Stem Cell Clinic

Cryo-Save Group N.V. awards researcher at grand opening of its new headquarters

By Stem Cell Treatment

The leading international family stem cell bank, Cryo-Save, celebrates the grand opening of its brand new headquarters office in Zutphen, the Netherlands, by honoring PhD. T.H.J. Nijhuis with the Young Investigator Award on June 22nd.

Cryo-Save`s headquarters, located in Zutphen, the Netherlands, is celebrating the grand opening of its brand new, fully-renovated headquarters. On June 22nd, Arnoud van Tulder, CEO of Cryo-Save, and attorney-at-law C. Bieze, deputy in the province of Gelderland, will officially open the company`s new global headquarters office.

To mark the occasion, the company will grant PhD. T.H.J. Nijhuis, winner of the Cryo-Save Young Investigator Award, a prize of 5,000 euros. Mr. Nijhuis has focused his most recent research on umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells and pursues his work at the Erasmus Medical Center, part of the Erasmus University of Rotterdam, the Netherlands.

Arnoud van Tulder, CEO of Cryo-Save, says "We are proud to name Mr. T.H.J. Nijhuis, as the winner of the Cryo-Save Young Investigator Award. Research is a cornerstone of the stem cell industry, and it`s advancements like that of Mr. T.H.J. Nijhuis that makes us so optimistic for the future."

As part of Cryo-Save`s educational and community outreach efforts, the Cryo-Save Young Investigator Award is yet another example of how the company supports the advancement of stem cell use in the medical field. Cryo-Save seeks to improve and expand stem cell knowledge among the general public and professional health community, as they see in stem cell therapy a huge potential in the treatment of various diseases.

More information:

Ccile Kastler - Communications Manager

cecile.kastler@cryo-save.com - tel. +41-(0) 79 827 80 98

Cryo-Save: http://www.cryo-save.com/group

Cryo-Save, the leading international family stem cell bank, stores more than 200,000 samples from umbilical cord blood, cord tissue and adipose tissue. There are already many diseases treatable by the use of stem cells, and the number of treatments will only increase. Driven by its international business strategy, Cryo-Save is now represented in over 40 countries on 3 continents, with ultra-modern processing and storage facilities in Belgium, Germany, Dubai, India and South Africa.

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Cryo-Save Group N.V. awards researcher at grand opening of its new headquarters

Healthpoint Biotherapeutics To Create State-of-the-Art Cell Sciences Manufacturing Facility

By Uncategorized

FORT WORTH, Texas, June 20, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --Healthpoint Biotherapeutics today announced the company is planning a significant upgrade to its 80,000 square foot research and manufacturing facility in Ft. Worth. The new, state-of-the-art facilities will comprise 25,000 square feet of manufacturing infrastructure, labs and clean room space for the production of cell-based therapies.

"We are very pleased to be embarking on this important and innovative initiative at our headquarters here in Fort Worth," noted Travis E. Baugh, President and Chief Operating Officer of Healthpoint Biotherapeutics. "The planned, ultra-modern facility will create an efficient platform to support our lead pipeline candidate, HP802-247, which recently completed a successful phase 2b study in venous leg ulcers. Importantly, the facility will also add critical capabilities as we look toward the promise of regenerative medicine."

The facility upgrade comes as the company is engaged in developing a pipeline of next generation wound care therapies based on cell and cell-matrix biology. The advanced nature of the facility will provide efficient and scalable manufacturing capabilities to support both development and future commercialization, as well as create a unique environment for novel collaboration and identification of new technologies.

Healthpoint Biotherapeutics is planning to invest approximately $60 million to build out and staff the research and manufacturing facility over the next few years. The company plans to add a total of 51 new employees in research and development (R&D), quality assurance and quality control, operations and information technology (IT), with 31 of these hires planned for 2012.

