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Tag: Regenerative Medicine

  • Regenerative medicine for dogs and cats – Part 2 | Animal Wellness Magazine

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    Want to slow the aging process in your animal companion? Part two of this article focuses on therapeutic options used in regenerative medicine, and how they promote better health and longevity. 

    Regenerative medicine is making headlines for its healing potential in dogs, cats, and humans. In the first part of this article (AW, Winter 24/25), we examined how it works and why it’s making waves in how we care for our animal companions.  Now we’ll explore in detail some of the therapeutic options used in regenerative medicine for dogs and cats.

    Go within to find the source of all healing 

    Numerous resources already address the healing benefits of supplements, food, and nutraceuticals, so I’m going to introduce the more esoteric forms of regeneration found within our bodies. 

    Fast fact: Aging is a progressive degenerative state. 

    As aging progresses, it depletes tissue stem cells, causes inflammation, alters the matrix, induces cellular senescence, and disrupts metabolic functions. 

    These changes reflect underlying molecular aberrations in mitochondria, intercellular communication, nutrient sensing, epigenetics and DNA repair. This results in genomic instability and damage, including telomere dysfunction.

    Cellular health, replication and division is the hallmark of longevity and total body health. 

    It relies on the proper function, expression and repair mechanisms of DNA in the cells.

    A cell has hundreds of thousands of parts that need to work together in an innate intelligently orchestrated process. This ensures a long and healthy life for that cell. What can we do to support this process?

    Telomeres and telomerase 

    Telomeres are genetic, repetitive, non-coding regions at the ends of a chromosome. A telomere gets shorter each time a cell divides. When it gets too short, the cell stops dividing and either dies or becomes a senescent cell. The length of a telomere predicts aging and disease. 

    Fast fact: A telomere is much like the aglet at the end of a shoelace.

    Telomere dysfunction coincides with many changes in the body, including:

    • Widespread tissue stem cell depletion
    • Progressive tissue atrophy
    • Germ cell depletion
    • Reduced ability to reproduce
    • Impaired adaptive immunity
    • Decreased memory
    • Delayed wound healing
    • Diminished stress responses
    • Increased hair graying and loss
    • Diminished cardiac function
    • Weakened skeletal frame
    • Increased cancer incidence
    • Overall frailty.

    Telomerase is an enzyme that prevents telomere destruction. Interestingly, cancer cells that don’t undergo apoptosis (cell death) have an abundance of this enzyme. The main focus of anti-aging and regenerative medicine is research into the use and production of telomerase.

    Conventional medicine is looking for ways to use uncertain and potentially dangerous gene therapies, but more natural methods can create this effect. 

    Mind-body medicine, which uses supplements, breathwork, sound therapy, and deep meditative and transcendental states, can yield positive physiological changes, biological upgrades, and DNA repair in the body. Supplements and nutrients like cat’s claw, astragalus root extract, milk thistle seed extract, and Korean ginseng extract may activate telomerase.

    Stem cell therapy

    Stem cells maintain the body’s overall health and integrity. A stem cell serves as a reserve cell that replicates and either remains in its reserve pool or replaces a damaged or aging cell. 

    Fast fact: A stem cell has the potential to differentiate into any type of cell in the body. 

    This gives stem cells the power to replace worn out, damaged, or diseased tissues. The possibility of rejuvenation and greater levels of recovery are the result. We’ve known about the existence and behavior of stem cells for the last 50 years and have been studying them as a form of regenerative treatment for 20 years.

    There are many types of stem cells, each with distinct characteristics and purposes. It’s therefore crucial to understand these different types, their limitations, and their potential benefits before doing any stem cell treatment. The type of cell line used, along with the activation process, depends on the knowledge and skill level of the veterinary practitioner. 

    Because of their maleable and transformative nature, and their existence within our bodies and those of our dogs and cats, stem cells can be harnessed, processed, activated, and infused back into the body. 

    Early research shows that stem cells can become any cell, depending on the environment they are exposed to and the culture medium they are in. 

    Fast fact: Inside the body (in vivo), our blood serves as the culture medium. 

    Our blood and cells orchestrate a deeply complex symphony of cell signaling mechanisms. Energetic, biochemical, hormonal, and intracellular processes send “information” to stem cells, activating their mechanisms of proliferation and differentiation — essentially determining what they become and how many they will be. 

    Studies show that biochemicals released by certain emotional states play an integral role in how cells behave. Substances like oxytocin, growth factor, dopamine, vasopressin and DHEA are secreted in response to elevated and positive emotions such as love, care, appreciation, and gratitude. 

    Conversely, substances like cortisol, epinephrine, norepinephrine and histamine are released in response to the negative emotions of fear, anxiety, anger, and frustration. 

    In the presence of these rejuvenating or depleting molecular compounds, all cells will either proliferate and grow or go into complete cell arrest and death. 

    Energy or frequency medicine

    Our world is bathed in the electromagnetic frequencies of light, sound, and quantum fields. Everything from subatomic particles to global body systems has a vibration and is surrounded by fields of energy. We can use vibration to interface with these fields to rebalance the distortions we call disease. 

    Fast fact: We and our dogs and cats are all essentially energy.

    Many studies have shown that cells communicate with each other via light and sound. Information is carried through biofields and other fields of energy that connect us with our animal companions. These fields of energy information interlink all organs and systems of the body and can be stimulated by light and sound frequencies. 

    We can do this by utilizing different frequencies measured in hertz (for sound) and nanometers (for light). Objects and technologies such as tuning forks, sound bowls, Tibetan gongs, music, toning, infrared and far-infrared light can be used.  

    In humans, more intangible therapies such as meditation, visualization, journeying, and guided prayer positively impact well-being, relationships, and overall life satisfaction. People report feeling more connected to their spirituality, experiencing a deep sense of peace and purpose, and finding guidance and clarity in life decisions.

    In other words, frequency medicine acts as a catalyst to support the body’s natural healing processes. 

    In conclusion

    We are not passive recipients of life’s circumstances. We are active participants in crafting our destiny. Our relationships with each other, and our dogs and cats, are entangled and interwoven through deep emotional bonds.

    Regenerative medicine for dogs and cats supports and utilizes the body’s own healing mechanisms. It accomplishes this through technology such as stem cell therapy, frequency medicine, nutritional therapy, and supplements.

    A simple exercise to try at home

    Set aside a dedicated time for you and your animal. Pick a quiet comfortable space without distractions. Play soft soothing music that resonates with you. Breathe deeply to oxygenate, visualize the healing mechanisms creating a healed state in your body, or that of your dog or cat, and embrace the regeneration. 

