Stem Cell Clinic

Precision Medicine Achieves Our Goals and Makes Money in Stocks – Banyan Hill Publishing

By Stem Cell Doctors

A year ago, measles was in the news. We saw more cases in 2019 than we had in more than a decade.

Today, its a virus that has become a global pandemic.

We have a vaccine for measles and were working toward one for the coronavirus.

Having a vaccine will go a long way toward relieving the angst of society. You see, vaccines are one way to achieve herd immunity. (Natural infection is the other.) This is when a large portion of a community becomes immune to a disease. When that happens, the spread of the disease becomes less likely.

This vaccine will happen. In part, because we want it to and because of the amazing advances weve made in the world of medicine.

Were seeing amazing changes in precision medicine today. As the name implies, it has made the practice of medicine more precise. We are sequencing genes to better understand disease at the cells. This has allowed us to personalize medicine.

Per the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, sickle cell disease (SCD) affects 100,000 people in the U.S. alone. A disproportionate percentage of them are African American.

Normally healthy round red blood cells become hard and sticky. They look like a C-shaped tool called a sickle.

The cells die early, causing a constant shortage of red blood cells. The shape of these cells also causes them to get stuck and clog blood flow. This results in pain, infection and even stroke.

Gene therapy modifies someones DNA to treat disease.

In 2017, doctors announced they had used the therapy to cure a teens SCD and the painful symptoms that went with it.

They took some of his bone marrow stem cells, gave the cells extra versions of a needed gene and put them back in his body.

The blood tests show hes cured.

Medical professionals are excited about the prospects of gene therapy for other ailments like hemophilia and cystic fibrosis as well.

Immunotherapy is a treatment that helps your immune system fight cancer. Its a biological therapy. This means it uses substances made from living organisms.

One reason cancer cells thrive is they know how to hide from your immune system. Some of the immunotherapies were working on can mark cancer cells so its easier for your system to find them. Others boost your immune system, so it just works better against the diseased cells.

One version of this is T-cell therapy.

Kids who get leukemia most often suffer from ALL, or acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

In 2017, scientists conducted a trial on patients who had a less than 20% chance of survival using current treatments. Of those patients, 93% using the therapy achieved complete initial remission. Half remained in complete remission a year later.

Testing continues, but this is a huge leap forward.

Human ingenuity will help us beat the coronavirus, too.

Weve been fighting viruses for a long time. We have hundreds of years of insight. And weve never wanted a vaccine more than we do today.

Remdesivir is one of our most promising drugs to fight the coronavirus. Gilead Sciences first created it to treat Ebola, another virus.

Precision medicine will help, too.

More than 1,800 COVID-19 trials are taking place around the world right now. The U.S. is doing the most, but this is truly a global effort.

We will achieve our goal.

Never bet against us.

Further, if there ever was one, now is the time to come together. To use more compassion than (hate-filled) passion. The results will surprise us if we embrace kindness today.

Good investing,

Brian Christopher Editor, Profit Line

P.S. In his Automatic Fortunes investing service, Ian King follows the latest advancements in precision medicine. He has already invested in names that benefit from it. Precision medicine will be a key player in the rise of the Great American Reset. Click here to learn more. Youll be happy that you did.

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Precision Medicine Achieves Our Goals and Makes Money in Stocks - Banyan Hill Publishing

Trending Now: COVID-19 impact on 3D Cell Cultures Market Variables, Information, Emerging Trends, Analysis and Forecast 2020-2026 | Sigma, Lonza, 3D…

By Stell Cell Research

3D Cell Cultures Market 2020: Latest Analysis

Chicago, United States:- The report titled Global 3D Cell Cultures Market is one of the most comprehensive and important additions to Report Hive Research archive of market research studies. It offers detailed research and analysis of key aspects of the global 3D Cell Cultures market. The market analysts authoring this report have provided in-depth information on leading growth drivers, restraints, challenges, trends, and opportunities to offer a complete analysis of the global 3D Cell Cultures market. Market participants can use the analysis on market dynamics to plan effective growth strategies and prepare for future challenges beforehand. Each trend of the global 3D Cell Cultures market is carefully analyzed and researched about by the market analysts.

Top Players of 3D Cell Cultures Market are Studied: Sigma, Lonza, 3D Biomatrix, Ams Bio, Life Technologise, Microtissues, Labome, Tecan, Lena Bio, 3D Biotek, Scivax Life Sciences, Corning Incorporated

Download Free Sample PDF (including full TOC, Tables, and Figures) of 3D Cell Cultures Market Research 2020-2026:- @

According to Our Research study, over the next five years the 3D Cell Culturesmarket will register a xx% CAGR in terms of revenue, the global market size will reach US$ xx million by 2026, from US$ xx million in 2020. In particular, this report presents the global market share (sales and revenue) of key companies in 3D Cell Culturesbusiness. 3D Cell Cultures market development trend, sales volume and sales value (million USD) forecast in regional market, the main regions are China, USA, Europe, India, Japan, Korea, South America, Southeast Asia. Sales forecast by type/application from 2021-2026 Industry chain, downstream and upstream information is also included. World trade was already slowing in 2019 before COVID 19 outbreak, weighed down by trade tensions and slowing economic growth, such as uncertainty generated from Brexit, the U.S.-China trade war, the Japan-South Korea trade war. Trade is expected to fall by between 13% and 32% in 2020 as the COVID 19 pandemic disrupts normal economic activity and life around the world, according to the study of WTO. The decline in exports has been mainly due to the ongoing global slowdown, which got aggravated due to the current Covid-19 crisis. The latter resulted in large scale disruptions in supply chains and demand resulting in cancellation of orders. Our Researchs analysis shows that as China started reopening its economy, world exports initially recovered across the board. But estimates of the expected recovery in 2021 are uncertain, with outcomes depending largely on the duration of the outbreak and the effectiveness of the policy responses.

