Millions of pregnant women get the pitch through their OB-GYN: Put a bit of your newborns umbilical cord on ice, as a biological insurance policy. If your child one day faces cancer, diabetes or even autism, the precious stem cells in the cord blood could become a tailor-made cure.

Many families are happy to pay for the assurance of a healthy future. More than 2 million umbilical cord samples sit in a handful of suburban warehouses across the country. Its a lucrative business, with companies charging several thousand dollars upfront plus hundreds more every year thereafter. The industry has grown rapidly, bolstered by investments from medical device companies, hospital partnerships and endorsements from celebrities such as Drew Barrymore and Chrissy Teigen.

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Cord Blood Registry, in Tucson, Ariz., on June 26, 2024. The company stores more than one million samples, double the number it had in 2014. (Rebecca Noble/The New York Times)

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Renee Johnson in Scottsdale, Ariz., on July 7, 2024. Johnson banked her sons cord blood with ViaCord in 2014 and learned years later the cells were infected with E. coli. (Rebecca Noble/The New York Times)

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Anna Lazos at her home in Egg Harbor Township, N.J., on June 27, 2024. After spending thousands of dollars on cord blood storage, Lazos asked to withdraw a sample to enroll her son in an autism clinical trial. The company told her that the cells were contaminated with E. coli. (Hannah Yoon/The New York Times)

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Jenna Edwards with her son at home in Parkland, Fla., on June 24, 2024. When Edwards tried in 2017 to withdraw her sons cord blood cells for a clinical trial to treat his cerebral palsy, she learned that the company had found bacteria in the sample, but still charged her for the next two years. (Eva Marie Uzcategui/The New York Times)

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Read more from the original source:
Cord Blood Banks Sold Families on False Hope - myheraldreview.com

A German man is reportedly the seventh person in history to be cured of HIV, according to researchers who will present the information at the 2024 International AIDS Conference in Munich, Germany.

Multiple tests given to the German man were unable to detect any copies of the virus in his body following a stem cell transplant for acute myeloid leukemia that occurred in 2015, according to a report in NBC News. The man stopped taking antiretroviral medication for his HIV in 2018 and remains in remission, or a state of having no virus present in the body.

The man has chosen to remain anonymous, but did issue a statement about his medical condition. A healthy person has many wishes, he said, a sick person only one.

The longer we see these HIV remissions without any HIV therapy, the more confidence we can get that were probably seeing a case where we really have eradicated all competent HIV, Dr. Christian Gaebler, a physician and scientist at the Charit-Universittsmedizin Berlin, told NBC News.

While any cure news is always welcomed both in the HIV community and to those outside it, the German mans case is emblematic of a trend that is proving hard to replicate for the 39 million people living with HIV worldwide. In each of the seven cases, according to NBC News, the cure came as the result of stem cell treatments for people living with HIV who had developed blood cancer. Such stem cell transplants are toxic and can be fatal, as NBC News, making it unethical as a treatment for the overwhelming majority of people with HIV.

When HIV enters a persons body, it functionally turns a persons immune cells into factories that make more and more copies of the virus. However, existing alongside these copies of the virus that actively attack a persons immune system is the latent HIV reservoir, a group of immune cells that have been overtaken by HIV but are not currently reproducing new copies of the virus. These dormant cells can awaken at any time, and targeting these cells is a major problem for HIV cure researchers. Often, these reservoirs are located in hard-to-reach areas, including the lymph nodes, the gut, and the brain, according to The Body, an HIV/AIDS news and information site.

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A Seventh Person Has Most Likely Been Cured of HIV Following Stem Cell Transplant - Them

NEW YORK, July 20, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Cell BioEngines, Inc., a New York, USA-based company researching stem cells in order to develop new cell therapies unlocked $1.75 million additional funds from SOSV and the Partnership Fund through the new therapeutics seed track, available for therapeutics start-ups. In addition, Cell BioEngines raised $0.25 million from Empire State Developments NY Ventures, the states venture capital arm through the Pre-Seed and Seed Matching Fund Program.