"We are thrilled to have Healthpoint Biotherapeutics locate their state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in our great city," said Fort Worth mayor Betsy Price. "This is the latest example of how life science related businesses are becoming a much bigger part of our diversified economy. "

"The establishment of this contemporary cell biology facility represents a significant advance for the Fort Worth life sciences footprint," added David Berzina, Executive Vice President of Economic Development with the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce. "As such, we would like to emphasize the importance of this investment for the greater Ft. Worth community."

The project will be built out in two phases to coincide with current pipeline requirements. The first phase will include advanced tissue processing capabilities, master cell banking, production of clinical supplies for phase III trials and process development to support future manufacturing scale-up. Important features of the second, commercialization phase include automated closed system cell culturing, automated vial filling and the use of radio frequency identification (RFID) technology allowing efficient, robotic packaging in -80 degrees C freezers and product traceability in sealed dry ice shippers.

Construction of the new facilities is slated to begin in the second quarter, with the first phase anticipated to be operational by the end of 2012. Full validation and commissioning of the facility to release product for clinical trials is expected in 2013. Completion of the second phase will be timed to meet the requirements for the manufacture and ultimate commercialization of the investigational product HP802-247, following regulatory approvals.

Healthpoint Biotherapeutics already operates advanced, biologic manufacturing facilities worldwide, including its facility in Lausanne, Switzerlandwhich has received manufacturing authorization from the Swiss Regulatory Agency, Swissmedic, for the production of cell-based therapiesas well as a biologic manufacturing plant in Curacao.

About HP802-247 HP802-247 is an investigational allogeneic living human cell suspension that consists of two components that are sprayed sequentially on the wound bed at the time of treatment: a fibrinogen solution and a cell preparation containing a mixture of growth arrested, living, allogeneic epidermal keratinocytes and dermal fibroblasts. Based on in vitro studies, HP802-247 is believed to release various growth factors and cytokines into the micro-environment of the wound.

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Healthpoint Biotherapeutics To Create State-of-the-Art Cell Sciences Manufacturing Facility

CBR – World's Largest Stem Cell Bank – Applies Two Decades of Experience to Advance Regenerative Medicine

By Uncategorized

SAN BRUNO, Calif., June 20, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Twenty years ago this month, CBR (Cord Blood Registry) in partnership with the University of Arizona, processed the first cord blood stem cell sample in the world to be stored specifically for family use. Since 1992, the number of conditions treated with cord blood stem cells has greatly expanded, and so has CBR. Today, CBR is the largest family cord blood bank in the world with more than 425,000 samples in storage a population the size of a major city like Miami. What distinguishes the "city of individuals" with newborn stem cells banked at CBR is the exclusive opportunity to participate in a growing number of ground-breaking clinical trials.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120620/SF27549-INFO)

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120216/AQ54476LOGO)

"As the leader and innovator in family banking, we believe every newborn deserves a healthy future and that we have a responsibility to lead the way," said Heather Brown, vice president of scientific & medical affairs at CBR. "Looking back, the creation of our bank allowed families for the first time to preserve a genetically-related source of newborn stem cells, ready and available if needed for a lifesaving transplant to regenerate a person's immune system after radiation or chemotherapy. As we look to the future, we are helping shape new areas of regenerative medicine. We are the only family bank actively pioneering clinical trials evaluating new therapeutic uses of cord blood stem cells for unexpected injuries and conditions with no current cure."

Expanding Areas of Clinical Research: Helping the Body Heal Injured Nerves Until very recently, the prevailing medical opinion in neurology has been that damage to the central nervous system caused by injuries like birth trauma, accidents or stroke is often permanent. Currently, intervention after injury focuses on stabilizing the patient to minimize damage. However, data from animal research in recent years has challenged this assumption, leading to cord blood stem cell clinical research to study whether these cells may stimulate neural cell and tissue repair to restore function and alleviate neurological impairments.

