Research and Development: March 2007 Archives

Heart attack patients who received an new intravenous adult stem cell therapy, Provacelâ„¢, experienced a lower number of adverse events, such as cardiac arrhythmias, and had significant improvements in heart, lung and global function compared to those who received a placebo, according to six-month Phase I study data presented at the American College of Cardiology's Innovation in Intervention: i2Summit in New Orleans on March 25.

<a href="http://www.biologynews.net/archives/2007/03/28/stem_cell_therapy_shows_promise_in_regenerating_damaged_muscle_in_heart_attack_patients.html">Stem cell therapy shows promise in regenerating damaged muscle in heart attack patients</a> (biologynews.net)

Scientists from around the world are conducting a two-day discussion on stem cell research in Hartford. Governor Jodi Rell addressed the gathering yesterday (-- Tuesday --) at the State Capitol.

Panel discussions on stem cell research are being held today (-- Wednesday --) at the Hartford Hilton.

Scientists say stem cells might someday be used to treat diseases ranging from Alzheimer's to diabetes.

<a href="http://wtic.com/pages/324763.php?contentType=4&contentId=389763">International Stem Cell Gathering in Hartford</a> (wtic.com)

Today, Nabil Dib, M.D., M.Sc., FACC, Director, Clinical Cardiovascular Cell Therapy, University of California, San Diego, Director of Cardiovascular Research of Catholic Health Care West’s Chandler Regional and Mercy Gilbert Hospitals, Phoenix, AZ summarized a catheter delivery, safety study with myoblasts that is the culmination of several years of previous study assessing the safety of using muscle precursor cells (myoblasts) to treat severe congestive heart failure, a condition in which areas of the heart are failing because of the presence of scarred, inelastic tissue. The cells were taken from the legs of patients with congestive heart failure, cultured using a proprietary technique, and then transplanted into the scar tissue.

<a href="http://www.prlog.org/10011668-fda-approves-phase-1-stem-cell-research-therapy-for-congestive-heart-failure.html">FDA Approves Phase 1 Stem Cell Research Therapy For Congestive Heart Failure</a> (prlog.org)

It was nearly a decade ago that Jose Cibelli plugged his own DNA into a cow's egg in a novel cloning attempt that was condemned as unethical by President Clinton and landed the Michigan State University researcher in a mess of controversy.

Even though Cibelli and his colleagues patented the so-called interspecies cloning technique, they soon abandoned the research as a failure and the uproar subsided.

<a href="http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2007/03/25/national/a111534D57.DTL">Scientists Propose Interspecies Cloning</a> (sfgate.com)

The head of the National Institutes of Health, the main federal agency that conducts and funds medical research, no longer toes the Bush Administration hardline against stem cells. In fact he's now come out strongly in favor of federal funding for stem cell research.

<a href="http://icestationtango.blogspot.com/2007/03/nih-head-calls-for-federal-funding-for.html">NIH Head Calls for Federal Funding for New Stem Cell Lines</a> (icestationtango.blogspot.com)

The government decided Friday to allow the resumption of stem cell research which has been prohibited here since the eruption of the disgraceful Hwang Woo-suk scandal in 2005. It is welcomed, though belated, as a measure to pave the way for full-fledged resumption of the research that will offer promise in the development of medical treatments for a wide range of chronic diseases including Parkinson¡¯s disease, spinal cord injuries and diabetes.

<a href="http://times.hankooki.com/lpage/opinion/200703/kt2007032520333254040.htm">Approval of Stem Cell Research</a> (times.hankooki.com)

Scientists from UT Southwestern Medical Center discovered a tiny molecule responsible for stress-related heart disease. They mutated the genes of a group of mice in such a way that they could not generate a particular microRNA, known as miR-208. The mutant mice were exposed to certain circumstances such as hypothyroidism, injecting them with a protein that leads to heart failure and so on. The hearts of these mice were found to be healthier than those of the control group, which had normal levels of miR-208. The beta-myosin levels, which indicate heart damage, remained low in these mice. The findings can help develop a possible treatment for heart disease.

