Category Archives: Stem Cell Medicine

Locking in and preserving your healthy stem cells has never been easier and more accessible as Acorn Biolabs partners with Coverdale Clinics. – Canada…

Appointments for stem cell & DNA collection now available.

TORONTO, Feb. 20, 2020 /CNW/ - With the rapid emergence of regenerative medicine therapies and genetic analysis testing reaching mainstream medicine, consumers are demanding increased opportunities to prepare for their future healthcare needs, including banking a viable source of cells to preserve their current health.

To meet this growing demand, Acorn Biolabs, the leading non-invasive stem cell collection, cryopreservation and analysis company, today announced its partnership with Coverdale Clinics Inc., a premium network of specialty care clinics in Canada. Together, Acorn and Coverdale will help make stem cell collection more accessible and affordable in the West Greater Toronto Area.

Through their partnership, Coverdale Clinics' Oakville location be offering Acorn's non-invasive stem cell collection services. The simple process involves plucking a few hair follicles from a client's head, which are then analyzed and cryopreserved for future use.

Acorn's innovative solution for live cell collection enables the collection of stem cells without the need for surgery or other painful and invasive procedures, making stem cell collection for life-long storage significantly more affordable and accessible for everyone.

"Our partnership with Acorn Biolabs opens up a great opportunity for us to expand Coverdale Clinics service offering into the emerging regenerative medicine and geneticsmarket. We're pleased to be able to leverage our specialty clinic in Oakville to offer a service that improves access to exciting and novel health care technologies," said Chris Dalseg, BioScript Solutions' Vice President of Strategic Growth and Marketing. "We have always been at the forefront of providing innovative health care services to Canadians, and adding stem cell collection services from Acorn exemplifies our ongoing commitment."

Once stem cells are collected, Acorn uses its proprietary capabilities to keep cells alive during transportation before going into long term cryogenic storage. The process turns collected hair follicles into a highly valuable and accessible resource for further regenerative medicine and genetics. Not only are these stem cells securely stored for future use, but the company's scientists will also be able to extract critical genetic information through DNA tests, for clients that want it, that will unlock valuable data about a person's health over their lifetime.

"We are excited to bring Acorn's preventative, personalized healthcare services to more people through this partnership with Coverdale Clinics. The cells collected are a life-long resource for these clients, not only in regenerative medicine, but also for advanced analytics, helping to identify diseases even before the first symptom," said Dr. Drew Taylor, Co-founder and CEO at Acorn Biolabs Inc. "The partnership is an important extension for Acorn to serve health-minded individuals in more geographies, freezing the clock on their stem cells so they can use them later in life, when they will need them most."

Clients can book their non-invasive stem cell collection appointment in Oakville, Ontario through Acorn's website today at http://www.acorn.me

About Acorn Biolabs, Inc.

Acorn helps you live a longer, healthier tomorrow by freezing the clock on your cells today. Founded in 2017 by Steven ten Holder, Patrick Pumputis and Dr. Drew Taylor and borne out of years of research, Acorn is a healthcare technology company based at Johnson & Johnson INNOVATION JLABS in Toronto. Acorn is focused on giving everyone the best chance to experience more healthy years with its easy, affordable and non-invasive stem cell collection, analysis and cryopreservation service. For more information, visit acorn.me.

About Coverdale Clinics

Coverdale Clinics is a premium network of specialty care clinics, providing patients with a safe, comfortable environment to receive specialty medications by infusion or injection. With more than 100 clinics nationwide, our nurses take a personalized approach to patient care that includes education and counselling to better support medication adherence.

About BioScript Solutions

BioScript Solutions is committed to helping patients with chronic illnesses achieve the best possible health outcomes. With our total care approach, we simplify access to complex, specialty drug therapies and deliver full-service specialty care solutions at every stage of the patient's treatment journey. Through our specialty pharmaceutical distribution, pharmacies, patient support programs and clinical services, BioScript has the capability to manage the needs of manufacturers, payors, prescribers and health care practitioners across Canada today, and tomorrow. To learn more, please visit bioscript.ca.