    Factors that affect telomerase

    Decrease telomerase:

    • Poor nutrition
    • Mental and emotional stresses
    • Lack of self-love or loss of love
    • Lack of purpose

    Increase telomerase:

    • Good nutrition
    • Exercise
    • Gratitude, positive outlook, feelings of hope
    • Self-love and love
    • Sense of purpose, being in service

    Telomerase in action 

    The Immortal Sea Jelly (Turritopsis dorhnii), a type of jellyfish, uses telomerase to regenerate under stress. 

    Under trauma, or any other situation that may threaten its life, this unique creature takes a pause to become very introspective. It becomes desensitized to its outer world, secretes large amounts of telomerase, and focuses all its energy into DNA repair and rejuvenation. 


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    Veterinarian Dr. Barrie Sands received her DVM degree from Ross University in 1991. She achieved her CVA certification from IVAS in 2003, followed by advanced training in food and herbal therapies and homeopathy. Dr. Sands has been working at the VCA Emergency and Referral Center in San Diego since 1996 in the Emergency Critical Care department, and is head of the Integrative Holistic department. She is a certified trainer for the Institute of HeartMath. Dr. Barrie authored the book The Stupid Things My Human Does; True Stories from the Animal ER.

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    Barrie Sands, DVM, CVA, HMCT

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  • Behind the Recovery: Ryan Kent’s Cutting-Edge Approach to Healing and Longevity Without Surgery

    Behind the Recovery: Ryan Kent’s Cutting-Edge Approach to Healing and Longevity Without Surgery

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    Blending regenerative medicine and a focus on long-term health, Ryan Kent is helping athletes and patients recover faster, avoid invasive procedures, and improve their longevity.


    LISLE, Ill., October 17, 2024 (Newswire.com)
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    In a world where surgery often feels like the only solution for serious injuries or chronic pain, Ryan Kent, Full-Practice Authority Nurse Practitioner at Defiant Health Spa, is quietly changing the rules. Using cutting-edge techniques like PRP (Platelet Rich Plasma) injections, stem cells, and peptides, Kent is helping the body heal itself from within. His approach is becoming a crucial alternative for athletes and patients who thought surgery was their only option.

    Kent isn’t in it for fame, but his work speaks for itself. Whether helping athletes make a comeback or guiding patients away from the operating table, he’s redefining what’s possible in modern medicine.

    A High School Quarterback’s Return to the Field

    In October, a small-town high school quarterback—poised to impress college scouts—took a brutal hit that shattered his throwing wrist. Torn ligaments and severe damage left his football future hanging by a thread. Although doctors repaired the damage, the recovery was projected to take at least a year—long enough to jeopardize his senior season and college prospects.

    That’s when Kent stepped in. Working with the quarterback’s medical team, he created a post-surgical regenerative plan that leveraged PRP injections to flood the wrist with growth factors, stem cells to regenerate damaged tissues, and peptides to reduce inflammation and speed up healing.

    In just three months, the quarterback regained full motion. By the fourth month, he was back on the practice field, and by the sixth month, he was fully cleared to play—stronger than ever. Kent’s approach wasn’t just about recovery; it was about saving a career.

    A Golfer’s Return to Form

    For a scratch golfer in his 40s, life revolved around the game—until chronic tennis elbow and golfer’s elbow made it impossible to play. Every swing became agonizing, and even daily activities were a struggle. Surgery seemed inevitable.

    Kent offered an advanced, non-surgical solution: ultrasound-guided PRP injections, mesenchymal stem cells from the golfer’s own bone marrow to regenerate tissue, and BPC-157, a peptide known for tendon repair. Over several months, the golfer saw real progress. “By the third treatment, I was back to light chipping,” he says. By the fifth month, he was swinging pain-free.

    Kent explains, “Our goal isn’t just temporary relief; it’s to rebuild the body from the inside out.” The golfer credits Kent with restoring not only his game but his confidence.

    Changing the Landscape of Medicine

    Kent’s methods are gaining traction not only in athletics but among patients looking to avoid surgery and pharmaceutical dependence. In a system where chronic pain is often treated with invasive procedures or addictive medications, Kent offers a more sustainable solution.

    By treating the root causes of pain, rather than just masking symptoms, his approach challenges the “quick fix” mentality that often leads to repeated surgeries or long-term reliance on drugs. His treatments prioritize the body’s natural ability to heal itself, offering a path to lasting recovery and well-being.

    “We’re here to restore function and health naturally, without sending patients toward the operating table or a lifetime of pharmaceuticals,” Kent says.

    The Future of Healing

    Kent’s work is reshaping how we think about recovery and rehabilitation. With a focus on personalized, minimally invasive treatments, he’s helping athletes and everyday patients alike avoid surgery and regain their quality of life.

    “We’re just scratching the surface of what’s possible when we work with the body’s natural processes,” Kent explains. Whether saving careers or improving daily lives, he’s leading the charge toward a more thoughtful, sustainable approach to healing.

    Source: Defiant Health

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  • SEBM Announces Speaker Lineup for 2024 EBMC in Orlando

    SEBM Announces Speaker Lineup for 2024 EBMC in Orlando

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    ORLANDO, Fla., August 26, 2024 (Newswire.com)
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    The Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine (SEBM) is proud to announce its speaker lineup for the upcoming Experimental Biology and Medicine Conference (EBMC) at the Embassy Suites by Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista South from October 13th to 16th, 2024. The speaker lineup will help SEBM continue its legacy of fostering collaboration and innovation among scientists across various disciplines.

    EBMC will serve as a vital platform for experimental biology scientists from diverse backgrounds to converge, network, and exchange cutting-edge research findings. With a rich history spanning over a century, SEBM and its renowned journal, Experimental Biology and Medicine, remain steadfast in their commitment to advancing basic, translational, and clinical research.

    This year, EBMC is honored to welcome Dr. Michael Friedlander, Ph.D., Vice President for Health Sciences and Technology and Senior Dean for Research at Virginia Tech School of Medicine, as the keynote speaker. Dr. Friedlander’s expertise and insights promise to enrich the conference experience, inspiring attendees to delve deeper into the realms of this incredible industry.

    The EBMC conference will also feature presentations from Robert Schwartz at the University of Houston. Dr. Schwartz is a pioneer in defining the regulatory paradigm that specifies cardiac muscle differentiation. His recent research focuses on the trans-differentiation of somatic cells to cells of other lineages, such as cardiac muscle. His talk at the Experimental Biology and Medicine Conference 2024 in Orlando, FL will focus on the ability of synthetically modified mRNAs coding for specific regulatory factor combinations to regenerate and repair infarcted heart muscle in situ, offering a new therapeutic avenue for heart disease.

    Also presenting at EBMC is Agnes Lou from the University of Cincinnati. Dr. Lou is the leader in the study of neuroinflammation, neuroprotection, and neuroregeneration. Her talk at EBMC 2024 will focus on her work on microglia and how promoting homeostasis of these cells is critical for brain cognition.