<a href="http://www.biopeer.com/biopeer/2007/03/cardiovascular_.html">Cardiovascular research makes significant advances </a> (biopeer.com)

The expanding field of stem cell research has reached Bergen County Academies.

The county high school on Thursday unveiled $500,000 in upgrades to its biotechnology labs that allow students to study and manipulate adult stem cells.

<a href="http://www.northjersey.com/page.php?qstr=eXJpcnk3ZjczN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXk2NSZmZ2JlbDdmN3ZxZWVFRXl5NzA5NzgwOCZ5cmlyeTdmNzE3Zjd2cWVlRUV5eTQ=">Bergen Academies unveils stem cell lab </a> (MONSY ALVARADO, northjersey.com)

Seattle law firm Perkins Coie has given a University of Washington researcher a $20,000 grant for stem cell research.

The award, unusual coming from a law firm, is the first of its kind for Perkins Coie and part of a five-year commitment to support research at the UW Medical School's South Lake Union campus.

<a href="http://blog.seattletimes.nwsource.com/techtracks/archives/2007/03/perkins_coie_awards_stem_cell_research_grant.html">Perkins Coie awards stem cell research grant</a> (Kristi Heim, blog.seattletimes.nwsource.com)

Representatives of three of the world's major religions tangled over the beginnings of human life, the disposal of surplus embryos from in vitro fertilization clinics, and the conduct of embryonic stem cell research Wednesday (March 14) at Harvard Divinity School.

Panelists at the event, representing Christianity, Judaism, and Islam, each briefly presented their faith's teachings about the beginnings of human life and then embarked on a lively discussion about embryonic stem cell research.

<a href="http://www.news.harvard.edu/gazette/2007/03.22/09-stemgod.html">Stem cells, through a religious lens</a> (Alvin Powell, news.harvard.edu)

South Korea decided Friday to allow the continued use of human eggs in cloning research despite a scandal involving a prominent scientist who admitted to forging work and ethics violations in acquiring eggs.

<a href="http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/03/23/healthscience/AS-SCI-SKorea-Human-Cloning.php">SKorea allows research with cloned human eggs in wake of stem cell scandal</a> (iht.com)

South Korea decided Friday to allow the continued use of human eggs in cloning research despite a scandal involving a prominent scientist who admitted to forging work and ethics violations in acquiring eggs.

<a href="http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/03/23/healthscience/AS-SCI-SKorea-Human-Cloning.php">SKorea allows research with cloned human eggs in wake of stem cell scandal</a> (iht.com)

The accuracy of pioneering adult stem cell research at the University of Minnesota is under scrutiny again, as a scientific journal is questioning whether U researchers used a single image of a protein to represent three different scientific discoveries.

The university is investigating, said Tim Mulcahy, the U's vice president for research. However, he said nothing so far has erased the U researchers' original findings that a certain kind of adult stem cell can produce multiple types of cells, proteins and tissues in the body and holds extraordinary potential for future treatments.

<a href="http://www.twincities.com/ci_5500062">U stem cell research raises new questions</a> (twincities.com)

A Los Angeles organization that is scheduled to receive a $2.6 million research grant from the California stem cell agency is a subsidiary of a Korean enterprise headed by a scientist who is enmeshed in an international plagiarism dispute.

<a href="http://californiastemcellreport.blogspot.com/2007/03/cirm-grant-recipient-tied-to-korean.html">CIRM Grant Recipient Tied to Korean Scientist Involved in Plagiarism Controversy</a> (californiastemcellreport.blogspot.com)

California's stem cell research sector received a boost Friday after 11 non-profit and academic institutions were granted 75.7 million U.S. dollars to help fund their work.

The 29-member Independent Citizens Oversight Committee (ICOC), which governs the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine, allocated 29 grants for the ongoing study of human embryo stem cells, state officials announced.

