revolutionize many treatments and could offer breakthroughs for diseases, almost all are still considered experimental and have yet to be proven safe or effective. Clinical trials on numerous potential stem cell therapies are under way, including in Ottawa.

While research progresses, private stem cell clinics have popped up around the world making promises for treatments not yet proven safe or effective.

A 2018 study by Leigh Turner of the University of Minnesota Center for Bioethics found 43 clinics offering stem cell treatments in Canada and 750 in the U.S. Earlier this year, Health Canada sent Canadian clinics, including some in Ottawa, cease-and-desist letters.

Clinics in Vermont, near the Canadian border, appear to have ramped up marketing to Canadians since then. One clinic has been holding back-to-back seminars. Another says it stopped marketing in Canada after receiving a warning from Health Canada.

There have been cases of harm as a result of treatments, including two women who had permanent damage to their sight after stem cells were injected into their eyes at a Florida clinic. Other patients have been infected with unsterilized equipment and others have developed tumours at the site of stem cell injections.

A common harm, critics say, is exploitation.

Dr. Michael Rudnicki is director of the regenerative medicine program and Sprott Centre for Stem Cell Research at the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, says of stem cell therapy claims: If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is too good to be true.jpg

Health officials say the clinics are misusing the promise of stem cell therapy to exploit vulnerable patients.

These patients are in pain and they are suffering and they are looking for help and they are being exploited, said Dr. Michael Rudnicki, director of the regenerative medicine program and Sprott Centre for Stem Cell Research at the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute.

If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is too good to be true.

At a recent seminar at a west-end Ottawa hotel meeting room, Roseanna Ammendolea of the Vermont Center for Regenerative Medicine told a packed room that her clinic and others like it had successfully treated people for pain related to arthritis, neuropathy and other ailments that affected joints using mesenchymal stem cells from umbilical cords. The stem cells, she claimed, are both effective and safe, saying there had been no issues with cell rejection.

We will not give injections if we feel that this injection will not be beneficial to our patients. This is why we are so successful.

Participants, including some who walked with canes and others who talked about being in pain and having mobility issues, were shown videos of people described as Canadian clients who claimed the treatments worked. One man said it was probably the best money I have spent in my life as far as my health. Another said she would do it again in a heartbeat and was able to do things she hadnt been able to do earlier.

They were also shown a slide showing long wait times for hip and knee replacements in Ontario, We are not a priority, she said. Where does that leave us? Participants werent told exactly how the stem cells were supposed to work, but claimed they had successfully improved pain and mobility issues in clients.

What the seminar goers werent told is that, even in the U.S., the treatment is not covered by health insurance because it remains unproven.

The U.S. Federal Drug Administration has issued a warning to consumers not to use cell therapies that are unapproved or unproven.

Stem cells have been called everything from cure-alls to miracle treatments. But dont believe the hype. Some unscrupulous providers offer stem cell products that are both unapproved and unproven. So beware of potentially dangerous procedures and confirm whats really being offered before you consider anytreatment, the FDA said in a statement.

The only stem-cell-based products that are FDA-approved for use in the United States are blood-forming stem cells derived from cord blood for limited use in patients with disorders affecting the body system that is involved in the production of blood. Bone marrow is also used for these treatments, but is generally not regulated by the FDA for that use.

Health Canada has granted market authorization for a stem cell therapy to treat graft-versus-host disease and two cell-based gene therapies to treat certain cancers. Most cell therapies are still experimental.

I totally understand the skepticism of it, Doug Argento, who works at the Vermont Center for Regenerative Medicine, said in a telephone interview, but the fact is that things that are approved now and medically paid for were seen as renegade 20 or 30 years ago.

The treatment employs technology developed by Neil Riordan, founder, chairman and chief science officer of the Stem Cell Institute in Panama, using human umbilical cord tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells. There are 41 such clinics across the U.S. Riordan also played a role in the development of a nutritional product called Stem-Kine, which producers claim without scientific backing increases the number of stem cells circulating in a persons body.

The stem cells injected in the clinic, Argento said, are from umbilical cord tissue as a result of caesarean births to reduce risk of infection.

Rudnicki, of The Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, says there is no evidence that these sorts of cells are regenerative at all. It would not pass muster in Canada.

The public has to understand that there are people out to remove them from their money.

Rudnicki says he regularly receives inquiries from people desperate to get stem cell treatments. He says he tries to connect them with clinical trials that they might be able to participate in.

Rudnicki noted there were multiple clinical trials in Canada, including treatments of autoimmune diseases, trials involving treatment for Type 1 diabetes and others.

But the use of these inappropriate cell types for treating arthritis and joints and so on is certainly not approved by Health Canada and would not be allowed in Canada under the regulations.

There is some evidence that injections of some stem cell products might have a temporary positive impact on inflammation, he said, but it will not be regenerative and will not restore function to joints. They are being sold a bill of goods.

