Researchers at Case Western Reserve University have won a number of grants this fall. Here's a look at some of the recently announced ones and the work those grants will be funding, all with links to full stories on the university's The Daily site.

1. First up, a new five-year, $2.2 million grant from Lubrizol Corp. will support STEM scholarships, internships, co-ops and joint research, a post said. The funding will also support programs focused on student research and women in science and engineering.

The joint research between CWRU and Lubrizol will focus on energy, human health, materials and sustainability.

"We are always interested in finding ways that the Case Western Reserve community can engage more fully with the industrial sector," university provost Ben Vinson III said in the post. "It is, along with our community and government partners, critical to the development of our students, our research endeavors and our innovation pathway. Working with the university's office of corporate relations, we are developing new strategies to deepen our industry collaborations that will include investment from our corporate partners to support programmatic areas across campus."

2. A five-year, $1.25 million grant will help the university better train developmental psychologists and speech language pathologists. The grant is from the U.S. Department of Education.

"Many children need extra help in their educational journey. Teachers cannot do it alone," Elizabeth Short, a professor in the Department of Psychological Sciences, said in a post. "Training professionals to provide supports is of paramount importance they are on the frontlines, providing the necessary help to optimize the development of children."

The project will emphasize the importance of working in teams, and the grant brings in both branches of the university's Department of Psychological Sciences: psychology and communication sciences.

3. A $425,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Justice will help Case Western Reserve's Begun Center for Violence Prevention Research and Education work with the city of Akron to analyze information in untested sexual assault kits. Identifying patterns of offender behavior could help the Akron Police Department respond to such assaults, a post said.

The team, led by research assistant professor Rachel Lovell, has also received two Department of Justice awards equaling $528,000 to continue similar work in Cuyahoga County.

4. CWRU and MetroHealth Medical Center researchers recently received more than $800,000 from the U.S. Department of Defense to study the experiences and needs of people with spinal cord injuries. Other partners include the United Spinal Association Northeast Ohio Chapter and the Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center.

The three-year project will focus on the first year of recovery, and researchers will interview veterans and civilians, as well as their caregivers, a post said.

5. Finally, researchers at the Case Western Reserve School of Medicine have received a grant of almost $700,000 through the National Institutes of Health Somatic Cell Genome Editing program. If researchers continue to meet NIH milestones, the grant amount could increase to $2.78 million, a post said.

The researchers are looking to develop strategies to deliver genome editing complexes directly to stem cells, which could change how certain diseases are treated.

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Youngstown State, IBM to offer high-tech training in the Mahoning Valley - Crain's Cleveland Business

Spinal Cord Stem Cells Comments Off on Youngstown State, IBM to offer high-tech training in the Mahoning Valley – Crain’s Cleveland Business | November 14th, 2019

By Justin A. Varholick, Ph.D.

As we grow older theres an impending fear that we will slowly, but surely, begin to lose our vision. This slow loss of vision is clinically dubbed low vision and impacts more than 39 million Americans, costs $68 billion annually in direct health care costs, and is only growing in our population as baby boomers enter the at-risk age of 65 and older. Magnifiers can often be used to help people with acute issues of low vision, but are often inconvenient and frustrating. More serious issues of low vision such as cataracts, age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma, and diabetic retinopathy require advanced treatment and surgery. For example, cataracts can be improved or reversed by removing the cloudy lens and replacing it with an artificial one. Such surgeries are not always ideal, or convenient, and further contribute to the already hefty direct health care costs. But, a recent breakthrough by Japanese scientists, in correcting blurry vision, might reverse this bleak future.

Old cells can become new againOur story begins around the mid-20th century, in 1958. A young and aspiring scientist, named John Gurdon, was studying frogs at the University of Oxford in England. Not everyone thought Gurdon would end up actually becoming a scientist. In his early days his school master thought such a career was far-fetched for Gurdon. Indeed, he ranked last in his Biology class out of 250 students. Yet despite such poor grades, Gurdon found himself studying frogs at Oxford and earning a doctoral degree in Biology. And his studies would surprisingly lead to a breakthrough in vision, and likely many other issues in human health, like Parkinsons Disease, heart disease, and spinal cord injury.

At the time Gurdon was trying to test an age-old theory on cell development. Many scientists before him discovered that cells the smallest unit of life begin without a clear fate in the early stages of an embryo. Then as the cell develops, their fate becomes more clear. They become cells of the heart, of the brain, the kidneys, the stomach, the spinal cord, or the eyes. But they cannot go back to a time when they had no fate, or specialization. The cells can only develop in one direction, from no destiny, to a clear path, then to a mature adult cell; like one found in the heart. But you just cant take a heart cell and start the process over, maybe turning it into a brain cell.

In disagreement with this theory, Gurdon did a simple experiment. He knew that a tadpole has more adult cells than a frog egg. A tadpole has gills, a heart, eyes, etc., while a frog egg simply does not. So, he cut open the tadpole and removed a single cell from the intestine; an intestinal cell. He then cut open the intestinal cell and removed its nucleus; the seed of the cell carrying all the DNA. Very carefully, he did the same with the frog egg, and finally replaced the nucleus of the frog egg with the nucleus of the intestinal cell. According to the age-old theory, the intestinal nucleus should stop normal development of the frog egg. But thats not what happened.

Instead, the new frog egg continued to develop normally, becoming a tadpole that later became an adult frog. Gurdon thought this was unbelievably odd, and so did everyone else in science. After many more experiments doing the exact same procedure (i.e., replication), it seemed that what he saw was a real, replicable fact. For some reason the nucleus of the intestinal cell was able to reverse itself to have no fate and slowly develop into any other adult cell. The seed from the intestine somehow could become the seed of a heart, brain, kidney, or even an eye cell and of course, an intestinal cell too.

After many more experiments testing the same theory, on many more animals, it seemed the theory was true, but it just didnt work for mammals. Given that the same effect could not be repeated in a mammal, some believed this discovery did not apply to humans. But they were wrong.

The discovery of induced pluripotent stem cellsAlmost 45 years later, around the start of the millennium, Shinya Yamanaka and Kazutoshi Takahashi began running experiments that would translate Gurdons findings to humans. Born after Gurdons findings were already published and well known, Yamanaka and Takahashi grew up in a world in which the fact that old cells can become new again was widely knowna solid foundation for further hypotheses, experiments, and discovery. So, the scientists set out to do what no one had before: turn adult skin cells of mice into new cells without a clear fate.

Yamanaka, the lead investigator of the study, shared a similar early history with Gurdon. He first became a medical doctor in Japan but was frustrated by his inability to quickly remove small human tumors taking over an hour rather than the typical 10 minutes. Senior doctors gave him the nickname Jamanaka, a Japanese pun for the word jama meaning obstacle. He then found himself earning a PhD in pharmacology and becoming a post-doctoral scientist, but spent more time caring for mice than doing actual research. Frustrated again, his wife suggested he just become a practicing physician. Despite her advice, Yamanaka applied to become an Assistant Professor at Nara Institute of Science and Technology, in Japan, and won everyone over with his fantastical ideas of investigating embryonic stem cells; the cells without a clear fate.

Then the persistence paid off when Yamanaka with his assistant, Takahashi discovered how to induce adult skin cells from mice to return to an embryonic, or stem cell, state without a clear fate. They began their experiments knowing that gene transcription factors proteins that turn genes on and off were responsible for keeping embryonic cells in a state without a clear fate. They thought that by turning specific genes on and off with these factors, they could turn back time and make an adult cell embryonic again. So, they tried many different combinations of gene transcription factors and ultimately discovered that 4 specific ones were enough to induce an adult skin cell to a mouse to become an embryonic cell. Because these re-newed embryonic cells, or stem cells, originally came from adult cells they came up with a new name, induced pluripotent stem cell. Broken down, induced pluripotent stem cells means that the cell was induced to become pluripotent pluri meaning several, like plural, and potent meaning very powerful (and stem meaning to have the ability to turn into any cell in the body).

These induced pluripotent cells were thought to be very powerful indeed and scientists across the globe were excited by this great discovery. They had visions of taking a persons skin or blood, forming them into induced pluripotent cells, and then using them to grow a new liver or new parts of the brain. Laboratories across the world confirmed the results by repeating the experiment.

Human stem cells Just repeating the experiments in mice, or frogs, was not enough. They needed to begin making induced pluripotent stem cells from humans. Enter scientists from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The lead scientist, James Thomson was already well known for deriving primate embryonic cells from rhesus monkeys in 1995 and the first human embryonic cell line in 1998. In fact, Thomsons accomplishment of isolating embryonic cells from monkeys was the first sound evidence that it was possible to do the same for humans. Such discoveries placed him on the forefront in ethical considerations for research using human embryos and the most obvious scientist to lead the path toward making induced pluripotent stem cells from humans.

Thomsons team made the first human derived induced pluripotent stem cells from adult skin, with Yamanaka as a co-scientist. They followed the same general principles set by Yamanaka, who did the procedure with mouse skin cells. Importantly to Thomson, this discovery helped to relieve some ethical controversy with using human embryos to make human stem cells. By being able to induce adult human skin to become pluripotent stem cells, much research on human stem cells could be done without human embryos albeit research with human embryos remains necessary.

Yet more important to the discussion at hand, the ability to induce human skin to become pluripotent stem cells placed us on the edge of a breakthrough. With some clinical trials in humans, the fantasy of growing a new liver, heart, or eye was more a reality than ever before.

The start of human trials In 2012, around the time both Gurdon and Yamanaka were presented with the Nobel Prize in Physiology and Medicine for their work leading to induced pluripotent stem cells, human clinical trials were beginning in Japan. The first clinical trial was for age-related macular degeneration, an eye condition leading to blindness. Unfortunately, this trial was quickly terminated when Yamanaka and his team identified small gene mutations in the transplanted induced pluripotent stem cells from the first patient. Although the procedure did cure the patient of macular degeneration, these small gene mutations worried the scientists because they could lead to tumor development.

But recently with the introduction of an inducible suicide gene that can signal cells with abnormal growth to die, human trials are starting up again. In October of 2018, Japanese scientists began trials with Parkinsons disease, a brain disease related to a shortage of neurons producing dopamine. Scientists took cells from the patients, made them into induced pluripotent stem cells, guided them to develop into dopamine producing cells, and then deposited them in the dopamine centers of the brain through surgery. The outcome is promising since similar procedures in monkeys have been successful.

Other trials in Japan have also started, including spinal cord injury and one for replacing the cornea of the eye. Early results replacing damaged corneas with induced pluripotent stem cells, thereby correcting blurry vision, were just announced at the end of August. Although it will take more patients and safety checks before all humans can get induced pluripotent cells to correct their damaged eyes, malfunctioning brains, or broken spinal cords, Takahashi the post-doctoral scientist working with Yamanaka thinks it might happen as early as 2023. So, it looks like that in our lifetime we just might be able to stay young and enjoy retirement because of great breakthroughs in animal research.Note, EuroStemCell is a great resource for learning more about the ethics and research currently being done with stem cells derived from human embryos.

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BREAKTHROUGH: Her vision was getting worse, then animal research made things clear - Speaking of Research

Skin Stem Cells Comments Off on BREAKTHROUGH: Her vision was getting worse, then animal research made things clear – Speaking of Research | November 14th, 2019

Wound healing is complex. Injured tissues undergo a multi-phase process from hemostasis to tissue remodeling. And defensin plays a role.

Basically, it's your natural mechanism for healing a wound, and it stimulates a specific stem cell, the LGR6+ stem cell, according to Greg Keller, M.D., who presented Clinical Data with Defensins at the Global Aesthetic Conference in Miami earlier this month.

After activation, LGR6+ stem cells physically migrate into the basal layer of the skin and create a new epidermis, and eventually, new, younger-acting skin, says Dr. Keller.

In her Cosmeceutical Critique of The role of defensins in treating skin aging, Leslie Baumann, M.D., writes, LGR6+ stem cells, which are dormant until they are activated to respond to damage, are stimulated by defensins.1

She effectively summarizes their role in anti-aging as:

Old fibroblast and keratinocytes are sluggish and lazy. Old cells do not hear signals as well as younger cells. LGR6+ stem cells repopulate the epidermis with new, young keratinocytes. Defensin stimulates LGR6+ stem cells. The defensin/LGR6+ pathway plays a role in keratinization. Using topical defensin can improve the skins appearance.

Theoretically, says Dr. Keller, hair follicles provide a way for defensins to enter the skin to activate the LGR6+ pathway, but We wanted to actually measure wrinkles and quantify how much better the skin was in terms of pore size, oiliness, wrinkles, and the like.

So he, Amy Taub, M.D., Vivian Bucay, M.D., Jay Williams, Ph.D, and Darius Mehregan, M.D., conducted a participant- and investigator-blinded, placebo-controlled, multi-center study with the defensin-containing DefenAge 3-step system (Progenitor Biologics) that includes the 2-Minute Reveal Masque, 24/7 Barrier Balance Cream and 8-in-1 BioSerum, on 44 women, 41-71 years of age with skin types I to V.2

References:

1. Taub A, Bucay V, Keller G, Williams J, Mehregan D. Multi-Center, Double-Blind, Vehicle-Controlled Clinical Trial of an Alpha and Beta Defensin-Containing Anti-Aging Skin Care Regimen With Clinical, Histopathologic, Immunohistochemical, Photographic, and Ultrasound Evaluation. J Drugs Dermatol. 2018;17(4):426-441.2. Bauman L. The role of defensins in treating skin aging. Cosmeceutical Critique. MDedge Dermatology. April 1, 2018. Accessed November 13, 2019. Available at: https://www.mdedge.com/dermatology/article/161149/aesthetic-dermatology/...