This reflects strong growth and investor confidence in our innovative approach to advancing cell therapies, particularly timely as we expand within New York State, said Dr. Ajay Vishwakarma, Founder and CEO.

The funds will support our first multicenter clinical trial, aimed at hematological cancer patients unable to find a donor and seeking an alternative to HLA-haploidentical blood stem cell transplants. CBE-101 represents a novel approach with expanded cord blood-derived hematopoietic cell therapy, aligned with Cell BioEngines' vision to deliver 'off-the-shelf' cell-based therapies to patients, he added.

About Cell BioEngines

Cell BioEngines, Inc., founded in Dec 2022, is a clinical-stage biotech company focused on developing allogeneic 'off-the-shelf' stem cell-derived therapies as drugs for human disease treatment. The company leverages its proprietary platform technology using universal 'non-gene-modified' donor blood stem cells obtained from umbilical cord to produce clinical grade cells at scale.

For more information about Cell BioEngines, and to learn more the latest Company developments, please visit http://www.cellbioengines.com

Contact

Mark Joubert., J.D. Chief Legal Officer Cell BioEngines, Inc info@cellbioengines.com

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Cell BioEngines Secures an Additional $2 Million in Funding - GlobeNewswire

Faced with repairing a major nerve injury to the craniofacial region, surgeons can use a nerve from an arm or leg to restore movement or sensation. This approachknown as an autograftis the standard of care, but it can take a toll on a previously uninjured body part, and the procedure doesnt always result in complete and functional nerve regrowth. Dr. Anh Le, Chair and Norman Vine Endowed Professor of Oral Rehabilitation in the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at Penn Dental Medicine, is pioneering a different approach.

Le and collaborators are coaxing gingival mesenchymal stem cells (GMSCs)stem cells from gum tissueto produce nerve-supportive cells that facilitate nerve regrowth.

We wanted to create a biological approach and use the regenerating ability of stem cells, said Le. To be able to recreate nerve-supportive cells in this way is really a new paradigm.

For more than a decade, Les lab has explored the use of GMSCs to regenerate different types of craniofacial tissues and to treat osteonecrosis of the jaw, which can occur when a patient takes bisphosphonate, a drug used to treat metastatic cancer or prevent bone loss in osteoporosis. Her lab team was able to apply their previous understanding of GMSCs to facilitate their conversion into Schwann-like cells, the pro-regenerative cells of the peripheral nervous system that make neural growth factors and myelin, the insulating layer around nerves.

To move the work forward, Le collaborated with bioengineer D. Kacy Cullen of Penn Medicine, an expert in creating and testing nerve scaffold materials. Together they showed that infusing a collagen scaffold with these cells and using them to guide the repair of facial nerve injuries in animals was just as effective as an autograft procedure. Although the repaired gap was small, the team is continuing to refine the method to repair larger ones that often result from trauma or tumor-removal surgeries.

Le notes that this approach would enable patients with oral cancer or facial trauma to use their own tissue to recover motor function and sensation following a repair.

While Les group focuses on the head and neck, further work on this model could translate to nerve repair in other areas of the body as well.

Im hopeful we can continue moving this forward toward clinical application, she said.

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Penn Dental Medicine Researchers Coaxing Stem Cells from Gum Tissue to Repair Nerves - Dentistry Today

ORANGE PARK, Fla. Dr. Eric Weiss, a certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon with a thriving practice on the outskirts of Jacksonville, Florida, still remembers the moment he realized the transformative effect umbilical cord stem cells could have on those with autism and other immune disorders.

First introduced to stem cell treatment by his wife Christine, who was searching for medical help for their autistic son, Marston, Weiss became intrigued by its possibilities.