Leigh Turner of the University of Minnesota Center for Bioethics, meanwhile, says the explosion in clinics offering unproven stem cell therapies in the U.S. is a marketplace that traffics in misrepresentation. It is easy to see how people are taken advantage of and scammed.

It is also difficult to find out about physical harms being done to patients.

There are no safety studies. We dont have good data. But we do know there have been some serious harms.

Stem cell therapies have the potential to become standard treatment in some areas, but they are not there yet, Turner said.

Businesses are tapping into genuine human suffering, desperation and also hope.

Turner also noted there was an excellent chance that the vials of liquid being injected into patients did not actually contain stem cells.

Dr. Jonathan Fenton of another stem cell clinic in Burlington, the Vermont Regenerative Medicine, said he had complained about the new clinic, the Vermont Center for Regenerative Medicine, which has a similar name and employs hard-sell tactics, he said.

His clinic takes bone marrow from patients hips and injects it. The procedure is done the same day. He says he regularly sees Canadian patients for bone marrow aspiration therapy and platelet-rich plasma treatments, using their own blood. The treatments, he says, speed healing and are allowed in the U.S. The use of bone marrow aspiration is neither proven nor allowed in Canada.

Fenton, who is secretary-treasurer of the American Academy of Orthopedic Medicine, acknowledged many people offering stem cell treatments are not doing it to the highest ethical standards.

He has filed complaints with state officials over clinics selling unsafe or fraudulent treatments. I have asked the state and federal judiciary to close down this clinic for committing fraud.

He said his platelet and bone marrow treatments were covered by a major Vermont health insurer because they saw the cost of benefits were going down and patients were requiring fewer surgeries.

He said he was told by Health Canada that he could not market in Canada. Representatives of the Vermont Center for Regenerative Medicine, meanwhile, said they had discussions with Health Canada about what they could and could not say when marketing in Canada before holding seminars in Ottawa and Halifax.

We have looked at the information provided and have not identified any immediate non-compliance with advertising regulations pertaining to Canadian health products, a Health Canada spokesperson said, adding that the agency was continuing to assess.

Back at a west-end Ottawa hotel, some participants in the seminar, including a retired pharmacist, said they were considering getting the treatments. But its expensive.

Another participant said he was skeptical. They seemed very sketchy when I went online.

epayne@postmedia.com

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U.S. stem cell clinic offering unapproved therapies brings direct-to-consumer marketing to Ottawa - Ottawa Citizen

Hemophilia Treatment Market Dynamics, Pin-Point Analysis, Comprehensive Landscape, Demand Key Factors, Market Segments Regions, Therapy For Hemophilia…

By Gene Therapy Clinics

(MENAFN - GetNews) Hemophilia Treatment Global Market Research Report: By Type (Hemophilia A, Hemophilia B, Hemophilia C), By Treatment (Recombinant Coagulation Factor, Plasma-Derived Coagulation Factor, Desmopressin, Antifibrinolytic Agents), End User Global Forecast Till 2023

Hemophilia Treatment Market Overview

The global hemophilia market is forecasted to witness a steady growth of 6.10% during the forecast period between 2018 to 2023. The market valuation is slated to jump from USD 11,257.21 in 2017 to USD 16,059.17 by the end of the forecast period.

Request Free Sample Copy Available @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/5688

The report published by Market Research Future (MRFR) identifies that the prevalence of hemophilia will spring up the demand for hemophilia treatment globally. The emergence of recombinant products for the treatment of hemophilia has blossomed the interest and demand for the market. The absence of a precise cure and the growing setbacks with the treatment of hemophilia has increased the need for discovering and coming up with new and effective solutions. Gene therapy is increasingly being explored and considered as a permanent solution for hemophilia and offers vast opportunities for the growth of the market.

However, the high cost associated with the treatment and the level of expenses required for consistent lab testing and imaging tests can go on to hamper the market growth of hemophilia treatment.

Hemophilia Treatment Market Segmentation

The global hemophilia treatment market segmentation is based in terms of type, end-user, and treatment.

By type, the market is categorized into hemophilia A, hemophilia B, and hemophilia C. The hemophilia A segment holds the largest share of the global market. The valuation of the segment is expected to reach USD 12.697.99 by the end of the forecast period, 2023. The calculated growth rate of the market annually has been projected to be 6.23% during the forecast period.

By treatment, the market comprises of recombinant coagulation factor concentrates, plasma-derived coagulation factor concentrates, desmopressin, gene therapy, and antifibrinolytic agents. The recombinant coagulation factor concentrates is the largest market share holder with an expected CAGR of 7.01% during the review period.

By end-users, the market includes hospitals & clinics, research organization, and others. Hospitals & clinics lead this segmentation of the market and is valued at USD 7594.66 in 2017 and is expected to grow the fastest over the forthcoming years.

Hemophilia Treatment Market Regional Analysis

The regional segmentation of the hemophilia treatment market covers the following regions: North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East and Africa.