    Finally, the 2024 EBMC will feature an Arnold Caplan memorial session. This session will include presentations from Dr. Mark Pittenger from the University of Maryland, Dr. John Hare from the University of Miami, and Dr. Joanna Kurtzberg from Duke University on topics of regenerative medicine with a focus on Dr. Caplan’s groundbreaking research.

    EBMC warmly welcomes attendees and late-breaking abstract submissions covering a wide spectrum of research topics. Interested individuals can explore journal categories on the SEBM website and discover opportunities to contribute to the advancement of biomedical science.

    For further details and registration, please visit ExBioMedCon.org.

    About SEBM
    SEBM’s mission is to promote investigation in the biomedical sciences mainly through publication of a peer-reviewed journal, Experimental Biology and Medicine, and to foster the career development of students, physician-scientists and new investigators. Founded in 1903, the Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine (SEBM) is a not-for-profit scientific society formed to promote investigation in the biomedical sciences by encouraging and facilitating the interchange of scientific information among disciplines. The principal means for achieving this purpose are the publication of a peer-reviewed journal, Experimental Biology and Medicine, and support of regional and national meetings. The Society also fosters the career development of students and new investigators. SEBM has nearly 1,000 members worldwide the majority of whom have their doctoral degrees and are actively engaged in various fields of biomedical research. Membership dues include discounts to Society events and author publishing charges for our journal, Experimental Biology and Medicine.

    Contact Information:

    Events, Media, Sponsorships

    Emily Hartstone

    Email: emily@sebm.org

    For interview requests, please contact Jessica Homa at jhoma@sebm.org.

    Source: Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine

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  • This Bag of Cells Could Grow New Livers Inside of People

    This Bag of Cells Could Grow New Livers Inside of People

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    In early experiments, Lagasse found that if he injected healthy liver cells into the lymph nodes of mice, the cells would flourish and form a second, smaller liver to take over the functions of the animal’s failing one. The new livers grew up to 70 percent of the size of a native liver. “What happened is that the liver grew to a certain size and then stopped growing when it reached the level necessary for normal function,” Lagasse says.

    At the University of Pittsburgh, Lagasse and his colleagues also tested the approach in pigs. In a study published in 2020, they found that pigs regained liver function after getting an injection of liver cells into an abdominal lymph node. When the scientists examined the lymph nodes with miniature livers, they found that a network of blood vessels and bile ducts had spontaneously formed. The more severe the damage in the pigs’ native liver, the bigger the second livers grew, suggesting the animals’ bodies may be able to recognize the healthy liver tissue and transfer responsibilities to it.

    “It is remarkable to identify lymph nodes as a reproducible and fertile bed for the regeneration of a variety of tissues and organs in two different animal species,” Abla Creasey, vice president of therapeutics development at the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine, says of the company’s approach. “These findings suggest that such an approach could present an alternative tissue source for patients with failing organs,”

    Elliot Tapper, a liver specialist at the University of Michigan, is also excited by the prospect of turning a lymph node into a new liver. “Even though it’s not where the liver was intended to sit, it can still do some liver functions,” he says.

    The most likely benefit of the LyGenesis treatment, he says, would be removing ammonia from the blood. In end-stage liver disease, ammonia can build up and travel to the brain, where it causes confusion, mood swings, falls, and sometimes comas. He doesn’t think the new mini organs could do all the jobs of a natural liver though, because they contain cell types other than hepatocytes.

    One of the big questions is how many cells it will require for humans to grow a liver big enough to take over certain vital functions, such as filtering blood and producing bile. In the LyGenesis trial, three additional patients will get an injection of 50 million cells into a single lymph node—the lowest “dose.” If that seems safe, a second group of four will get 150 million cells into three different lymph nodes. A third group would get 250 million cells in five lymph nodes—meaning they could have five mini livers growing inside them.

    The effects of the therapy won’t be immediate. Hufford says it will likely take two to three months for the new organ to grow big enough to take over some of the functions of the native liver. And like organ donor recipients, trial participants will need to go on immunosuppressant drugs for the rest of their lives to prevent their body from rejecting the donor cells.

    If the approach works, it could provide a life-saving alternative to liver transplantation for some patients. “If they prove it’s effective and safe,” Tapper says, “there will definitely be candidates that are interested in this kind of intervention.”

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    Emily Mullin

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  • UC Davis Eye Center tests experimental gene therapy for wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD)

    UC Davis Eye Center tests experimental gene therapy for wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD)

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    Newswise — (SACRAMENTO, Calif.) — Ophthalmologists at UC Davis Health used an experimental gene therapy last month to treat a patient with wet age-related macular degeneration, or wet AMD. It was the first time the UC Davis Eye Center had used gene therapy.

    The treatment was part of a randomized, partially masked, controlled, phase 3 clinical study evaluating the efficacy and safety of an experimental therapy, ABBV-RGX-314, for wet AMD. UC Davis Health is one of 93 sites in the U.S. participating in the clinical trial.

    This investigational treatment is not FDA approved, and the efficacy and safety have not been established.

    Wet AMD affects approximately 2 million people in the United States, Europe and Japan. It is a leading cause of vision loss among older adults.

    “The current treatments for wet AMD may be life-long, and injections can be as frequent as every month,” said Glenn Yiu, professor of ophthalmology at UC Davis Health and principal investigator for the new clinical trial. “If approved, a gene therapy solution has the potential to maintain vision while reducing the number of injections, by allowing the eye to continuously produce the medicine on its own,” Yiu said.

    In AMD, the macula, an area of the eye’s lining that helps you see, becomes damaged. This can blur the central part of your vision, making it hard to drive or read. An early symptom of wet AMD is that straight lines look distorted and wavy.

    In wet, or neovascular AMD, abnormal blood vessels grow underneath the retina. These vessels lead to bleeding or fluid leakage in the back of your eye, causing vision loss. This process, known as “neovascularization,” is largely driven by a growth factor called vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF).

    Treatments for wet AMD rely on repeated injections of drugs that block VEGF in the diseased eye.

    An illustration of a normal retina compared to a retina with wet AMD. The normal retina shows a flat layer of cells lining the eye and the wet AMD retina shows a branching blood vessel extending into and pushing up the cell layer.
    In wet or neovascular AMD, abnormal blood vessels grow underneath the retina, leading to bleeding or fluid leakage in the eye.

    Gene therapy may offer different approach

    Unlike stem cell therapies used to treat eye diseases — which involve injecting cells with regenerative or restorative capabilities into the eye — gene therapy generally uses an empty viral envelope (a vector) to deliver a gene with specific genetic instructions for making protein.

    ABBV-RGX-314 contains genetic instructions for making anti-VEGF proteins. After a single injection of ABBV-RGX-314 gene therapy, the eye can start to make the medicine on its own.

    Yiu performed the first experimental gene therapy eye surgery at UC Davis Health in July. The procedure is more complex than administering a monthly injection. It includes a vitrectomy, where the viscous gel in the eye is removed and replaced with a saline infusion. The experimental treatment with its gene delivery vector is then injected underneath the retina.

