Grateful patient donates $6.5M to Shiley Eye Center

Doctors perform eye surgery in an operating room at Shiley Eye Center Wednesday. The center recently received a $6.5 million gift to help establish a new stem cell research laboratory.

A $6.5 million donation from an unnamed patient will help the Shiley Eye Center at UC San Diego strengthen its focus on stem cells, which hold the promise of repairing damage done by diseases such as glaucoma and macular degeneration.

Dr. Robert Weinreb, the centers director and a widely-published glaucoma researcher, said hes conducting a worldwide search for stem cell scientists to come to Shiley, which last year ranked fourth in National Institutes of Health funding among ophthalmology research centers nationwide.

Stem cells are known for their ability to transform themselves into nearly any other type of cell in the body, and scientists are exploring ways to use this Rosetta stone of biology to repair damage caused by cancer, diabetes and a range of other diseases.

Theres also huge potential for stem cells and the human eye.

Were going to use the stem cells to treat retinal diseases including macular degeneration, to rescue the optic nerve in glaucoma, as well as to replace the diseased layers of the cornea in patients with blinding corneal diseases, Weinreb said.

Vision loss is a growing problem as more and more baby boomers reach retirement age.

Paul Kelly, 83, undergoes a test that measures the curvature of his corneas Wednesday at Shiley Eye Center in La Jolla.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said about 1.8 million Americans have advanced age-related macular degeneration and projects that number to soar to 2.9 million by 2020. In addition, the incidence of glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy is expected to grow significantly in the same time frame.

But theres hope.

See the article here:
Grateful patient donates $6.5M to Shiley Eye Center

Global Stem Cells Group and Revita Life Sciences Announce Joint Venture to Establish a Stem Cell Training Course in …

Miami (PRWEB) April 11, 2014

GlobalStemCellsGroup.com and Revita Life Sciences have announced plans to present the adipose and bone marrow stem cells course hosted by Himanshu Bansal, M.D., May 22-23 in Delhi.

Revita Life Sciences is a biotech company based in Dehli that specializes in stem cell research, training and clinical applications protocol development in regenerative medicine. Stem Cell specialists from both Global Stem Cells Group and Revita will participate in the two-day training program designed to help medical professionals bring stem cell therapies to the physicians office.

The adipose-derived harvesting, isolation and re-integration training course for the advancement of stem cell procedures is a two-day, hands-on intensive training course developed for physicians and high-level practitioners to learn techniques in harvesting and reintegrating stem cells derived from adipose (fat) tissue and bone marrow. The objective of the training is to bridge the gap between bench science in the laboratory and the doctors office by teaching effective in office regenerative medicine techniques.

For more information, visit the Global Stem Cells Group website, email bnovas(at)regenestem(dot)com, or call 305-224-1858.

About the Global Stem Cell Group: Global Stem Cells Group, Inc. is the parent company of six wholly owned operating companies dedicated entirely to stem cell research, training, products and solutions. Founded in 2012, the company combines dedicated researchers, physician and patient educators and solution providers with the shared goal of meeting the growing worldwide need for leading edge stem cell treatments and solutions. With a singular focus on this exciting new area of medical research, Global Stem Cells Group and its subsidiaries are uniquely positioned to become global leaders in cellular medicine.

Global Stem Cells Groups corporate mission is to make the promise of stem cell medicine a reality for patients around the world. With each of GSCGs six operating companies focused on a separate research-based mission, the result is a global network of state-of-the-art stem cell treatments.

About Revita Life Science:

Revita Life Sciences is a biotechnology company that provides complete support to patients from their first inquiry through stem cell therapy performed by a Revita Life Science specialized physician.

Revitas primary objective is the development of stem cell therapies that target areas of significant unmet or poorly met medical need. Years of research and experience have resulted in substantial improvements in the health and condition of patients suffering from a variety of illnesses through stem cell therapy, even where other treatments have failed.

Original post:
Global Stem Cells Group and Revita Life Sciences Announce Joint Venture to Establish a Stem Cell Training Course in ...

Harvard investigation leads to expression of concern on Brigham-led stem cell research

A major medical journal has published a notice of concern about data included in a paper that found benefits for an experimental stem-cell therapy in a small number of heart failure patients. The concerns were raised during an internal investigation at Brigham and Womens Hospital and Harvard Medical School that has already led to the retraction of another paper led by the same prominent and controversial cardiologist.