SOURCE Acorn Biolabs

For further information: Press and media inquiries please contact: Sonya Verheyden, E: [emailprotected] C: 226-747-4600

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Locking in and preserving your healthy stem cells has never been easier and more accessible as Acorn Biolabs partners with Coverdale Clinics. - Canada...

Army spouse dances her way through chemotherapy – We Are The Mighty

It is not uncommon to stumble upon live videos while scrolling through Facebook. And for the hundreds of people who follow Army wife Sofia de Falco who is an adjunct professor of Italian language and literature it is not uncommon to come across her videos where she is smiling and dancing, uplifting them with a joyful and serene expression on her face. As the hundreds of comments on her posts highlight, Sofia is a source of inspiration and a true beacon of light to many.

But in those videos, Sofia is in a hospital room, wearing a shirt that lightly uncovers the right side of her chest, revealing the central venous catheter that feeds her chemotherapy medicine directly into her bloodstream.

In February 2019, Sofia was diagnosed with lymphoma. "I found a lump in my groin," Sofia said. "But I didn't give it much thought because it wasn't the first time. I always had them removed and nothing suspicious ever came of it."

During her Christmas vacation in Naples, Italy where she is originally from Sofia developed a dry and irritating cough. "I decided to go to a local doctor and see if there was anything he could do." After the doctor dismissed her because he couldn't find anything wrong, Sofia made a follow-up appointment with her PCM in Virginia, where she and her family are stationed.

"As I was leaving my PCM's office," Sofia said, "I turned around and told him about the lump in my groin, which had grown in size by then." The doctor had Sofia lie down, checked the lump and told her to see a hematologist and a surgeon. Although he didn't explicitly verbalize it at the time, the doctor suspected Sofia had lymphoma.

He was right. "Since February 2019, I have been going through countless tests and surgical procedures," Sofia revealed. After being told the first round of chemotherapy which she faced in "warrior mode," she said had worked and she was clear, in November 2019 Sofia's positive attitude and bright outlook on life was put to the test again. "The cancer came back," she said. "And this time, I have to fight even harder." Sofia will have to undergo a stem cell transplant and several rounds of high-dose chemotherapy.

Yet, she dances. As if those tubes were not attached to her body. As if the machine next to her was not feeding her chemo medicine. As if she didn't suffer from nausea and migraines. She dances as if she were by the beach in downtown Naples, with a bright sun glittering over the Mediterranean Sea in the background, its warm rays caressing her exposed skin.

"I dance on it," she said. "Dancing makes me happy, so I know it's what I'm supposed to do. My body feels so much better after I get up and start dancing, just like one, two, three, four," she said snapping her fingers as if following the rhythm of an imaginary song.

"Dancing is a way for me to keep away the pain, the sorrow and the negative thoughts," she admitted. "I believe that it is possible to defeat this beast because I believe in the power of hope."

And as her hundreds of followers are inspired by her inner strength that shines through her smile, and as the stunned nurses watch her from outside her hospital room while she dances through chemo, she laughs out loud confessing, "You know, I'm actually really bad at dancing!"

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Army spouse dances her way through chemotherapy - We Are The Mighty

The Winnipeg Foundation Innovation Fund supports cutting-edge research – UM Today

February 21, 2020

Thanks to a grant from The Winnipeg Foundation Innovation Fund, an interdisciplinary team in the Rady Faculty of Health Sciences will create heart tissue using a 3D bioprinter to study the development of diabetes.

Dr. Adrian West, an assistant professor of physiology and pathophysiology, Max Rady College of Medicine, said it is truly an honour for his team to receive the first-ever Winnipeg Foundation Innovation Fund grant.

The fact that The Winnipeg Foundation has the vision to invest in something like this is fantastic for our program because it really lets us develop these unusual ideas and push them forward to the national level, he said. High risk, high reward is always going to be difficult to fund and I think thats the project were doing.

The Winnipeg Foundation committed $1 million last year to give health sciences researchers at the UM the opportunity to work on innovative interdisciplinary research and develop projects to the point of qualifying for additional external funding.

West is collaborating on the project with Dr. Vernon Dolinsky, associate professor of pharmacology and therapeutics, Max Rady College of Medicine, and Dr. Joseph Gordon, associate professor in the College of Nursing and of human anatomy and cell science, Max Rady College of Medicine. All three are research scientists at the Childrens Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba.