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Defensins and the dermis - Dermatology Times

Skin Stem Cells Comments Off on Defensins and the dermis – Dermatology Times | November 14th, 2019

Macau is the ultimate setting for some high octane fun this weekend with the return of the annual Macau Grand Prix, now heading into its 66th year. As the city is pulsing with adrenaline, there are plenty of gastronomic highlights as well as the creme de la creme of lifestyle experiences to keep on your radar. Here are all the best events to check out in Macau this month.

When: 16 November

Price: MOP501,000 from Macau Grand Prix

The annual mecca for motorsports is back: Macau opens its venerated 6.2km Guia Circuit as the annual Macau Grand Prix edges into its 66th edition. Veteran and young drivers alike are descending on the SAR for the ultimate glory across three headlining races the Formula 3 Macau Grand Prix, the FIA GT World Cup, and the FIA WTCR, also known as the Macau Guia Race. Sundays Grand Prix finale will have all eyes on some of the worlds best racers such as F3 world champion Dan Ticktum as he returns to the spotlight to vie for his third consecutive win at Macau; alongside newcomers such as David Schumacher, nephew of seven-time Formula 1 winner Michael.

If youre not watching from the Grand Stand or the thrilling Lisboa Bend Stand, for a vantage point to catch all the action in comfort, youll want to head to the Grand Lapa for its annual Grand Prix Live BBQ Buffet all weekend from 1617 November, which will also be broadcasting live on mega screens.

More info here.

When: 30 November1 December

Price: HK$5881,688 from MGM

Actor-turned-chef Nicholas Tse is lending both sides of his talents to this unique food and music festival held for the very first time in Macau. MGM is hosting two nights of unmissable concerts by Tse and fellow Canto-pop stars JW, Joey Yung, rock group Mr., Angela Hui, Chinese singer Liu Junge, Singaporean songstress Joanna Dong, and Macanese band MFM. Alongside two nights of performances, Chef Nic has also partnered with MGMs most eminent chefs to deliver mouthwatering menus of local delicacies, as well as live demonstrations featuring popular chef collaborations from his TV show brought to life. Dont miss this rare chance for dinner and a show.

MGM COTAI, 1/F Roof Terrace, Avenida Da Nave Desportiva, Cotai, Macau, +853 8806 8888

When: Through 29 February, 2020

Theres nothing better than a steamy hot pot dinner during the cooler months: Head to Broadway Macau for a foodie extravaganza of Macanese delicacies for its fourth Hot Pot Street promotion for an eclectic taste of the Cantonese winter tradition. The hotels flagship food street introduces 20 authentic varieties of hot pots showcasing a full spectrum of broths, casseroles and winter warmers from an array of international cuisines, paired with spreads of fresh seafood, organic produce, and premium beef from all over the world.

Broadway Macau, Avenida Marginal Flor de Lotus, Cotai, Macau, +853 8883 3338

The latest hot opening adding to the epicurean haven that is Taipa Village is none other than Barcelona, an innovative new Spanish restaurant and bar by chef Hector Costa Fernandez. Dishing up modern tapas and refreshed Spanish classics, Barcelona is a three-storey venue with a stylish ground floor bar and chefs table overlooking an open kitchen, a first-floor dining room inspired by its eponymous city, and an exotic rooftop bar offering views over the vibrant entertainment area below.

Barcelona, 47 Rua dos Clerigos, Taipa, Macau, +853 2845 5168

Facialist to the stars Margie Lombard, founder of Margys of Monte-Carlo brings an exclusive spa experience to Morpheus this autumn. Famed for her gold mask facial, Margys upgrades her ultimate skin rejuvenating treatment with a new platinum mask treatment that is solely available at Morpheus Spa. Book into one of only six suites for an exalted 110-minute session of pampering with the Prestige Facial with Platinum Mask (MOP3,980), and watch as the chainmail-like platinum mask does its work to retexturise skin for an unbeatable lasting radiance. The Platinum mask is also available as a 20-minute add-on (MOP2,500) together with Margys prized bespoke Stem Cell Illuminating Facial (MOP3,800), which uses a new serum featuring the regenerating power of Swiss Apple stem cells.

Morpheus Spa, 35/F, Morpheus, City of Dreams, Estrada do Istmo, Macau, +853 8868 3098

When: 16 November and 25 January, 2020

Price: MOP28,888 + 10 percent service charge

City of Dreams two-Michelin-starred Alain Ducasse by the eponymous legend is home to some of the most exclusive French haute cuisine menus in this part of the world as it is, but this autumn the restaurant is presenting two unprecedented wine-pairing dinners, billed as featuring some of the greatest vintages of all time. On 16 November, guests can look forward to five rare vintages from Domaine de la Romane-Conti, as well as a prize draw to win a bottle of 1997 Grands-chzeaux. On 25 January next year, guests can also book in as they celebrate Bordeauxs landmark 1982 vintage with a horizontal tasting of Chteau Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande, Chteau Mouton Rothschild, Chteau Margaux, Chteau Cheval Blanc and Chteau Lafite Rothschild and have the opportunity to win a bottle of 1982 Chteau Margaux. Priced at MOP28,888 per person, these exclusive wine dinners will feature a tailor-made seven course menu and kick off with a glass of Dom Prignon 2009, followed by five rare vintages and Grand Crus. Make your reservation by email to adam@cod-macau.com or call +853 8868 3432.

Alain Ducasse, Level 3, Morpheus, City of Dreams, Estrada do Istmo, Macau, +853 8868 3432

Price: MOP7801,280

The St. Regis Macaos Iridium Spa has unveiled its newest treatment, a session that combines both mindful and physical therapy by allowing guests to create their own blended diffuser scents and body scrubs. After spending time learning more about the healing powers of aromatherapy, the guest is given a 45-minute massage and body treatment thats sure to melt away all the tensions of the mind and body.

Iridium Spa, 38/F, St. Regis Macao, S/N, Estrada do Istmo, Macau, +853 8113 4949

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What to do in Macau: The 66th Grand Prix, $28888 wine dinners and more - Lifestyle Asia

Skin Stem Cells Comments Off on What to do in Macau: The 66th Grand Prix, $28888 wine dinners and more – Lifestyle Asia | November 14th, 2019

REHOVOT, Israel and NEW YORK, Nov. 14, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Todos Medical Ltd. (TOMDF), a clinical-stage in-vitro diagnostics company focused on the development of blood tests for the early detection of cancer and neurodegenerative disorders, and Amarantus Bioscience Holdings, Inc. a US-based JLABS-alumnus biotechnology holding company developing proprietary orphan neurologic, regenerative medicine and ophthalmic therapies and diagnostics through its subsidiaries, today announced that their joint venture company, Breakthrough Diagnostics, Inc. has completed enrollment of its ongoing clinical trial evaluating the relationship of Alzheimers blood diagnostic Lymphocyte Proliferation Test (LymPro Test) with amyloid PET neuroimaging at Leipzig University in Germany (the LymPro PET 2). Topline results are expected before the end of the first quarter of 2020.

Breakthrough completed a 20-subject clinical study (LymPro PET 1) in 2018 evaluating the correlation between LymPro scores and the diagnosis of Alzheimers disease, as confirmed with amyloid PET neuroimaging and other Alzheimers disease biomarkers. LymPro measures cell cycle dysregulation in peripheral lymphocytes. The top-line data, announced in July 2019, revealed a strong and statistically significant correlation between LymPro scores and amyloid PET neuroimaging cSUVR scores (r = -0.849; p = 0.00000216). Breakthroughs academic collaborators at the Leipzig University then expanded enrollment of that study to include an additional cohort of 20 subjects (LymPro PET 2) to confirm the strong relationship seen from LymPro PET 1. The data from both LymPro 1 and LymPro 2 will be published together in a peer-reviewed journal in 2020.

LymPro is a unique immune system-based Alzheimers blood test, said Dr. Herman Weiss, President & CEO of Todos. LymPro could prove to be a major breakthrough for Alzheimers disease diagnosis by measuring cell cycle dysregulation and amyloid, together, conveniently as part of a blood workup in routine clinical practice. The therapeutic field in Alzheimers has begun to see some renewed hope based upon recent Aducanumab data announced by Biogen that is directly related to the amyloid hypothesis, as well as conditional approval by the National Medical Products Administration in China for the first new Alzheimers drug in over 20 years, called Oligomannate from Shanghai Green Valley Pharmaceuticals, that is based on gut-brain biology of the microbiome and its effects on the immune system. We believe this renewed optimism and broadening of pathophysiological hypotheses relevant to Alzheimers disease being evaluated in the clinic significantly increases the scope for LymPro pharma services collaborations and begins to refine LymPros clinical utility profile for primary care physicians as strategies to correct cell cycle dysregulation emerge.

About Alzheimer's DiseaseAccording to the Alzheimer's Association, it is estimated that over 5.4 million people in the United States suffer from Alzheimer's disease. Over 500,000 patients are diagnosed annually, with nearly one-in-eight older Americans affected by the disease. Alzheimer's disease is the third leading cause of death in the United States. The cost of unpaid care in the United States is estimated at over $210 billion annually.Total payments for care are estimated at over $200 billion annually, including $140 billion in cost to Medicare and Medicaid. Alzheimer's expenditures in the United States are expected to exceed $1.2 trillion by 2050. There is no cure or effective treatment for Alzheimer's disease. Worldwide, about 35.6 million individuals have the disease and, according to the World Health Organization, the number will double every 20 years to 115.4 million people with Alzheimer's by 2050.

About Dr. Arendt's Research at Leipzig UniversityDr. Thomas Arendt is Professor of Neuroscience at Leipzig University where he runs the Paul Flechsig Institute of Brain Research. He has a 30-year record in R&D of therapeutic and diagnostic strategies of neurodegenerative disorders and made several seminal contributions to therapeutic concepts of Alzheimer's disease, including stem cell therapy and modulating tumor suppressor genes. In the early 1980's, he was involved in identifying the degeneration of the cholinergic system in Alzheimer's disease laying the basis for today's only available treatment. He is one of the pioneers of the "cell-cycle theory" of Alzheimer's disease, which he developed towards a diagnostic and therapeutic concept.

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About Breakthrough Diagnostics, Inc.Breakthrough Diagnostics, Inc. is a joint venture owned by Amarantus Bioscience Holdings, Inc. (AMBS) (80.01%) and Todos Medical Ltd. (19.99%). Breakthrough has been assigned the intellectual property and other rights to the LymPro Test, a diagnostic blood test for Alzheimers disease, as well as rights to other neurological diagnostics testing intellectual property. Todos Medical has provided Amarantus with notice of Todos decision to exercise its exclusive option to acquire the 80.01% of Breakthrough Diagnostics that it currently does not own.

The Lymphocyte Proliferation Test (LymPro Test) determines the ability of peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) and monocytes to withstand an exogenous mitogenic stimulation that induces them to enter the cell cycle. It is believed that certain diseases, most notably Alzheimer's disease, are the result of compromised cellular machinery that leads to aberrant cell cycle re-entry by neurons, which then leads to apoptosis. LymPro is unique in the use of peripheral blood lymphocytes as surrogates for neuronal cell function, suggesting a common relationship between PBLs and neurons in the brain.

About Todos Medical Ltd.Todos Medical Ltd. is an in-vitro diagnostic company engaged in the development of blood tests for the early detection of a variety of cancers, and also has initiated the development of blood tests for neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease through Breakthrough Diagnostics, Inc., its joint venture with Amarantus Bioscience Holdings, Inc. Todos has developed two cancer screening tests based on TBIA (Todos Biochemical Infrared Analyses), a method for cancer screening using peripheral blood analysis. The TBIA screening method is based on the cancers influence on the immune system, which triggers biochemical changes in peripheral blood mononuclear cells and plasma. This proprietary and patented method incorporates biochemistry, physics and signal processing. The companys two cancer screening tests, TM-B1 and TM-B2, have received the CE mark. Breakthrough Diagnostics is developing the LymPro Test, a blood test for diagnosing Alzheimers disease.

For more information, the content of which is not part of this press release, please visithttp://www.todosmedical.com

About Amarantus Bioscience Holdings, Inc.Amarantus Bioscience Holdings (AMBS) is a JLABS alumnus biotechnology company developing treatments and diagnostics for diseases in the areas of neurology, regenerative medicine and orphan diseases through its subsidiaries. The Companys 80.01%-owned subsidiaryBreakthrough Diagnostics, Inc.,currently a joint venture with Todos Medical, Ltd., has licensed intellectual property rights to the Alzheimers blood diagnostic LymPro Test from Leipzig University that was originally developed by Dr. Thomas Arendt, as well as certain rights to multiple sclerosis diagnostic MSPrecise and Parkinsons diagnostic NuroPro. Amarantus entered into a joint venture agreement withTodos Medical, Ltd. to advance diagnostic screening assets and Todos has exercised its exclusive option to acquire Amarantus remaining ownership in Breakthrough in exchange for approximately 50% ownership of Todos. The transaction is expected close before the end of the first quarter of 2020. Amarantus also owns approximately 30% of the common shares of Avant Diagnostics, Inc., a healthcare data-generating technology company that specializes in biomarker assay services that target multiple areas of oncology. Avant provides precision oncology data through its TheraLink assays to assist the biopharmaceutical industry and clinical oncologists in identifying likely responders, initially for breast cancer, to over 70 FDA-approved drug treatments.