Among the recipients are the University of California in Los Angeles (UCLA) and Children's Hospital Los Angeles.

<a href="http://english.people.com.cn/200703/17/eng20070317_358498.html">California's stem cell research gets 75 mln dollars extra funding</a> (english.people.com.cn)

Registrations are running ahead of schedule, and it looks like StemCONN 07, the stem cell symposium in Hartford, Conn., March 27-28, will unfold before capacity crowds.

Launched in the wake of Connecticut's historic decision to support human stem cell research, the two-day event has attracted the biggest names in stem cell research from around the world.

<a href="http://www.pr-inside.com/rss/stem-cell-symposium-to-draw-worldwide-audience-to-connecticut-r68105.htm">Stem Cell Symposium to Draw Worldwide Audience to Connecticut</a> (pr-inside.com)

California's groundbreaking stem cell institute awarded $74.5 million Thursday in its second round of research grants for human embryonic stem cell research, providing the money to support four years of work by 26 experienced scientific teams around the state.

At least six of the grants, totaling more than $7 million, were awarded to researchers in San Diego, with three to UCSD, two to the Burnham Institute and one to the Salk Institute.

<a href="http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/business/biotech/20070316-0716-bn16stem.html">State's stem cell panel distributes $74.5 million in research grants </a> (Terri Somers, signonsandiego.com)

The team from the Queen Victoria Hospital in East Grinstead, pioneering a treatment using stem cell therapy to improve the sight of people born with a rare genetic eye disorder called aniridia.

Stem cells taken from dead donors, living relatives or even the patients themselves are grown in a laboratory until they form sheets and then transplanted on to the surface of the cornea.

<a href="http://stemcell.taragana.net/archive/stem-cell-therapy-improves-genetic-eye-disorder/">Stem Cell Therapy Improves Genetic Eye Disorder</a> (stemcell.taragana.net)

Following a day where most actions and debates revolved around the topic of fee increases, the UC Board of Regents meeting at UCLA ended today as the regents covered issues that included an update on stem cell research around the university as well as the appointment of administrative positions and salaries.

<a href="http://www.dailybruin.ucla.edu/news/2007/mar/15/regents/">Regents discuss stem cell research, appoint administrators</a> (Peach Indravudh, dailybruin.ucla.edu)

University of Massachusetts trustees yesterday approved a plan to ask the state for $66.4 million over six years to launch a stem-cell institute.

The proposed institute would back research at all five UMass campuses, but particularly at the Amherst campus and at the UMass Medical School in Worcester. The plan also calls for the construction of a 30,000-square-foot research center in Worcester.

<a href="http://www.telegram.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070315/NEWS/703150385/1002">UMass proposes stem-cell institute</a> (Lisa Eckelbecker, telegram.com)

This year, Elsevier, a leading publisher of scientific, technical and medical (STM) information, is adding two new, groundbreaking Cell Press titles - Cell Host & Microbe and Cell Stem Cell â€" to its platform, ScienceDirect. To celebrate the launch, access to the first three issues of both journals is complimentary for three months.

A requisite addition to the Cell Press collection on ScienceDirect, which includes leading titles Cell and Neuron, Cell Host & Microbe and Cell Stem Cell will be valuable resources for specialists in microbiology and stem cell biology.

<a href="http://www.webwire.com/ViewPressRel.asp?aId=29403">New Cell Titles Further ScienceDirect Offering</a> (webwire.com)

Speaker of the California Assembly Fabian Nunez and members of the Independent Citizens Oversight Committee (ICOC), governing board for the state agency charged with managing the state's $3 billion stem cell program, will hold a press conference on Friday, March 16, at 9:30 a.m. to discuss the latest round of research grants.

<a href="http://www.genengnews.com/news/bnitem.aspx?name=14253711">Assembly Speaker to Announce Stem Cell Grants</a> (genengnews.com)

A new study shows for the first time adult stem cells can be used to treat neurological diseases. It is also shows the benefits of adult and embryonic stem cells are the same.