The Americas stand tall as the largest market share holder in the global geographical segmentation. This is due to the prevalence of the hemophilia disorder and the presence of a well-established healthcare sector. Growing expenditure in healthcare and increasing support for research and development activities are expected to aid the Americas region to maintain its leadership position. The North American market contributes more to the region than its southern counterpart.

Europe holds the second biggest market share due to a parallel growth pattern like the Americas. Moreover, government support for R & D activities for advanced medical therapies for hemophilia is another important driver to the market growth in this region.

Asia Pacific is expected to grow with the highest CAGR of 8.38% during the review period. The healthcare sector in this region is advancing at a rapid pace owing to the high disposable income in the region and expanding advanced medical facilities. The presence of a vast patient population base and a high healthcare expenditure is expected to positively impact the Asia Pacific market growth.

Hemophilia Treatment Market Competitive Landscape

The global hemophilia treatment market includes various noteworthy players like Baxter, F.Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, Octapharma, Swedish Orphan Biovitrum AB, Pfizer Inc, CSL Behring, Sanofi, Kedrion, Novo Nordisk A/S, Bayer AG, Grifols International S.A, and Shire.

Feb 19th, 2019, Novo Nordisk announced in a press release about the US FDA approval of N8-GP, turoctocog alfa pegol, to help treat children and adults with hemophilia A in the United States. The therapy will be under the brand name of Esperoct

Feb 7th, 2019, Roche announced its joining with the World Federation of Hemophilia (WFH) Humanitarian Aid Program. The program will see the company treating more than 1,500 people with Hemophilia A across various developing countries.

Read Complete Report @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/hemophilia-treatment-market-5688

About Market Research Future:

At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.

Media Contact Company Name: Market Research Future Contact Person: Abhishek Sawant Email: Send Email Phone: +1 646 845 9312 Address: Market Research Future Office No. 528, Amanora Chambers Magarpatta Road, Hadapsar City: Pune State: Maharashtra Country: India Website: https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/hemophilia-treatment-market-5688

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Hemophilia Treatment Market Dynamics, Pin-Point Analysis, Comprehensive Landscape, Demand Key Factors, Market Segments Regions, Therapy For Hemophilia...

WCM-Q explores law and ethics of stem cells and AI in medicine – The Peninsula Qatar

By Embryonic Stem Cells

18 Nov 2019 - 8:02

Speakers at WCM-Qs Law and Medicine event taking part in a panel discussion on the law and ethics of stem cell science.

The legal and ethical implications of using stem cells and artificial intelligence (AI) in medicine were discussed at the latest instalment of Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatars (WCM-Q) Intersection of Law & Medicine series.Expert speakers at the event discussed the impact of recent advances in stem cell science and AI on the practice of medicine in Qatar and explored how new legal frameworks could be developed to protect the rights and safety of patients in the MENA region. The day-long event was organized by WCM-Q in collaboration with Hamad Bin Khalifa University and the University of Malaya of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.Stem cells are an exciting area for medical researchers because they have the potential to repair damaged or diseased tissues in people with conditions such as Parkinsons disease, type 1 diabetes, stroke, cancer, and Alzheimers disease, among many others. Stem cells can also be used by researchers to test new drugs for safety and effectiveness.WCM-Qs Dr. Amal Robay, WCM-Q assistant professor in genetic medicine and director of research compliance, said: Stem cells have the capacity for unlimited or prolonged self-renewal, and they can differentiate themselves into many different cell types to become tissue- or organ-specific cells with special functions. The central ethical dilemma of stem cell science arises from the fact that embryonic stem cells are derived from human embryos or by cloning, she explained.Visiting bioethics expert Dr. Jeremy Sugarman of Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, US said that the public image of stem cell research had been damaged by a small number of high-profile cases in which scientists had behaved unethically. The field had also been hampered by different countries applying different laws to stem cell research, making international collaboration problematic, he said.Meanwhile, the use of AI in healthcare has the potential to leverage analysis of large amounts of data to improve patient outcomes, but poses ethical concerns regarding privacy, the diversity of data sources, biases and relying on non-human entities for potentially life-changing decisions.Dr. Barry Solaiman, assistant professor of law in the College of Law and Public Policy at HBKU said: Its very important that we bridge that gap between the professions of law and medicine, and that we understand the fundamental importance of ethicists to the advance of science. We need to consider how lawyers can help to develop laws to ensure that science advances and that it does so in ways that protect everyone involved.The event, which was co-directed by Dr. Solaiman and Dr. Thurayya Arayssi, professor of clinical medicine and senior associate dean for medical education and continuing professional development at WCM-Q, also featured other expert speakers.The event was accredited locally by the Qatar Council for Healthcare Practitioners-Accreditation Department (QCHP-AD) and internationally by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME).