    Yiu will monitor whether the participant will continue to need monthly anti-VEGF injections in the coming months.

    Paul Sieving is the former director of the National Eye Institute and is now a professor of ophthalmology at UC Davis Health. He established the Center for Ocular Regenerative Therapy (CORT) for pursuing cell and gene therapies.

    “It is noteworthy for patients in Northern California that UC Davis Health is doing experimental ocular gene therapy studies in the Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences. What excites me most about this is the potential of Dr. Yiu’s work to reduce the repeated eye injections currently required for wet age-related macular degeneration,” Sieving said.

    UC Davis Health has enrolled three patients in the clinical trial and plans to enroll more. Individuals aged 50 to 88 with wet AMD who have had prior anti-VEGF injections may be eligible to participate.

    For more information, visit the study page, or email Denise Macias, clinical research supervisor, at [email protected].

    Resources

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    UC Davis Health

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  • Tecnologia Inovadora Trata Cânceres De Cabeça E PescoçO

    Tecnologia Inovadora Trata Cânceres De Cabeça E PescoçO

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    Newswise — JACKSONVILLE, Flórida — No mundo todo, o papilomavírus humano (HPV) é responsável por grande parte dos cânceres de cabeça e pescoço, de acordo com a Organização Mundial da Saúde. Nos Estados Unidos, o HPV está associado a cerca de 70 por cento dos cânceres de garganta e boca. E mais de 70 por cento desses cânceres são diagnosticados em homens, de acordo com os Centros de Controle e Prevenção de Doenças (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CDC) dos EUA.

    O tratamento dos cânceres de garganta e boca, também chamados de cânceres orofaríngeos ou cânceres de cabeça e pescoço, depende da localização e do estágio da doença, além de outros fatores.

    O Dr. Phillip Pirgousis, cirurgião de cabeça e pescoço da Mayo Clinic na Flórida, diz que atualmente os pacientes contam com tratamentos cirúrgicos mais seguros e menos invasivos para cânceres de cabeça e pescoço, disponíveis graças a uma tecnologia inovadora.

    Casos de câncer relacionados ao HPV estão aumentando em duas áreas específicas da garganta.

    “Nas amígdalas na parte posterior da garganta e no tecido do linfonodo na parte posterior da língua”, relata o Dr. Pirgousis.

    Cânceres nesses dois locais podem ser um desafio.

    “Muitos dos desafios costumam estar relacionados à localização do tumor primário, porque é difícil acessar a garganta e a área da laringe ou caixa de voz”, explica ele.

    Diante desse cenário desafiador é que a inovação com robótica possibilita melhor visualização do tumor, melhor iluminação e melhores resultados em termos de completa remoção do tumor.

    “Estamos falando aqui de grandes cirurgias abertas comparadas com cirurgias minimamente invasivas, nas quais conseguimos acessar esses locais difíceis fazendo incisões faciais”, complementa ele.

    “E causando menor impacto na respiração, na fala, na deglutição e na comunicação. O robô cirúrgico melhorou nossa capacidade não só de remover completamente os tumores, mas de realizar essa remoção com segurança”, avalia o Dr. Pirgousis.

    Cirurgia robótica transoral

    A cirurgia robótica transoral é uma técnica cirúrgica minimamente invasiva que usa um sistema de computador para ajudar a guiar as ferramentas cirúrgicas pela boca. Os braços robóticos são controlados por um cirurgião que opera um console e guia os braços para realizar a cirurgia. O console proporciona ao cirurgião uma visão 3D ampliada de alta definição do local da cirurgia. O cirurgião lidera outros integrantes da equipe que auxiliam durante a cirurgia.

    Opções de tratamento para cânceres de cabeça e pescoço

    O tratamento é baseado em muitos fatores, incluindo localização, estágio do câncer, tipo de células envolvidas, a saúde geral e preferências pessoais dos pacientes. O paciente pode fazer receber apenas um tipo de tratamento, ou pode se submeter a uma combinação de tratamentos contra o câncer. A equipe médica trabalhará com o paciente para determinar o melhor plano de tratamento para o caso.

    O tratamento pode incluir:

    • Radioterapia
    • Cirurgia para remover o câncer que não se espalhou para outras áreas
    • Cirurgia para remover parte da garganta, caixa vocal ou nódulos linfáticos
    • Quimioterapia
    • Terapia medicamentosa
    • Imunoterapia

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    Sobre a Mayo Clinic
    A Mayo Clinic é uma organização sem fins lucrativos comprometida com a inovação na prática clínica, educação e pesquisa, fornecendo compaixão, conhecimento e respostas para todos que precisam de cura. Visite a Rede de Notícias da Mayo Clinic para obter outras notícias da Mayo Clinic.

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  • Enhanced stem cell culture boosts genome editing safety

    Enhanced stem cell culture boosts genome editing safety

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    Newswise — Tsukuba, Japan—Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) are rare cells found in the bone marrow that produce red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. Their correct functioning is indispensable for the growth and health of an organism. Accordingly, defects in the DNA of hematopoietic stem cells (mutations) can cause impaired blood production and severe diseases.

    Gene therapy seeks to treat such types of genetic diseases. A breakthrough technology that has driven the entire field in recent years is gene editing via clustered regularly interspaced palindromic repeats/Cas9 (CRISPR/Cas9). Using this technology, one can modify disease-causing mutations and transplant HSCs with recovered function, potentially curing the disease.

    However, the CRISPR/Cas9 system is not perfect. It only corrects mutations in a small fraction of cells and can introduce new, potentially dangerous mutations into other cells. Therefore, selecting corrected cells before transplantation is crucial.

    In 2019, the research group reported a method of expanding HSCs over a long time period using a polymer-based culture system and cytokines. In response to this problem, the authors have developed a novel culture system using a novel high-molecular-weight polymer. This system facilitates the growth of single HSCs in transplantable cell colonies that achieve high blood-producing capacity after long-time ex vivo culture. After editing a mutation in a murine immune deficiency model, the authors individually grow several hundred HSCs and screen them for clones that contain only the desired edit and are expected to engraft successfully. Using this method, the fraction of successfully corrected HSCs used for transplantation can be increased from 20%-30% to 100% while eliminating potentially dangerous mutations from the graft. We believe that this culture system might contribute to improving the efficiency and safety of genome editing in HSCs.

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    This work was supported by the German Research Foundation (BE 6847/1-1 to H.J.B.), the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS; #20K16234 to M.S.J.L., #23K15315 to H.J.B., #21F21108 and #20K21612 to S.Y.), the Kay Kendall Leukaemia Fund (A.C.W.), the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST; #18071245 to C.C.), and the Japanese Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED; #21bm0404077h0001 and #21bm0704055h0002 to S.Y.). The D.G.K. laboratory is supported by a Blood Cancer UK Bennett Fellowship (15008), an ERC Starting Grant (ERC-2016-STG-715371), a CR-UK Programme Foundation award (DCRPGF100008), the MRC Mouse Genetics Network Haematopoiesis Cluster (MC_PC_21043), and an MRC-AMED joint award (MR/V005502/1).