NOTE:Due to the pandemic, we have included a special section on the Impact of COVID 19 on the 3D Cell Cultures Market which would mention How the Covid-19 is Affecting the 3D Cell Cultures Industry, Market Trends and Potential Opportunities in the COVID-19 Landscape, Covid-19 Impact on Key Regions and Proposal for 3D Cell Cultures Players to Combat Covid-19 Impact.

Global 3D Cell Cultures Market is estimated to reach xxx million USD in 2020 and projected to grow at the CAGR of xx% during 2020-2026. According to the latest report added to the online repository of Report Hive Research the 3D Cell Cultures market has witnessed an unprecedented growth till 2020. The extrapolated future growth is expected to continue at higher rates by 2026.

Our exploration specialists acutely ascertain the significant aspects of the global 3D Cell Cultures market report. It also provides an in-depth valuation in regards to the future advancements relying on the past data and present circumstance of 3D Cell Cultures market situation. In this 3D Cell Cultures report, we have investigated the principals, players in the market, geological regions, product type, and market end-client applications. The global 3D Cell Cultures report comprises of primary and secondary data which is exemplified in the form of pie outlines, 3D Cell Cultures tables, analytical figures, and reference diagrams. The 3D Cell Cultures report is presented in an efficient way that involves basic dialect, basic 3D Cell Cultures outline, agreements, and certain facts as per solace and comprehension.

Segmentation by Application: Tissue Engineering Tumor Model Stem Cell Research Drug Discovery

Segmentation by Type: Membrane Type Foam / gel Type Microcarriers Type

The Essential Content Covered in the Global3D Cell Cultures Market Report:

* Top Key Company Profiles. * Main Business and Rival Information * SWOT Analysis and PESTEL Analysis * Production, Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin * Market Share and Size

The report provides a 6-year forecast (2020-2026) assessed based on how the 3D Cell Cultures market is predicted to grow in major regions like USA, Europe, Japan, China, India, Southeast Asia, South America, South Africa, Others.

Key Questions Answered In this Report:

What is the overall market size in 2019? What will be the market growth during the forecast period i.e. 2020-2026?

Which region would have high demand for product in the upcoming years?

What are the factors driving the growth of the market?

Which sub-market will make the most significant contribution to the market?

What are the market opportunities for existing and entry-level players?

What are various long-term and short-term strategies adopted by the market players?

What are the key business strategies being adopted by new entrants in the 3D Cell Cultures Market?

Get Full Customize report or for any Special Discount [emailprotected] https://www.reporthive.com/request_customization/2390765

Table of Contents

Market Overview: This is the first section of the report that includes an overview of the scope of products offered in the global 3D Cell Cultures market, segments by product and application, and market size.

Market Competition by Player: Here, the report shows how the competition in the global 3D Cell Cultures market is growing or decreasing based on deep analysis of market concentrate rate, competitive situations and trends, expansions, merger and acquisition deals, and other subjects. It also shows how different companies are progressing in the global 3D Cell Cultures market in terms of revenue, production, sales, and market share.

Company Profiles and Sales Data: This part of the report is very important as it gives statistical as well as other types of analysis of leading manufacturers in the global 3D Cell Cultures market. It assesses each and every player studied in the report on the basis of main business, gross margin, revenue, sales, price, competitors, manufacturing base, product specification, product application, and product category.

Market Status and Outlook by Region: The report studies the status and outlook of different regional markets such as Europe, North America, the MEA, Asia Pacific, and South America. All of the regional markets researched about in the report are examined based on price, gross margin, revenue, production, and sales. Here, the size and CAGR of the regional markets are also provided.

Market by Product: This section carefully analyzes all product segments of the global 3D Cell Cultures market.

Market by Application: Here, various application segments of the global 3D Cell Cultures market are taken into account for research study.

Market Forecast: It starts with revenue forecast and then continues with sales, sales growth rate, and revenue growth rate forecasts of the global 3D Cell Cultures market. The forecasts are also provided taking into consideration product, application, and regional segments of the global 3D Cell Cultures market.

Upstream Raw Materials: This section includes industrial chain analysis, manufacturing cost structure analysis, and key raw materials analysis of the global 3D Cell Cultures market.

Marketing Strategy Analysis, Distributors: Here, the research study digs deep into behavior and other factors of downstream customers, distributors, development trends of marketing channels, and marketing channels such as indirect marketing and direct marketing.

Research Findings and Conclusion: This section is solely dedicated to the conclusion and findings of the research study on the global 3D Cell Cultures market.

Appendix: This is the last section of the report that focuses on data sources, viz. primary and secondary sources, market breakdown and data triangulation, market size estimation, research programs and design, research approach and methodology, and the publishers disclaimer.

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Trending Now: COVID-19 impact on 3D Cell Cultures Market Variables, Information, Emerging Trends, Analysis and Forecast 2020-2026 | Sigma, Lonza, 3D...

Researchers Discover Stem Cells in Optic Nerve that Preserve Vision – Newswise

By Stem Cell Treatment

Newswise Researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) have for the first time identified stem cells in the region of the optic nerve, which transmits signals from the eye to the brain. The finding, published this week in the journalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences(PNAS), presents a new theory on why the most common form of glaucoma may develop and provides potential new ways to treat a leading cause of blindness in American adults.