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WCM-Q explores law and ethics of stem cells and AI in medicine - The Peninsula Qatar

Qatar- WCM-Q explores law and ethics of stem cells and AI in medicine – MENAFN.COM

By Embryonic Stem Cells

(MENAFN - The Peninsula) The legal and ethical implications of using stem cells and artificial intelligence (AI) in medicine were discussed at the latest instalment of Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar's (WCM-Q) Intersection of Law & Medicine series.Expert speakers at the event discussed the impact of recent advances in stem cell science and AI on the practice of medicine in Qatar and explored how new legal frameworks could be developed to protect the rights and safety of patients in the MENA region. The day-long event was organized by WCM-Q in collaboration with Hamad Bin Khalifa University and the University of Malaya of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.Stem cells are an exciting area for medical researchers because they have the potential to repair damaged or diseased tissues in people with conditions such as Parkinson's disease, type 1 diabetes, stroke, cancer, and Alzheimer's disease, among many others. Stem cells can also be used by researchers to test new drugs for safety and effectiveness.WCM-Q's Dr. Amal Robay, WCM-Q assistant professor in genetic medicine and director of research compliance, said: 'Stem cells have the capacity for unlimited or prolonged self-renewal, and they can differentiate themselves into many different cell types to become tissue- or organ-specific cells with special functions. The central ethical dilemma of stem cell science arises from the fact that embryonic stem cells are derived from human embryos or by cloning, she explained.Visiting bioethics expert Dr. Jeremy Sugarman of Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, US said that the public image of stem cell research had been damaged by a small number of high-profile cases in which scientists had behaved unethically. The field had also been hampered by different countries applying different laws to stem cell research, making international collaboration problematic, he said.Meanwhile, the use of AI in healthcare has the potential to leverage analysis of large amounts of data to improve patient outcomes, but poses ethical concerns regarding privacy, the diversity of data sources, biases and relying on non-human entities for potentially life-changing decisions.Dr. Barry Solaiman, assistant professor of law in the College of Law and Public Policy at HBKU said: 'It's very important that we bridge that gap between the professions of law and medicine, and that we understand the fundamental importance of ethicists to the advance of science. We need to consider how lawyers can help to develop laws to ensure that science advances and that it does so in ways that protect everyone involved.The event, which was co-directed by Dr. Solaiman and Dr. Thurayya Arayssi, professor of clinical medicine and senior associate dean for medical education and continuing professional development at WCM-Q, also featured other expert speakers.The event was accredited locally by the Qatar Council for Healthcare Practitioners-Accreditation Department (QCHP-AD) and internationally by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME).

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Qatar- WCM-Q explores law and ethics of stem cells and AI in medicine - MENAFN.COM

New cell therapy improves memory and stops seizures after brain injury – Drug Target Review

By Embryonic Stem Cells

A recent study has shown that transplanting new inhibitory neurons may repair damaged brain circuits.

A breakthrough cell therapy to improve memory and prevent seizures in mice following traumatic brain injury (TBI) has been developed by researchers.

In the study, the research team from the University of California, US transplanted embryonic progenitor cells capable of generating inhibitory interneurons (a specific type of nerve cell that controls the activity of brain circuits) into the brains of mice with traumatic brain injury, targeting the hippocampus.

These are transplanted inhibitory neurons (green) successfully incorporated into the hippocampus of a mouse with traumatic brain injury (credit: UCI School of Medicine).

The researchers discovered that the transplanted neurons migrated into the injury where they formed new connections with the injured brain cells and thrived long term. Within a month after the treatment, the mice models showed signs of memory improvement.

The cell transplants also prevented the mice from developing epilepsy, which affected more than half of the mice who were not treated with new interneurons.

Inhibitory neurons are critically involved in many aspects of memory, and they are extremely vulnerable to dying after a brain injury, said Robert Hunt, PhD, assistant professor of anatomy and neurobiology at UCI School of Medicine who led the study. While we cannot stop interneurons from dying, it was exciting to find that we can replace them and rebuild their circuits.

To further test their observations, the team silenced the transplanted neurons with a drug, which caused the memory problems to return.

It was exciting to see the animals memory problems come back after we silenced the transplanted cells, because it showed that the new neurons really were the reason for the memory improvement, added Bingyao Zhu, a junior specialist and first author of the study.

So far, nobody has been able to convincingly create the same types of interneurons from human pluripotent stem cells, Hunt concluded. But I think were close to being able to do this.

The study was published in Nature Communications.

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New cell therapy improves memory and stops seizures after brain injury - Drug Target Review

Innovative Biosensor Technology for Stem Cells Leads Way to Treatment of Alzheimers, Parkinsons Diseases – SciTechDaily

By Stem Cell Treatment

This unique biosensing platform consists of an array of ultrathin graphene layers and gold nanostructures. The platform, combined with high-tech imaging (Raman spectroscopy), detects genetic material (RNA) and characterizes different kinds of stem cells with greater reliability, selectivity and sensitivity than todays biosensors. Credit: Letao Yang, KiBum Lee, Jin-Ho Lee and Sy-Tsong (Dean) Chueng

A Rutgers-led team has created better biosensor technology that may help lead to safe stem cell therapies for treating Alzheimers and Parkinsons diseases and other neurological disorders.