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    University of Tsukuba

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  • Advancing bioprinting for functional blood vessels

    Advancing bioprinting for functional blood vessels

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    Newswise — In this project volumetric bioprinting was for the first time successfully combined with melt electrowriting. This combines the speed and cell-friendliness of volumetric printing with the structural strength needed to create functional blood vessels. The study by the biofabrication lab of Regenerative Medicine Center Utrecht (RMCU) was published today in Advanced Materials.

    Volumetric printing is a technique that was pioneered for bioprinting by the RMCU biofabrication lab in 2019. It is a fast technique, which allows cells to survive the printing process. However, because this type of printing is done in cell-friendly gels, the resulting prints are structurally not very sound. This is a problem for blood vessels, which have to be able to withstand high pressures and bending. For this reason, a merger of volumetric bioprinting and melt electrowriting was pursued.

    Melt electrowriting is a highly accurate type of 3D printing that works by directing a narrow filament of molten (biodegradable) plastic. It’s able to produce intricate scaffolds that are mechanically strong and able to deal with force. The downside here is that they can’t be printed with cells in there directly, because of the high temperatures involved. Therefore, volumetric bioprinting was used here to solidify cell-laden gels onto the scaffolds.

    How to merge electrowriting with volumetric printing

    The process starts with the creation of a tubular scaffold using melt electrowriting. This is then submerged into a vial with photoactive gel and placed in the volumetric bioprinter. In principle, the laser of the printer can selectively solidify the gel that sits in, on and/or around the scaffold. “In order to get this right, we had to place the scaffold exactly center in the vial,” first author Gabriël Größbacher says. “Any deviation from the center would mean that the volumetric print would be off-set. But we managed to center it perfectly by printing the scaffold on a mandril that we fitted to the vial.”

    In this study, Größbacher and colleagues tested various thicknesses of the scaffold, which resulted in more or less strong tubes. Finally, they also tested various placements of the bioprinted gels. These could either be placed on the inner side of the scaffold, inside the scaffold itself or on the outside of it. By using two differently labeled stem cells, the team was able to print a proof of principle blood vessel with two layers of stem cells, and seeded epithelial cells in the center to cover the lumen of the vessel.

    From tubes to functional vessels

    The design could also allow for holes in the side of the print, giving the possibility for controlled permeability of the vessel for the blood to do its function. Finally, the researchers also created more complex structures like forked vessels, and even vessels with venous valves that were functional in maintaining a unidirectional flow.

    Größbacher: “This was a proof of principle study. What we now need to do is replace the stem cells with functional cells that are part of a real blood vessel. That means adding muscle cells and fibrous tissue around the epithelial cells. Our goal now is to print a functional blood vessel.”

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    University Medical Center Utrecht

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  • With $13M, UIC scientists will study lung inflammation mechanisms

    With $13M, UIC scientists will study lung inflammation mechanisms

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    Newswise — Researchers from the University of Illinois Chicago hope to learn more about how the human immune system is regulated by the endothelium in lung tissue, thanks to a $13 million, multi-project Program Project Grant award from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.

    The researchers hope that the projects will lead to new avenues for research and treatments to help patients who suffer from conditions like chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder, pulmonary fibrosis and acute respiratory distress disorder, a common and serious complication of COVID-19.

    Conditions like these are known to be exacerbated by the body’s own immune response, such as when the inflammation meant to fight infections or heal injuries spirals out of control and winds up inflicting harm.

    The researchers think that these inflammatory conditions may be common in the lungs because of unique endothelial cells, which line blood vessels and shield the lungs from trauma and bacterial or viral infections.

    “Targeted therapies remain an urgent unmet need. It is now becoming increasingly clear that the lung endothelium is a complex monolayer, an organ itself,” said Dolly Mehta, UIC professor and interim head of the Department of Pharmacology and Regenerative Medicine at the College of Medicine and the program director for the grant.  

    “Studying this enigmatic immune regulatory function of lung endothelium is crucial for understanding how endothelial cells control immunity and defensive function of the lungs,” she said.

    The research team consists of six investigators who will lead three separate project grants and three separate cores.

    Mehta is also the principal investigator for one of the projects, for $2.2 million, which supports research on a protein receptor in endothelial cells that promotes lung integrity.

    Asrar Malik, professor of pharmacology and regenerative medicine, and Dr. Jalees Rehman, professor and head of the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, will lead the other two project grants.

    Malik’s lab will look at an enzyme called E3 ligase that influences the integrity of the lining of the blood vessels and the genes that activate the enzyme. Rehman’s lab will look at how mitochondria in endothelial cells can be leveraged to prevent out-of-control inflammation. The awards are $1.8 million and $2.2 million, respectively.

    “We know that in tissues like those found in the lung, heart and brain, the blood vessels present a unique and complicated immune environment, and we know that there is an interconnectedness between all the many cellular processes. The idea of this multi-project grant is to help create an infrastructure for collaboration among researchers looking at these various mechanisms,” Mehta said.

    Konstantinos Chronis, assistant professor of biochemistry and molecular genetics, will lead the project’s epigenetics and transcriptomics core. Gary Mo, assistant professor of pharmacology and regenerative medicine, will lead the cellular imaging core. Yoshikazu Tsukasaki, a research assistant professor also from the department of pharmacology and regenerative medicine, will lead the intravital imaging and physiology core.

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    University of Illinois Chicago

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  • 10th Annual Regenerative Medicine Essentials Course and World Stem Cell Summit Return to Live with Virtual Option in 2023

    10th Annual Regenerative Medicine Essentials Course and World Stem Cell Summit Return to Live with Virtual Option in 2023

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    Newswise — WINSTON-SALEM, NC, February 9, 2023 – The Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine (WFIRM) and the Regenerative Medicine Foundation (RMF) have announced the 20th edition of World Stem Cell Summit will be held in conjunction with the 10th annual Regenerative Medicine Essentials Course, uniquely formatted this year for both in person and virtual attendance from June 5-9, 2023.

    Produced by the non-profit RMF, and in its 20th year, the World Stem Cell Summit is the most inclusive and expansive interdisciplinary, networking, and partnering meeting in the stem cell science and regenerative medicine field. With the overarching purpose of fostering translation of biomedical research, funding, and investments targeting cures, the Summit and co-located Course serve a diverse ecosystem of stakeholders and influencers.

    From the science behind pioneering discoveries and clinical applications, to regulatory and manufacturing challenges, the Summit and the Course will provide a comprehensive look at progress to date, current challenges, new “hot” topics as well as future applications.

