Wednesday, April 29, 2009, 4:45pm PDT

Stanford gets $5.8M stem cell grant

San Francisco Business Times

Researchers at Stanford University’s School of Medicine got a $5.8 million grant from the California Institute for Reenerative Medicine to look for ways to stimulate adult stem cells to heal damaged nerves, bone skin and cardiac muscle.

The grant was one of 15 given out worth a total of $67.7 million as part of CIRM’s Early Translational Research Awards program, which aims to move promising research from the lab to the clinics.

CIRM has given Stanford a total of $107 million from CIRM, including this most recent grant.

The board of the institute was reluctant to fund projects at their last two meetings prior to the one on Wednesday, but once the state was able to conduct a successful bond sale and raise $6.5 billion -- $275 million of which went to CIRM -- the institute was able to pay off a prior state loan and give out grants.

via Stanford gets $5.8M stem cell grant - San Francisco Business Times:.

By PETER BENESH, INVESTOR'S BUSINESS DAILYPosted 04/29/2009 06:38 PM ET

The good news is, you're likely to live longer than your ancestors. The bad news: You'll have longer to cope with the consequences of aging.

One issue is age-related macular degeneration, a condition that in the worst cases can reduce vision to near-blindness. Researchers in Britain, now in partnership with U.S. drug giant Pfizer (PFE), are working on a treatment. And it uses stem cells.

Pete Coffey, a professor at the University College London Institute for Ophthalmology and leader of the London Project to Cure Blindness, hopes to head off controversy over use of embryonic stem cells.

via Investors.com - Pfizer Joins British Researchers In Search For Eye Condition Cure.

April 30, 2009

Korea’s bioethics authority yesterday conditionally lifted a three-year ban on research using cloned human stem cells. The decision will allow scientists to resume studies that could lead to new ways of treating a variety of physical disabilities and diseases.

The lifting comes three years after the Health Ministry banned this kind of stem cell research following revelations that research by the celebrated scientist Hwang Woo-suk was fraudulent. Cha Medical Center, based in Seoul, applied for approval last October for research on cloning human embryos and extracting stem cells, claiming that its work could be crucial in developing effective treatments for Parkinson’s disease, stroke, spinal injuries, diabetes and cardiovascular disorders, among others.

However, the presidential committee on bioethics said research centers have to meet four conditions before their projects get a green light. The committee stipulates leaving out “treating diseases” from research proposals to avoid raising people’s expectations too high. The committee also demanded that the medical center obtain written agreements from egg donors and minimize the use of human eggs.

via Research ban is lifted on cloned human stem cells - INSIDE JoongAng Daily.

Posted By: Don Margolis Apr. 17, 2009 at 5:48 PM

Plenty to smile about: Rosanne de Gregorio (left) with Corey and dad Mark are pleased with the results of the stem cell therapy.Picture: CHRIS HYDE

Adult Stem Cells Improve Young Boy with Cerebral Palsy

Corey de Gregorio, a 3 year old boy from Gordonvale, Australia has improved tremendously after going to a Stem Cell research company which implanted Adult Stem Cells from cord blood into him.

Corey's parents, Mark and Roseanne had doubts before going to China for the stem cell treatment, but they  wanted Corey to have every chance to live a better life and therefore, they made the journey to China for the stem cell therapy which used only Adult Stem Cells.

The miracle treatment consisted of six "therapies" of cord blood stem cells.

Before the Adult Stem Cells for Cerebral Palsy

• Had very little use of his left arm/hand


• Little movement in his torso

After the Stem Cell Treatment

• Can now use his left hand, can use it to drink a cup by himself


• Increased flexibility in torso

Amazed by the Stem Cell Research

According to the stem cell article:
More than six months after the stem cell treatment, Mr de Gregorio said the family was amazed at the improvements in his torso and his left arm.

Corey de Gregorio is not the only Aussie to go abroad for stem cell research using Adult Stem Cells. Last month, I featured Sierra Rose Hill, another young toddler from Australia who went to Germany for a successful stem cell treatment for her Cerebral Palsy as well.

Adult Stem Cells do seem to work well for Cerebral Palsy as I have posted many stories about children going to Duke University for stem cell research where they were treated with their own cord blood stem cells.

I am happy for Corey de Gregorio and a special kudos for his parents for taking an educated "risk" and going to China for stem cell treatment where hundreds of others have been helped as well.   It paid off for them.

http://donmargolis.com/blog/2009/04/stem-cell-research-miracle-cerebral-palsy/

http://repairstemcells.org

Why is this important?  Because every treating doctor whom the Repair Stem Cell Institute has asked, has said: "With only one exception, the sooner we are able to treat a patient with stem cells after they have been diagnosed or start showing symptoms, the better the results will be."

The one minor exception is SCI, because if you can't treat it in the first couple of days after the trauma, it is better to wait 6 to 12 months before starting stem cell procedure.

For CP, sooner is definitely better. Well done, Klomp family!-dg



April 29th, 2009 By Barbara Anderson

Driven mostly by hope, two California families will travel more than 6,000 miles to China for an experimental stem-cell treatment for their children.

Aleesha and Michael Klomp of Hanford, Calif., say they don't need guarantees -- they're willing to take a chance so their son Gryphon Klomp, 2, might walk and grasp a spoon some day soon. Fresno, Calif., mother Jennifer Schmidt has the same faith about the benefits of umbilical-cord stem-cell therapy for 2-year-old daughter Brooke Schmidt-Jordan.

Both toddlers have cerebral palsy. Their families' situation highlights the real-world effects of the prolonged national debate over stem-cell research.

That research in the United States has been delayed amid concerns about the use of stem cells taken from embryos destroyed in the process. The families want to use stem cells from donor umbilical cord blood -- but even that form of treatment has not progressed here as fast as it has overseas.

President Barack Obama's administration this month proposed looser restrictions on stem-cell research than those that the Bush administration had enacted, yet it could be years before the United States catches up to other countries in therapies offered to the public.

The families don't think their children have that much time.

"Why would I wait five years to help him?" asked Michael Klomp...

via Families flying toddlers to China for stem-cell treatments.