We believe these cells, called neural progenitor cells, are present in the optic nerve tissue at birth and remain for decades, helping to nourish the nerve fibers that form the optic nerve, said study leaderSteven Bernstein, MD, PhD, Professor and Vice Chair of the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. Without these cells, the fibers may lose their resistance to stress, and begin to deteriorate, causing damage to the optic nerve, which may ultimately lead to glaucoma.

The study was funded by the National Institutes of Healths National Eye Institute (NEI), and a number of distinguished researchers served as co-authors on the study.

More than 3 million Americans have glaucoma, which results from damage to the optic nerve, causing blindness in 120,000 U.S. patients. This nerve damage is usually related to increased pressure in the eye due to a buildup of fluid that does not drain properly. Blind spots can develop in a patients visual field that gradually widen over time.

This is the first time that neural progenitor cells have been discovered in the optic nerve. Without these cells, the nerve is unable to repair itself from damage caused by glaucoma or other conditions. This may lead to permanent vision loss and disability, said Dr. Bernstein. The presence of neural stem/progenitor cells opens the door to new treatments to repair damage to the optic nerve, which is very exciting news.

To make the research discovery, Dr. Bernstein and his team examined a narrow band of tissue called the optic nerve lamina. Less than 1 millimeter wide, the lamina lies between the light-sensitive retina tissue at the back of the eye and the optic nerve. The long nerve cell fibers extend from the retina through the lamina, into the optic nerve. What the researchers discovered is that the lamina progenitor cells may be responsible for insulating the fibers immediately after they leave the eye, supporting the connections between nerve cells on the pathway to the brain.

The stem cells in the lamina niche bathes these neuron extensions with growth factors, as well as aiding in the formation of the insulating sheath. The researchers were able to confirm the presence of these stem cells by using antibodies and genetically modified animals that identified the specific protein markers on neuronal stem cells.

It took 52 trials to successfully grow the lamina progenitor cells in a culture, said Dr. Bernstein, so this was a challenging process. Dr. Bernstein and his collaborators needed to identify the correct mix of growth factors and other cell culture conditions that would be most conducive for the stem cells to grow and replicate. Eventually the research team found the stem cells could be coaxed into differentiating into several different types of neural cells. These include neurons and glial cells, which are known to be important for cell repair and cell replacement in different brain regions.

This discovery may prove to be game-changing for the treatment of eye diseases that affect the optic nerve. Dr. Bernstein and his research team plan to use genetically modified mice to see how the depletion of lamina progenitor cells contributes to diseases such as glaucoma and prevents repair.

Future research is needed to explore the neural progenitors repair mechanisms. If we can identify the critical growth factors that these cells secrete, they may be potentially useful as a cocktail to slow the progression of glaucoma and other age-related vision disorders.Dr. Bernstein added.

The work was supported by NEI grant RO1EY015304, and by a National Institutes of Health shared instrument grant 1S10RR26870-1.

This exciting discovery could usher in a sea change in the field of age-related diseases that cause vision loss, saidE. Albert Reece, MD, PhD, MBA, Executive Vice President for Medical Affairs, UM Baltimore, and the John Z. and Akiko K. Bowers Distinguished Professor and Dean, University of Maryland School of Medicine. "New treatment options are desperately needed for the millions of patients whose vision is severely impacted by glaucoma, and I think this research will provide new hope for them.

Now in its third century, the University of Maryland School of Medicine was chartered in 1807 as the first public medical school in the United States.It continues today as one of the fastest growing, top-tier biomedical research enterprises in the world -- with 45 academic departments, centers, institutes, and programs; and a faculty of more than 3,000 physicians, scientists, and allied health professionals, including members of the National Academy of Medicineand the National Academy of Sciences, and a distinguished two-time winner of the Albert E. Lasker Award in Medical Research. With an operating budget of more than $1.2 billion, the School of Medicine works closely in partnership with the University of Maryland Medical Center and Medical System to provide research-intensive, academic and clinically based care for nearly 2 million patients each year. The School of Medicine has more than $540 million in extramural funding, with most of its academic departments highly ranked among all medical schools in the nation in research funding. As one of the seven professional schools that make up the University of Maryland, Baltimore campus, the School of Medicine has a total population of nearly 9,000 faculty and staff, including 2,500 student trainees, residents, and fellows. The combined School of Medicine and Medical System (University of Maryland Medicine) has an annual budget of nearly $6 billion and an economic impact more than $15 billion on the state and local community. The School of Medicine faculty, which ranks as the 8thhighest among public medical schools in research productivity, is an innovator in translational medicine, with 600 active patents and 24 start-up companies. The School of Medicine works locally, nationally, and globally, with research and treatment facilities in 36 countries around the world. Visitmedschool.umaryland.edu

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Researchers Discover Stem Cells in Optic Nerve that Preserve Vision - Newswise

The Promise of Mesenchymal stem cells therapy for acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome Caused by COVID-19 – DocWire News

By Stem Cell Treatment

This article was originally published here

Curr Stem Cell Res Ther. 2020 Jul 29. doi: 10.2174/1574888X15999200729161539. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

The outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) since Dec 2019, known as COVID-19 or 19-nCoV, has led to a major concern of the potential for not only an epidemic but a pandemic in China and now it seems to be a public health problem all over the world. The general mortality rate of the COVID-19 was about 3%. However, the mortality risk seems to be a significant increase in elderly and cases with chronic disease, who are more likely to develop into acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). There still lacks effective methods for ARDS of COVID-19 patients and the prognosis was poor. Mesenchyma stem cells (MSCs) based treatment has the advantage of targeting numerous pathophysiological components of ARDS by secreting a series of cell factors, exerting anti-inflammatory, antioxidative, immunomodulatory, antiapoptotic, and proangiogenic effects, resulting in significant structural and functional recovery following ARDS in various preclinical models. And recently pilot clinical studies indicated MSCs based therapy was promise in treatment of ARDS caused by SARS-CoV-2. However, little is known about MSCs therapy for ARDS caused by COVID-19.