    The World Stem Cell Summit is the educational and networking focal point for scientists, business leaders, regulators, policy-makers, patient advocates, economic development officers, experts in law and ethics, and visionary gurus from around the world since 2003. The Regenerative Medicine Essentials Course, taught by prominent experts, features a foundational instruction into the field of regenerative medicine, with examination on the structure and function of damaged tissues and organs. 

    Joint single-track programming for the Summit and the Course – the “official course” of RMF – will be held at Wake Forest locations in the Innovation Quarter located in downtown Winston-Salem. Course founder and WFIRM Director Anthony Atala, M.D., serves as co-director with Joan Schanck, MPA, WFIRM’s Chief Education Program Officer, and RMF Executive Director Bernard Siegel, JD.

    “We welcome the World Stem Cell Summit and RMF’s partnership on this venture,” Atala said. “RMF and Bernard Siegel have provided critical leadership to the field for more than 20 years, as a catalyst for the formation of valuable collaborations, while focusing upon patient advocacy, public policy issues, advancing funding initiatives, workforce development and worldwide public awareness.”

    According to Schanck, the program is designed for clinicians, researchers, technicians, students, industry, investors and government representatives. Topics include stem cells, biomaterials, cell therapies, clinical trials, regulatory matters, pathways to market, bio-manufacturing technologies and much more.

    “The Summit and Course showcase the entire regenerative medicine ecosystem and will provide timely information to expand knowledge and provide quality solutions to deliver effective treatments and cures, sooner rather than later – all in a spirit of friendship and cooperation,” Siegel said. “In the next weeks, WFIRM and RMF will announce the strategic partners and institutions supporting this event that will reach a global audience.”

    AlphaMed Press and Stem Cells Translational Medicine, the official journal partner of RMF, endorse the Course and the Summit.

    For more information about the upcoming virtual World Stem Cell Summit, please visit: www.worldstemcellsummit.com. To receive the latest information about the RME schedule, speakers and topics, bookmark this page.

     

     

     

    About Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine: WFIRM is recognized as an international leader in translating scientific discovery into clinical therapies, with many world firsts, including the development and implantation of the first engineered organ in a patient. Over 400 people at the institute, the largest in the world, work on more than 40 different tissues and organs. A number of the basic principles of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine were first developed at the institute. WFIRM researchers have successfully engineered replacement tissues and organs in all four categories – flat structures, tubular tissues, hollow organs and solid organs – and 16 different applications of cell/tissue therapy technologies, such as skin, urethras, cartilage, bladders, muscle, kidney, and vaginal organs, have been successfully used in human patients. The institute, which is part of Wake Forest School of Medicine, is located in the Innovation Quarter in downtown Winston-Salem, NC, and is driven by the urgent needs of patients. The institute is making a global difference in regenerative medicine through collaborations with over 400 entities and institutions worldwide, through its government, academic and industry partnerships, its start-up entities, and through major initiatives in breakthrough technologies, such as tissue engineering, cell therapies, diagnostics, drug discovery, biomanufacturing, nanotechnology, gene editing and 3D printing. 

    About RegenMed Development Organization: The mission of the RegenMed Development Organization (ReMDO) is to accelerate the discovery and translation of regenerative medicine therapies. ReMDO is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that manages a clinical translation initiative that includes thought leaders, representatives from leading US research centers, government representatives, and companies of all sizes. ReMDO conducts research to de-risk technologies and speed up their translation to clinical practice and to the global market. ReMDO manages the world’s first and only professional organization dedicated solely to advancing the regenerative medicine field, the Regenerative Medicine Manufacturing Society (RMMS), and the Regenerative Medicine Manufacturing Innovation Consortium (RegMIC), which manages a private-public partnership of industry and academic members focused on scaling up technologies.

    About the World Stem Cell Summit: The World Stem Cell Summit is a project of the nonprofit Regenerative Medicine Foundation. Since 2003, Regenerative Medicine Foundation has built the strongest, most comprehensive and trusted global network for Regenerative Medicine, uniting the world’s leading researchers, medical centers, universities, labs, businesses, funders, policymakers, experts in law, regulation and ethics, medical philanthropies and patient organizations. Our mission is to accelerate regenerative medicine to improve health and deliver cures. We are committed to the ethical advancement of an innovative medicine powered by regenerative, restorative, and curative technologies. All we do is in service of health, life, and the alleviation of human suffering.

    About the Regenerative Medicine Foundation: The nonprofit Regenerative Medicine Foundation fosters strategic collaborations to accelerate the development of regenerative medicine to improve health and deliver cures. RMF unites the world’s leading researchers, medical centers, universities, labs, businesses, funders, policymakers, experts in law, regulation and ethics, medical philanthropies, and patient organizations. We maintain a trusted network of leaders and pursue our mission by producing our flagship World Stem Cell Summit series of conferences and public days, honoring leaders through the Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Action Awards, supporting our official journal partner STEM CELLS Translational Medicine (SCTM), promoting solution-focused policy initiatives both nationally and internationally and creating STEM/STEAM educational projects. For more information about RMF, please visit: www.regmedfoundation.org.

     

     

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    Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine

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  • ARVO Foundation Announces 2022 Point of View Award Winner

    ARVO Foundation Announces 2022 Point of View Award Winner

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    Newswise — Rockville, Md.—The Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) congratulates Tasneem Khatib DM, FRCOphth—recipient of the 2022 Point of View Award.

    Established by the Point of View Foundation (Fundació Punt de Vista), the award provides a $20,000 cash prize in recognition of an outstanding scholarly article related to efforts to restore vision through regenerative ophthalmology, biotechnology, whole eye transplantation or other approaches. Khatib’s article is entitled:

    • Receptor-ligand replacement via a self-cleaving 2A peptide-based gene therapy promotes CNS axonal transport with functional recovery; Science Advances; March 31, 2021 (Corresponding author: Keith Martin, MA, DM, MRCP, FRCOphth, FRANZCO, FARVO)

    “The axons of nerve cells function like a railway system, where the cargo is essential components required for the cells to survive and function,” noted Khatib. “In neurodegenerative diseases, this railway system can get damaged or blocked. We reasoned that replacing two molecules that we know work effectively together would help to repair this transport network more effectively than delivering either one alone, and that is what we found. Rather than using the standard gene therapy approach of replacing or repairing damaged genes, we used the technique to supplement these molecules in the retina…The combined approach leads to a much more sustained therapeutic effect, which is very important for a treatment aimed at a chronic degenerative disease.”

    “We are very honoured to receive this award which will help us to continue to develop translatable therapies for patients with blinding disease,” says Khatib. “While this paper reports early stage research, we believe it shows promise for helping to treat neurodegenerative diseases that have so far proved intractable. Gene therapy has already proved effective for some rare monogenic conditions, and we hope it will be similarly useful for these more complex diseases which are much more common.”