The project, which was awarded close to $100,000, is looking at the origins of diabetic cardiomyopathy, a cardiovascular disease that makes it harder for the heart to pump blood throughout the body and can lead to heart failure. West said this research is important because 80 per cent of people with diabetes ultimately die of heart disease.

The team will build heart tissue using a 3D bioprinter, which creates the tissue by combining cells, biomaterials and growth factors that imitate natural tissue. West said that 3D bioprinting allows them to create a more realistic environment for cells than in a petri dish.

Cells arent flat, West said. Cells arent squished. Cells are three dimensional in nature and by creating these 3D bioprinted culture models it makes it much like it is in the body.

Theyre building the heart tissue with samples that are exposed to diabetes-like conditions during growth and development to see what underpins diabetic cardiomyopathy. Once theyve developed a model that replicates the disease, they can test a variety of different treatments and scientists around the world can follow their model.

West said that this research will lead to building tissues with human stem cells. The idea is that they will take a cell from a patient, grow it in a dish, build a piece of their own heart and test a treatment that is personalized to them, he said. It will give them the ability to potentially test drugs and treatments on a patients own cells rather than just relying on the results they derive from standard cell cultures and animal models.

Dr. Peter Nickerson, vice-dean (research), Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, said that The Winnipeg Foundation Innovation Fund is unique because it can allow transformative research like Wests to take place.

It is a bit higher risk, but if it pays off, it really will be not just a couple steps forward, but a leap forward from where we are today, Nickerson said. What were trying to achieve with The Winnipeg Foundation Innovation Fund is bringing teams together with really innovative ideas. Well then give them the seed money to bring that idea to life and see if they can get enough of a launch to then apply for national funding to move it to the next level.

The Winnipeg Foundation Innovation Fund grant has already helped Wests team with future funding.

Knowing that somebody had the confidence to fund this project, its already strongly advanced our other grant applications, West said. Just by The Winnipeg Foundation Innovation Fund grant being available has helped us apply for that grant a year, two years earlier.

Matthew Kruchak

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The Winnipeg Foundation Innovation Fund supports cutting-edge research - UM Today

Locking in and preserving your healthy stem cells has never been easier and more accessible as Acorn Biolabs partners with Coverdale Clinics. – Yahoo…

Appointments for stem cell & DNA collection now available.

TORONTO , Feb. 20, 2020 /CNW/ - With the rapid emergence of regenerative medicine therapies and genetic analysis testing reaching mainstream medicine, consumers are demanding increased opportunities to prepare for their future healthcare needs, including banking a viable source of cells to preserve their current health.

Acorn Biolabs (CNW Group/Acorn Biolabs)

To meet this growing demand, Acorn Biolabs, the leading non-invasive stem cell collection, cryopreservation and analysis company, today announced its partnership with Coverdale Clinics Inc., a premium network of specialty care clinics in Canada . Together, Acorn and Coverdale will help make stem cell collection more accessible and affordable in the West Greater Toronto Area .

Through their partnership, Coverdale Clinics' Oakville location be offering Acorn's non-invasive stem cell collection services. The simple process involves plucking a few hair follicles from a client's head, which are then analyzed and cryopreserved for future use.

Acorn's innovative solution for live cell collection enables the collection of stem cells without the need for surgery or other painful and invasive procedures, making stem cell collection for life-long storage significantly more affordable and accessible for everyone.

"Our partnership with Acorn Biolabs opens up a great opportunity for us to expand Coverdale Clinics service offering into the emerging regenerative medicine and geneticsmarket. We're pleased to be able to leverage our specialty clinic in Oakville to offer a service that improves access to exciting and novel health care technologies," said Chris Dalseg , BioScript Solutions' Vice President of Strategic Growth and Marketing. "We have always been at the forefront of providing innovative health care services to Canadians, and adding stem cell collection services from Acorn exemplifies our ongoing commitment."