The technology, which features a unique graphene and gold-based platform and high-tech imaging, monitors the fate of stem cells by detecting genetic material (RNA) involved in turning such cells into brain cells (neurons), according to a study in the journal Nano Letters.

Stem cells can become many different types of cells. As a result, stem cell therapy shows promise for regenerative treatment of neurological disorders such as Alzheimers, Parkinsons, stroke and spinal cord injury, with diseased cells needing replacement or repair. But characterizing stem cells and controlling their fate must be resolved before they could be used in treatments. The formation of tumors and uncontrolled transformation of stem cells remain key barriers.

A critical challenge is ensuring high sensitivity and accuracy in detecting biomarkers indicators such as modified genes or proteins within the complex stem cell microenvironment, said senior author KiBum Lee, a professor in the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology in the School of Arts and Sciences at Rutgers University-New Brunswick. Our technology, which took four years to develop, has demonstrated great potential for analyzing a variety of interactions in stem cells.

The teams unique biosensing platform consists of an array of ultrathin graphene layers and gold nanostructures. The platform, combined with high-tech imaging (Raman spectroscopy), detects genes and characterizes different kinds of stem cells with greater reliability, selectivity, and sensitivity than todays biosensors.

The team believes the technology can benefit a range of applications. By developing simple, rapid and accurate sensing platforms, Lees group aims to facilitate treatment of neurological disorders through stem cell therapy.

Stem cells may become a renewable source of replacement cells and tissues to treat diseases including macular degeneration, spinal cord injury, stroke, burns, heart disease, diabetes, osteoarthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis, according to the National Institutes of Health.

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Reference: Dual-Enhanced Raman Scattering-Based Characterization of Stem Cell Differentiation Using Graphene-Plasmonic Hybrid Nanoarray by Letao Yang, Jin-Ho Lee, Christopher Rathnam, Yannan Hou, Jeong-Woo Choi and Ki-Bum Lee, 30 October 2019, Nano Letters.DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.9b03402

The studys co-lead authors are Letao Yang and Jin-Ho Lee, postdoctoral researchers in Lees group. Rutgers co-authors include doctoral students Christopher Rathnam and Yannan Hou. A scientist at Sogang University in South Korea contributed to the study.

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Innovative Biosensor Technology for Stem Cells Leads Way to Treatment of Alzheimers, Parkinsons Diseases - SciTechDaily

Shark Tank Season 11 Episode 8 Everything About Gallant Stem Cell Bank For Dogs As Seen on Shark Tank! Unknown Facts – TheNewsCrunch

By Stem Cell Treatment

Gallant Stem Cell Therapy For Dogs is one of the product companies to be featured on Shark Tank Season 11 Episode 8. The story behind the birth of Gallant Stem Cell Therapy For Dogs is pretty interesting. Here are some of the unknown facts about Gallant and its founders, Aaron Hirschhorn.

Aaron Hirschhorn is the founder and former-CEO of the popular dog-sitting marketplace DogVacay. Aaron is a noted entrepreneur with more than 20 years of experience in building companies and investing in them. DogVacay app was launched in 2013 and Aaron managed to raise $47 million from his erstwhile investors.

Aaron was the finalist in the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award 2016. In April 2017, Aarons DogVacay app merged with Rover.com and eventually went on to become a $1 billion pet services marketplace.

Trouble struck Aarons life when he suffered a massive back injury and was forced to undergo stem cell treatment which yielded amazing results to his surprise. Aaron, being an ardent dog lover wondered why this cutting-edge medical technology of stem cell transplants cannot be applied to dogs.

As a result, Gallant was born in the middle of 2018. According to Gallant, Your pups stem cells haveincredible healing power. Extract and store these powerful cells during your pets spay/neuter, so that you can unleash their potential when your best friend needs it most.

Ever since its inception, the mission of Gallant stem cell therapy is to help pets live a healthier life and make use of the epic technology of stem cell therapy in saving the lives of tons of dogs.

Dogs enter their senior years around 7 and begin feeling the effects of aging as early as 4! Traditional methods of treatment for injury and age-related conditions are expensive and can have harmful side effects. Stem cells are incredible natural healers. However, up to 99% of stem cells are lost over time due to aging. This forms the bottomline of Gallants business problem.

Gallant raised $7 million investment in August 2019.

https://gallant.com/

From the moment you entrust Gallant with your dogs stem cells, were actively invested in their long-term health and well-being. Working in tandem with you and your veterinarian, we will collect and store these powerful cells now, so down the road we can help to treat the most common health problems your dog may face. We will also update you on new and potentially life-changing treatments as they become available.

Pick your pups stem cell storage plan you dont have to have a spay/neuter procedure scheduled yet! You can always add that in later. Our proprietary process requires no additional training, so any veterinarian you trust to alter your dog is qualified. Ahead of your dogs spay/neuter, we will connect with your vet and send our collection kit directly to their office.