CBR is taking the lead in moving animal research rapidly into the clinic to investigate the ability for cord blood stem cells to trigger the body's own mechanisms to initiate nerve repair by establishing specific clinical trials at leading medical institutions across the country. By pairing researchers with children who have been diagnosed with chronic conditions like cerebral palsy, traumatic brain injury or hearing loss-- and who also have access to their own cord blood stem cells -- CBR is helping physicians move beyond surgery and drugs to evaluate how newborn stem cells may help the body repair itself.

Celebrating a History of Firsts Throughout its history, CBR has taken many of the first steps to create and advance the notion of preserving and ensuring access to high quality newborn stem cells that are viable for use. Among the company's contributions to stem cell medicine and science, CBR was:

"CBR continuously improves our systems and technology to maintain the highest published cell recovery rate in the industry of 99%, every single time. We treat every sample as if it belongs to our own child or grandchild," says Tom Moore, CEO and founder of CBR. "That care and precision is what we offer clinical researchers, who are partnering exclusively with CBR to evaluate the use of a child's own cord blood stem cells to help treat chronic diseases like cerebral palsy, hearing loss and traumatic brain injury."

About Cord Blood RegistryCBR (Cord Blood Registry) is the world's largest and most experienced cord blood bank.The company has consistently led the industry in technical innovations and safeguards more than 425,000 cord blood collections for individuals and their families. CBR was the first family bank accredited by AABB and the company's quality standards have been recognized through ISO 9001:2008 certificationthe global business standard for quality. CBR has also released more client cord blood units for specific therapeutic use than any other family cord blood bank. Our research and development efforts are focused on helping the world's leading clinical researchers advance regenerative medical therapies.For more information, visit http://www.cordblood.com.

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CBR - World's Largest Stem Cell Bank - Applies Two Decades of Experience to Advance Regenerative Medicine

'Master molecule' may improve stem cell treatment of heart attacks

By Stem Cell Treatment

ScienceDaily (June 20, 2012) Johns Hopkins researchers have discovered that a single protein molecule may hold the key to turning cardiac stem cells into blood vessels or muscle tissue, a finding that may lead to better ways to treat heart attack patients.

Human heart tissue does not heal well after a heart attack, instead forming debilitating scars. However, for reasons not completely understood, stem cells can assist in this repair process by turning into the cells that make up healthy heart tissue, including heart muscle and blood vessels. Recently, doctors elsewhere have reported promising early results in the use of cardiac stem cells to curb the formation of unhealthy scar tissue after a heart attack. But the discovery of a "master molecule" that guides the destiny of these stem cells could result in even more effective treatments for heart patients, the Johns Hopkins researchers say.

In a study published in the June 5 online edition of journal Science Signaling, the team reported that tinkering with a protein molecule called p190RhoGAP shaped the development of cardiac stem cells, prodding them to become the building blocks for either blood vessels or heart muscle. The team members said that by altering levels of this protein, they were able to affect the future of these stem cells.

"In biology, finding a central regulator like this is like finding a pot of gold," said Andre Levchenko, a biomedical engineering professor and member of the Johns Hopkins Institute for Cell Engineering, who supervised the research effort.

The lead author of the journal article, Kshitiz, a postdoctoral fellow who uses only his first name, said, "Our findings greatly enhance our understanding of stem cell biology and suggest innovative new ways to control the behavior of cardiac stem cells before and after they are transplanted into a patient. This discovery could significantly change the way stem cell therapy is administered in heart patients."

Earlier this year, a medical team at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles reported initial success in reducing scar tissue in heart attack patients after harvesting some of the patient's own cardiac stem cells, growing more of these cells in a lab and transfusing them back into the patient. Using the stem cells from the patient's own heart prevented the rejection problems that often occur when tissue is transplanted from another person.

Levchenko's team has been trying to figure out what, at the molecular level, causes the stem cells to change into helpful heart tissue. If they could solve this mystery, the researchers hoped the cardiac stem cell technique used by the Los Angeles doctors could be altered to yield even better results.