Chad Varney,31, of Jacksonville was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease when he was 27. Now he takes medication four times a day to ease his symptoms. "I have a tremor- it was just my right fingers but now it's my whole hand and I drag my right leg," he said.

<a href="http://www.cbs47.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=c7576739-c385-42a8-81d7-ad1d0777826d&rss=1">New Stem Cell Research Could End Debate</a> (cbs47.com)

In order to differentiate and specialize, stem cells require very specific environmental cues in a very specific order, and scientists have so far been unable to prod them to go through each of the necessary steps. But now, for the first time, a study in mice by Rockefeller University scientists shows that embryonic stem cells implanted in the brain appear to develop into fully differentiated granule neurons, the most plentiful neuron in the cerebellum.

The findings were reported Feb. 20 in the online edition of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Embryonic stem cells have shown a great deal of promise for alleviating heart disease and regenerating organs. But for some of the conditions for which people hold out the most hope -- Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, for example -- there's been little evidence to date that stem cells can work. Part of the problem is that neural stem cells, especially those involved in brain development, specialize as they mature and lose their ability to diversify. They require very specific environmental cues in a very specific order, and scientists have so far been unable to prod them to go through each of the necessary steps. But now, for the first time, a new study in mice shows that embryonic stem cells implanted in the brain appear to develop into fully differentiated granule neurons, the most plentiful neurons in the cerebellum.

<a href="http://www.spiritindia.com/health-care-news-articles-7468.html">Chemical cues turn embryonic stem cells into cerebellar neurons</a> (spiritindia.com)

While Harvard University may be the front-runner in the state's race to become a major player in the stem-cell research arena, the University of Massachusetts is warming up on the track to claim its own niche in the promising new frontier.

The university's Committee on Science, Technology and Research last week unveiled a plan to develop a new systemwide institute to advance life sciences through human and animal research. The proposed UMass Institute for Stem Cell Research and Regenerative Medicine, which would be centered in facilities at the UMass Medical School in Worcester and the university's flagship campus in Amherst, would take advantage of academic strengths in both human and animal stem cell research as well as research in cell engineering.

<a href="http://www.masslive.com/editorials/republican/index.ssf?/base/news-1/11735183136570.xml&coll=1">Stem-cell work boon for UMass, WMass </a> (masslive.com)

US biotechnology giant that recently sold a division of its Scottish operations and cancelled a £17 million expansion plan is looking for collaborations with the country's leading stem cell scientists.

Senior executives from Invitrogen are expected to highlight their stem cell ambitions and the benefits of investing in Scotland to a group of US companies at the prestigious Burrill & Co conference being held this week in San Francisco.

The exercise is part of a mission of Scottish Development International officials, high-profile scientists and companies such as Sweden's Cellartis and Geron to sell the country as the world's top destination for stem cell-related research and commercial activities. Dolly the Sheep co-creator Ian Wilmut will make a keynote speech in front of 400 international stem cell sector players.

<a href="http://www.sundayherald.com/business/businessnews/display.var.1250960.0.0.php">Stem cell investment back on the agenda </a> (Julia Fields, sundayherald.com)

Even the scientists who received grants from California’s stem cell institute are saying it’s too early to invest in stem cell companies.

But a few businesses such as Oceanside’s International Stem Cell Corp., are already public.

And local venture capital firms such as Sanderling Ventures and powerhouses like Johnson & Johnson already back stem cell companies including San Diego’s Novocell Inc., which is focusing on a therapy for diabetes.

<a href="http://www.sdbj.com/industry_article.asp?aID=06464808.465568.1445470.5807551.7053476.358&aID2=111181">Time to Invest in Stem Cell Sector With State Grants Starting to Flow?</a> (KATIE WEEKS, sdbj.com)

Lorry I. Lokey ‘49 is a multi-millionaire who owns no fancy yachts or private jets. So, instead of using the $500 million he generated last year from selling Businesswire â€" the San Francisco-based company he founded in 1961 â€" to purchase luxuries for himself, Lokey has donated generously in recent years to support education and scientific research.