2. Collect

On the big day, we align with your vet before the procedure and arrange for a courier. During your dogs spay/neuter procedure, your veterinarian will take out the stem cell-rich reproductive tissue they would normally discard into the collection kit.

3. Preserve

Once the tissue is received by our scientists, we send confirmation to both you and your veterinarian. Your dogs tissue is first inspected for quality before isolating the stem cells. The stem cells are then counted and frozen in liquid nitrogen to preserve their potency in our secure, state-of-the-art laboratory. Once this process is complete, you and your veterinarian will be notified that your pets stem cells are safely stored. The cells are then monitored by our team to ensure they stay perfectly preserved.

4. Treat

Your pets stem cells are at the ready to be sent to your veterinarian if/when treatment is needed. Treatments are out-patient procedures and cost about $300. A stem cell procedure is not painful to your pet and does not require anesthesia to administer.

Gallants stem cell therapy is receiving a lot of exciting reviews online. The therapy has been successful in saving scores of dogs with conditions like osteoarthritis, skin conditions, chronic dry eye.

Gallant is offering a $395 off discount for using the code SHARKTANK

How did Gallant fare in Shark Tank Season 11? What did the Sharks have to tell about it? Did Gallant Get a Deal on Shark Tank? More information to be updated soon in this post.

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Shark Tank Season 11 Episode 8 Everything About Gallant Stem Cell Bank For Dogs As Seen on Shark Tank! Unknown Facts - TheNewsCrunch

These Israeli Companies Are Finding Innovative Ways To Improve Diabetes Care, Treatment | Health News – NoCamels – Israeli Innovation News

By Stem Cell Treatment

Diabetes is a major public health crisis that is approaching epidemic proportions around the globe and growing at an alarming rate. According to the International Diabetes Federation (IDF), over 425 million adults are currently living with diabetes. That number is expected to rise to 629 million by 2045.

The disorder, which occurs when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin (the hormone that regulates blood sugar) or when the body cannot use its produced insulin, has become so deadly, that the International Diabetes Federation said it was responsible for four million deaths in 2017 alone. The World Health Organization estimated diabetes to be the seventh leading cause of death globally in 2016.

Over 350 million people are at risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, when the body becomes to resistant to insulin due to lifestyle facts such as excess weight gain, while more than 1.1 million children are living with Type 1 diabetes, the disorder that occurs when the bodys immune system attacks cells of the pancreas that produce insulin, according to the International Diabetes Federation.

World Diabetes Day, marked annually on November 14 to honor the co-discoverer of insulin Canadian Dr. Frederick Banting, born on that day in 1891, aims to raise awareness of the impact of this disease while promoting its management, care, and prevention. For the past two years (including in 2019,) the theme of World Diabetes Day has been The Family and Diabetes promoting the familys role in awareness and education of the disorder.

To mark the day, NoCamels is taking a closer look at Israels role in advancing diabetes research and treatment as well as some of the companies with cutting-edge technology that stand out in the field.

Dr. Irit Yaniv, a general manager at Accelmed Ventures II, a new $100 million venture early-stage health tech fund for medical device and digital health startups and co-founder and chairperson of Type 2 diabetes medical device startup Digma Medical, calls diabetes the most dangerous global epidemic. Israel is no exception, she says, citing half a million people living with the disease in the country.

Additionally, about 300,000 are prediabetic, a condition manifesting as borderline high blood sugar levels and an increased risk to progress to diabetes Type 2 within a few years, she explains.

Dr. Yaniv says life science entrepreneurs address the challenges presented by the epidemic in a number of ways, including creating companies and projects aimed at reducing the risk of developing the diseases, development of novel drug delivery methods for diabetes drugs, and unique medical devices for managing the disorder.

SEE ALSO: 6 Israeli Companies At The Forefront Of Diabetes Care, Prevention, and Treatment

There are a few interesting examples such as oral insulin and nasal insulin delivery systems that were developed in Israel, Yaniv says. A recent success story is Nutrino, [an Israeli] software company for the management of diabetes that was acquired by Medtronic.

Treatment for Type 2 diabetes has been focused on lifestyle changes and pharmacologic solutions. Both have challenges including patient compliance and adverse effects such as weight gain, hypoglycemia, and other reactions, Yaniv says. More than 50 percent of the patients arent able to control the disease, even with combination therapeutics.

The medical device industry has made many efforts in recent years to address this need, Yaniv says, Companies such as GI Dynamics have paved the way for new therapeutic alternatives. Digma Medical has demonstrated initial positive clinical data with its unique duodenal ablation system.