Once stem cells are collected, Acorn uses its proprietary capabilities to keep cells alive during transportation before going into long term cryogenic storage. The process turns collected hair follicles into a highly valuable and accessible resource for further regenerative medicine and genetics. Not only are these stem cells securely stored for future use, but the company's scientists will also be able to extract critical genetic information through DNA tests, for clients that want it, that will unlock valuable data about a person's health over their lifetime.

"We are excited to bring Acorn's preventative, personalized healthcare services to more people through this partnership with Coverdale Clinics. The cells collected are a life-long resource for these clients, not only in regenerative medicine, but also for advanced analytics, helping to identify diseases even before the first symptom," said Dr. Drew Taylor , Co-founder and CEO at Acorn Biolabs Inc. "The partnership is an important extension for Acorn to serve health-minded individuals in more geographies, freezing the clock on their stem cells so they can use them later in life, when they will need them most."

Clients can book their non-invasive stem cell collection appointment in Oakville, Ontario through Acorn's website today at http://www.acorn.me

About Acorn Biolabs, Inc.

Story continues

Acorn helps you live a longer, healthier tomorrow by freezing the clock on your cells today. Founded in 2017 by Steven ten Holder, Patrick Pumputis and Dr. Drew Taylor and borne out of years of research, Acorn is a healthcare technology company based at Johnson & Johnson INNOVATION JLABS in Toronto . Acorn is focused on giving everyone the best chance to experience more healthy years with its easy, affordable and non-invasive stem cell collection, analysis and cryopreservation service. For more information, visit acorn.me.

About Coverdale Clinics

Coverdale Clinics is a premium network of specialty care clinics, providing patients with a safe, comfortable environment to receive specialty medications by infusion or injection. With more than 100 clinics nationwide, our nurses take a personalized approach to patient care that includes education and counselling to better support medication adherence.

About BioScript Solutions

BioScript Solutions is committed to helping patients with chronic illnesses achieve the best possible health outcomes. With our total care approach, we simplify access to complex, specialty drug therapies and deliver full-service specialty care solutions at every stage of the patient's treatment journey. Through our specialty pharmaceutical distribution, pharmacies, patient support programs and clinical services, BioScript has the capability to manage the needs of manufacturers, payors, prescribers and health care practitioners across Canada today, and tomorrow. To learn more, please visit bioscript.ca.

SOURCE Acorn Biolabs

View original content to download multimedia: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/February2020/20/c2552.html

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Locking in and preserving your healthy stem cells has never been easier and more accessible as Acorn Biolabs partners with Coverdale Clinics. - Yahoo...

Missouri S&T researchers create organ tissue with bioactive glass, stem cells and 3D printer – The Rolla Daily News

Researchers also working on 3D-printed bone models that showcase the types of research that complement the University of Missouri Systems NextGen Precision Health Initiative.

An interdisciplinary team of Missouri University of Science and Technology researchers is creating organ tissue samples using bioactive glass, stem cells and a 3D printer, the university announced Thursday. The project could advance pharmaceutical testing and lead to a better understanding of how diseases affect human cells.

The researchers grow stem cells and add them to hydrogels made of alginate, gelatin or similar substances. Then, in a step unique to Missouri S&T, the researchers add bioactive glass to supply needed calcium ions to the hydrogel/cell mixture and load the mixture as bioink into a 3D printer. They test the samples after bioprinting to determine the stem cell function, the materials tensile strength, degradation and the best glass type to add.

Different cells prefer different gels, so we work to find which gel combination suits our research, says Dr. Krishna Kolan, a postdoctoral researcher at S&T. The challenge is that dissolved glass adds calcium, but it changes the pH, and cells need neutral pH to survive. We figured out which glass and how much to add to maintain neutral pH.

Kolan says researchers are several years away from making a functioning organ, such as a liver or kidney, and the challenge is the vascular system and multiple types of cells in those organs. Missouri S&T researchers are working on ways to develop vascular systems within the bioprinted tissue. Kolan says they can imbed a channel into engineered tissue during printing, then line the channel with endothelial cells, which are the primary cells in blood vessels.

He is working on the experiments with two undergraduate students: August Bindbeutel (mechanical engineering) and Lesa Steen (materials science and engineering).

Endothelial cells form networks in environments they like, such as glass-infused hydrogel, Kolan says. As the network grows, it vascularizes the tissue.