AMBS 50%-owned subsidiaryElto Pharma, Inc. has development rights to eltoprazine, a Phase 2b-ready small molecule indicated for Parkinson's disease levodopa-induced dyskinesia, Alzheimers aggression and adult attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, commonly known as ADHD. AMBS acquiredCutanogen Corporationfrom Lonza Group in 2015. Cutanogen is preparing for pivotal studies with Engineered Skin Substitute (ESS) for the treatment of pediatric life-threatening severe burns. ESS is a regenerative medicine-based, autologous full-thickness skin graft technology originally developed by the Shriners Hospital that can be used to treat severe burns, as well as several other catastrophic and cosmetic dermatological indications. AMBS wholly-owned subsidiary,MANF Therapeutics Inc.owns key intellectual property rights and licenses from a number of prominent universities related to the development of the therapeutic protein known as mesencephalic astrocyte-derived neurotrophic factor (MANF). MANF Therapeutics is developing MANF-based products as treatments for ophthalmological disorders such as Wolfram Syndrome, Retinitis Pigmentosa and Glaucoma, as well as neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinsons disease. MANF was discovered by the Companys Chief Scientific Officer John Commissiong, PhD. Dr. Commissiong discovered MANF from AMBS proprietary discovery engine PhenoGuard, and believes several other neurotrophic factors remain to be discovered. Amarantus has entered into a binding letter of intent to license the therapeutic assets from Elto Pharma, Cutanogen and MANF Therapeutics to Emerald Organic Products.

Forward-looking StatementsCertain statements contained in this press release may constitute forward-looking statements. For example, forward-looking statements are used when discussing our expected clinical development programs and clinical trials. These forward-looking statements are based only on current expectations of management, and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements, including the risks and uncertainties related to the progress, timing, cost, and results of clinical trials and product development programs; difficulties or delays in obtaining regulatory approval or patent protection for product candidates; competition from other biotechnology companies; and our ability to obtain additional funding required to conduct our research, development and commercialization activities. In addition, the following factors, among others, could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements: changes in technology and market requirements; delays or obstacles in launching our clinical trials; changes in legislation; inability to timely develop and introduce new technologies, products and applications; lack of validation of our technology as we progress further and lack of acceptance of our methods by the scientific community; inability to retain or attract key employees whose knowledge is essential to the development of our products; unforeseen scientific difficulties that may develop with our process; greater cost of final product than anticipated; loss of market share and pressure on pricing resulting from competition; and laboratory results that do not translate to equally good results in real settings, all of which could cause the actual results or performance to differ materially from those contemplated in such forward-looking statements. Except as otherwise required by law, Todos Medical does not undertake any obligation to publicly release any revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. For a more detailed description of the risks and uncertainties affecting Todos Medical, please refer to its reports filed from time to time with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Todos Investor and Corporate Contact:Kim Sutton GolodetzLHA Investor RelationsSenior Vice President (212) 838-3777kgolodetz@lhai.com

Todos Corporate ContactDaniel HirschTodos MedicalInvestor RelationsEmail:Dan.h@todosmedical.comPhone: (347) 699-0029

Amarantus Investor and Media Contact:Gerald CommissiongPresident & CEOOffice: 650-862-5391Email: gerald@amarantus.com

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Todos and Amarantus JV Announces Full Enrollment for Clinical Trial of LymPro Alzheimers Blood Test Relationship with Amyloid PET - Yahoo Finance

Skin Stem Cells Comments Off on Todos and Amarantus JV Announces Full Enrollment for Clinical Trial of LymPro Alzheimers Blood Test Relationship with Amyloid PET – Yahoo Finance | November 14th, 2019

Have you wondered about new and innovative pain treatment processes that could change your quality of life?

Join us Monday, December 16, 7PM at the Woodbridge Main Library as Manisha Chahal, MD of Edison-Metuchen Orthopaedic Group discusses Regenerative Medicine to Treat Pain. Dr. Chahal will walk us through the promising results of regenerative medicine with a focus on platelet rich plasma and stem cells. She will explain how this process works and the evidence to support this cutting edge science. Dr. Chahal will also describe the best practices to go about and the indications to look out for. She will disclose how to avoid misleading providers and illegitimate products.

About Dr. Manisha Chahal, MD

Dr. Manisha Chahal is a board certified Interventional Pain Management Physician who specializes in minimally invasive procedures for pain.

Dr. Chahal treats the following conditions: headache, lower back pain, joint pain, neck pain, CRPS, postherpetic neuralgia, abdominal wall pain, pelvic pain, coccydynia, and sciatica.

Additionally, Dr. Chahal also performs the following procedures: spinal cord stimulators, regenerative medicine (PRP & stem cell injections), Botox for migraines, cervical epidural steroid injection, lumbar translaminar or transforaminal epidural steroid injections, cervical and lumbar facet rhizotomy, discograms, nerve blocks (ultrasound & C-arm guided), knee genicular blocks & rhizotomy, joint injections, trigger point injections, and qutenza treatment (chemical rhizotomy) for PHN pain.

She received her medical degree from Howard University where she was awarded a Trustee Scholarship for academic achievement. She completed her anesthesia residency training at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (Harvard) in Boston. Dr. Chahal did her Pain Management Fellowship at New York Presbyterian/ Weill Cornell Medical Center in NYC. She is board certified by the American Board of Anesthesiology for both anesthesia and pain medicine.

She treats a wide variety of pain diagnoses and has expertise in many procedures including spinal cord stimulators, transforaminal epidural injections, rhizotomies, ultrasound guided nerve blocks, regenerative treatments and botox.

Dr. Chahal's philosophy is use every pain management option available to help patients ease their pain and "get their life back."

The Woodbridge Main Library is located at 1 George Frederick Plaza in Woodbridge, NJ. If you have any questions or need any further information please contact us at 732-634-4450 or visit our website -www.woodbrigelibrary.org.

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Learn How You Can Treat Your Pain with Regenerative Medicine! - Patch.com

Spinal Cord Stem Cells Comments Off on Learn How You Can Treat Your Pain with Regenerative Medicine! – Patch.com | November 13th, 2019

Dongmei Yan,1,* Botao Tang,2,* Lixin Yan,3 Lei Zhang,1 Meijuan Miao,1 Xi Chen,4 Guangyi Sui,5 Qi Zhang,1 Daoyuan Liu,1 Hui Wang1

1Department of Blood Transfusion, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Peoples Republic of China; 2Department of Cardiology, Heilongjiang Red Cross Hospital, Harbin, Peoples Republic of China; 3Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Peoples Republic of China; 4Department of Hematology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Peoples Republic of China; 5Ethics Committee, The Tumor Hospital Affiliated to Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Peoples Republic of China

*These authors contributed equally to this work

Correspondence: Hui WangDepartment of Blood Transfusion, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Harbin Medical University, Xuefu Road No. 246, Nangang District, Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, Peoples Republic of ChinaTel +86-451-86605134Email wanghui@hrbmu.edu.cn

Purpose: Sodium selenite (Na2SeO3) has been known to restore the antioxidant capacity of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs), reduce the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the cells, and promote cell proliferation and inhibit cell apoptosis. However, it is still not clear whether selenium can mediate the differentiation and inhibit the induced hemagglutination of BMSCs. In this study, we attempted to explore the effect of Na2SeO3 on these aspects of BMSCs.Methods: We evaluated the fate of the MSCs isolated from the bone marrow of mice by studying their differentiation and proliferation after treatment with Na2SeO3. We also simultaneously evaluated the coagulation reaction induced by Na2SeO3-treated BMSCs in vitro.Results: While the mice-derived BMSCs expressed CD44, CD73, CD90, and CD105, they did not express CD45. The morphology of the derived cells was homogeneously elongated. These results showed that the isolated cells are indeed BMSCs. We found that 0.1 M and 1 M of Na2SeO3 promoted the proliferation and apoptosis of BMSCs, respectively. This showed that Na2SeO3 can be toxic and exert certain side effects on the BMSCs. The results of the osteogenic and adipogenic assay showed that 0.1 M Na2SeO3 could significantly promote the osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation of BMSCs by upregulating the lipid factors (LPL and PPRAG) and osteogenic factors, RUNX2, COL1, and BGP, in a concentration-dependent manner. Coagulation experiments in animals (mice and rats) revealed that Na2SeO3 can reduce the coagulation time of BMSCs in a concentration-dependent manner, which is related to the high expression of hematopoietic factors (SDF-1, GM-CSF, IL-7, IL-8, IL-11, and SCF).Conclusion: Na2SeO3 promotes the proliferation and differentiation as well as reduces the coagulation time of BMSCs, and this effect might enhance the therapeutic effect of BMSCs.

Keywords: sodium selenite, BMSCs, proliferation, differentiation, coagulation factors, clotting time

This work is published and licensed by Dove Medical Press Limited. The full terms of this license are available at https://www.dovepress.com/terms.php and incorporate the Creative Commons Attribution - Non Commercial (unported, v3.0) License.By accessing the work you hereby accept the Terms. Non-commercial uses of the work are permitted without any further permission from Dove Medical Press Limited, provided the work is properly attributed. For permission for commercial use of this work, please see paragraphs 4.2 and 5 of our Terms.

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Sodium Selenite Improves The Therapeutic Effect Of BMSCs Via Promoting | OTT - Dove Medical Press

Bone Marrow Stem Cells Comments Off on Sodium Selenite Improves The Therapeutic Effect Of BMSCs Via Promoting | OTT – Dove Medical Press | November 13th, 2019

On Wednesday, Nov. 6, the Be the Match Club at Fairfield University hosted a donor registration drive to encourage students to sign up to be a bone marrow donor.

Be the Match is an organization that seeks to help people who are suffering from blood cancer or blood diseases and are in need of a transplant. Be the Match, operated by the National Marrow Donor Program, provides patients with a way to find a transplant match, which could be their last chance for a cure. There is a large number of diseases that could be treated with a transplant, including Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphoma, different types of leukemia and severe aplastic anemia.

The Be the Match Club at Fairfield University started in the fall of 2018 when a group of studentswas inspired by a fellow Stag who had to withdraw from school when he was re-diagnosed with cancer. The clubs goal is to spread awareness about the organization and increase the database of donors, so there is a greater chance for a patient to find their match.

Were trying to get as many people as possible to sign up, Brian Gozzo 20, Vice President of the Be the Match Club, says. Currently were at 20 million. We hope to one day have basically the entire planet, ideally, on it.

A donor-patient match is found by having the donor swab the inside of their cheek to gather DNA that is tested against the patient. If the two have a similar human leukocyte antigen, they are a close match for a transplant. After signing up for the registry at Fairfield University, a cheek-swabbing kit will be sent to your house, and then will be sent back for the stem cells to be tested.

Its super simple, Gozzo says. All it takes is a cheek swab, and, like, five minutes of your time, and youre put on [the registry] till youre 61. If youre matched with someone right then, youll probably receive a phone call, and then that will take another couple weeks until you actually have to donate.

If a match is found, the actual donation process could go one of two ways. One way to donate is to give peripheral blood stem cells, which is a non-surgical procedure that extracts blood through a needle, puts it through a machine that separates the blood cells and then returns the remaining blood into the body. The other option for donation is to give bone marrow through a surgical procedure that removes liquid marrow from the pelvic bone.

Gozzo understands that this can sound scary, but the chances of getting a phone call is pretty slim. He says that only one in about four hundred people on the registry will ever have to donate.

One thing we want people to know is dont be scared that were gonna call you and say the next day you have to be here, across the country and donate, Gozzo said. Its a very lengthy process, theres a lot of people involved and its very safe.

For Gozzo, the most important thing is to spread awareness and increase the number of people on the registry and the chances of a life-saving donation. He says, You could just sit on the registry until you turn 61 and never once receive a phone call, but just know that, like, you still were there and youve still done your part.

Gozzo, a resident assistant, was motivated to form the Be the Match Club at Fairfield University with a few other RAs last year when the student had to withdraw. They reached out to Be the Match for help.

When the student had to withdraw, a couple of the RAs wanted to know what we could do to help. Could we find a match for this kid? Gozzo said. Course, thats very, very difficult.

However, last years drive was not the first appearance Be the Match has made at Fairfield University. Senior Julia Giampietro and her roommate brought a Be the Match drive themselves to Fairfield in their sophomore year. She reached out to the Connecticut Be the Match region leader, who helped them set up a drive that brought over 60 students to join the national bone marrow donor registry. Giampietro was influenced to raise awareness for this organization for a personal reason.

I wanted to bring [Be the Match] to Fairfield in honor of my cousin Christopher who passed away from AML Leukemia in October of my freshman year at Fairfield, Giampietro said via email. He went through a bone marrow transplant, was in remission and relapsed a year later. He received a second bone marrow transplant but the cancer took over his body He was and still is the biggest inspiration in my life and no matter what would always say its all good which is the motto my family and I live by now.