Compelled by the research, and the subsequent positive impact stem cell treatment had on his son a journey chronicled in a book he and his wife subsequently co-authored Weiss soon incorporated it into his practices.

Studies show that people with autism have neuroinflammation, similar to other immune disorders, which utilize stem cells as a treatment.

With the advance of technology and a better understanding of autoimmune disorders and autism, regenerative medicine has been a proven solution to these seemingly unsolvable health concerns.

While many people are hesitant to pursue this treatment because of the excessive cost and lack of FDA approval, Weiss says, I understand these fears because not everyone gets better. But the role of neuro-diseases is changing and this treatment is proven to help patients recover on a cellular level.

When addressing the FDA concerns, Weiss stressed that the FDA regulates drug companies, not health care, and that stem cell blood has been used in treatment for over 60 years.

The stem cells in the umbilical cord hold abundant powerful cells that help the human bodys healing capabilities. Stem cells work by sending chemical signals to old, damaged or injured cells to restore them.

However, stem cell research has faced substantial opposition from various cultural and religious groups around the world. The controversies stem from differing beliefs regarding the beginnings of life, the moral status of the embryo and the ethical implications of manipulating human cells.

Most controversial of all has been human embryonic stem cell research, because it involves the destruction of human embryos.

Regarding its efficacy, there have been multiple studies demonstrating the positive results of stem cell treatments in both children and adults. These treatments include remedies for neuro-related health concerns such as:

Weiss ultimate goal is to restore wholeness to patients by using stem cells to treat multiple health conditions. He is one of the only physicians in the country to utilize this form of treatment.

As the human body ages, it works harder to keep you healthy. Those with conditions like autism or other ailments are constantly struggling to find solutions.

As we age, our stem cells begin to die off at an alarming rate:

While stem cells can be found in various places throughout the body, the cells in the umbilical cord are the most useful. It is the least invasive form of stem cell gathering and as a bonus, the umbilical cord is chock full of them according to Weiss.

Today, patients come from all over the world to receive this treatment.

Weiss now dedicates two days a week of his practice to administering stem cell treatment.

There is still much to study regarding stem cell treatment for autism and other neurological diseases, but Weiss points those who are wary back to the science and the literature.

There have been lab studies, animal studies and human studies that show positive results with this treatment, so I want to do everything I can to help these patients get better, he said.

With the hope that this treatment becomes a standard form of care, Weiss is learning more every day and helping families and patients who need it most.

I thought to myself, why wouldnt this work for autism? Luckily it has, and now Im able to help families who have been through the same struggles as my own, Weiss said.

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"My focus will be on people and scrutinizing processes so that they better support the diversity of needs of our members across identities including geographies and career stages," Dr. Greco said."In turn this will increase opportunities for professional growth of our members and augment our collective impact. As I commit to this vision, I equally commit to speak with openness about the struggles that we have and will experience in order to make this vision a reality.

Credit: Yale School of Medicine

The ISSCR is thrilled to announce Valentina Greco, Yale School of Medicine, Genetics Department andYale Stem Cell Center USA, as its President. Her term began at the ISSCR 2024 Annual Meeting held in Hamburg, Germany that concluded on Saturday, 13 July 2024.

I am honored to be taking on the role of ISSCR President for the coming year, Dr. Greco said. Building on Amander Clarks efforts, my focus will be on people and scrutinizing processes so that they better support the diversity of needs of our members across identities including geographies and career stages. In turn this will increase opportunities for professional growth of our members and augment our collective impact. As I commit to this vision, I equally commit to speak with openness about the struggles that we have and will experience in order to make this vision a reality, Dr. Greco added.