As researchers work toward someday repairing or replacing organs with engineered organs, they are creating tissue models that can be used for pharmaceutical testing, Kolan says. Companies can scale down the composition of a drug to be appropriate for a tissue sample, he says.

Missouri S&T researchers are also currently working on 3D-printed bone models. Biology graduate student Bradley Bromet is comparing diseased cells with healthy stem cells to see in 3D how a disease diabetes, for instance affects cells.

Kolan is working on the project with Dr. Ming Leu, the Bailey Professor in Missouri S&Ts mechanical and aerospace engineering department; Dr. Richard Brow, interim deputy provost in the materials science and engineering department; Dr. Delbert Day, Curators' Professor Emeritus of ceramic engineering, and Dr. Julie Semon, assistant professor of biology and director of S&Ts Laboratory of Regenerative Medicine.

The research project showcases the types of research that complement the University of Missouri Systems NextGen Precision Health Initiative. NextGen is expected to accelerate medical breakthroughs and improve lives by harnessing the research being done at the systems four universities and training a new generation of health scientists and practitioners.

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Missouri S&T researchers create organ tissue with bioactive glass, stem cells and 3D printer - The Rolla Daily News

Regenerative Medicine Market trends, leaders, segment analysis and forecast to 2030 described in a new market report – WhaTech Technology and Markets…

Technological innovations in the area of stem cell therapy and tissue engineering has led to rapid growth of the regenerative medicine market size.

Regenerative medicine is a comparatively new area of science that involves the restoration of damaged cells, tissues or organs by applying cell therapy, tissue engineering, immunotherapy or gene therapy techniques. On contrary to the present clinical therapeutics that act on slowing the disease progression or relieve symptoms, regenerative medication has a promising therapeutic approach of restoring the function and structure of damaged organs and tissues.

The global regenerative medicine market is expected to witness significant growth during the forecast period,due to the increase in the prevalence of chronic diseases, orthopaedic injuries, genetic disorders, growing aging population, increasing government funding along with the private funding in the research & development of regenerative medicines with the advancement in nanotechnology based drug delivery system, and moderate healthcare reforms. Currently, major breakthrough in the area is the development of tissue engineered trachea, transplantation of retinal pigment differentiated by stem cell based therapy to treat age-related macular degeneration.

However, recently research labs have started to focus on regenerating solid organs such as heart, kidney, lungs and other organs to curb the problems associated with organ transplantation.

The rise in number of regulatory approvals of regenerative medications is expected to further drive the regenerative medicine market during the forecast period. Moreover, there has been strategic partnership between many companies that has encouraged increased involvement of these companies in the global market.

Improvised drug delivery systems for regenerative medicines is also expected to contribute to the growth of the global market.

Download sample copy of this report at:www.psmarketresearch.com/market-ort-sample

The key factors which drive the growth of the global market include increase in the demand of orthopaedic surgeries, government healthcare reforms in certain countries such as the U.S. and Canada, aging population, rise in chronic diseases, increasing prevalence of bone and joint diseases, and innovations in nanotechnology that aids in drug delivery mechanism.

Globally, North America is the largest market for regenerative medicine followed by Europe. The largest regenerative medicine market size of North America is attributed to the high rate of incidence of cardiac disorders, autoimmune diseases, and increasing prevalence of cancer patients among the American population.

Additionally, the involvement of government organization for funding in the area of R&D of regenerative medicines, technological advancement and other policies are driving the growth of the North American market.

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5 Aesthetic Clinics To Know In The Klang Valley & Their Signature Treatments – Malaysia Tatler

Flawless skin and more beauty fixes at these top aesthetic clinics around town

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Located at The Shoppes at Four Seasons Place, La Jung is Kuala Lumpurs newest anti-aging and aesthetic clinic, offering anti-aging solutions from Switzerland in partnership with leading Swiss medical clinics.

Helmed by Cardiff-trained aesthetic medical practitioner Dr Nicholas Lim, La Jung spans 5,275sf and comprises five plush treatment rooms, two VIP waiting rooms, a VIP lounge, a VVIP waiting and treatment room, and even a discrete alternative entrance leading directly to the carpark.