In an expression of concern posted online Thursday night and first reported by the blog Retraction Watch, editors of the British medical journal The Lancet said Harvard had notified them of an ongoing investigation that has raised questions about the integrity of certain data used in two figures in a 2011 paper overseen by Dr. Piero Anversa at the Brigham.

A notice of concern is issued when a journal learns of potential problems with a paper but is awaiting more information before deciding whether to correct or retract the study.

It alerts our readers to the fact the investigation is going on, a journal spokesperson said Friday.

The Harvard and Brigham investigation has already revealed compromised data in a 2012 paper in the journal Circulation, which described rapid turnover of cells in the heart and was also overseen by Anversa. That paper was retracted Tuesday.

Both papers examined the regenerative capacity of the heart, in an effort to harness cardiac stem cells to repair damaged or diseased heart muscle.

This notice of concern, coupled with the recent retraction, is extremely troubling because of the large number of clinical trials inspired by reports from this group, the many desperate patients potentially affected, and the large amount of federal and private money that has been diverted from other areas of promising research to pursue these ideas, Dr. Jonathan Epstein, a professor of cardiovascular research at the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, wrote in an e-mail.

Neither of the journals has been specific about who is at fault or what the nature of the problems are.

The focus of this investigation is on two supplemental figures published online, The Lancet said. As far as we are aware, the investigation is confined to the work completed at BWH.

Anversa has not responded to e-mail or voicemail messages.

More here:

Harvard investigation leads to expression of concern on Brigham-led stem cell research

Former NIH stem-cell chief joins New York foundation

Nature News Blog

10 Apr 2014 | 22:47 BST | Posted by Sara Reardon | Category: stem cells

Stem-cell biologist Mahendra Rao, who resigned last week as director of the Center for Regenerative Medicine (CRM) at the US National Institutes of Health (NIH), has a new job. On 9 April, he was appointed vice-president for regenerative medicine at the New York Stem Cell Foundation (NYSCF), a non-profit organization that funds embryonic stem-cell research.

Rao left the NIH abruptly on 28 March, apparently because of disagreements about the number of clinical trials of stem-cell therapies that the NIHs intramural CRM programme would conduct. The CRM was established in 2010 to shepherd therapies using induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS cells) adult cells that have been reprogrammed to an embryonic state into clinical translation. One of the CRMs potential therapies, which will use iPS cells to treat macular degeneration of the retina, will continue moving towards clinical trials at the NIH, although several others were not funded. NIH officials say that the CRM will not continue in its current direction, but the fate of the centres remaining budget and resources is undecided.

Rao says that he wants to move more iPS cell therapies towards trials than the NIH had been willing to do. He has already joined the advisory boards of several stem-cell-therapy companies: Q Therapeutics, a Salt Lake City-based neural stem cell company he co-founded; and Cesca Therapeutics (formerly known as ThermoGenesis) of Rancho Cordova, California, and Stemedica of San Diego, California, both of which are developing cell-based therapies for cardiac and vascular disorders.

Rao says that his initial focus at the NYSCF will be developing iPS cell lines for screening, and formulating a process for making clinical-grade cell lines from a patients own cells.

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Former NIH stem-cell chief joins New York foundation

Grateful patient donates $6.5 million to Shiley Eye Center

Doctors perform eye surgery in an operating room at Shiley Eye Center Wednesday. The center recently received a $6.5 million gift to help establish a new stem cell research laboratory.

A $6.5 million donation from an unnamed patient will help the Shiley Eye Center at UC San Diego strengthen its focus on stem cells, which hold the promise of repairing damage done by diseases such as glaucoma and macular degeneration.

Dr. Robert Weinreb, the centers director and a widely-published glaucoma researcher, said hes conducting a worldwide search for stem cell scientists to come to Shiley, which last year ranked fourth in National Institutes of Health funding among ophthalmology research centers nationwide.

Stem cells are known for their ability to transform themselves into nearly any other type of cell in the body, and scientists are exploring ways to use this Rosetta stone of biology to repair damage caused by cancer, diabetes and a range of other diseases.

Theres also huge potential for stem cells and the human eye.

Were going to use the stem cells to treat retinal diseases including macular degeneration, to rescue the optic nerve in glaucoma, as well as to replace the diseased layers of the cornea in patients with blinding corneal diseases, Weinreb said.