His latest donation came last week with a $33 million gift to the Stanford Medical School, which will help build a larger home for the Institute for Stem Cell Research. Lokey expressed hope that the new complex would allow Stanford researchers to capitalize on the stem cell grants made possible by Prop. 71.

“Stem cell research is not taking lives,” Lokey said. “The most important factor about stem cell research is that it will save lives.”

<a href="http://daily.stanford.edu/article/2007/3/5/lokeyGives33MilForStemCells">Lokey gives $33 mil. for stem cells</a> (Lia Hardin, daily.stanford.edu)

 Stem Cell Innovations, Inc. (OTCBB: SCLL) today announced Ian Lyons, Ph.D., has been appointed Chief Scientific Officer, U.S. Dr. Lyons joins Helmuth van Es, Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer, Europe, as co-leader of Stem Cell Innovation's scientific programs. Dr. Lyons helped develop and characterize several of the human embryonic stem cell lines that are on the list approved for federally funded research in the U.S.

"We are delighted to welcome Dr. Lyons to Stem Cell Innovations. One of our key strategic goals is to enhance our already strong scientific team and Dr. Lyons' experience with science management and his unique understanding of stem cell biology will complement our current resources," said James H. Kelly, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of SCI. "With Ian's help, we will be able to substantially accelerate our PluriCell(TM) programs for both disease modeling and cell therapy."

"Stem Cell Innovations is poised to become a leader in the use of human, pluripotent stem cells in drug discovery, toxicology and cell therapy and I am excited by this opportunity to build an entirely new platform in stem cell biology," said Ian Lyons, Ph.D. "I am enthusiastic about combining my cell biology background with the drug discovery expertise of Helmuth van Es to bring a new level of cell-based modeling to the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries."

<a href="http://www.pharmalive.com/News/index.cfm?articleid=420431&categoryid=33%2C34">Stem Cell Innovations Names Ian Lyons, Ph.D., U.S. Chief Scientific Officer</a> (pharmalive.com)

South Korean researchers are going all out to find alternative ways to extract human stem cells without killing embryos, regarded by some as human life.

Leading the search is Prof. Han Yong-mahn at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, who is spearheading a flurry of government-sponsored projects.

"To weed out ethical debate, we started last November, with financial support from the government, to delve into new technologies for creating human stem cells without using embryos," Han said.

<a href="http://www.therapeuticsdaily.com/news/article.cfm?contentValue=1262858&contentType=sentryarticle&channelID=28">ROK Daily: Scientists Seek Alternative Stem Cell Research</a> (therapeuticsdaily.com)

Errors in stem cell division can give rise to tumours. By studying stem cells in the fruit fly, scientists at the Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona) have identified one of the mechanisms that govern how these cells divide.

The study appears this week in the scientific journal Developmental Cell.

Stem cells have the extraordinary capacity to divide producing two very distinct cells: one retains stem cell identity and continues to undergo asymmetric division, while the other specializes for a specific function and shows limited capacity to divide. This strategy allows a single stem cell to generate great amounts of tissue during a lifetime.

To ensure the correct differential identity of the resulting cells, the complex apparatus that divides that stem cell in two must form along a pre-established axis. If this does not occur, the division may be symmetric, which will generate two identical stem cells. That is to say, instead of producing tissue, the stem cells with a "disoriented" division axis may give rise to more stem cells; this is potentially dangerous for the organism as it would lead to uncontrolled proliferation of this type of cell.

<a href="http://www.spiritindia.com/health-care-news-articles-7212.html">Researchers at IRB Barcelona discover a new mechanism that regulates stem cell division</a> (spiritindia.com)

A major expansion is beginning at UC Irvine in the study of human embryonic stem cells, which have the potential to become any of the more than 200 cells in the body and offer hope of a repair kit for people suffering from injuries and disease.