Signature treatments: The Sylfirm treatment helps to suppress a common type of skin pigmentation among Asians known as melasma, according Dr. Nicholas. This sophisticated procedure uses technology developed in Silicon Valley, and is typically used to treat melasma in addition to laser treatment in more stubborn cases.

PicoPlus is another specialty of La Jung. It refers to the use of a second-generation pico and nano-second laser to tackle blotchy pigmentation with minimal damage to the surrounding tissue.

Call 03-2856 7616 for more information.

Photos: The Glitz Of La Jung Malaysia's Grand Opening

Beverley Wilshire Medical Centre offers medical aesthetic treatments, anti-ageing medicine, cosmetic surgery, dental aesthetics and hair restoration at its main branch in Jalan Tun Razak. The clinic is known for its non-surgical treatments including V-shape face and nose reshaping.

Signature treatments: A trusted name in cosmetic tourism packages, Beverley Wilshire Medical Centres cosmetic vacation is an all-in-one deal, pairing treatments with an overnight stay at one of its luxury suites or a partner hotel nearby, plus meals, post-op follow-ups and even airport transfers.

Call 03-2118 2888 for more information.

The art of aging gracefully is yours to explore at the Bangsar-based M.A.C Clinic, which specialises in non-invasive or minimally invasive treatments that require little to no downtime.

Offering treatments in body slimming, breast enhancements and laser treatments to preventive age management that targets health risk factors in ones lifestyle, M.A.C clinic is helmed by Dr Hew Yin Keat, a founding member of the Malaysian Society of Aesthetic Medicine.

Signature treatments: Dubbed The Liquid Face Lift, this procedure uses injectable fillers to minimise sagging skin and fine lines without the downtime of plastic surgery, according to Dr Hew. The Picosure Laser treatment is another highly sought-after treatment to improve the appearance of acne, scars and other pigmentation. Other signatures include regenerative medicine, stem cell treatments, the Infini Scar Treatment, and CoolSculpting by Zeltiq.

Call 03-2283 1212 for more information.

Related: MAC Clinic Unveils First PicoSure Laser Treatment in Malaysia In An Exclusive Party At Marinis On 57

Helmed by medical director Prof Dr Edmond Ng (also assistant professor and consultant at the Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences at UCSI University), Xeoul Clinic boasts a team of full-time consultant aesthetic doctors with more than 10 years of experience.

A beauty clinic under the umbrella of the Xeoul Global brand, Xeoul Clinic specialises in face and skin, weight loss and hair treatments.

Signature treatments: Q-switch NdYag Laser treatment, Fractional CO2 Laser treatment, chemical peels and Regenera Activa for hair enhancement. Weight loss treatments include the BTL Vanquish Me and BTL Vanquish Flex procedures.

Call 03-5613 0023 for more information.

Dr Park Wonjin of Wonjin Beauty Medical Group: Achieving A More Beautiful You

Did you know that Da Vinci Clinic is regularly patronised by one of the cast members of the Netflix series Ghost Bride and feature film The Garden of Evening Mists?

This upscale clinic can be found at The Boulevard Office, Mid Valley City as well as in Cheras and Kepong. It offers face, skin, body and hair treatments in addition to holistic wellness programmes. From dimples creation, lip enhancements and breast augmentation to Botulinum Toxin injections to reduce oversized calves, Da Vinci Clinic operates on the philosophy of helping patients improve on the "minute elements" to unleash the true potential of beauty.

Signature treatments: The Da Vinci Double Eyelid Creation Treatment and Thermage, a non-invasive cosmetic procedure that eases the appearance of stretch marks, wrinkles, fine lines and sagging or uneven skin.

Call 03-2283 2888 for more information.

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5 Aesthetic Clinics To Know In The Klang Valley & Their Signature Treatments - Malaysia Tatler

Tech Ventures kicks off series dedicated to supporting female inventors and entrepreneurs at Johns Hopkins – The Hub at Johns Hopkins

BySaralyn Cruickshank

Of all the things that helped Barb Slusher on her path to becoming a leader in the field of drug discovery and an inventor with more than 70 patents to her name, the relationships she built with her peers, and particularly her female peers, were the most influential. By building relationships, she said, she was able to secure funding for her pharmaceutical ventures while still working in the industry, and the bonds she built with other women in pharma help ensure her voice is heard, even in a room full of men.