Giampietro continued work with Be the Match throughout her junior and senior years. She was also inspired by the Fairfield student who had to withdraw last year, so she worked with students in younger grades to put on another drive in the fall of 2018, which is when the Be the Match Club was born. Giampietro and her roommate decided to put together an event for the student at the Seagrape Cafe, where they raised almost $2,000 for his family from donations at the door and from other Fairfield Students.

That was probably the biggest accomplishment of our 3 years involved with Be the Match and was a great way to close the year and our time in the club, Giampietro said. It was also amazing to see how much support we got and the feeling of being able to make a small difference for a local peer and family.

Although her time with Be the Match at Fairfield University is over, Giampietro has high hopes for the club and the organization in the years to come.

My biggest hope really is to have students become more aware and educated about [Be the Match], Giampietro said. It is so important for people our age to be educated on this amazing cause because we are the ones who can save peoples lives.

Be the Match will hold their next donor registration drive in the spring of 2020. To learn more about the organization or become a donor, visit https://bethematch.org/.

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Be the Match and Make a Difference - Fairfield Mirror

Bone Marrow Stem Cells Comments Off on Be the Match and Make a Difference – Fairfield Mirror | November 13th, 2019

NEW YORK, Nov. 12, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:BCLI), a leading developer of adult stem cell therapies for neurodegenerative diseases, today announced that the Companys Chief Operating and Chief Medical Officer Ralph Kern MD MHSc will present at the 7th International Stem Cell Meeting, which is hosted by the Israel Stem Cell Society. The Conference will be held November 12-13, in Tel Aviv, Israel.

Ralph Kern, MD, MHSc, said: I welcome the opportunity to participate in the 7th International Stem Cell Meeting where I will share the advances BrainStorm has made with NurOwn. It is a privilege to participate and to exchange ideas with many of the international scientific leaders in stem cell research.

About NurOwn

NurOwn (autologous MSC-NTF) cells represent a promising investigational therapeutic approach to targeting disease pathways important in neurodegenerative disorders. MSC-NTF cells are produced from autologous, bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) that have been expanded and differentiated ex vivo. MSCs are converted into MSC-NTF cells by growing them under patented conditions that induce the cells to secrete high levels of neurotrophic factors. Autologous MSC-NTF cells can effectively deliver multiple NTFs and immunomodulatory cytokines directly to the site of damage to elicit a desired biological effect and ultimately slow or stabilize disease progression. BrainStorm has fully enrolled a Phase 3 pivotal trial of autologous MSC-NTF cells for the treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). BrainStorm also recently received U.S. FDA acceptance to initiate a Phase 2 open-label multicenter trial in progressive MS and enrollment began in March 2019.

About BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics Inc.

BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics Inc. is a leading developer of innovative autologous adult stem cell therapeutics for debilitating neurodegenerative diseases. The Company holds the rights to clinical development and commercialization of the NurOwn technology platform used to produce autologous MSC-NTF cells through an exclusive, worldwide licensing agreement. Autologous MSC-NTF cells have received Orphan Drug status designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (U.S. FDA) and the European Medicines Agency (EMA) in ALS. BrainStorm has fully enrolled a Phase 3 pivotal trial in ALS (NCT03280056), investigating repeat-administration of autologous MSC-NTF cells at six U.S. sites supported by a grant from the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM CLIN2-0989). The pivotal study is intended to support a filing for U.S. FDA approval of autologous MSC-NTF cells in ALS. BrainStorm also recently received U.S. FDA clearance to initiate a Phase 2 open-label multicenter trial in progressive Multiple Sclerosis. The Phase 2 study of autologous MSC-NTF cells in patients with progressive MS (NCT03799718) started enrollment in March 2019. For more information, visit the company's website at http://www.brainstorm-cell.com

Safe-Harbor Statement

Statements in this announcement other than historical data and information, including statements regarding future clinical trial enrollment and data, constitute "forward-looking statements" and involve risks and uncertainties that could causeBrainStorm Cell Therapeutics Inc.'sactual results to differ materially from those stated or implied by such forward-looking statements. Terms and phrases such as "may", "should", "would", "could", "will", "expect", "likely", "believe", "plan", "estimate", "predict", "potential", and similar terms and phrases are intended to identify these forward-looking statements. The potential risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, BrainStorms need to raise additional capital, BrainStorms ability to continue as a going concern, regulatory approval of BrainStorms NurOwn treatment candidate, the success of BrainStorms product development programs and research, regulatory and personnel issues, development of a global market for our services, the ability to secure and maintain research institutions to conduct our clinical trials, the ability to generate significant revenue, the ability of BrainStorms NurOwn treatment candidate to achieve broad acceptance as a treatment option for ALS or other neurodegenerative diseases, BrainStorms ability to manufacture and commercialize the NurOwn treatment candidate, obtaining patents that provide meaningful protection, competition and market developments, BrainStorms ability to protect our intellectual property from infringement by third parties, heath reform legislation, demand for our services, currency exchange rates and product liability claims and litigation,; and other factors detailed in BrainStorm's annual report on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q available athttp://www.sec.gov. These factors should be considered carefully, and readers should not place undue reliance on BrainStorm's forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are based on the beliefs, expectations and opinions of management as of the date of this press release. We do not assume any obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect actual results or assumptions if circumstances or management's beliefs, expectations or opinions should change, unless otherwise required by law. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot guarantee future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements.

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BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics Announces Ralph Kern MD MHSc to Present at the 7th International Stem Cell Meeting - Yahoo Finance

Bone Marrow Stem Cells Comments Off on BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics Announces Ralph Kern MD MHSc to Present at the 7th International Stem Cell Meeting – Yahoo Finance | November 13th, 2019

This is the tear-jerking moment a dad shares a hug with the woman who saved his life.

James O'Donnell, from Burnage, feared the worst after being diagnosed with a blood disorder similar to leukaemia in 2016.

Usual treatments were failing and James was undergoing a blood transfusion every week while battling constant infections, the Liverpool Echo reports.

James was running out of options and despaired at the pain his death could cause his eight-year-old son, Harrison.

But in a stunning stroke of fortune, his saviour was only the other side of the M62 - LiverpoolCouncil admin worker Leah McDougall.

The 29-year-old mum, from Bootle, had taken the time to sign up to the register of potential stem cell donors on her lunch break at a pop-up stall, organised by blood cancer charity DKSM, the previous year.

James, who despite his Manc heritage is an avid Liverpool FC fan, told staff at the charity that he would be up for meeting his donor, who could have been anyone from a number of European countries using the register.

James, along with his wife Andrea and young Harrison, got the chance to meet Leah for the first time at a DKSM charity gala in London on Wednesday last week (November 6).

James, who says he finally feels like himself after a long period of illness, told the ECHO: "I was just getting chest infections and water infections all the time.

"I am quite a healthy person, and I was in good shape and I knew I should not be getting ill all the time."

He said after a few weeks of tests his was invited to take a bone marrow biopsy and was told the devastating news on his 40th birthday.

The disease meant James' bone marrow was not producing enough white blood cells, but doctors told him a treatment called anti-thymocite globulin (ATG) had a "75% chance" of success.

However, when that failed, fear and doubt began to creep in.

He said: "We are always saying I would get through this, we were thinking I would get better. But I started to think it's not happening, it's not going to be for me, this.

"I thought, I have been good in life, I need some luck. We were having a really hard time.

"My son was four or five then, and it was hard for him having a dad going from playing football with him to being in hospital."

Eventually doctors revealed the only option was for James to have a bone marrow transplant.

The O'Donnell's went through further disappointment when tests on his three siblings revealed none were a match, so the waiting game to find a suitable donor began.

But on a March day in 2017, he got a call to say: "We have got a perfect match, a 10 out of 10."

The operation was a success and after four weeks doctors told James the new bone marrow cells were taking effect.

He said: "We were so lucky to find a donor only about 25 miles away. Some people never find one and we had one on our doorstep."

The powerful emotion of meeting Leah last week is summed up by James: "It was the second best moment of my life after my son being born.

"What she has done means that I can see my son growing up and that he has a father."

Leah did not hesitate to agree to help a total stranger when she was asked by DKSM.

Describing the moment she met James and his family, she told the ECHO: "We were both speechless. When I walked on stage we were just hugging each other for ages.

"It is weird, we felt like we had known each other for years, I felt like I had known him my whole life.

"It just takes five minutes out of your time to sign up to the register; that's like going to the kitchen to make a drink.

"You just think about the impact it is going to have on someone, it is saving someone's life. I feel lucky to have been able to give something back."

James says his family and Leah are planning to meet up again, possibly at a Liverpool FC game.

He said: "Without her, I wouldn't have a future."

DKSM has urged anyone aged 17-55, and in general good health, to sign up to the register here.

Dr Manos Niklolousis, Haematologist at University Hospital Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, said:"Blood stem cells can be used to treat a wide range of blood cancers and blood disorders and we urgently need more people to come forward as donors.

"Currently, only 2% of the UK population are registered so matching donors with patients isnt easy within a growing multicultural population.

"Many of those in need are unable to find a sibling match and so rely on the generosity of strangers, and a blood stem cell transplant can be some patients only hope of survival.

"As a doctor who treats people with blood cancer or disorders, it is upsetting to know that some patients could have been saved if only more potential donors were registered and available to donate.

"I look forward to the day when there will be a donor for every patient in need."

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Heartbreaking moment dad meets the woman who saved his life - he feared his son would grow up without a father - Manchester Evening News

Bone Marrow Stem Cells Comments Off on Heartbreaking moment dad meets the woman who saved his life – he feared his son would grow up without a father – Manchester Evening News | November 13th, 2019

This is the poignant moment a dad and his young family broke down as they met the woman who saved his life.

James O'Donnell, 43, was running out of options after being diagnosed with aplastic anemia, a blood disorder similar to leukaemia, in 2016.

Usual treatments were failing and James was undergoing a blood transfusion every week while battling constant infections.

James, from Burnage in Manchester, feared his luck was out and despaired at the pain his death could cause his eight-year-old son Harrison.

But in a stunning stroke of fortune, his saviour was only the other side of the M62; Liverpool Council admin worker Leah McDougall.

The 29-year-old mum, from Bootle , had taken the time to sign up to the register of potential stem cell donors on her lunch break at a pop-up stall, organised by blood cancer charity DKMS, the previous year.

James, who despite his Manc heritage is an avid Liverpool FC fan, told staff at he charity that he would be up for meeting his donor, who could have been anyone from a number of European countries using the register.

James, along with his wife Andrea and young Harrison, got the chance to meet Leah for the first time at a DKMS charity gala in London on Wednesday last week (November 6).

James, who says he finally feels like himself after a long period of illness, told the ECHO: "I was just getting chest infections and water infections all the time.

"I am quite a healthy person, and I was in good shape and I knew I should not be getting ill all the time."

He said after a few weeks of tests his was invited to take a bone marrow biopsy and was told the devastating news on his 40th birthday.

The disease meant James's bone marrow was not producing enough white blood cells, but doctors told him a treatment called anti-thymocite globulin (ATG) had "75% chance" of success.

However when that failed, fear and doubt began to creep in for James.

He said: "We are always saying I would get through this, we were thinking I would get better. But I started to think it's not happening, it's not going to be for me, this.

"I thought, I have been good in life, I need some luck. We were having a really hard time. My son was four or five then, and it was hard for him having a dad going from playing football with him to being in hospital."

Eventually doctors revealed the only option was for James to have a bone marrow transplant.

The O'Donnells went through further disappointment when tests on his three siblings revealed none were a match, so the waiting game to find a suitable donor began.

But on a March day in 2017, he got a call to say: "We have got a perfect match, a 10 out of 10."

The operation was a success and after four weeks doctors told James the new bone marrow cells were taking effect.

He said: "We were so lucky to find a donor only about 25 miles away. Some people never find one and we had one on our doorstep."

The powerful emotion of meeting Leah last week is summed up by James: "It was the second best moment of my life after my son being born.

"What she has done means that I can see my son growing up and that he has a father."

Leah did not hesitate to agree to help a total stranger when she was asked by DKMS.

Describing the moment she met James and his family, she told the ECHO: "We were both speechless. When I walked on stage we were just hugging each other for ages.

"It is weird, we felt like we had known each other for years, I felt like I had known him my whole life.

"It just takes five minutes out of your time to sign up to the register; that's like going to the kitchen to make a drink.

"You just think about the impact it is going to have on someone, it is saving someone's life. I feel lucky to have been able to give something back."

James says his family and Leah are planning to meet up again, possibly at a Liverpool FC game.

He said: "Without her, I wouldn't have a future."

DKMS has urged anyone aged 17-55, and in general good health, to sign up to the register here .

Dr Manos Niklolousis, Haematologist at University Hospital Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, said:"Blood stem cells can be used to treat a wide range of blood cancers and blood disorders and we urgently need more people to come forward as donors.

"Currently, only 2% of the UK population are registered so matching donors with patients isnt easy within a growing multicultural population.

"Many of those in need are unable to find a sibling match and so rely on the generosity of strangers, and a blood stem cell transplant can be some patients only hope of survival.

"As a doctor who treats people with blood cancer or disorders, it is upsetting to know that some patients could have been saved if only more potential donors were registered and available to donate. I look forward to the day when there will be a donor for every patient in need."