During their research, the Johns Hopkins team members wondered whether changing the surface on which the harvested stem cells grew would affect the cells' development. The researchers were surprised to find that growing the cells on a surface whose rigidity resembled that of heart tissue caused the stem cells to grow faster and to form blood vessels. This cell population boom had occurred far less often in the stem cells grown in the glass or plastic dishes typically used in biology labs. This result also suggested why formation of cardiac scar tissue, a structure with very different rigidity, can inhibit stem cells naturally residing there from regenerating the heart.

Looking further into this stem cell differentiation, the Johns Hopkins researchers found that the increased cell growth occurred when there was a decrease in the presence of the protein p190RhoGAP. "It was the kind of master regulator of this process," Levchenko said. "And an even bigger surprise was that if we directly forced this molecule to disappear, we no longer needed the special heart-matched surfaces. When the master regulator was missing, the stem cells started to form blood vessels, even on glass."

A final surprise occurred when the team decided to increase the presence of p190RhoGAP, instead of making it disappear. "The stem cells started to turn into cardiac muscle tissue, instead of blood vessels," Levchenko said. "This told us that this amazing molecule was the master regulator not only of the blood vessel development, but that it also determined whether cardiac muscles and blood vessels would develop from the same cells, even though these types of tissue are quite different."

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'Master molecule' may improve stem cell treatment of heart attacks

Stem cell market to reach $322 million by 2017

By Stem Cell Medicine

2011 saw the stem cell market earn revenues of $148.4 million in 2011 and this is forecast to reach $322 million by 2017. The segments covered include: bio-imaging and microscopy, cell biology tools, immunochemical, molecular biology tools, and protein biochemistry tools.

The US is one of the major stem cell markets in the world, and the country has been witnessing a significant level of positive growth over the past few years. The US stem cell market was estimated to reach around $830 Million in 2010, up from $500 Million in 2009.

This market growth can be attributed to a number of supporting factors, such as huge investment, strong demand, and rising disease incidences. Forecasters have predicted that these factors will lead to the US stem cell market generating revenues of $3 billion by 2013.

A key step forward for the market has been the stem cell regulations in a few countries allowing the use of certain cell lines. In some countries such as France, for instance, stem cell regulations are being renewed for the procurement and use of stem cells.

Standardised research guidelines are needed to control and encourage the development of gene therapy and stem cell treatments. Regenerative medicine is seen as an area with high future potential, as countries need ways to cope with the burden of an aging population.

Stem cell research is very dynamic with research trends, focus, and approaches evolving extremely rapidly. The tool market has to quickly adapt to these challenges and develop innovative tools that address and accelerate research accomplishments.

Organisations such as the International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) publish recommended guidelines on working with stem cells, but these are not binding. Governments must therefore come together to determine a standardised framework for innovative medical research, in order that positive results and long-term follow-up data can be produced to solidify the reputation and investment potential of the regenerative medicine market.

For more information on the stem cell market, see the latest research: Stem Cell Market Report

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Stem cell market to reach $322 million by 2017

New method generates cardiac muscle patches from stem cells

By Stem Cell Medical Center

ScienceDaily (June 19, 2012) A cutting-edge method developed at the University of Michigan Center for Arrhythmia Research successfully uses stem cells to create heart cells capable of mimicking the heart's crucial squeezing action.

The cells displayed activity similar to most people's resting heart rate. At 60 beats per minute, the rhythmic electrical impulse transmission of the engineered cells in the U-M study is 10 times faster than in most other reported stem cell studies.

An image of the electrically stimulated cardiac cells is displayed on the cover of the current issue of Circulation Research, a publication of the American Heart Association.

For those suffering from common, but deadly heart diseases, stem cell biology represents a new medical frontier.

The U-M team of researchers is using stem cells in hopes of helping the 2.5 million people with an arrhythmia, an irregularity in the heart's electrical impulses that can impair the heart's ability to pump blood.

"To date, the majority of studies using induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiac muscle cells have focused on single cell functional analysis," says senior author Todd J. Herron, Ph.D., an assistant research professor in the Departments of Internal Medicine and Molecular & Integrative Physiology at the U-M.