Yaniv founded Digma Medical in 2013 with Ilan Ben Oren. Backed by leading venture capital firms such as Arkin Holdings and Peregrine Ventures, the company is dedicated to the development of its DiaGone device to treat insulin resistance. DiaGone is an endoscopic, disposable device, that uses innovative laser technology to treat the duodenum, a segment of the small intestine, without an implant. The Duodenal Glycemic Control procedure is a one-time 30 minute GI procedure, in which the gastroenterologist uses DiaGone to treat the duodenum for restoring the natural ability of the body to control glucose levels, said to provide long term remission from Type 2 diabetes and other metabolic syndrome-related diseases.

For Rami Epstein, who assumed the role of CEO at stem cell company Kadimastem in May 2019, a need exists to find a better solution for the management of diabetes in order to decrease the morbidity, mortality, and costs linked to it and its medical-related care, he tells NoCamels. This method is more than just controlling insulin levels in the body. It is controlling the dose of insulin administered to the body.

All Type 1 diabetes and 30 percent of Type 2 diabetes patients depend on the daily administration of insulin in order to control their glucose levels in the blood. This is not ideal since patients have to calculate insulin dosages and take into account meal times and portions, physical activity, and other parameters, he explains. Unfortunately, many patients do not manage to stabilize their blood glucose levels properly, thereby risking complications that arise from episodes of hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia,

Through Kadimastems groundbreaking stem-cell therapy technology, developed by the companys chief scientist Professor Michel Revel at the Weizmann Institute of Science and used as the basis for the companys founding in 2009, the Ness Ziona-based firm has developed and manufactured an off-the-shelf cell product for the treatment of insulin-dependent diabetes based on its proprietary tech platform. The tech platform has been used to treat multiple diseases, including ALS, through the expansion and differentiation of Human Embryonic Stem Cells (hESCs) into clinical-grade functional cells.

The product, called IsletRx, is currently in pre-clinical trials. Its goal is to free patients from continuous monitoring of blood sugar levels and repeated insulin injections. The drug contains an endless source of pancreatic functional islet cells, which produce and secrete insulin and glucagon in response to external glucose levels.

Meanwhile, Tel Aviv-based clinical-stage pharmaceutical company Oramed, which is focused on the development of oral drug delivery systems, announced this week that Phase IIb trial evaluating the efficacy and safety of its lead oral insulin candidate, ORMD-0801, has had positive results.

The study was a 90-day, double-blind, randomized, multi-center trial designed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of ORMD-0801 as a treatment for patients with type 2 diabetes, Oramed said in a statement. The primary efficacy endpoint was a reduction in Hemoglobin A1c (A1C, also known as HbA1c, is a key clinical measure of blood glucose control) at Week 12, with no weight gain.

Israeli scientists are taking diabetes management solutions one step further and adding machine learning and AI to the mix. DreaMed Diabetes, a medical tech startup founded in 2014 to develop these types of personalized solutions, announced in September that it had received clearance from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as well as a CE Mark for its DreaMed Advisor Pro, an AI-based insulin dosing decision support software. The software is for patients with Type 1 diabetes using insulin pump therapy with continuous glucose sensors and blood glucose meters (BGMs)

The decision-support platform uses proprietary algorithms to process data from a range of connected devices, including insulin pumps and self-management glucometers. The data is then analyzed to provide an optimized insulin dosing treatment plan to maintain a balanced glucose level.

SEE ALSO: Israeli AI Startup Can Predict Which Diabetes Patients Will develop Kidney Disease

This clinical and technological advance leverages the power of artificial intelligence to optimize insulin administration in a streamlined and cost-effective manner, the company said in a statement.

This year I am more optimistic that a change will happen in how we manage diabetes. We see more technology adopted in all markets, more sharing of data between patients providers and industry all for the benefit of offering better care for patients, the companys CEO Eran Atlas tells NoCamels in an email. DreaMed is happy to be part of the leaders in this effort, by offering a unique artificial intelligence technology that can analyze data and recommend in only a few seconds how to optimize the technology. With such technology, the proliferation of expert care can be achieved even in emerging markets.

Another key player operating in artificial intelligence in the diabetes management market is Sweetch. Founded in 2013, Sweetch offers an AI-based platform that aims to identify those at high risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. The company calls itself the first AI-powered therapeutics solution to help people with the disorder and comes with a mobile app and a wireless Bluetooth-connected scale. The early prevention platform announced last year that it will partner with US-based integrated healthcare system WellSpan Health and provide its app to 15,000 employees, including 200 primary care and specialty physicians, as well as advanced practice clinicians in central Pennsylvania and northern Maryland.

In 2016, the startup raised $3.5 million in a Series A round led by equity crowdfunding platform OurCrowd and Philips.

Diabetes can cause circulation problems and related conditions such as peripheral arterial disease (PAD) which occurs when plaque builds up in the arteries and reduces blood flow to the limbs. For some patients, high levels of blood glucose can damage blood vessels and cause plaque build-up affecting healthy blood flow.

The northern Israel-based startupElastiMedhas developed a wearable medical device that doesnt treat diabetes patients directly but can help the patient improve his or her circulation.

It cant treat the disease directly, but it can treat some of its symptoms, says Elastimed CEO and founder Omer Zelka.