The California Institute for Regenerative Medicine, which operates the state's publicly funded stem cell program, has awarded six UCI scientists $3.5 million to examine such things as whether certain drugs slow the growth of the cells or how mutations may cause such cells to go bad.

<a href="http://www.ocregister.com/ocregister/homepage/abox/article_1598288.php">Stem cell research expands at UC Irvine</a> (CATHY TRAN, ocregister.com)

UCSC has received $1 million from the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) to fund human embryonic stem cell research.



The work of Bin Chen, left, and David Feldheim, assistant professors of molecular, cell, and developmental biology, represents important steps in the exploration of whether cell replacement could be an effective treatment for Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
Two $500,000 grants will support the research of David Feldheim and Bin Chen, both assistant professors of molecular, cell, and developmental biology.

The UCSC awards are part of the first state-approved research grants focused solely on human embryonic stem cells. The CIRM will distribute grants totaling approximately $45 million over two years to researchers at 20 academic and nonprofit research centers throughout the state. The recipients were selected from among 231 applications for more than $138 million, received from 36 California institutions.

<a href="http://currents.ucsc.edu/06-07/03-05/stem.asp">UCSC receives $1 million in grants for stem cell research</a> (Scott Rappaport, currents.ucsc.edu)

KEVIN MANNIX is a salesman and entrepreneur in the healthcare industry, a husband, father of two and the son of a man who died of a heart attack at 52. In matters of business and of health, he lives by the same principles: Do your research, hedge your bets, avoid regret and â€" every once in a while â€" take a leap of faith.

Mannix has acted to curb the medical risks he may have inherited from his father. He eats carefully, doesn't smoke and is a regular at his gym. At 51, his knees creak a little. But he maintains the athletic build that made him a star running back at Penn State and an NFL hopeful who signed briefly with the New York Jets and the Philadelphia Eagles.

Adult stem cells are Mannix's leap of faith. And after a fair amount of research, he's intent on putting his in a bank.

"I don't want to look back in the future and say, 'Whoops, I should have done that,' " he says. "I don't want to have any regrets about losing this opportunity."

<a href="http://www.latimes.com/features/health/la-he-stemcells5mar05,1,6455025.story?track=crosspromo&coll=la-headlines-health&ctrack=1&cset=true">Selling the stem-cell promise</a> (Melissa Healy, latimes.com)

Pluristem Life Systems, Inc. (OTCBB:PLRS), a cell therapy company dedicated to the commercialization of stem cell products for a variety of indications, today announced that it has evidence that its PLX cells are immunosuppressive and immune privileged. These characteristics could lead to breakthroughs in the treatment of hematopoietic cancers and immune diseases. PLX cells are mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) obtained from the placenta and expanded by using Pluristem’s proprietary 3D PluriX™ technology.

Immunosuppression is defined as the quality of a product to attenuate or suppress the effects of the immune system. Induced immunosuppression is generally practiced to prevent the body from rejecting an organ or bone marrow transplant or for the treatment of auto-immune diseases. Pluristem believes their immunosuppressive PLX cells could have significant positive implications in the development of products for a variety of therapeutic needs: regenerative medicine, physiological diseases and immune diseases. Additionally, this immune modulating property could prove important in treating or preventing immune reactions associated with transplantation.

Ora Burger PhD. V.P. of R&D at Pluristem stated: "Our PLX cells showed immune suppression characteristics during in vitro testing using Mixed Lymphocyte Reaction assay (MLR). The immunosuppressive quality is an important attribute for our first product, PLX-I, in the treatment of hematological malignancies. Additionally, it has promising indications for other applications involving the immune system.”

<a href="http://home.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/index.jsp?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20070301005441&newsLang=en">Pluristem Announces Scientific Advance in Stem Cell Research; Evidence That PLX Cells Are Immunosuppressive </a> (businesswire.com)

There is more than one kind of stem-cell research, the good and the bad.