"For potential stem cell-based cardiac regeneration therapies for heart disease, however, it is critical to develop multi-cellular tissue like constructs that beat as a single unit," says Herron.

Their objective, working with researchers at the University of Oxford, Imperial College and University of Wisconsin, included developing a bioengineering approach, using stem cells generated from skin biopsies, which can be used to create large numbers of cardiac muscle cells that can transmit uniform electrical impulses and function as a unit.

Furthermore, the team designed a fluorescent imaging platform using light emitting diode (LED) illumination to measure the electrical activity of the cells.

"Action potential and calcium wave impulse propogation trigger each normal heart beat, so it is imperative to record each parameter in bioengineered human cardiac patches," Herron says.

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New method generates cardiac muscle patches from stem cells

Cryopraxis, Sponsor of Stem Cell Research is Represented at Bio2012 in Boston

By Uncategorized

RIO DE JANEIRO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Cryopraxis established in 2001 as the pioneer private umbilical cord blood bank in Brazil will be present at Bio 2012 in Boston. Eduardo Cruz, chairman of the board, will be a speaker at the Brazilian break-out session speaking about The Brazilian Biotechnology Sector and showing the results of the company's commitment to R&D. Cryopraxis has already collected and processed more than 25000 cord blood units (CBU) and is actively involved in several R&D projects in Brazil and abroad.

A spin-off of Cryopraxis, Cellpraxis, has recently finished one of the world's first cell therapy project clinical trials in Brazil: ReACT. ReACT is a stem cell formulation. This regenerative medicine pioneer product aims on treating an orphan disease condition called refractory angina. Refractory angina patients suffer from untreatable severe chest pain and the results of the clinical trial in a 5 years follow up proved ReACT to positively interfere in the course of the pathology. Most of the individuals treated experienced relief in pain and better quality of life. ReACT will be presented at Bio2012 as an example of Brazil's dynamic biotechnology research.

Cryopraxis is accredited by the American Association of Blood Bank since 2009.

According to Tatiana Lima, Technical Director at Cryopraxis, "extensive training and strict adherence to good laboratory practices are basic principles in Cryopraxis' corporate strategy." Janaina Machado, cell lab director describes the company's primary mission: "maximizing safety and efficiency of collection procedures to make sure our clients get what they look for: the highest quality standards."

Cryopraxis is part of Axis Biotec (www.axisbiotec.com.br) and it has the largest biological cryogenic storage facility in Brazil and one of the largest in the World. It is the largest umbilical cord blood bank in Brazil. The company is involved in several research projects in Brazil and abroad.For more information, visitwww.cryopraxis.com.brand http://www.cellpraxis.com

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Cryopraxis, Sponsor of Stem Cell Research is Represented at Bio2012 in Boston

Animal Stem Cell Therapy

By Uncategorized

BYRON, MN--It's a dream for many in the medical field, to use a person's own stem cells to help them heal. And it's a reality already happening in our area.

But it's not humans who are being treated. In this case, dogs are the ones being treated.

Animal Stem Cell Regenerative Therapy has been performed a few thousand times now across the U.S. Doctors harvest stem cells and re-enter them where the animal is having problems.

Both Marley and Vinnie have bad ligaments in their legs, and like many dogs suffering from arthritis, they are subject to monthly doses of expensive drugs.

That is until today.

Dr. Garren Kelly, D.V.M. at Meadow View Veterinary Clinic just outside Rochester says, "If you'd of asked me 5 years ago if I would be doing anything like this, I would have said no. But then as soon as I saw it i'm like 'Yeah that's for me'. I kind of like staying on the cutting edge of technology and surgeries".

The two are undergoing a first of its kind surgery in minnesota, using regenerative stem cells.

Blood is taken from the dogs, as well as fat tissue.

Then stem cells are separated out from the fat, activated with an led light, and injected back into the affected area. All in the same day.