    Khatib completed her doctoral research in neurobiology and glaucoma at the Centre for Brain Repair (University of Cambridge) and her ophthalmology residency at Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. She then undertook further subspecialty surgical fellowship training in glaucoma at Moorfields Eye Hospital, London. Currently, she is a postdoctoral scholar at Byers Eye Institute (Stanford Medicine) in Stanford, Calif.

    For more information about the Point of View Award, visit ARVO’s website

    # # #

    The Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) is the largest eye and vision research organization in the world. Members include approximately 10,000 eye and vision researchers from over 75 countries. ARVO advances research worldwide into understanding the visual system and preventing, treating and curing its disorders. Learn more at ARVO.org.

    Established in 2001, the ARVO Foundation for Eye Research raises funds through partnerships, grants and sponsorships to support ARVO’s world-class education and career development resources for eye and vision researchers of all stages of career and education. Learn more at ARVOFoundation.org.

    Based in Spain, the Point of View Foundation (Fundació Punt de Vista) is dedicated to advancing scientific research related to disease and injuries of the eye and visual system. To learn more about their work, visit the Fundació Punt de Vista website.

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    Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO)

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  • Scientists Discover Protein Partners that Could Heal Heart Muscle

    Scientists Discover Protein Partners that Could Heal Heart Muscle

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    Newswise — CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Scientists at the UNC School of Medicine have made a significant advance in the promising field of cellular reprogramming and organ regeneration, and the discovery could play a major role in future medicines to heal damaged hearts.

    In a study published in the journal Cell Stem Cell, scientists at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill discovered a more streamlined and efficient method for reprogramming scar tissue cells (fibroblasts) to become healthy heart muscle cells (cardiomyocytes). Fibroblasts produce the fibrous, stiff tissue that contributes to heart failure after a heart attack or because of heart disease. Turning fibroblasts into cardiomyocytes is being investigated as a potential future strategy for treating or even someday curing this common and deadly condition.

    Surprisingly, the key to the new cardiomyocyte-making technique turned out to be a gene activity-controlling protein called Ascl1, which is known to be a crucial protein involved in turning fibroblasts into neurons. Researchers had thought Ascl1 was neuron-specific.

    “It’s an outside-the-box finding, and we expect it to be useful in developing future cardiac therapies and potentially other kinds of therapeutic cellular reprogramming,” said study senior author Li Qian, PhD, associate professor in the UNC Department of Pathology and Lab Medicine and associate director of the McAllister Heart Institute at UNC School of Medicine.

    Scientists over the last 15 years have developed various techniques to reprogram adult cells to become stem cells, then to induce those stem cells to become adult cells of some other type. More recently, scientists have been finding ways to do this reprogramming more directly – straight from one mature cell type to another. The hope has been that when these methods are made maximally safe, effective, and efficient, doctors will be able to use a simple injection into patients to reprogram harm-causing cells into beneficial ones.

    “Reprogramming fibroblasts has long been one of the important goals in the field,” Qian said. “Fibroblast over-activity underlies many major diseases and conditions including heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, liver disease, kidney disease, and the scar-like brain damage that occurs after strokes.”

    In the new study, Qian’s team, including co-first-authors Haofei Wang, PhD, a postdoctoral researcher, and MD/PhD student Benjamin Keepers, used three existing techniques to reprogram mouse fibroblasts into cardiomyocytes, liver cells, and neurons. Their aim was to catalogue and compare the changes in cells’ gene activity patterns and gene-activity regulation factors during these three distinct reprogrammings.

    Unexpectedly, the researchers found that the reprogramming of fibroblasts into neurons activated a set of cardiomyocyte genes. Soon they determined that this activation was due to Ascl1, one of the master-programmer “transcription factor” proteins that had been used to make the neurons.

    Since Ascl1 activated cardiomyocyte genes, the researchers added it to the three-transcription-factor cocktail they had been using for making cardiomyocytes, to see what would happen. They were astonished to find that it dramatically increased the efficiency of reprogramming – the proportion of successfully reprogrammed cells – by more than ten times. In fact, they found that they could now dispense with two of the three factors from their original cocktail, retaining only Ascl1 and another transcription factor called Mef2c.

    In further experiments they found evidence that Ascl1 on its own activates both neuron and cardiomyocyte genes, but it shifts away from the pro-neuron role when accompanied by Mef2c. In synergy with Mef2c, Ascl1 switches on a broad set of cardiomyocyte genes.

    “Ascl1 and Mef2c work together to exert pro-cardiomyocyte effects that neither factor alone exerts, making for a potent reprogramming cocktail,” Qian said.

    The results show that the major transcription factors used in direct cellular reprogramming aren’t necessarily exclusive to one targeted cell type.

    Perhaps more importantly, they represent another step on the path towards future cell-reprogramming therapies for major disorders. Qian says that she and her team hope to make a two-in-one synthetic protein that contains the effective bits of both Ascl1 and Mef2c, and could be injected into failing hearts to mend them.

    “Cross-lineage Potential of Ascl1 Uncovered by Comparing Diverse Reprogramming Regulatomes” was co-authored by Haofei Wang, Benjamin Keepers, Yunzhe Qian, Yifang Xie, Marazzano Colon, Jiandong Liu, and Li Qian.

    Funding was provided by the American Heart Association and the National Institutes of Health (T32HL069768, F30HL154659, R35HL155656, R01HL139976, R01HL139880).

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    University of North Carolina School of Medicine

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  • Leading UK Biotechnology Company Appoints Global Expert Transplant Surgeon and Research Lead as Chief Medical Officer

    Leading UK Biotechnology Company Appoints Global Expert Transplant Surgeon and Research Lead as Chief Medical Officer

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    Press Release
    –


    updated: Oct 17, 2017


    London, United Kingdom, October 17, 2017 (Newswire.com)
    –
    ​Precious Cells (International Ltd) welcomes Dr Kourosh Saeb-Parsy, Consultant Transplant Surgeon, University Lecturer and Regenerative Medicine Research Lead, as their new Chief Medical Officer.

    This newly created role is the latest in a series of expert senior management appointments at Precious Cells, as the team strive towards achieving their vision to transform the future of global health by connecting the 7 billion potential stem cell donors worldwide.  The team of seasoned international experts have come together to tackle the global challenges facing transplantation medicine by creating access to stem cell treatments that will allow effective, affordable personalised medicine to become a worldwide reality in our lifetime.

    Dr Husein Salem, CEO, Precious Cells explains:

    “One of our key goals is to establish a strong, experienced clinical leadership team for achieving the clinical strategy of the organisation’s vision and mission. I am delighted that Dr Saeb-Parsy has joined us. Not only bringing his global experience and reputation for quality and excellence in transplantation and regenerative medicine, but also strengthening our strategic alliance with Cambridge University.”