PMID:32729428 | DOI:10.2174/1574888X15999200729161539

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The Promise of Mesenchymal stem cells therapy for acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome Caused by COVID-19 - DocWire News

You Are Not Alone When Facing ‘Chemo Brain’ – Curetoday.com

By Stem Cell Treatment

In the summer 2020 edition of HEAL we speak with experts on the very real challenges patients face when confronted with "chemo brain".

For years, many doubted its existence, chalking up the symptoms to old age or another malady. But now, as more survivors are living longer, researchers are better able to study it.

In this issues cover story, Chemo Brain Is Real, we hear from researchers who are investigating cancer-related cognitive impairment, as well as cancer survivors who are living with it. The article also offers strategies that optimize thinking and memory and can help lift that fog.

Through treatment, which included chemotherapy, radiation and two stem cell transplants. For him, however, the biggest challenge was being a young-adult cancer survivor: I survived this thing, and now all of a sudden, Ive got to live the rest of my life. Whos going to want to date me? Can I have kids? Because many of his friends

Also in this issue, readers hear from Ethan Zohn, former professional soccer player and winner of the TV reality show, Survivor: Africa. At age 35, he received a diagnosis of CD20-positive Hodgkin lymphoma. Zohn talks about how his winners mentality helped him.

We hope you not only find the information helpful, but also draw inspiration from the stories of other courageous survivors. As always, thank couldnt relate, Zohn found companionship and comfort through organizations for young adults impacted by cancer.

In addition, a cancer survivor struggling with physical exhaustion ponders whether shed rather be strong of body ... or strong of soul.

Also inside: how yoga and cognitive behavioral therapy can help cancer survivors with insomnia and advice on rebuilding self-esteem after a cancer diagnosis.

As always, thank you for reading.

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You Are Not Alone When Facing 'Chemo Brain' - Curetoday.com

27th Annual Luau and Legends of Surfing Invitational Set to Make Virtual Waves – UC San Diego Health

By Stem Cell Clinic

Participants gather for a group photo at the 2019 Luau and Legends of Surfing Invitational.

For the first time ever, surfers, scientists, physicians and survivors will come together virtually to support the fight against cancer at the annual Luau and Legends of Surfing Invitational on Aug. 9.

As UC San Diego events are being canceled or postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic, the annual fundraiser has transitioned to a virtual format to allow participants to support the fight against cancer from home.

Instead of surfing the ocean, participants are invited to surf the wave of cancer research as they Crowdsurf for a Cure, helping raise money for research, education and clinical care. All proceeds from the 27th annual Luau and Legends of Surfing Invitational will benefit Moores Cancer Center at UC San Diego Health and contribute to the Campaign for UC San Diego.

As we celebrate the 27th Luau and Legends of Surfing Invitational, it is inspiring to see the local community continue to support the breakthrough discoveries and life-saving treatment developed by Moores Cancer Center, said Dr. Scott M. Lippman, director of Moores Cancer Center at UC San Diego Health. While we cannot join together in person for this years event, cancer does not stop during the COVID-19 pandemic and neither does our commitment to finding new cures and treatments for this life-threatening disease. Thanks to the generous donations raised through the Luau, we can continue to provide our patients with the latest individualized treatment and excellence in patient care that is only available at an academic medical center like ours.

Sandra Dillon and Casey Turk. Photo Courtesy of Sandra Dillon.

The beloved fundraiserwhich has traded tuxedos for wet suits and ballrooms for beach views since its founding in 1993has brought in nearly $10 million for research and helped thousands of cancer patients through clinical trials, new treatments and delivering discoveries. Now, amid nationwide pandemic-related disruptions to the health sector, support towards ending this devastating disease continues to be critical.

For myelofibrosis patient and advocate Sandra Dillon, this support made all the difference in her journey with cancer. When doctors discovered a small lump behind Dillons ribcage in 2004which turned out to be an enlarged spleen, a symptom of myelofibrosisit came completely out of the blue. As a healthy 28-year-old, the last thing she expected was to be diagnosed with an extremely rare cancer with no real treatment options and a median survival rate of five to seven years.

What I thought was my whole life ahead of me was now just a few years, said Dillon, whose doctors tried to manage her symptoms as she slowly got sicker from the disease. I had such a hard time with my diagnosis and my experience. Knowing that there was no treatment that could stop myelofibrosis, I just didn't want to see doctors, be in a hospital or take any more tests. I kind of gave up on medicine in general and figured, Well, Ill just take the time that I've got left and that's all I've got.

Several years later, the trajectory of Dillons life changed completely when she moved to San Diego and was introduced to the team at Moores Cancer Center. Ridden with fear and hesitancy, she made the courageous decision to continue to fight for her life with support from her friends and husband, Casey Turk.

What I found at Moores Cancer Center was the exact opposite of what I was expecting. I was greeted with so much compassion and care at every level, said Dillon, who came to the center in 2011. Initially, I was afraid of being a pin cushion and just a number passing through a system. Instead, I found a home. Moores Cancer Center is a shining light of what treatment and health care can, and should, look like.