MediVet America trainer Jordan Smith says, "It's a better quality of life, we're not promising to give them 10 years or 5 years but we are promising that the years that they do have remaining are a lot more enjoyable".

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Animal Stem Cell Therapy

Philip Salvador, kakalabanin ang kaibigang aktor!

By Stem Cell Treatment

TO A great extent, the latest medical breakthrough called stem cell treatment has swept the nation like a typhoon entering the Philippine area of responsibility (or PAR as weather experts would say).

Previously in our column here in Pinoy Parazzi ay iniulat na namin ang lumalakas na pananampalataya in this modern science na bagamat maaaring gawin sa bansa ay mas epektibo kung sasailalim ang pasyente sa prosesong ito sa mismong bansa ang Germany na siyang pinagkukunan ng anti-aging substance extracted from a black mountain sheep.

By now, Boy Abunda must have left for Germany with his Nanay Lising whos suffering dementia (or Alzheimers disease) na karaniwan namang dumadapo sa mga taong may edad na. Also, in a week or two ay tutungo rin si Lolit Solis sa naturang bansa for treatment of her diabetes (pero sagot ni Dra. Vicki Belo ang isang milyong pisong bayad) with her ward Lorna Tolentino na siyang maglilibre naman ng kanilang week-long stay roon.

Minsan nang naipahayag ni Butch Francisco (who openly admits na wala siyang ganoong halaga after he had his condo unit in Greenhills repaired, almost reconstructed) na paano na raw ang mahihirap who cannot afford to avail of stem cell treatment?

Wala man itong relasyon sa showbiz, pero magsilbing panawagan sana ito sa Department of Science and Technology at Department of Health to conduct a thorough research on making affordable to the socially marginalized ang naturang treatment.

Stem cell treatment in Germany? Baka nga ang ilan nating mga kapus-palad na mamamayan, ang alam lang ay German cut na tule, asong German shepherd, processed meat na German sausage at ang the height, ang Master Showman na si German Moreno!

TAONG 2004 nang yakapin ni Philip Salvador ang pagiging isang born again Christian. Since then, Kuya Ipe has been shuttling between Manila and Bulacan (to as far as Bataan) kung saan ibinabahagi raw niya ang kanyang testimonya sa buhay, his past life most specially until he finally knew his Heavenly Master.

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Philip Salvador, kakalabanin ang kaibigang aktor!

Step closer to stem cell answer for human diseases

By Stem Cell Treatment

Development of stem cell research for treating human cells damaged through injury, disease or ageing has taken a step forward in Queensland.

Stem Cells Ltd, based at the Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology at The University of Queensland, is set to receive $470,000 in Queensland Government science funding.

The funding will ensure the growth of stem cell research in Queensland, taking the state's leaders closer to developing cell-based therapies for a host of diseases.

Stem Cells Ltd Queensland manager Victoria Turner said her team would work with stem cell scientists to advance research into diseases such as schizophrenia, Down syndrome, Parkinson's disease and heart disease.

Ms Turner said Stem Cells Ltd would ensure Queensland remained at the forefront of cutting-edge stem cell research.

Stem cell research is an exciting and rapidly expanding field that is vital for basic research and understanding of diseases, she said.

Most importantly, stem cells are set to have a major impact on healthcare and innovation, offering novel scientific insights that can be used to direct the treatment of a multitude of diseases and, ultimately in the future development of cell-based therapies when cells become damaged by illness or injury.

Stem Cells Ltd is a not-for-profit company established to grow the capacity of stem cell research in Australia, providing researchers in the field with highly specialised stem cell products, services and training.

This enables scientists to access valuable stem cell strategies for modeling human diseases, which in many cases represents the only option for gaining a better understanding in order to direct treatment.

Stem Cells Ltd is also expected to break down the barriers for new stem cell scientists to enter the field, providing them with the specialist technical expertise they need for stem cell culture and keeping up with the pace of development.

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Step closer to stem cell answer for human diseases

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