The good kind is adult stem-cell research. This kind has found, according to the National Institutes of Health, cures for more than 72 different diseases, helping more than 10,000 individuals. The patient's own stem cells are used for the cure, causing no rejection and harming no one.

The bad kind is embryonic stem-cell research. This kind, after more than 30 years of research and clinical testing, has come up with zero cures for any disease. Plus, with each stem cell used, a human being at an early stage of life is killed.

Our tax dollars will be wasted if our elected officials get the bills they are pushing calling for the use of huge amounts of our tax dollars for embryonic stem-cell research, instead of for more adult stem-cell research.

<a href="http://www.newarkadvocate.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070301/OPINION03/703010362/1014/OPINION">Stem-cell research can be good or bad</a> (newarkadvocate.com)

Here I would like to present to you one of the small Russian-based companies that really caters to investors’ tastes. This is a research, development and applied medicine company specializing in development of stem cell therapy and its applications. There are two major areas: scientific research and therapy, and sales of preparations. Contrary to the fact that all stem cell companies are loosing money, it is profitable, has a proven track record of commercialization with international sales of its products in Europe. It is the first company in Russia to receive license for applications of stem cells medical technologies from the Federal Service for the Supervision of Public Health and Social Development.

The company has been active in the stem cell research field since 2002, principally focused on differentiation of growth factors of stem cells and associated technologies. The Company presently has a substantial portfolio of medicinal products and patent applications in stem cell fields. These include technologies to produce stem cells products for use in therapy of a number of diseases. Proprietary techniques of the company leads to almost guaranteed success as now there are no companies either in Russia or in the world that use cell therapy applying synthetic analogues of the growth factors and regional cell stems differentiation. The real attraction for investors here is the simple fact that currently there is a number of preparations, had been clinically tested in Russia, that are used for stem cell therapy. I guess, that in 3-5 years when the general attitude towards therapy may shift to stem cells options â€" here we are: this company might be in a very advantageous position in the market. So, investment potential is excellent, and now we are working with the company on their financing plans.

<a href="http://equity-russia.blogspot.com/2007/03/stem-cell-therapy-russian-ipo-certain.html">STEM CELL THERAPY RUSSIAN IPO â€" CERTAIN CONSIDERATIONS â€" PART IV - A RUSSIAN STEM CELL THERAPY BREAKTHROUGH </a> (equity-russia.blogspot.com)

BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics (OTCBB: BCLI - News), a leader in Adult Stem Cell Research, announced today that it has initiated a safety trial using an animal model of Parkinson's disease in primates. The study utilizes BrainStorm's proprietary adult stem cell technology which has shown efficacy in animal models of Parkinson's Disease in previous pre-clinical trials. In those studies, human-bone-marrow-derived stem cells were differentiated into astrocyte-like cells (supporting cells) and transplanted into mice and rats brains. The engrafted cells survived, kept their function and significantly improved the motor symptoms of Parkinson's Disease animal models over a long period of time.

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The study is being carried out in collaboration with the Center for Applied Medical Research (CIMA) of the University of Navarra in Pamplona, Spain. The team at the Movement Disorders Unit at the University has over 20 years experience in researching and applying new therapies to treat Parkinson's Disease, and anticipates being among the first to use BrainStorm's technology to treat patients in its own University Hospital.

Commenting on the announcement, Yoram Drucker, BrainStorm Cell Therapeutic's Chief Operating Officer stated: "We are pleased to have this primate safety study underway and we anticipate that successful results will lead to human clinical trials."

In addition to moving ahead with the company's Parkinson's Disease program, BrainStorm is also progressing with pre-clinical trials applying the company's stem cell technology to the treatment of ALS and Multiple Sclerosis.

<a href="http://biotechindustrystocks.com/News/022807a.asp">BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics Initiates Stem Cell Safety Study in Primates for Parkinson's Disease</a> (biotechindustrystocks.com)