"If I look at the people who have invested money in the companies we've started, I've usually started a relationship with that person before. I've consulted for them, I've been to conferences with them, I've been on panels or boards with them. They get to know me and trust me, and that ultimately leads to them investing in my companies. It takes time," said Slusher, a Johns Hopkins alum who now directs the Johns Hopkins Drug Discovery Program. "I'm also used to being the only woman in the room, but when I'm with other women, we team up to make sure that each other's opinions are heard."

Slusher was one of three panelists to share insights about being a woman in innovation during an invitational breakfast event held Wednesday at FastForward U near the Johns Hopkins Homewood campus. Alongside stem cell researcher Sharon Gerecht and biomedical engineer Natalia Trayanova, Slusher spoke to 40 of the university's most prominent women in technology and entrepreneurshipfaculty, staff, and studentswho had gathered to network and share their experiences.

Image credit: Will Kirk / Johns Hopkins University

"I hope that 2020 is a year we acknowledge the lengths that female entrepreneurs go," said Christy Wyskiel, senior advisor to the president of Johns Hopkins University for innovation and entrepreneurship and executive director of Johns Hopkins Technology Ventures. "For Johns Hopkins women, in particular, I am committed to helping them find the sponsorship they need in the form of mentors, investors, board members, and believers in a more equal way."

Hosted by Johns Hopkins Technology Ventures, the event kicked off the AccelHERator event series, a collection of workshops and talks focused on supporting female inventors and entrepreneurs at Johns Hopkins. The series, funded by a grant from the Small Business Association, aims to address the barriers to success experienced by women in tech and business, and to support them and their work. Attendees of the launch event were largely those known by or already working with Tech Ventures, but organizers say they hope more members of the Johns Hopkins community will participate in the program by nominating women entrepreneurs and innovators to join the movement through an online form.

Image credit: Will Kirk / Johns Hopkins University

"The work of bringing research to the market is really difficult, in that it requires both cutting-edge science and a keen understanding of customers and how markets function," said Liz Burger, senior director of strategic initiatives at Tech Ventures. "We need all the talent we can get; we cannot afford to have women participate less. So today is a celebration of the vast potential of women at Johns Hopkins, and the rest of the events in the series are about equipping women with the tools to take action and move ideas forward."

Casey Overby Taylor, an assistant professor of medicine and an expert in biomedical informatics, attended the event to learn more about Tech Ventures and to network with other female entrepreneurs.

"I wanted to explore what it would take to build my own private, commercial business, so this is a good way to get exposed to this topic," Overby Taylor said.

Another attendee, Bailey Surtees, graduated from Johns Hopkins in 2017 and now heads a startup that operates out of FastForward U, the student-focused accelerator and makerspace where the breakfast event was held. She said she was interested in the event because she was looking for an opportunity to connect with other entrepreneurial women.

"The female professors that I had as a student at Hopkins made a big impact on my experience," Surtees said. "Seeing how they balanced being a professional woman at the top of their field and other goals I share with them, like being part of a family, was really cool and helped prepare me for what it's like to be a woman in business."

The next AccelHERator event will be a workshop about creating successful value propositions that help capture potential startup customers and clients. It takes place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Wednesday, April 1, at FastForward 1812 on the East Baltimore campus. Those interested in attending can register online. Additional events will be held in May and June.

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Tech Ventures kicks off series dedicated to supporting female inventors and entrepreneurs at Johns Hopkins - The Hub at Johns Hopkins

BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics to Announce Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2019 Financial Results and Provide a Corporate Update – GlobeNewswire

NEW YORK, Feb. 10, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:BCLI), a leading developer of adult stem cell therapies for neurodegenerative diseases, today announced that the Company will hold a conference call to update shareholders on financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2019, and provide a corporate update, at 8:00 a.m., Eastern Time, on Tuesday, February 18, 2020.