Compression socks improve circulation by squeezing the foot and calf muscles, which straightens out the vein walls to a better working state, says Advanced Tissue, the leading wound care supply provider. Compression therapy is particularly beneficial for diabetes patients because they improve circulation in a non-invasive manner, helping to maintain the right amount of pressure in feet and legs.

ElastiMeds sock uses battery-operated technology to activate a smart material that compresses and massage the legs to stimulate circulation. The pulses mimic contractions in the calf muscles that in turn increase blood flow.

The sock provides patients with a comfortable, easy-to-wear, highly effective, and cost-effective treatment option to prevent symptoms such as swelling, blood clots, leg ulcers and reduce athletes recovery time.

ElastiMed is currently finishing an ongoing clinical study to demonstrate the safety and the feasibility of this device and its ability to increase venous blood flow. The study is led by Dr. Vered Shuster Ben-Yosef, R&D Lab Manager of the company and is currently taking place at Hillel Yaffe Medical Center in Hadera. The company currently has a working prototype and aims to get the product on the market in early 2021.

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These Israeli Companies Are Finding Innovative Ways To Improve Diabetes Care, Treatment | Health News - NoCamels - Israeli Innovation News

WCM-Q Explores Law and Ethics of Stem Cells and AI in Medicine – Al-Bawaba

By Uncategorized

The legal and ethical implications of using stem cells and artificial intelligence (AI) in medicine were discussed at the latest installment of Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatars (WCM-Q) Intersection of Law & Medicine series.

Expert speakers at the event discussed the impact of recent advances in stem cell science and AI on the practice of medicine in Qatar and explored how new legal frameworks could be developed to protect the rights and safety of patients in the MENA region. The day-long event was organized by WCM-Q in collaboration with Hamad Bin Khalifa University and the University of Malaya of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Stem cells are an exciting area for medical researchers because they have the potential to repair damaged or diseased tissues in people with conditions such as Parkinsons disease, type 1 diabetes, stroke, cancer, and Alzheimers disease, among many others. Stem cells can also be used by researchers to test new drugs for safety and effectiveness.

WCM-Qs Dr. Amal Robay, WCM-Q assistant professor in genetic medicine and director of research compliance, said: Stem cells have the capacity for unlimited or prolonged self-renewal, and they can differentiate themselves into many different cell types to become tissue- or organ-specific cells with special functions. The central ethical dilemma of stem cell science arises from the fact that embryonic stem cells are derived from human embryos or by cloning, she explained.

Visiting bioethics expert Dr. Jeremy Sugarman of Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, US said that the public image of stem cell research had been damaged by a small number of high-profile cases in which scientists had behaved unethically. The field had also been hampered by different countries applying different laws to stem cell research, making international collaboration problematic, he said.

Meanwhile, the use of AI in healthcare has the potential to leverage analysis of large amounts of data to improve patient outcomes, but poses ethical concerns regarding privacy, the diversity of data sources, biases and relying on non-human entities for potentially life-changing decisions.

Dr. Barry Solaiman, assistant professor of law in the College of Law and Public Policy at HBKU said: Its very important that we bridge that gap between the professions of law and medicine, and that we understand the fundamental importance of ethicists to the advance of science. We need to consider how lawyers can help to develop laws to ensure that science advances and that it does so in ways that protect everyone involved.

The event, which was co-directed by Dr. Solaiman and Dr. Thurayya Arayssi, professor of clinical medicine and senior associate dean for medical education and continuing professional development at WCM-Q, also featured other expert speakers. Dr. Mohammad Firdaus Bin Abdul Aziz of the Faculty of Law at the University of Malaya, who spoke about stem cell regulations around the world, Dr. Faisal Farooq of Qatar Computing Research Institute, who spoke about AI in healthcare, Dr. Effy Vayena of the Swiss Institute of Technology on the ethical challenges of using machine learning in healthcare, Dr. Sharon Kaur of the Faculty of Law at the University of Malaya on global regulation of AI, and Dr. Mohammed Ghaly of Qatar Faculty of Islamic Studies on Islamic perspectives of bioethics in stem cell research. The visiting experts also engaged in two panel discussions, one examining the law and ethics of stem cell science, chaired by Dr. Adeeba Kamarulzaman, dean of medicine at the University of Malaya, and one on AI in healthcare chaired by Dr. Thurayya Arayssi, professor of clinical medicine and senior associate dean for medical education and continuing professional development at WCM-Q.

Dr. Arayssi said: I am very grateful that our expert speakers joined us to explore how legal frameworks can be developed to maximize the benefits of advances in stem cell research and AI for patients, while also respecting the rights, safety and cultural traditions of the everyone in the community.

The event was accredited locally by the Qatar Council for Healthcare Practitioners-Accreditation Department (QCHP-AD) and internationally by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME).

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WCM-Q Explores Law and Ethics of Stem Cells and AI in Medicine - Al-Bawaba

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