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Tearful dad meets woman who saved his life and gave him future with his son - Liverpool Echo

Bone Marrow Stem Cells Comments Off on Tearful dad meets woman who saved his life and gave him future with his son – Liverpool Echo | November 13th, 2019

BioRestorative Therapies (OTCMKTS:BRTX) and Livongo Health (NASDAQ:LVGO) are both medical companies, but which is the better stock? We will compare the two companies based on the strength of their risk, institutional ownership, profitability, earnings, valuation, analyst recommendations and dividends.

Institutional and Insider Ownership

0.1% of Livongo Health shares are owned by institutional investors. 17.9% of BioRestorative Therapies shares are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, endowments and large money managers believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term.

Analyst Recommendations

This is a breakdown of recent ratings and recommmendations for BioRestorative Therapies and Livongo Health, as reported by MarketBeat.

Livongo Health has a consensus target price of $44.30, indicating a potential upside of 71.17%. Given Livongo Healths higher probable upside, analysts plainly believe Livongo Health is more favorable than BioRestorative Therapies.

Profitability

This table compares BioRestorative Therapies and Livongo Healths net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Valuation & Earnings

This table compares BioRestorative Therapies and Livongo Healths top-line revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

BioRestorative Therapies has higher earnings, but lower revenue than Livongo Health.

Summary

Livongo Health beats BioRestorative Therapies on 7 of the 9 factors compared between the two stocks.

BioRestorative Therapies Company Profile

BioRestorative Therapies, Inc. develops therapeutic products and medical therapies using cell and tissue protocols, primarily involving adult stem cells for the treatment of disc/spine disease and metabolic disorders. The company's lead cell therapy candidate is the BRTX-100, which focuses on providing non-surgical treatment for protruding and bulging lumbar discs in patients suffering from chronic lumbar disc disease. It also develops the ThermoStem program, a pre-clinical program for the treatment of metabolic diseases, such as type 2 diabetes, obesity, hypertension, and other metabolic disorders, as well as cardiac deficiencies. In addition, the company provides curved needle device, a needle system with a curved inner cannula that allows access to difficult-to-locate regions for the delivery or removal of fluids and other substances. Further, it offers skin care products under the Stem Pearls brand name. BioRestorative Therapies, Inc. has a research and development agreement with Rohto Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.; and a research agreement with Pfizer, Inc. and the University of Pennsylvania. The company was formerly known as Stem Cell Assurance, Inc. and changed its name to BioRestorative Therapies, Inc. in August 2011. BioRestorative Therapies, Inc. was incorporated in 1997 and is headquartered in Melville, New York.

Livongo Health Company Profile

Livongo Health, Inc. provides an integrated suite of solutions for the healthcare industry in North America. It solutions promote health behavior change based on real-time data capture supported by intuitive devices and insights driven by data science. The company offers a platform that provides cellular-connected devices, supplies, informed coaching, data science-enabled insights, and facilitates access to medications. Its products include Livongo for Diabetes, Livongo for Hypertension, Livongo for Prediabetes and Weight Management, and Livongo for Behavioral Health by myStrength. The company was formerly known as EosHealth, Inc. and changed its name to Livongo Health, Inc. in 2014. Livongo Health, Inc. was incorporated in 2008 and is headquartered in Mountain View, California.

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Financial Contrast: BioRestorative Therapies (OTCMKTS:BRTX) and Livongo Health (OTCMKTS:LVGO) - DFS Caller

Cardiac Stem Cells Comments Off on Financial Contrast: BioRestorative Therapies (OTCMKTS:BRTX) and Livongo Health (OTCMKTS:LVGO) – DFS Caller | November 12th, 2019

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. & MENLO PARK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--bluebird bio, Inc. (Nasdaq: BLUE) and Forty Seven, Inc. (Nasdaq:FTSV) announced today that they have entered into a research collaboration to pursue clinical proof-of-concept for Forty Sevens novel antibody-based conditioning regimen, FSI-174 (anti-cKIT antibody) plus magrolimab (anti-CD47 antibody), with bluebirds ex vivo lentiviral vector hematopoietic stem cell (LVV HSC) gene therapy platform. This collaboration will focus on a conditioning approach aimed to deliver reduced toxicity and will initially target diseases that have the potential to be corrected with transplantation of autologous gene-modified blood-forming stem cells. If successful, the new conditioning regimen could allow for more patients to undergo gene therapy.

Autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) and most ex vivo LVV HSC gene therapies require that a patients own stem cells first be depleted from the bone marrow to facilitate the engraftment of the new (or gene-modified) HSCs through a process called conditioning. Conditioning is performed using chemotherapy or radiation, which can place patients at risk for infection and require hospitalization until bone marrow cells have recovered. In addition, conventional conditioning can place patients at risk for secondary malignancy and infertility. As a result, the overall toxicity profile of current conditioning regimens limits the types of patients who are eligible for gene therapy. It is hoped that novel antibody based conditioning regimens could avoid these toxicities.

We are excited about this collaboration, combining our industry-leading LVV HSC gene therapy platform with Forty Sevens novel antibody-based conditioning regimen, said Philip Gregory, chief scientific officer, bluebird bio. We believe that, if successful, this novel conditioning modality could not only increase the number of patients and physicians who may consider gene therapy but also improve the overall risk benefit profile for stem cell-based gene therapy, as well as potentially reduce time and costs associated with hospital visits.

Forty Seven is advancing the pioneering work on CD47 and cKIT from our scientific founder, Irv Weissmans lab. We have shown that antibody blockade of CD47 can synergize with other antibodies targeting cancer to promote tumor engulfment. Based on this experience, coupled with the results of preclinical studies, we are eager to explore this dual-antibody approach for the potential treatment of non-malignant diseases, says Jens Peter Volkmer, M.D., Founder and Vice President of Research and Development at Forty Seven.

Forty Sevens President and Chief Executive Officer, Mark McCamish, M.D., Ph.D., commented, bluebird is a leading gene therapy company and we are excited to collaborate with them. Stem cell transplantation is potentially curative for a variety of blood diseases, including genetic blood disorders like sickle cell disease and beta-thalassemia. If successful, we believe our chemo- and radiation-free, all-antibody approach could expand transplantation beyond genetic blood disorders to a range of indications for which current transplantation approaches are suboptimal. In 2020, we plan to evaluate FSI-174 in healthy volunteers, before initiating a combination study of Forty Sevens novel all-antibody conditioning regimen and bluebirds gene therapy product.

Under the terms of the agreement, bluebird bio will provide its ex vivo LVV HSC gene therapy platform and Forty Seven will contribute its innovative antibody-based conditioning regimen for the collaboration.

About FSI-174 and MagrolimabFSI-174 is a humanized monoclonal antibody targeting cKIT, which is a receptor that is highly expressed on hematopoietic stem cells. Magrolimab is a humanized monoclonal antibody targeting CD47, which is a dont eat me signal to macrophages and is expressed on all cells. Magrolimab is currently being investigated in Phase 2 clinical trials to treat cancer and has established clinical efficacy in four indications, including myelodysplastic syndrome, acute myeloid leukemia, diffuse large B cell lymphoma and follicular lymphoma, with a favorable safety profile in over 350 patients treated, including some patients treated continuously for over two years. When combined, FSI-174 sends a positive signal to macrophages to target blood forming stem cells for removal and magrolimab disengages inhibitory signals that block phagocytosis. Combination of these antibodies has shown efficient removal of blood forming stem cells, allowing for transplantation in pre-clinical models.

About bluebird bio, Inc.bluebird bio is pioneering gene therapy with purpose. From our Cambridge, Mass., headquarters, were developing gene therapies for severe genetic diseases and cancer, with the goal that people facing potentially fatal conditions with limited treatment options can live their lives fully. Beyond our labs, were working to positively disrupt the healthcare system to create access, transparency and education so that gene therapy can become available to all those who can benefit.

bluebird bio is a human company powered by human stories. Were putting our care and expertise to work across a spectrum of disorders by researching cerebral adrenoleukodystrophy, sickle cell disease, transfusion-dependent -thalassemia and multiple myeloma using three gene therapy technologies: gene addition, cell therapy and (megaTAL-enabled) gene editing.

bluebird bio has additional nests in Seattle, Wash.; Durham, N.C.; and Zug, Switzerland. For more information, visit bluebirdbio.com.

Follow bluebird bio on social media: @bluebirdbio, LinkedIn, Instagram and YouTube.

bluebird bio is a trademark of bluebird bio, Inc.

About Forty Seven Inc.Forty Seven, Inc. is a clinical-stage immuno-oncology company that is developing therapies targeting cancer immune evasion pathways based on technology licensed from Stanford University. Forty Sevens lead program, magrolimab, is a monoclonal antibody against the CD47 receptor, a dont eat me signal that cancer cells commandeer to avoid being ingested by macrophages. This antibody is currently being evaluated in multiple clinical studies in patients with myelodysplastic syndrome, acute myeloid leukemia, non-Hodgkins lymphoma, ovarian cancer and colorectal carcinoma.

For more information, please visit http://www.fortyseveninc.com or contact info@fortyseveninc.com.

Follow Forty Seven on social media: @FortySevenInc, LinkedIn

Forward-Looking StatementsThis release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as "may," "will," potentially, and similar expressions (as well as other words or expressions referencing future events, conditions, or circumstances) are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements include those related to the research and development plans for bluebird bios and Forty Sevens respective platforms and product candidates, the timing and success of Forty Sevens collaboration with bluebird bio, Forty Sevens plans to pursue clinical proof-of-concept for FSI-174 plus magrolimab with the LVV HSC gene therapy platform, the focus on diseases that have the potential to be corrected with transplantation of autologous gene-modified blood-forming stem cells, the tolerability and efficacy of FSI-174 and magrolimab, Forty Sevens plans to continue development of FSI-174 plus magrolimab, as well as related timing for clinical trials of the same.

Any forward-looking statements are based on the companies managements current expectations of future events and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially and adversely from those set forth in or implied by such forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the risks that the exploratory antibody-based conditioning platform will not be successful or will not be safe or effective in clinical trials, the risks that the collaboration between bluebird bio and Forty Seven will not continue or be successful, and the risk that the parties will not be successful in advancing the collaboration in development, the risk that potential product candidates that bluebird bio and Forty Seven develop may not progress through clinical development or receive required regulatory approvals within expected timelines or at all, the risk that clinical trials may not confirm any safety, potency or other product characteristics described or assumed in this press release and the risk that such product candidates may not be beneficial to patients or successfully commercialized. For a discussion of other risks and uncertainties, and other important factors, any of which could cause the companies actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements, see the section entitled Risk Factors in each companys most recent Form 10-K as well as discussions of potential risks, uncertainties and other important factors in subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission at http://www.sec.gov. All information contained in this press release are not guarantees of future performance and speak only as of the date hereof, and each of bluebird bio and Forty Seven disclaims any obligation to update this information to reflect future events or circumstances unless required by law.

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bluebird bio and Forty Seven Announce a Research Collaboration to Study an All Antibody Conditioning Regimen for Use in Combination with Autologous...

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NEW YORK, Nov. 12, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:BCLI), a leading developer of adult stem cell therapies for neurodegenerative diseases, today announced that the Companys Chief Operating and Chief Medical Officer Ralph Kern MD MHSc will present at the 7th International Stem Cell Meeting, which is hosted by the Israel Stem Cell Society. The Conference will be held November 12-13, in Tel Aviv, Israel.

Ralph Kern, MD, MHSc, said: I welcome the opportunity to participate in the 7th International Stem Cell Meeting where I will share the advances BrainStorm has made with NurOwn. It is a privilege to participate and to exchange ideas with many of the international scientific leaders in stem cell research.

About NurOwn

NurOwn (autologous MSC-NTF) cells represent a promising investigational therapeutic approach to targeting disease pathways important in neurodegenerative disorders. MSC-NTF cells are produced from autologous, bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) that have been expanded and differentiated ex vivo. MSCs are converted into MSC-NTF cells by growing them under patented conditions that induce the cells to secrete high levels of neurotrophic factors. Autologous MSC-NTF cells can effectively deliver multiple NTFs and immunomodulatory cytokines directly to the site of damage to elicit a desired biological effect and ultimately slow or stabilize disease progression. BrainStorm has fully enrolled a Phase 3 pivotal trial of autologous MSC-NTF cells for the treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). BrainStorm also recently received U.S. FDA acceptance to initiate a Phase 2 open-label multicenter trial in progressive MS and enrollment began in March 2019.

About BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics Inc.

BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics Inc. is a leading developer of innovative autologous adult stem cell therapeutics for debilitating neurodegenerative diseases. The Company holds the rights to clinical development and commercialization of the NurOwn technology platform used to produce autologous MSC-NTF cells through an exclusive, worldwide licensing agreement. Autologous MSC-NTF cells have received Orphan Drug status designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (U.S. FDA) and the European Medicines Agency (EMA) in ALS. BrainStorm has fully enrolled a Phase 3 pivotal trial in ALS (NCT03280056), investigating repeat-administration of autologous MSC-NTF cells at six U.S. sites supported by a grant from the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM CLIN2-0989). The pivotal study is intended to support a filing for U.S. FDA approval of autologous MSC-NTF cells in ALS. BrainStorm also recently received U.S. FDA clearance to initiate a Phase 2 open-label multicenter trial in progressive Multiple Sclerosis. The Phase 2 study of autologous MSC-NTF cells in patients with progressive MS (NCT03799718) started enrollment in March 2019. For more information, visit the company's website at http://www.brainstorm-cell.com

Safe-Harbor Statement

Statements in this announcement other than historical data and information, including statements regarding future clinical trial enrollment and data, constitute "forward-looking statements" and involve risks and uncertainties that could causeBrainStorm Cell Therapeutics Inc.'sactual results to differ materially from those stated or implied by such forward-looking statements. Terms and phrases such as "may", "should", "would", "could", "will", "expect", "likely", "believe", "plan", "estimate", "predict", "potential", and similar terms and phrases are intended to identify these forward-looking statements. The potential risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, BrainStorms need to raise additional capital, BrainStorms ability to continue as a going concern, regulatory approval of BrainStorms NurOwn treatment candidate, the success of BrainStorms product development programs and research, regulatory and personnel issues, development of a global market for our services, the ability to secure and maintain research institutions to conduct our clinical trials, the ability to generate significant revenue, the ability of BrainStorms NurOwn treatment candidate to achieve broad acceptance as a treatment option for ALS or other neurodegenerative diseases, BrainStorms ability to manufacture and commercialize the NurOwn treatment candidate, obtaining patents that provide meaningful protection, competition and market developments, BrainStorms ability to protect our intellectual property from infringement by third parties, heath reform legislation, demand for our services, currency exchange rates and product liability claims and litigation,; and other factors detailed in BrainStorm's annual report on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q available athttp://www.sec.gov. These factors should be considered carefully, and readers should not place undue reliance on BrainStorm's forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are based on the beliefs, expectations and opinions of management as of the date of this press release. We do not assume any obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect actual results or assumptions if circumstances or management's beliefs, expectations or opinions should change, unless otherwise required by law. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot guarantee future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements.

CONTACTS

Corporate:Uri YablonkaChief Business OfficerBrainStorm Cell Therapeutics Inc.Phone: 646-666-3188uri@brainstorm-cell.com

Media:Sean LeousWestwicke/ICR PRPhone: +1.646.677.1839sean.leous@icrinc.com

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BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics Announces Ralph Kern MD MHSc to Present at the 7th International Stem Cell Meeting - GlobeNewswire

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Article by Karen B. Roberts Photos by Evan Krape November 11, 2019

The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines an inventor as one who creates or introduces something new.

Thomas Edison is one. So is Emily Day.

Edison created the incandescent light bulb and the typewriter, among dozens of other things.

Day, an assistant professor in biomedical engineering at the University of Delaware, is working on technology that may one day replace bone marrow transplants by enabling nanoparticle carrier systems to deliver medication and cargo directly to stem cells without the need to remove them from the body.

The University recognized more than 225 inventors, including Day, on Tuesday, Oct. 29, for their remarkable contributions to UD and to society at large.

The event, held at the Roselle Center for the Arts and coordinated by the UDResearch Office, celebrated researchers with discoveries in engineering, health care, energy, agriculture and many other fields.

You, our inventors, have taken nuggets of ideas, of discoveries that youve made and developed them through hard work, trial and error, failure and success. Youve shown tenacity and drive, patience and persistence, and the results are what were celebrating today, said UD Provost Robin Morgan.

Enriching the environment for entrepreneurship

Since 2008, UD researchers have generated more than 500 inventions.

Working in collaboration with its partners, the University has made a concerted effort to enrich the environment for these types of efforts in Delaware, contributing to the states economic prosperity and positively impacting the greater good.

UD research expenditures for fiscal year 2019 totaled $161 million, a record-setting 10% increase over 2018, to explore pressing topics across the sciences, engineering, humanities and social sciences.

During this same time frame, UD researchers generated 33 patent applications and secured 11 patents, with the support of the Universitys Office of Economic Innovation and Partnerships (OEIP). OEIP has licensed six UD-developed technologies to outside companies and evaluated numerous other potential inventions currently under development.

Several UD-developed technologies are now featured in the Association of University Technology Managers Better World Project, which highlights successful examples where academic research and technology transfer combine to benefit the broader world. One of these is the UD-patented microbe UD10-22, a unique strain of Bacillus subtilis that helps plants grow stronger, developed by Harsh Bais, associate professor of plant and soil sciences, and Janine Sherrier, a former UD faculty member. UD licensed the technology to BASF, a global chemical company, in 2013. After completing successful trials and regulatory clearances, the technology is now available in the market as a key component of BASFs Velondis and Nodulator Duo product lines in Canada and the United States. Trials are ongoing for the product to be available in four additional product lines and for a range of crops to be sold in several countries in South America, Europe and Asia.

We are building a dynamic and rich ecosystem to support this type of activity, now and in the future, said Charles G. Riordan, UD vice president for research, scholarship and innovation.

Continued growth of UDs Science, Technology and Advanced Research (STAR) Campus through strategic partnerships and infrastructure development is one example that firmly positions the University as an innovation powerhouse for the community, state and region. The Delaware Innovation Space, the business incubator that is a public-private partnership between the state of Delaware, DuPont and UD, is another.

Riordan reported that Delaware Innovation Space, with its 130,000 square feet of lab-based tech space for startups, already is 90% occupied, hosting 13 companies including UD startups W7energy and MCET along with serving an additional dozen companies through its virtual program. The result more than 240 jobs created or retained.

Other resources available on campus to support innovators and entrepreneurs include, but are not limited to, OEIP, competitive funding opportunities, seed funding and training programs at UDs Horn Entrepreneurship,and new and existing core research facilities.

Other UD technologies that have had success in the marketplace during the past year include Avkin, a leading manufacturer of sensor-enabled, high-fidelity, wearable technology for health care simulation education founded byAmy Cowperthwait, director of Healthcare Theatre for the College of Health Sciences.The patented devices are used for training health care workers and caregivers to perform clinical procedures, such asdrawing blood, tracheostomy care or catheter insertion. Designed to be worn by a live actor, Avkin products provide a realistic, patient-centered simulation.

Today, the UD-developed products can be found in select medical and nursing schools and health systems.The company now has five products in the market, and recently launched a new package aimed at equipping todays practitioners with the knowledge and skills necessary to prevent hospital acquired infections and to improve patient outcomes.

Isao Noda, UD affiliated professor in materials science and engineering, said it is particularly important to foster innovation and invention among students. An inventor himself, Noda is named on more than 60grantedU.S. patents.

One of Nodas inventions is abio-basedplasticmade from vegetable oilsknown asNodax, which can be used to make eco-friendlyproductsranging from biodegradable plastic straws topiezoelectricnanofibers forsensors and other electronics. Nodainventedthe material while a research fellow atProcterand Gamble. Today, UDscientistsare part of theexploratorywork onNodax, collaboratingon fundamental research to see just what elsethisnovelmaterialcan do.

In industry, invention is required. If you dont invent, you will be fired. But many graduates get jobs in industry without any of the training on how to invent, so this is amazingly important, said Noda.

Day agreed and said her approach to innovation shifted in recent years, particularly when speaking with students.

In the beginning of my academic career I was more focused on publishing papers, Day said. As my group has become more established, I now tell my students, Hey, before you go present this or publish, its important for you to submit your invention disclosure to protect your ideas.

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From inspiration to innovation | UDaily - UDaily

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Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 12 November 2019 Kiadis Pharma N.V. (Kiadis Pharma or the Company) (Euronext Amsterdam and Brussels: KDS), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, today announced that it has completed a strategic portfolio review and has decided to change its strategy and focus all resources and investments on the companys NK-cell therapy platform and product candidates. The company will discontinue development of ATIR101 and stop its ongoing phase 3 trial.

Kiadis NK-cell program consists of off-the-shelf and haplo donor cell therapy products for the treatment of liquid and solid tumors. Kiadis proprietary off-the-shelf NK-cell platform is based on NK-cells from unique universal donors, expanded and activated ex vivo using our PM21 particle technology. The Kiadis off-the-shelf platform has the potential to make NK-cell therapy products rapidly and economically available for a broad patient population across a potentially wide range of indications.

The companys pipeline includes:

Arthur Lahr, CEO of Kiadis Pharma commented, We believe that our proprietary NK-cell therapy platform has broad potential as stand-alone or adjunctive treatments for patients with both liquid and solid tumors. Our off-the-shelf NK-cell platform is based on NK-cells from unique universal donors, expanded and activated with our PM21 particle technology, to make our NK-cell therapy products rapidly and economically available for patients across a potentially broad range of indications. The proof-of-concept trials for our NK pipeline programs, in which 38 patients have been treated, is very promising and was the basis for our acquisition of Cytosen Therapeutics, Inc. earlier this year. To confirm findings from these trials, we will start two Phase 1/2 clinical trials in 2020. We believe that investing in our NK platform and rapidly advancing development of our off-the-shelf and haplo donor derived NK-cell therapies in solid and liquid tumors will bring value to patients and our investors.

Lahr continued, As part of our strategic portfolio review, we reviewed progress of our phase 3 study, which was designed to show superiority of ATIR101 over the PTCy protocol. We identified that in the phase 3 a higher percentage of patients than expected dropped out of the study before receiving ATIR101. We subsequently collected additional recent external data, which show that outcomes with PTCy have better survival and lower severe GVHD than literature showed when we designed and started the phase 3 study. Based on these data, we no longer believe that the phase 3 ATIR study as currently designed with 250 patients can demonstrate superiority over PTCy and at a minimum would require a much larger trial. In the best interest of patients, we have therefore taken the decision to discontinue the ATIR101 study with immediate effect and are proceeding with close down activities.

RestructuringKiadis is implementing a restructuring program to refocus the organization on its NK-cell therapy platform, which will result in a reduction of approximately half of its workforce, a reduction in external clinical trial costs associated with the phase 3 study, and a reduced company cash burn. The company ended the third quarter of 2019 with approximately 47 million of cash.

About Kiadis K-NK-Cell Therapies Kiadis NK-cell programs consist of off-the-shelf and haplo donor cell therapy products for the treatment of liquid and solid tumors as adjunctive and stand-alone therapies.

Our NK-cell PM21 particle technology enables improved ex vivo expansion and activation of anti-cancer cytotoxic NK-cells supporting multiple high-dose infusions. Kiadis proprietary off-the-shelf NK-cell platform is based on NK-cells from unique universal donors. The Kiadis off-the-shelf K-NK platform can make NK-cell therapy product rapidly and economically available for a broad patient population across a potentially wide range of indications.

Administered as an adjunctive immunotherapeutic on top of HSCT, K-NK002 provides functional, mature and potent NK-cells from a haploidentical family member. In addition, Kiadis is developing K-NK003 for the treatment of relapse/refractory acute myeloid leukemia and has pre-clinical programs evaluating NK-cell therapy for the treatment of solid tumors.

Story continues

Kiadis Contacts:

About KiadisFounded in 1997, Kiadis Pharma, is a fully integrated biopharmaceutical company committed to developing innovative cell-based therapies for patients with life-threatening diseases. With headquarters in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, and offices and activities in the US and across Europe, Kiadis Pharma is leveraging the natural strengths of humanity and our collective immune system to source the best cells for life.

Kiadis Pharma is listed on the regulated market of Euronext Amsterdam and Euronext Brussels since July 2, 2015, under the symbol KDS. Learn more at http://www.kiadis.com.

Forward Looking Statements Certain statements, beliefs and opinions in this press release are forward-looking, which reflect Kiadis Pharmas or, as appropriate, Kiadis Pharmas directors current expectations and projections about future events. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. These risks, uncertainties and assumptions could adversely affect the outcome and financial impact of the plans and events described herein. A multitude of factors including, but not limited to, changes in demand, regulation, competition and technology, can cause actual events, performance or results to differ significantly from any anticipated development. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release regarding past trends or activities should not be taken as a representation that such trends or activities will continue in the future. As a result, Kiadis Pharma expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release any update or revisions to any forward-looking statements in this press release as a result of any change in expectations or any change in events, conditions, assumptions or circumstances on which these forward-looking statements are based. Neither Kiadis Pharma nor its advisers or representatives nor any of its subsidiary undertakings or any such persons officers or employees guarantees that the assumptions underlying such forward-looking statements are free from errors nor does either accept any responsibility for the future accuracy of the forward-looking statements contained in this press release or the actual occurrence of the forecasted developments. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release.

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Kiadis Pharma changes strategy to focus solely on development of Natural Killer (NK) Cell therapeutics and terminates development of ATIR101 - Yahoo...

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Engineering | Health and medicine | News releases | Population Health | Research | Science | Technology

November 12, 2019

Microscopy image showing the cytoskeleton within neurons, which are differentiating from induced pluripotent stem cells.UC San Francisco

With a $106 million gift from the Weill Family Foundation, UC Berkeley, UC San Francisco and the University of Washington have launched the Weill Neurohub, an innovative research network that will forge and nurture new collaborations between neuroscientists and researchers working in an array of other disciplines including engineering, computer science, physics, chemistry and mathematics to speed the development of new therapies for diseases and disorders that affect the brain and nervous system.

A 2016 study by the Information Technology & Innovation Foundation estimated that, in the U.S. alone, neurological and psychiatric disorders and diseases including Alzheimers; Parkinsons; anxiety and depression; traumatic brain injury and spinal cord injury; multiple sclerosis; ALS; and schizophrenia carry an economic cost of more than $1.5 trillion per year, nearly 9 percent of GDP.