Dr. Catriona Jamieson

At Moores Cancer Center, Dillon met physician-scientist Dr. Catriona Jamieson, Deputy Director of Moores, who enrolled her in a clinical trial for a new drug called fedratinib designed to block cancer cell proliferation. The results were amazingin a few months, Dillon was revitalized with newfound energy, less pain and a whole new life.

However, when the promising cancer drug was discarded for safety concerns and its trial pulled, Jamieson and her team were forced to turn to alternate trials and treatments to halt Dillons disease. With the health of multiple patients depleting in the absence of fedratinib, Jamieson worked tirelessly alongside scientist, biotech executive and Moores Cancer Center Board Vice Chair John Hood, who has a doctorate in medical physiology and led early research on the drug, to fight to bring it back. When fedratinib was finally approved by the FDA in 2019, it was the first new therapy approved for myelofibrosis in nearly a decade. It is now available under the brand name Inrebic.

John Hood

Now that I am on the drug, I havent had to have a blood transfusion in over a year. I feel incredible again, said Dillon. What Dr. Jamieson and Hood have accomplished is incredibleits a blessing for me and an amazing testament to what is possible.

During the online fundraiser on Aug. 9, Jamieson and Hood will both be recognized with the Rell Sunn Award, which honors the memory of Rell Kapoliokaehukai Sunn, known as the First Lady of Surfing. Sunn was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 32, but rather than submitting to the disease, she lived life to the fullest until passing 15 years later in 1998. The Rell Sunn Award recognizes individuals who have made a difference in the battle against cancer and who embody the Aloha spirit.

This event has had a sustainably positive impact on our relentless drive to deliver new discoveries to the clinic with alacrity, and our unique capacity at Moores Cancer Center to develop personalized cancer stem cell, immunotherapy, and precision-medicine-guided targeted therapies for hopeful patients across economic strata, said Jamieson. To receive this award is such an extraordinary privilege considering that it honors Rell Sunn, a champion Hawaiian surfer who battled breast cancer and was the personification of hope, joy and the spirit of ganbatte, which is the Japanese word for never, ever, ever, give up.

Being honored based on a person like Sunn, by your peers and neighbors, is incredible. I feel very grateful for it, said Hood. I hope what we didfacing down the FDA with a small group in the company and doing everything we can to get it to the patientswould make her proud.

The virtual luau festivities kick off online on Aug. 9 at 5 p.m. Guests can expect to enjoy a program featuring: an address from Chancellor Pradeep K. Khosla, Vice Chancellor for Health Sciences Dr. David Brenner and CEO of UC San Diego Health Patty Maysent, messages from surf legends, Moores Cancer Center leaders, Polynesian dancers, live music and more. Attendees in the local region can also join in by pre-ordering a Dinner and Drinks packagea catered meal and cocktails with options to be picked up or delivered to their home to enjoy during the event. Featured artwork will be presented by Southern California surfer Andy Davis.

The Luau and Legends of Surfing Invitationals Crowdsurf for a Cure is free to register and to attend. Event sponsors include: Cooley LLP; Lina and Christian Waage; Lisa and Mike Rhodes; Valerie Ewell Armstrong and Sam Armstrong; BioMed Realty; ASML; Arey Jones; The Allergan Foundation; and Pfizer. For more information about sponsorship opportunities and event activities, visit the Luau and Legends of Surfing Invitational website. You can also get read more about the Moores Cancer Center at UC San Diego Health.

Gifts made through the 27th annual Luau and Legends of Surfing Invitationals Crowdsurf for a Cure also contribute to the Campaign for UC San Diegoa university-wide comprehensive fundraising effort concluding in 2022. Alongside UC San Diegos philanthropic partners, the university is continuing its nontraditional path toward revolutionary ideas, unexpected answers, lifesaving discoveries and planet-changing impact. For more information, visit campaign.ucsd.edu.

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27th Annual Luau and Legends of Surfing Invitational Set to Make Virtual Waves - UC San Diego Health

Global Cell Expansion Market, Forecast to 2025 – Increasing Incidence of Chronic Diseases and Government Investments for Cell-based Research -…

By Stem Cell Medicine

DUBLIN, July 30, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Cell Expansion Market by Product (Reagent, Media, Flow Cytometer, Centrifuge, Bioreactor), Cell Type (Human, Animal), Application (Regenerative Medicine & Stem Cell Research, Cancer & Cell-based Research), End-User, and Region - Global Forecast to 2025" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The global cell expansion market is projected to reach USD 30.06 billion by 2025 from an estimated USD 14.91 billion in 2020, at a CAGR of 15.1%.

The report segments the cell expansion market based on region (Asia Pacific, Europe, North America, and RoW), product (consumables and instruments), cell type (human cells and animal cells), application (regenerative medicine and stem cell research, cancer and cell-based research and other applications), and end user (research institutes, biotechnology and biopharmaceutical companies, cell banks, and other end users). The report also provides a comprehensive review of market drivers, restraints, and opportunities in the cell expansion market.

Increasing incidence of chronic diseases and government investments for cell-based research are set to drive the cell expansion market

Growth in this market is largely driven by the increasing incidence of chronic diseases, government investments for cell-based research, growing focus on personalized medicine, increasing focus on R&D for cell-based therapies, and increasing GMP certifications for cell therapy production facilities. On the other hand, ethical concerns regarding research in cell biology are expected to limit market growth to a certain extent in the coming years.