    Dr Saeb-Parsy says:

    “I am passionate about creating links and networks to connect researchers, clinicians and commercial organisations to realise the promise of regenerative medicine. I am delighted to join Precious Cells International and I looks forward to working with the whole team to deliver the vision of connecting 7 billion stem cell donors.”

    Dr Saeb-Parsy is a Lecturer at the Department of Surgery, University of Cambridge and a Consultant Transplant Surgeon at Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Trust (Addenbrooke’s Hospital). His clinical interests include adult kidney, pancreas and liver transplantations.

    He leads a translational research group in regenerative medicine. The focus of his multidisciplinary and collaborative research is the cryopreservation, function and immune response to cellular therapies, including haematopoietic stem cells.

    Additionally, Dr Saeb-Parsy is involved across a number of collaborative research projects that are underpinned by the use of donor human tissue, including the investigation of regenerative cellular therapies derived from stem cells for the treatment of diabetes and liver disease.

    This is perfectly aligned with the tremendous work that Precious Cells has been focusing on, including the creation of a full proprietary “vein-to-vein supply chain™” platform that enables the company to supply stem cells of the highest quality for transplants and research. Their platform uses advanced systems and processes to work with hematopoietic stem cells, mesenchymal stem cells and adult blood rare pluripotent stem cells to create the next generation of cell and gene therapy solutions. 

    Source: Precious Cells

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  • CorMatrix Cardiovascular Secures Fifty-Six (56) Patents in 2016 Expanding Patent Protect for Extracellular Matrix (ECM®) Based Implantable Devices

    CorMatrix Cardiovascular Secures Fifty-Six (56) Patents in 2016 Expanding Patent Protect for Extracellular Matrix (ECM®) Based Implantable Devices

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    Press Release
    –


    updated: Jan 19, 2017


    Roswell, GA, January 19, 2017 (Newswire.com)
    –
    ​CorMatrix® Cardiovascular, Inc., (www.cormatrix.com) a leading developer of biomaterial compositions and medical devices for regenerative medicine, today announced the issuance of 56 patents in 2016.  The ongoing expansion of this patent portfolio continues to support the Company’s development of novel extracellular matrix (ECM®) based devices and compositions.

    Of the fifty-six patents, 19 were obtained internationally. CorMatrix currently holds 13 trademarks related to its Extracellular Matrix products and the Company has secured some 128 patents affording significant intellectual property protection in the area of regenerative medicine. CorMatrix ECM is a naturally occurring bioscaffold that remodels over time into healthy, organized tissue that is site specific.

    CorMatrix’s intellectual property portfolio is outstanding. We have very comprehensive coverage of not only the ECM devices we provide to our core markets, but also of the innovations that can find applications in other important areas of regenerative medicine.

    Dr. Robert Matheny, Chief Scientific Officer, CorMatrix Cardiovascular, Inc.

    “CorMatrix’s intellectual property portfolio is outstanding. We have very comprehensive coverage of not only the ECM devices we provide to our core markets, but also of the innovations that can find applications in other important areas of regenerative medicine,” said Robert Matheny, MD, CSO of CorMatrix. “From the beginning, we recognized the importance of developing and then protecting our technology. As a pioneer in the field of regenerative science since 2001, having our patents recognized by offices around the globe (United States, Europe, South America, Australia and others) is a source of pride for the entire Company, our Partners, and our Investors.”

    Extracellular matrix has been used as a biologic scaffold in many different surgical applications including cardiac and vascular repairs, pelvic floor reconstructions, dental surgery, and veterinary medicine to identify a few. A steady production of both preclinical and clinical data support the need for organs and tissues to have an inductive scaffold for the cells, particularly stem cells, to be retained, restored, and to function normally.

    Among the patents issued this year, CorMatrix secured US 9,352,070 for use as a tissue prosthesis which can be engineered into a variety of shapes and used to repair, reconstruct or replace damaged or diseased tissue and the associated biological structures. This includes seamless tubular uses (for vein and arterial replacements), heart valves, myocardium, pericardium and other significant aortic structures. Use of ECM as a prosthetic also could also be extended to esophageal, tracheal, and bronchial anatomy. The Company currently has 510(k) clearances for their implantable ECM devices used in adult and pediatric cardiac tissue repair, pericardial reconstruction, and vascular repair.

    Two additional patents, US 8,980,296 and US 8,877,224; along with the issuance of European patent No. 2398502, may significantly address issues surrounding the prevention, reduction, and treatment of myocardial damage and arrhythmic sequelae. Atrial fibrillation, (AFib or AF) is the most common type of heart arrhythmia and affects an estimated 3-6 million people in the United States. More than 750,000 hospitalizations occur each year because of AFib and cost the United States approximately $6 billion each year. Through these patents, micronized extracellular matrix (with or without stem cells) is delivered via intra-myocardial injection into the area of infarct enabling regrowth and restoration of the native cardiac function. Medical costs for people with AFib are almost $9K higher per year than for people who do not have AFib.1, 2  

    “Our CorMatrix technology backed by the Company’s patents is harnessing the potential of stem cells and matrix factors working together to regenerate site specific tissue,” said Andrew Green, CEO of CorMatrix.  “We now have preclinical and human evidence of regenerating heart muscle after myocardial infarctions and myocardial tissue replacement treatments. No other company, stem cell based or otherwise, has been able to demonstrate this concept. Now our goal is to make it available around the world.”

    About CorMatrix

    CorMatrix® Cardiovascular, Inc. is a privately held medical device company dedicated to developing and delivering innovative biomaterial devices that harness the body’s own innate ability to repair damaged cardiac and vascular tissues.  CorMatrix ECM Technology allows surgeons to restore the native anatomy of cardiac and vascular tissue in need of repair, serving as a superior alternative to synthetic or cross-linked materials. Headquartered in Roswell, Georgia, the Company is currently researching, developing, and commercializing a platform technology known as CorMatrix® ECM® for a variety of cardiovascular and other indications, and has U.S. clearance and European registration (with a CE Mark) for its ECM® technology.  Since its launch in 2006, CorMatrix® ECM® Technology has been used at more than 1000 hospitals across the U.S. and has been implanted in over 145,000 cardiovascular procedures.  Visit cormatrix.com for additional information.

    1 January CT, Wann LS, Alpert JS, Calkins H, Cigarroa JE, Cleveland JC Jr, et al. 2014 AHA/ACC/HRS guideline for the management of patients with atrial fibrillation. Journal of the American College of Cardiology. 2014; 64(21):2246–80.

    2Mozaffarian D, Benjamin EJ, Go AS, Arnett DK, Blaha MJ, Cushman M, et al. Heart disease and stroke statistics—2015 update: a report from the American Heart Association. Circulation. 2015; 131:e29–e322.

    Source: CorMatrix Cardiovascular, Inc.

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