BrainStorms President & CEO, Chaim Lebovits, will present the full year 2019 corporate update, after which, participant questions will be answered. Joining Mr. Lebovits to answer investment community questions will be Ralph Kern, MD, MHSc, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Medical Officer, and Preetam Shah, PhD, Chief Financial Officer.

Participants are encouraged to submit their questions prior to the call by sending them to: q@brainstorm-cell.comand questions should be submitted by 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, Monday, February 17 2020.

The investment community may participate in the conference call by dialing the following numbers:

Those interested in listening to the conference call live via the internet may do so by visiting the Investors & Media page of BrainStorms website at http://www.ir.brainstorm-cell.com and clicking on the conference call link.

A webcast replay of the conference call will be available for 30 days on the Investors & Media page of BrainStorms website:

About NurOwn

NurOwn (autologous MSC-NTF cells) represent a promising investigational 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. NurOwn is currently being evaluated in a Phase 3 ALS randomized placebo-controlled trial and in a Phase 2 open-label multicenter trial in Progressive MS.

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 NurOwnCellular Therapeutic Technology Platform used to produce autologous MSC-NTF cells through an exclusive, worldwide licensing agreement as well as through its own patents, patent applications and proprietary know-how. Autologous MSC-NTF cells have received Orphan Drug status designation from theU.S. Food and Drug Administration(U.S.FDA) and theEuropean Medicines Agency(EMA) in ALS. Brainstorm has fully enrolled the Phase 3 pivotal trial in ALS (NCT03280056), investigating repeat-administration of autologous MSC-NTF cells at six sites in the U.S., supported by a grant from theCalifornia Institute for Regenerative Medicine(CIRM CLIN2-0989). The pivotal study is intended to support a BLA filing for U.S.FDAapproval of autologous MSC-NTF cells in ALS. Brainstorm received U.S.FDAclearance to initiate a Phase 2 open-label multi-center trial of repeat intrathecal dosing of MSC-NTF cells in Progressive Multiple Sclerosis (NCT03799718) inDecember 2018and has been enrolling clinical trial participants sinceMarch 2019. For more information, visit the company'swebsite.

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

Investor Relations:Preetam Shah, MBA, PhDChief Financial OfficerBrainStorm Cell Therapeutics Inc.Phone: 862-397-8160pshah@brainstorm-cell.com

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

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BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics to Announce Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2019 Financial Results and Provide a Corporate Update - GlobeNewswire

CD229 CAR T-cell therapy treated tumours had lasting response mice – Drug Target Review

Researchers have created a CAR T-cell therapy which targets the CD229 molecule expressed on all multiple myeloma cells and killed human tumour cells in mice.

Collaborative work at the University of Utah (U of U) has resulted in a CAR T-cell therapy that targets the CD229 molecule expressed on all multiple myeloma cells. The researchers showed that both in cell lines and mice with human multiple myeloma tumours, there was a long-lasting response to the treatment.

The paper published in Nature Communications, builds on previous research where the scientists had shown CD229 was expressed on all multiple myeloma cells, including the myeloma stem cells, which can reform the tumour after therapy.

We were dismayed that although some of our patients respond quite well to currently available immunotherapies, they relapsed as early as one year after treatment, said Dr Djordje Atanackovic, physician-scientist at Huntsman Cancer Institute (HCI) and an Associate Professor of Internal Medicine in the Division of Hematology and Hematologic Malignancies at the U of U. We thought if we could target every last cancer cell in a patients body, including the cancer stem cell, this could make the critical difference and yield more durable, deeper responses to treatment.

According to the researchers, it took several years to engineer the current agent to target CD229. The resultant agent consists of a fully human anti-CD229 antibody, with a hook which can produce CAR T cells targeting CD229.

In multiple myeloma patient stem cells, and mouse models, the scientists showed their CD229 CAR T cells could kill mature multiple myeloma cells. In these tests, the researchers said that the tumours treated with CD229 CAR T appeared to have long-lasting responses.

The team are planning to further analyse if this approach can be safely used in humans and hope to open clinical trials to understand the potential of CD229 as a novel therapy for multiple myeloma.

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CD229 CAR T-cell therapy treated tumours had lasting response mice - Drug Target Review