The gains in knowledge amassed by neuroscientists over the past few decades can now be brought to the next level with supercomputers, electronic braincomputer interfaces, nanotechnology, robotics and powerful imaging tools, said philanthropist Sanford I. Sandy Weill, chairman of the Weill Family Foundation. The Neurohub will seize this opportunity by building bridges between people with diverse talents and training and bringing them together in a common cause: discovering new treatments to help the millions of patients with such conditions as Alzheimers disease and mental illness.

Complementing the strengths of UCSF, Berkeley and the UW, the Weill Neurohub will draw on the expertise and resources of the 17 National Laboratories overseen by the Department of Energy, which excel in bioengineering, imaging, and data science. In August 2019, the Weill Family Foundation and the DOE signed a Memorandum of Understanding creating a new publicprivate partnership. The partnership is exploring the use of the Departments artificial intelligence and supercomputing capabilities, in conjunction with Bay Area universities and the private sector, to advance the study of traumatic brain injury, or TBI, and neurodegenerative diseases.

Secretary of Energy Rick Perry, who has spearheaded the creation of an AI and Technology Office during his tenure at DOE, said that the vision for the Weill Neurohub dovetails with his own mission to make publicly funded AI and supercomputing resources more widely accessible to advance scientific discovery. We are on the cusp of great discoveries that could transform our approach to TBI, Alzheimers disease and other neurological and psychiatric disorders, and easing access to the world-class computational power of our National Laboratories to initiatives like the Weill Neurohub is a win-win for science and the public sector and, eventually, for patients.

As many neurological disorders, such as dementia, are associated with aging, the costs of these unmet medical needs are expected to increase significantly in the coming years. California, with the largest aging population in the U.S., with one in five residents reaching age 65 or older in the next decade, faces particularly formidable challenges, said Gov. Gavin Newsom.

Every day, millions of people in California, the nation, and the world are facing the uncertainty of neuro-related diseases, mental illness and brain injuries, and collaboration between different disciplines in science, academia, government and philanthropy is critical to meet this challenge. Together, we must accelerate the development and use cutting-edge technology, innovation and tools that will advance research and practical application that will benefit people across the world and for generations to come, said Newsom. I want to thank Sandy Weill and his wife, Joan, for their amazing work, kindness, dedication and commitment to philanthropic causes, especially when they open doors, bridge gaps, and make innovation and collaboration possible to advance causes that can truly have an impact on peoples quality of life.

Sanford and Joan Weill.UC San Francisco

The Weill Neurohub will enable the three universities to work together on these pressing problems. For example, the UW and UCSF, renowned research universities with long traditions of excellence in basic neuroscience research, also have federally sponsored Alzheimers Disease Research Centers, or ADRCs. Through the Weill Neurohub, members of the UWs ARDC, part of the UW Medicine Memory and Brain Wellness Center, and UCSFs ADRC, led by the UCSF Memory and Aging Center, will collaborate with top neurodegeneration researchers at Berkeley.

The Weill Neurohub will provide funding for faculty, postdoctoral fellows, and graduate students at the UW, Berkeley and UCSF working on cross-disciplinary projects, including funding for high-risk/high-reward proposals that are particularly innovative and less likely to find support through conventional funding sources. But the bulk of the Weill Neurohubs funding will support highly novel cross-institutional projects built on one or more of four scientific pillars that Weill Neurohub leaders have deemed priority areas for answering the toughest questions about the brain and discovering new approaches to disease: imaging; engineering; genomics and molecular therapeutics; and computation and data analytics.

The Weill Neurohub may seek additional academic, corporate and philanthropic partners to harness resources collaboratively, better scale research and development efforts, share information and data and create partnerships to make breakthroughs faster and at a lower cost than the current paradigm allows.

Relevant examples of interdisciplinary or cross-institutional neuroscience projects now underway at UCSF, Berkeley and/or the UW include:

This gift expands on the unique vision and mission of the UCSF Weill Institute for Neurosciences, established in 2016 with a $185 million gift from the Weill Family Foundation and Joan and Sandy Weill whose giving to the neuroscience community now exceeds $300 million said UCSFs Dr. Stephen Hauser, the Robert A. Fishman Distinguished Professor of Neurology and Weill Institute director.

The UCSF Weill Institute set out to break down walls between the clinical disciplines of neurology, neurosurgery and psychiatry, and also bring these clinical specialties together with the basic neurosciences, said Hauser. Now, with the Weill Neurohub, were going even further: eliminating institutional boundaries between three great public research universities, and also other disciplinary walls between traditional neuroscience and non-traditional approaches to understanding the brain. By embracing engineering, data analysis and imaging science at this dramatically higher level areas in which both Berkeley and the UW are among the best in the world neuroscientists on all three campuses will gain crucial tools and insights that will bring us closer to our shared goal of reducing suffering from brain diseases.

Hauser will serve as one of two co-directors of the new Weill Neurohub along with Berkeleys Ehud Udi Isacoff, the Evan Rauch Chair of Neuroscience. Together with Tom Daniel, the Joan and Richard Komen Endowed Chair and professor of biology at the UW, they will serve on the Weill Neurohubs Leadership Committee.

In the Weill Neurohub, the emphasis will be on technology to enable discovery of disease mechanisms, and thus development of novel treatments and early detection of neurologic diseases, to allow intervention before conditions become severe, said Isacoff, who heads Berkeleys Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute. The technologies include next-generation neuroimaging and therapeutic manipulations ranging from brain implants to CRISPR gene editing, with major efforts in machine learning and high-speed computation. I think these three campuses can succeed in this joint mission in a way that no others can the combined expertise this group brings to the table, especially when you bring in the National Labs, really is unparalleled.

Tom Daniel, the Joan and Richard Komen Endowed Chair and professor of biology at the University of Washington.University of Washington

The UWs Daniel added, The Weill Neurohub brings together three outstanding public institutions, each with a deep commitment to bridge boundaries between science, engineering, computer science and data science to address fundamental problems in neuroscience and neural disorders. To my knowledge, this is a nationally unique enterprise drawing on diverse approaches to accomplish goals no single institution could reach alone, as well as seeding and accelerating research and discovery.

Neuroscientists have made huge strides in understanding the brain in the 30 years since President George H. W. Bush designated the 1990s as the Decade of the Brain, and subsequently through the National Institute of Healths ongoing BRAIN Initiative, first announced by President Obama in 2013. But treatments for neurological and psychiatric diseases have lagged far behind those for other common afflictions, such as cardiovascular disease and cancer.

Much of the lack of progress on neurological and psychiatric disease is due to the unparalleled complexity of the nervous system, in which hundreds of billions of nerve cells and support cells form as many as 100 trillion connections in intricate three-dimensional networks throughout the brain and spinal cord. The Weill Neurohubs leaders believe reaching beyond conventional approaches is essential to grappling with this complexity.

Despite amazing advances in neuroscience, new therapies are not reaching patients with mental illness and neurological disorders nearly as quickly as they have for heart disease and cancer. And in addition to the terrible personal toll these illnesses exact on patients and their families, they also have a massive impact on our healthcare system and on the global economy, said Joan Weill, president of the Weill Family Foundation. Our goal, through the broad and multifaceted approach of the Weill Neurohub, is to begin to change that.

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New Weill Neurohub will unite UCSF, UC Berkeley, UW in race to find new treatments for brain diseases - UW Today

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BURLINGAME, CA / ACCESSWIRE / November 12, 2019 / Humanigen, Inc., (OTC PINK:HGEN) ("Humanigen"), a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of next generation chimeric antigen receptor T cell (CAR-T) and other cell therapies, today announced that two abstracts supporting development of its next generation EphA3-CAR-T program, built on the backbone of ifabotuzumab, the company's proprietary Humaneered anti-EphA3 monoclonal antibody, have been accepted for presentation at the 2019 annual meeting of the Society for Neuro-Oncology (SNO) being held November 20-24, 2019 in Phoenix, AZ.

While CAR-T therapy has revolutionized the treatment landscape for hematological malignancies, its efficacy remains limited in solid tumors. The majority of CAR-T therapies targeting solid tumors have focused on cell surface receptors expressed on tumor cells. However, given the heterogeneity of surface receptor expression on solid tumors and the difficulty of navigating the immunosuppressive stromal microenvironment, strategies to target tumor neovasculature and tumor stromal cells are emerging. Targeting non-transformed, tumor neovasculature and tumor stroma cells may overcome antigen loss and may modulate the suppressive TME. EphA3, an oncofetal antigen, is selectively expressed in tumor neovasculature and tumor stromal cells in brain cancers and other solid tumors making it a novel target for CAR-T development.

The phase I clinical study, led by Prof. Hui Gan and Prof. Andrew Scott from the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute in Melbourne, Australia, was funded by the Cure Brain Cancer Foundation. The study used radiolabeled ifabotuzumab followed by sequential positron emission tomography (PET) imaging to determine biodistribution, frequency of in situ EphA3 expression and quantitative tumor uptake of ifabotuzumab. The preliminary results include data from eight patients who have been enrolled to date. PET/computed tomography (CT) imaging showed that ifabotuzumab is effectively delivered across the blood-tumor barrier and accumulates specifically at the tumor site in all patients treated to date with no observed normal tissue uptake. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans showed predominant T2/FLAIR changes, consistent with the treatment effect of ifabotuzumab on tumor vasculature. Treatment emergent adverse events were readily managed with increased premedications after the first occurrence. The abstract is available online at: https://academic.oup.com/neuro-oncology/article-abstract/21/Supplement_6/vi6/5619490?redirectedFrom=fulltext.

Professors Gan and Scott stated "Our results show that ifabotuzumab is safe and very effective at targeting the tumor. We are also excited that there are early indications that ifabotuzumab may help to control disease growth in some patients."

Using a single chain variable region fragment of ifabotuzumab, a second generation CD28 co-stimulated CAR construct was developed. Using primary patient derived GBM cell lines, the EphA3 CAR-T demonstrated specific and potent anti-tumor activity. Data from in vivo and combinatorial CAR-T experiments will be reported during the oral presentation scheduled on Friday, November 22, 2019 at 4:40pm. The abstract is available online at: https://academic.oup.com/neuro-oncology/article-abstract/21/Supplement_6/vi88/5619352?redirectedFrom=fulltext.

"These results indicate for the first time that targeting EphA3 with CAR-T cells is feasible, efficacious, and represents a novel therapeutic strategy for solid tumors" stated Dr. Cameron Durrant, CEO of Humanigen. "Our EphA3-CAR-T program as another pillar in our developing cell therapy pipeline. While we continue to develop our GM-CSF neutralization platform with Kite, we are also busy building next generation CAR-T therapies with our combinatorial GM-CSF gene-editing platform and our other CAR-T programs focused on novel tumor targets", Dr. Durrant continued.

About Humanigen, Inc.

Humanigen, Inc. is developing its portfolio of next-generation cell and gene therapies for the treatment of cancers via its novel, cutting-edge GM-CSF neutralization and gene-knockout platforms. There is a direct correlation between the efficacy of CAR-T therapy and the incidence of life-threatening toxicities (referred to as the efficacy/toxicity linkage). We believe that our GM-CSF neutralization and gene-editing platform technologies have the potential to reduce the inflammatory cascade associated with serious and potentially life-threatening CAR-T therapy-related side effects while preserving and potentially improving the efficacy of the CAR-T therapy itself, thereby breaking the efficacy/toxicity linkage. The company's immediate focus is combining FDA-approved and development stage CAR-T therapies with lenzilumab, the company's proprietary Humaneered anti-human-GM-CSF immunotherapy, which is its lead product candidate. A clinical collaboration with Kite, a Gilead Company, was recently announced to evaluate the sequential use of lenzilumab with Yescarta, axicabtagene ciloleucel, in a multicenter clinical trial in adults with relapsed or refractory large B-cell lymphoma. The company is also focused on creating next-generation combinatory gene-edited CAR-T therapies using strategies to improve efficacy while employing GM-CSF gene knockout technologies to control toxicity. In addition, the company is developing its own portfolio of proprietary first-in-class EphA3-CAR-T for various solid cancers and EMR1-CAR-T for various eosinophilic disorders. The company is also exploring the effectiveness of its GM-CSF neutralization technologies (either through the use of lenzilumab as a neutralizing antibody or through GM-CSF gene knockout) in combination with other CAR-T, bispecific or natural killer (NK) T cell engaging immunotherapy treatments to break the efficacy/toxicity linkage, including to prevent and/or treat graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) in patients undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). The company has established several partnerships with leading institutions to advance its innovative cell and gene therapy pipeline. For more information, visit http://www.humanigen.com

Story continues

About the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute

The Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute is a leader in the development of experimental and breakthrough cancer treatments. We investigate and develop treatments for cancers of the breast, lung, skin, prostate, liver, gastrointestinal tract and brain. Our researchers and clinicians are running more than 120 clinical trials, giving patients access to potential new treatments including immunotherapies and personalized medicine.

Located in Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia, the Institute is integrated within the ONJ Centre, with research laboratories only metres away from where patients are cared for and receive treatment. This inspires and enables the rapid translation of scientific discovery into clinical trial of new, better, cancer treatments.