By instruments type, the cell expansion supporting equipment accounted for the fasted growing product segment of the cell expansion market

The instruments segment includes cell expansion supporting equipment, bioreactors, and automated cell expansion systems. The cell expansion supporting equipment market includes flow cytometers, cell counters and hemocytometers, centrifuges, and other supporting equipment. They are used in cell culture processes for isolating, culturing, scaling-up, and extracting biological products. These instruments are essential in laboratories and institutes for conducting research and analyzing the cell structure and function for cell therapy research.

By cell type, the human cells segment accounted for the largest share of the cell expansion market

Based on cell type, the cell expansion market is segmented into human cells and animal cells. The human cells segment includes stem cells and differentiated cells. The stem cells segment is further classified into adult stem cells, ESCs, and iPSCs. The human cells segment accounted for the larger share of the cell expansion market majorly due to the increasing investments by public and private organizations for research on human cells, growing application areas of human stem cells, and the growing incidence of diseases such as cancer.

Asia Pacific: The fastest-growing region in the cell expansion market

The Asia Pacific market is projected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period, mainly due to the increasing focus of players on emerging Asian markets, increasing incidence of chronic and infectious diseases, rising geriatric population, and government initiatives for infrastructural improvements of healthcare facilities are driving the growth of the cell expansion market in this region.

North America: the largest share of the cell expansion market

North America accounted for the largest share of the cell expansion market. The large share of this segment can primarily be attributed to the rising incidence of cancer, increasing government funding, rising research activates on stem cell therapies, growing awareness regarding advanced treatment methods, growing geriatric population, and the strong presence of industry players in the region.

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The function of the thymus and its impact on modern medicine – Science Magazine

By Stem Cell Medicine

How the thymus shaped immunology

The function of the thymus was discovered by Jacques Miller in 1961 and laid a foundation for immunology and modern medicine. Until that time, researchers mistakenly believed the thymus merely represented a remnant of defunct lymph tissue, something of an immune cell graveyard. In a Review, Miller recounts the seminal experiments and conceptual thinking that led to uncovering the critical function of the thymus and provides insights that can be learned from those early days. How knowledge of thymus function subsequently spawned the field of T cell biology and the impact it has had on immune cell interactions, vaccination, cancer immunotherapy, and the microbiome are also discussed.

Science, this issue p. eaba2429

Until the 1960s, the thymus had long remained an enigmatic organ with no known function or was considered to be just a graveyard for dying lymphocytes. By contrast, the circulating small lymphocytes found in blood and lymph had been shown in the late 1950s to be long-lived cells able to initiate an immune response when appropriately stimulated by antigen. However, although the thymus was known to be populated with lymphocytes, immunologists had not attributed any immune function to the organ. There were many reasons for this. For example, the cytological hallmarks of an immune response, such as the presence of plasma cells and germinal centers, were not seen in the thymus of healthy animals even after extensive immunization. Thymus lymphocytes, unlike lymphocytes from blood and lymphoid tissues, were unable to mount an immune response on transfer to immunocompromised recipients. Furthermore, thymectomy, which had always been performed in adult animals, was not associated with any immune defects.

In 1961, thymectomy was performed in mice during the immediate neonatal period and revealed the critically important function of the thymus in enabling the development of the immune system. Neonatally thymectomized (NTx) mice were highly susceptible to intercurrent infections, deficient in lymphocytes, unable to reject foreign skin grafts or produce antibody to some (though not all) antigens, and prone to developing certain tumors. There was no major immune defect after adult thymectomy unless the lymphoid tissues had been damaged by total body irradiation. Implanting thymus tissue into NTx mice or irradiated adult thymectomized mice restored immune function. When the thymus graft was taken from a foreign strain, the thymectomized recipients were found to be specifically tolerant of the histocompatibility antigens of the donor. This implied that the thymus was responsible not only for the normal development of immune functions but also for imposing tolerance to the bodys own tissues.

The thymus was shown to seed the lymphoid system with T lymphocytes that migrated to certain discrete areas of the lymphoid tissues and recirculated from the blood through lymphoid tissues, lymph, and back to the bloodstream. T cells exiting the thymus were found to be responsible for killing infected cells and for rejecting foreign tissue grafts. Therefore, T cells could soon be subdivided into subsets based on function, cell surface markers, and secreted products or interleukins. Thymus lymphoid stem cells were subsequently identified, and the epithelial and dendritic cells in the thymus were shown to greatly influence T cell development. They were able to educate T cells to recognize a great diversity of peptide antigens bound to the bodys own markers, major histocompatibility complex molecules, but purged any T cells that strongly reacted against the bodys own self-components. The use of irradiated adult thymectomized mice showed that T cells were not the precursors of antibody-forming cells but were essential to help, through some type of collaboration, other lymphocytes originating in bone marrow (B cells) to respond to antigen by producing antibody.

The discovery of thymus function and of T and B cell collaboration was a major immunological milestone because it not only opened up the field of immune cell interactions but also changed the course of immunology and medicine. It promoted the need for all immune phenomena, for example, memory, tolerance, autoimmunity, and immunodeficiency, as well as inflammatory and immunopathological disease conditions, to be reassessed in terms of the role played by the two distinct sets of lymphocytes and their subsets. We now know that T cells are involved in the entire spectrum of tissue physiology and pathology and even in situations not considered to be bona fide immunological conditions, such as tissue repair, dysbiosis, eclampsia, senescence, and cancer.

Hemopoietic stem cells originating in the yolk sac, fetal liver, or bone marrow migrate through the blood to the thymus, where they differentiate into T lymphocytes. Others differentiate within the bone marrow in mammals, or the bursa of Fabricius in birds, to produce B cells. Mature T and B cells circulate in the blood and lymph and colonize the T and B cell compartments of the lymphoid tissues.