Valentina Greco was born in Palermo, Italy on 3 September 1972. She earned an undergraduate degree in Molecular Biology at the University of Palermo, Italy (1996) where she studied the role of tumor suppressors in cell cycle using in vitro system in the lab of Aldo Di Leonardo (1995-1998), her first academic research experience. She was accepted by Suzanne Eaton and the EMBL/MPI-CBG PhD program, Germany (1998-2002) and fell in love with microscopy and the power of developmental biology using fly wing imaginal disc as a model system to understand epithelial cell communication. Dr. Greco subsequentially completed a post-doc training in the Fuchs lab at the Rockefeller University (2003-2009) where she learned about the mammalian skin hair follicle as model system for stem cell driven regeneration. She was then hired as an Assistant Professor in the Genetics department at Yale School of Medicine by Richard Lifton and Haifan Lin (1 August 2009).

Dr. Greco is currently the Carolyn Walch Slayman Professor of Genetics as well as the Co-chair of Status of Women in Medicine (SWIM) at the Yale School of Medicine. She and members of her lab feel excited about visual driven research to study how cells behave in a living mouse. The team understands cell behaviors as an expression of the architectures and principles that govern the tissues thesecells inhabit, much like human behaviors are an expression of the systems and structuresin whichthey are embedded(e.g. a lab, anorganization). The Greco lab is passionate about identifying the mechanisms that govern communication and cooperation to sustain function over a lifetime.

Dr. Greco has served in numerous leadership roles in the scientific community including many within the ISSCR over the last decade. She also serves on numerous additional boards including President Elect for the Society of Investigative Dermatology (SID), SID Board member 2016-2020, Member of the National Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Advisory Council (NAMSAC (2022-2024)), Member of the Yale Ciencia Academy Advisory Committee, Member of the 2030STEM Leadership Team and Secretary of Board of Directors of the Life Science Editors Foundation (2020-2023).

Greco lab research has been recognized by numerous accolades awarded to both lab members and Dr. Greco. She in particular has received the 2014 Women in Cell Biology Junior Award (WICB) for Excellence in Research from the American Society of Cell Biology (ASCB), the 2014 ISSCR (International Society for Stem Cell Research) Outstanding Young Investigator Award, the 2015Robertson Stem Cell Investigator Award from the New York Stem Cell Foundation (NYSCF), the 2015 Mallinckrodt Scholar Award, the 2016 Early Career Award from the American Society of Cell Biology (ASCB), the 2016 HHMI Faculty Scholar Award, the 2017 Glenn Foundation Award, the 2017 Class of 61 Award by the Yale Cancer Center, the 2019 NIH DP1 Pioneer Award and the 2021 ISSCR Momentum Award. Dr. Greco finds it particularly meaningful to have received the 2018 Yale Mentoring Award in the Natural Sciences, the 2019 Yale Genetic Department Mentoring Award, the 2019 Yale Post-doc Mentoring Award.

The ISSCR is equally pleased to announce Hideyuki Okano, MD, PhD, Keio University, Japan is President-elect and will serve as president officially starting 1 July 2025. Lorenz Studer, MD, founding director of the Center for Stem Cell Biology and member of the Developmental Biology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, USA, is the new Vice President.

The following three members are newly elected to the ISSCR Board of Directors and beginning their three-year term: Jacqueline Barry, PhD, Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult, UK, Tenneille E. Ludwig, PhD, WiCell, USA, and Thomas A. Rando, MD, PhD, University of California, Los Angeles, USA.

The following members are starting their second, three-year term as a result of the 2024 election: Melissa Carpenter, PhD, Carpenter Consulting Corporation, USA, Malin Parmar, PhD, Lund University, Sweden, and Mitinori Saitou, MD, PhD, Kyoto University, Japan.

Learn more about the ISSCR Board of Directors.

About the International Society for Stem Cell Research With nearly 5,000 members from more than 80 countries, the International Society for Stem Cell Research is the preeminent global, cross-disciplinary, science-based organization dedicated to stem cell research and its translation to the clinic. The ISSCR mission is to promote excellence in stem cell science and applications to human health. Additional information about stem cell science is available at AboutStemCells.org, an initiative of the Society to inform the public about stem cell research and its potential to improve human health.

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