Forward-Looking Statements

This release contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements reflect management's current knowledge, assumptions, judgment and expectations regarding future performance or events. Although management believes that the expectations reflected in such statements are reasonable, they give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct and you should be aware that actual events or results may differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Words such as "will," "expect," "intend," "plan," "potential," "possible," "goals," "accelerate," "continue," and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, statements regarding our expectations for future development of lenzilumab to help CAR-T reach its full potential or to deliver benefit in preventing GvHD. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties including, but not limited to, the risks inherent in Black Horse Capital and its affiliates owning more than 50% of our outstanding common stock, including their ability to control the company; our lack of profitability and need for additional capital to operate our business as a going concern; the uncertainties inherent in the development and launch of any new pharmaceutical product; the outcome of pending or future litigation; and the various risks and uncertainties described in the "Risk Factors" sections and elsewhere in the Company's periodic and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

All forward-looking statements are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary notice. You should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this release. We undertake no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements made in this press release to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect new information or the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as required by law.

CONTACT:

Media:Chris Bowe(646) 662-7628cbowe@humanigen.com

SOURCE: Humanigen, Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com: https://www.accesswire.com/566037/Humanigen-Announces-Two-Abstracts-Accepted-at-the-2019-Annual-Meeting-of-the-Society-for-Neuro-Oncology-including-Oral-Presentation-on-its-Next-Generation-EphA3-CAR-T

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One tweetfest tapped into our pervasive shame over store-bought salad: "Almost left the grocery store without buying a bag of spring mix to throw, unopened, into the garbage in two weeks."

It doesn't have to be that way. You can learn to choose the freshest fruits and veggies, clean and store them properly and be assured at least a few more days of usable life.

Let's start with our "universal" waste disgrace -- store-bought spring mix. First, check out the best-by or expiration date (it may help to pull from the bottom or back of the stack to get a date further in the future). Then before you buy, inspect. Are any wet or bruised leaves visible? If so, keep looking.

Once you've bought the freshest and driest salad you can find, you'll want to open it as soon as you get home and, with freshly washed hands, transfer the leaves into a large bowl. As you put those leaves back into the plastic container, remove any bruised or spoiled pieces and discard. Just as a bad apple will more quickly rot the barrel, those leaves will shorten the life of the rest of your salad greens.

Trouble keeping spinach fresh in those large, cheap containers? The same trick applies.

Greens by the bunch

If you buy lettuce by the head or greens by the bunch from the farmer's market or grow your own, they may contain sand or dirt as well as bacteria.

Immersing the leaves in a bowl of tap water for a few minutes can loosen up any dirt. Again, don't use the dirty sink to soak.

But be careful with the water temperature -- and this applies to all vegetables and fruits -- it should be about the same temperature as the produce you are washing.

If immersed in water more than 10 degrees Fahrenheit colder than the produce, it will create a vacuum -- due to air cells contracting within the produce -- and pull in wash water, Ghimire said.

"If the wash water is contaminated, anything in that water, including foodborne pathogens, will be internalized or sucked into the produce," he explained, adding that it's likely to happen at the weak points of the stem and blossoms.

"Hot water is not desired as it would increase the temperature of the produce and decrease shelf-life," Ghimire said.

After washing, spin the leaves in a salad spinner. If you're storing, pat dry with paper towels before putting them into perforated or vented plastic bags and putting them into the crisper section of your refrigerator.

"I rinse and dry lettuce leaves or raw veggies, such as celery, broccoli, and cauliflower, wrap them in paper towels, and store them in plastic bags or in plastic containers lined with paper towels," Drayer added.

And don't forget to wash your salad spinner after about three uses -- if it will fit into the dishwasher, that's a great option to sanitize it.

Veggies

"Select veggies in season for maximum freshness, flavor, and nutritional value," said Drayer. And they cost less when in season, an extra bonus.

"Firmness, shape, color, texture of skin, and aroma are keys to selecting the freshest produce," Ghimire said. "For example, a fresh broccoli would be firm, closed, dark-green florets, and tender stalks. Yellowing green-colored heads of broccoli are over mature."

Once they are home, you'll want to take them out of the plastic bags if the bags aren't breathable or perforated.

"Produce are alive even after harvest and they continue to breath and transpire even on your counter top," Ghimire said.

Brush off any loose dirt before storing.

Storing veggies depends on the type. Many do fine in vented plastic bags or plastic containers. Others may fare better in brown paper bags.

"As brown paper bags absorb moisture and are breathable, they would better work for produce like mushrooms and strawberries that have a short shelf-life," Ghimire said.

Potatoes and onions are also good choices for paper bags, Ghimire said. Because brown paper restricts the ability of light to penetrate, onions and potatoes won't turn as green as they would in clear plastic bags; it also reduces the chance of "hollow heart" in potatoes -- the black center you sometimes see which is caused by a lack of oxygen.

Some vegetables need to be kept out of the 40-degree Fahrenheit refrigerator to stay fresh and tasty. You probably know that tomatoes should be stored on the countertop.

But did you know the same is true for basil, cucumbers, eggplants, onions, peppers, potatoes, pumpkins, squash and sweet potatoes?

Cucumbers, for example, "may develop chilling injury if stored below 50 degrees Fahrenheit for more than two or three days," Ghimire said. "Produce kept outside the fridge should be stored in a cool, dry and well ventilated space."

Wash before eating, of course, by using a vegetable brush on hard varieties like potatoes and carrots before peeling; more sensitive veggies can be rubbed briskly between your hands under running water.

Fruits

Again, selecting fruits that are in season will allow you to buy them at the height of their freshness, flavor, and nutritional value.

"Look for fruits that are firm, don't have soft brown spots or bruises, and are not overly ripe," Al Bochi said, adding that they should not have an odor.

Pears, peaches, plums and other soft fruits should be washed under slightly cool running water and dried with a paper towel before storing or eating.

"You should also wash the peels of bananas, oranges, avocados, and grapefruit with cool tap water as bacteria can transfer from the peel to the edible flesh," Drayer said.

Melons, especially the type that have rough, pocked surfaces such as cantaloupes, should be washed with a vegetable brush under running water and patted dry before storing or eating. Why? Bacteria and other microorganisms can hide in those pits and be transferred to the inside flesh while cutting, or to other veggies and fruits while storing.

The exception to the rule are grapes, cherries and berries.

"Berries should be washed just prior to eating because the moisture can cause them to spoil earlier," Drayer said.

And here's a wrinkle: Some veggies and fruits don't play nicely together. That's because some release ethylene gas as they ripen, which can hurt some other produce.

"For example, apples, avocados, unripe bananas, peaches, nectarines, plums and tomatoes release ethylene gas -- and should not be stored with ethylene-sensitive produce, such as broccoli, Brussels sprouts, ripe bananas, lettuce, peppers, cucumber, eggplant, carrots, cauliflower, and sweet potatoes, as this can speed the decay of the sensitive produce," Dryer said.

Fresh herbs

Look for bright green foliage that isn't wilted. Once home, rinse them under cool water and then lay on paper towels in a single layer to dry. Some suggest using a salad spinner -- but gently.

Storage will depend on whether the herb has a soft or woody stem.

Soft herbs: Treat soft herbs like tarragon, parsley, cilantro, dill and mint like they are fresh flowers. Cut a half-inch off the ends and put the ends down in a jar of water. Cover the jar loosely with a plastic wrap and store in the fridge, changing the water every few days.

Do the same with basil, but store it uncovered on the counter where it can get a bit of light.

Woody herbs: Wrap herbs such as rosemary, thyme, oregano, sage, and chives in wet paper towels and store them in an air-tight container or sealed plastic bag to keep the oxygen out.

Plan ahead

There's one more tip you need to be a star at getting the most out of your produce dollar: Plan your menus for the week in advance.

"Having a general plan of the meals you plan on cooking for the week will help you know what fruits and veggies to buy at the grocery store and help you use up your produce efficiently," Al Bochi said. "You'll reduce food waste and ultimately save money."

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How to stop throwing away your veggies and fruit - CNN International

Skin Stem Cells Comments Off on How to stop throwing away your veggies and fruit – CNN International | November 12th, 2019

NESS ZIONA, Israel, Nov. 11, 2019 /PRNewswire/ --Kadimastem Ltd.(TASE: KDST),a clinical stage cell therapy company, today announced that it will present the interim results of Cohort A of its ongoing Phase 1/2a Clinical Trial in ALS (as published in Company's press release) at the 7th International Stem Cell Meeting, to be held on November 12-13 at the Dan Panorama Hotel in Tel Aviv, Israel.

The International Stem Cell Meeting, hosted by the Israel Stem Cell Society, is a highly reputed conference, participated by international world leaders in stem cell research.

Presentation Details:

Title: "FIRST IN HUMAN CLINICAL TRIALS WITH HUMAN ASTROCYTES AS A NOVEL CELL THERAPY FOR THE TREATMENT OF ALS"

Session:ONGOING CLINICAL TRIALS WITH CELL THERAPY

Presenter:Arik Hasson, PhD, Executive VP, Research and Development, Kadimastem

Date:Wednesday, November 13, 2019

Time:1:50 pm Israel

Location: Dan Panorama Hotel, Tel Aviv, Israel

Rami Epstein, CEO of Kadimastem, stated: "We are pleased to share these results with global leaders in the cell therapy and stem cells industry,demonstrating the potential of AstroRx, our astrocyte-based cell therapy product,to bring treatment to ALS patients, and possibly other neurodegenerative diseases. We look forward to further share data of this ongoing trial, with final results of cohort A expected by year-end 2019and results of cohort B expected in Q3, 2020."

About the Phase 1/2a ALS Clinical Trial

The Phase 1/2a trial is an open label, dose escalating clinical study to evaluate the safety, tolerability and preliminary efficacy of AstroRxcells in patients with ALS. The trial is expected to include 21 patients and is being conducted at the Hadassah Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel. The primary endpoints of the trial are safety evaluation and tolerability of a single administration of allogeneic astrocytes derived from human Embryonic Stem Cells (hESC), administered in escalating low, medium and high doses (100x106, 250x106, and 500x106 cells, respectively). The medium dose will also be administered in 2 consecutive injections separated by an interval of ~60 days. Secondary end points include efficacy evaluation and measurements. Treatment is administered in addition to the appropriate standard-of-care.

About AstroRx

AstroRx is a clinical grade cell therapy product developed and manufactured by Kadimastem in its GMP-compliant facility, containing functional healthy astrocytes (nervous system support cells) derived from human Embryonic Stem Cells (hESC) that aim to protect diseased motor neurons through several mechanisms of action. The Company's technology enables the injection of AstroRxcells into the spinal cord fluid of patients suffering from Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) with the goal of supporting the malfunctioning cells in the brain and spinal cord, in order to slow the progression of the disease and improve patients' quality of life and life expectancy. AstroRxhas been shown to be safe and effective in preclinical studies. AstroRxhas been granted orphan drug designation by the FDA.

About ALS

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a rapidly progressive fatal neurodegenerative disease causing disfunction in the upper and lower motor nerves that control muscle function. ALS leads to muscle weakness, loss of motor function, paralysis, breathing problems, and eventually death. The average life expectancy of ALS patients is 2-5 years. According to the ALS Therapy Development Institute, it is estimated that there are approximately 450,000 ALS patients worldwide of which 30,000 reside in the US. According to the ALS Foundation for Life, the annual average healthcare costs of an ALS patient in the US are estimated at US$ 200,000. Thus, the annual healthcare costs of ALS patients in the US alone amount to US$ 6 Billion.

About Kadimastem

Kadimastem is a clinical stage cell therapy company, developing and manufacturing "off-the-shelf" allogeneic proprietary cell products based on its platform technology for the expansion and differentiation of Human Embryonic Stem Cells (hESCs) into clinical grade functional cells. AstroRx, the Company's lead program, is a clinical-grade astrocyte cell therapy for the treatment of ALS, currently undergoing a Phase 1/2a clinical trial. In addition, preclinical trials are ongoing with the Company's IsletRx pancreatic functional islet cells for the treatment of insulin dependent diabetes. Kadimastem was founded by Prof. Michel Revel, CSO of the Companyand Professor Emeritus of Molecular Genetics at the Weizmann Institute of Science. Prof. Revel received the Israel Prize for the invention and development of Rebif, a multiple sclerosis blockbuster drug sold worldwide. Kadimastem is traded on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange (TASE: KDST).

Company Contacts:Yossi Nizhar, CFOy.nizhar@kadimastem.com+972-73-797-1613

Investor and Media Contact:Meirav Gomeh-Bauermeirav@bauerg.com+972-54-476-4979

Global Media Contact:Dasy (Hadas) MandelDirector of Business Development, Kadimastemd.mandel@kadimastem.com+972-73-797-1613

View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/kadimastem-to-present-interim-results-of-cohort-a-of-its-phase-12a-clinical-trial-in-als-at-the-7th-international-stem-cell-meeting-in-tel-aviv-israel-300955414.html

SOURCE Kadimastem

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Kadimastem to Present Interim Results of Cohort A of Its Phase 1/2a Clinical Trial in ALS at the 7th International Stem Cell Meeting, in Tel-Aviv,...

Spinal Cord Stem Cells Comments Off on Kadimastem to Present Interim Results of Cohort A of Its Phase 1/2a Clinical Trial in ALS at the 7th International Stem Cell Meeting, in Tel-Aviv,… | November 11th, 2019