The lymphoid system is intimately involved in immunological processes. The small lymphocyte that circulates through blood into lymphoid tissues, then through the lymph and back to the blood through the thoracic duct, is able to initiate immune responses after appropriate stimulation by antigen. However, the lymphocytes found in the thymus are deficient in this ability despite the fact that the thymus plays a central role in lymphocyte production and in ensuring the normal development of immunological faculty. During embryogenesis, lymphocytes are present in the thymus before they can be identified in the circulation and in other lymphoid tissues. They become educated in the thymus to recognize a great diversity of peptide antigens bound to the bodys own marker antigen, the major histocompatibility complex, but they are purged if they strongly react against their own self-components. Lymphocytes differentiate to become various T cell subsets and then exit through the bloodstream to populate certain areas of the lymphoid system as peripheral T lymphocytes with distinct markers and immune functions.

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The function of the thymus and its impact on modern medicine - Science Magazine

AlloVir’s IPO Raises $276M to Test Cell Therapies in Transplant Patients – Xconomy

By Stem Cell Medicine

Xconomy Boston

AlloVir is the latest biotech company to go public, raising about $276.3 million to pull its cell therapies off the shelf and run multiple clinical trials testing them in stem cell and organ transplant patients.

On Thursday, Cambridge, MA-based AlloVir (NASDAQ: ALVR)priced its offering of 16.25 million shares at $17 apiece, the midpoint of its targeted $16 to $18 per share price range. The company was able to sell more shares than it planned, boosting the size of the stock offering from the initial target of 14.75 million shares. AlloVir shares opened at $20 apiece, up 17.6 percent from the IPO price.

AlloVir is developing cell therapies intended to treat and prevent viral infections in transplant patients. These patients have weak immune systems that make them particularly susceptible to infection. The standard of care includes antiviral drugs. But sometimes these drugs arent enough to stop viruses, and these treatments can damage the kidneys. Instead of taking viruses head on, AlloVirs cell therapies are intended to restore the ability of a patients immune system to tackle them.

The AlloVir cell therapies are called virus-specific T cells, or VSTs. The process for making a VST therapy is similar to the way that CAR-T cancer treatments are produced. Immune cells are removed from the body and multiplied in a lab. But unlike CAR-T therapies, AlloVirs process doesnt engineer the cells in any way. The AlloVir cell therapies also dont start with a patients own immune cells. The allogeneic approach uses the T cells of healthy people who have already been exposed to viruses. That exposure is expected to be enough get these cells to go after these viruses after the therapy has been infused into a transplant patient.

Once produced, AlloVirs therapies can be stored and pulled off the shelf for use as needed. Speaking to Xconomy last year, companyco-founder and Chief Scientific Officer Ann Leen, an immunologist at the Baylor College of Medicine, likened the process to growing an immune system outside of the body, and giving it to transplant patients at the first sign of infection.

The most advanced AlloVir product candidate, Viralym-M, is a VST that targets five viruses: BK virus, cytomegalovirus, adenovirus, Epstein-Barr virus, and human herpesvirus 6. The company is testing the cell therapy as a treatment for both stem cell transplant patients and organ transplant patients.

So far, Viralym-M has been evaluated in a Phase 2 clinical trial. According to the prospectus, the experimental therapy was given to 58 stem cell transplant patients whose infections had not responded to earlier antiviral treatments. The study was not designed to show statistical significance or that the VST was superior to antivirals. The proof-of-concept clinical trial was intended to show how the therapy works and whether it can be given safely.

In the study, 93 percent54 patientsresponded to the therapy in some way. A complete response, defined as the viral load returning to the range found in healthy people and resolution of the signs and symptoms of infection, was observed in 17 patients. Another 37 patients showed a partial response, defined as the viral load falling by half.

The therapy was well-tolerated by patients. The serious complications and patient deaths in the study were deemed unrelated to the AlloVir therapy. Graft-versus-host-disease, an immune response that is a known risk of stem cell transplants, was reported in 14 patients. A total of 23 patients in the study died. Preliminary clinical trial data were published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology in 2017.

There are no cell therapies approved for use in the US or Europe for treating or preventing the viral infections that AlloVir is targeting. But the company faces potential competition from South San Francisco-based Atara Biotherapeutics (NASDAQ: ATRA), which has advanced an allogeneic cell therapy called tabelecleucel to Phase 3 testing. That study is evaluating the therapy as a treatment for stem cell and organ transplant patients who develop Epstien-Barr viral infection along with post-operative lymphoproliferative disease, a known complication of transplant procedures.

AlloVir was founded in 2013 based on technology developed in Leens research lab, which is part of the Center for Cell and Gene Therapy at Baylor. The company, which was initially named ViraCyte, is led by CEO David Hallal. Hallal is also the chief executive of ElevateBio, a Waltham, MA-based company that provides manufacturing services for cell and gene therapy companies and also invests in them. ElevateBio is AlloVirs largest institutional shareholder, holding a 21.9 percent post-IPO stake, according to the prospectus. Prior to the IPO, the filing shows that AlloVir had raised $156.3 million, including a $12o million Series B round last year.

According to the prospectus, AlloVir plans to use the IPO cash to advance Viralym-M to a Phase 3 study testing it against hemorrhagic cystitis, inflammation of the bladder that is a virus-associated complication faced by stem cell transplant patients. The drug will also be tested in separate late-stage studies in cytomegalovirus and adenovirus. About $98 million is planned for those Phase 3 tests.

Another $83 million is earmarked for Phase 2 tests of Viralym-M. Those tests will cover the prevention of multiple viral infections in stem cell transplant patients, treating BK virus infection in kidney transplant patients, and treating cytomegalovirus infections in solid organ transplant patients.

The IPO cash will also support two respiratory virus programs. ALVR106 is being developed to treat respiratory syncytial virus, influenza, parainfluenza virus, and human metapneumovirus. That VST is expected to start Phase 1 tests in the second half of this year. The other respiratory virus program, ALVR109, is in development as a treatment for infection by the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. The company plans to advance that program to Phase 1/2 testing.

Image: iStock/Jay_Zynism

Frank Vinluan is an Xconomy editor based in Research Triangle Park. You can reach him at fvinluan@xconomy.com.

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AlloVir's IPO Raises $276M to Test Cell Therapies in Transplant Patients - Xconomy

Cerus Corporation Announces a Five-Year Tender Award by the Hong Kong Red Cross Blood Transfusion Service for INTERCEPT Blood Systems – Business Wire

By Stem Cell Medicine

CONCORD, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Cerus Corporation (Nasdaq:CERS) today announced it has been awarded a five-year tender by the Hong Kong Red Cross Blood Transfusion Services (BTS) for INTERCEPT Blood System for platelets. The Hong Kong Red Cross BTS is the only public institution providing blood to all hospitals, public and private, in Hong Kong.

Following a thorough selection process, we are pleased to be selected by the Hong Kong Red Cross BTS to supply INTERCEPT Blood System for platelets, said Pascal Maillard, Cerus vice president of commercial operations for the Asia Pacific region. INTERCEPT for platelets provides a robust, broad-spectrum inactivation, reducing the risks of transfusion-transmitted infections and thereby enhancing patient care.

This is an important contract for Cerus, continued Maillard. The Hong Kong Red Cross BTS is a member of the influential Asia Pacific Blood Network (APBN) and a key opinion leader globally. This tender award presents a unique opportunity to expand the use of INTERCEPT in Asia-Pacific, a region that represents a significant market growth opportunity for Cerus.

The tender award builds upon the prior experience of the Hong Kong Red Cross BTS with the INTERCEPT Blood System for platelets. The Hong Kong Red Cross BTS, in collaboration with the Queen Mary Hospital, conducted a clinical study successfully transfusing INTERCEPT treated platelet components prepared without leukocyte reduction, without bacterial screening, and without gamma irradiation to allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant (HSCT) patients (Sim, Tsoi et al. 2019).

This innovative study conducted by the Hong Kong Red Cross BTS and Queen Mary Hospital has the potential to change how patients are supported with platelet transfusions, said Dr. Laurence Corash, Cerus chief scientific officer. The study indicated that INTERCEPT treatment could potentially replace leukocyte filtration, a common practice to reduce the incidence of febrile transfusion reactions, alloimmunization, and cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection. The INTERCEPT platelet system has already demonstrated widespread replacement of bacterial screening, gamma irradiation, and CMV serology in the EU and U.S.

The Hong Kong Red Cross BTS recently completed renovations and is a state-of-the-art facility that manufactures approximately 40,000 platelet doses per year, a portion of which will be treated with INTERCEPT.

Sim, J., W. C. Tsoi, et al. (2019). "Transfusion of pathogen-reduced platelet components without leukoreduction." Transfusion 59(6): 1953-1961.

ABOUT CERUS

Cerus Corporation is dedicated solely to safeguarding the worlds blood supply and aims to become the preeminent global blood products company. Based in Concord, California, our employees are dedicated to deploying and supplying vital technologies and pathogen-protected blood components for blood centers, hospitals and ultimately patients who rely on safe blood. With the INTERCEPT Blood System, we are focused on protecting patients by delivering the full complement of reliable products and expertise for transfusion medicine. Cerus develops and markets the INTERCEPT Blood System and remains the only company in the blood transfusion space to earn both CE Mark and FDA approval for pathogen reduction of both platelet and plasma components. Cerus currently markets and sells the INTERCEPT Blood System in the United States, Europe, the Commonwealth of Independent States, the Middle East and selected countries in other regions around the world. The INTERCEPT Red Blood Cell system is in clinical development. For more information about Cerus, visit http://www.cerus.com and follow us on LinkedIn.

INTERCEPT and the INTERCEPT Blood System are trademarks of Cerus Corporation.

Forward Looking Statements

Except for the historical statements contained herein, this press release contains forward-looking statements concerning Cerus belief that the INTERCEPT Blood System has the potential to change how patients are supported with platelet transfusions and to potentially replace leukocyte filtration, and other statements that are not historical facts. Actual results could differ materially from these forward-looking statements as a result of certain factors, including, without limitation: risks related to Cerus ability to demonstrate to the transfusion medicine community and other health care constituencies that pathogen reduction and the INTERCEPT Blood System is safe, effective and economical; the risk that applicable regulatory authorities and healthcare practitioners may disagree with Cerus interpretations of the data from its clinical studies; as well as other risks detailed in Cerus filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including Cerus Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2020, filed with the SEC on May 5, 2020. In addition, to the extent that the COVID-19 pandemic adversely affects Cerus business and financial results, it may also have the effect of heightening many of the other risks and uncertainties described above. Cerus disclaims any obligation or undertaking to update or revise any forward-looking statements contained in this press release.

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Cerus Corporation Announces a Five-Year Tender Award by the Hong Kong Red Cross Blood Transfusion Service for INTERCEPT Blood Systems - Business Wire

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