Vision loss is a growing problem as more and more baby boomers reach retirement age.

Paul Kelly, 83, undergoes a test that measures the curvature of his corneas Wednesday at Shiley Eye Center in La Jolla.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said about 1.8 million Americans have advanced age-related macular degeneration and projects that number to soar to 2.9 million by 2020. In addition, the incidence of glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy is expected to grow significantly in the same time frame.

But theres hope.

Read more:

Grateful patient donates $6.5 million to Shiley Eye Center

Gene, stem cell therapies trials underway for Parkinson's, but not in Mumbai

illustration by: Ravi Jadhav

Stem cells and gene hold promising treatment options for Parkinson's Disease, say doctors across the globe, including those in Mumbai.

Eleven trials to test stem cell and gene therapies for treating the disease are currently underway. In Mumbai, however, only two out of these 11 trials were being done resource constraints led to one being canned and regulatory hurdles have put the other one on hold.

Currently, neuro-augmentative therapies, such as usage of drugs or deep brain stimulation (DBS), are being used to treat Parkinson's Disease. "The future holds hope for neuro-restorative therapies like that of stem cells or gene infusion. Stem cells are the very primary kind of cells which can take on the function of any body part's cells after their infusion with that body part. It (the treatment) involves restoration of brain function to normal. In the next five to seven years, this may pave the way for the future," said Dr Paresh Doshi, neurologist at Jaslok Hospital on Peddar Road.

Doshi said trial of Duodopa therapy, which involves infusion of an active ingredient gel called Levodopa in the intestines, has been kept on hold. Jaslok Hospital was the only centre in the whole of Southeast Asia that was running the trial.

"Levodopa gets converted into dopamine in the body. Normal levels of dopamine control Parkinson's Disease," said Doshi.

A trial to infuse stem cells from the patient's body into the patient himself/herself had been underway in a small group of patients in India, but it had to be stopped due to the inability to recruit more patients.

Doshi said, "We could only recruit four patients for two years. However, a similar trial is underway in China and another trial, which explores adipose tissue stem cells, is underway in South Africa."

In January, medical journal The Lancet reported that after 16 years of trials, gene therapy is showing promising results in humans. "Three genes that promote the formation of dopamine-generating cells in the brain were injected in the brain, bound with a viral vector, in 15 patients. ...dopamine... becomes deficient in patients with Parkinson's," The Lancet report stated.

Three patients from the UK and 12 from France in advanced stages of Parkinson's Disease underwent an operation, wherein the virus with the three genes was injected in their brains. The patients, who had become stiff due to the disease, showed a 30% improvement in their movement after the surgery. After four years of follow-ups, they continued to improve and dopamine kept on being produced in their brain, in parts where it was not being produced before.

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Gene, stem cell therapies trials underway for Parkinson's, but not in Mumbai

Lung Institute’s Innovative Stem Cell Procedure is Giving End Stage Lung Disease Patients a New Option

Tampa, Florida (PRWEB) April 10, 2014

One year ago, Gary Oberschlake was diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), a deadly lung disease with no known cause characterized by the permanent scarring of lung tissue. Gary wasnt alone approximately 48,000 others received the same diagnosis last year. Claiming the lives of nearly 40,000 individuals annually, IPF is as deadly as breast cancer.

Doctors told Gary, a family man with a wife, four children, and four grandchildren, his only treatment option was a double lung transplant. Knowing the inherent risks associated with this procedure, including his bodys rejection of the new lungs, Gary refused to accept it as his only chance for survival.

After spending considerable time researching possible alternative options, Gary became fascinated by recent developments in stem cell medicine, and its potential for treating sufferers of chronic lung disease like IPF. His excitement regarding this option was met with doubt expressed by his pulmonologist, who didnt see the clinical viability of stem cells for lung conditions at the time. Despite his doctors reluctance, Gary decided to give stem cell therapy a chance.

According to his wife Debra, when he found Lung Institute in Tampa, FL, it was like it was meant to be. And, feeling as though it was a sign he couldnt ignore, Gary made the decision to pursue autologous stem cell treatment at Lung Institute in Tampa.

Today, nine months after receiving his first treatment at Lung Institute, Gary has seen results that have far exceeded his expectations, leaving his pulmonologist and cardiologist in disbelief. In fact, all the doctors he saw after his treatments have been shocked by his positive progression, which has completely changed their perspective on his prognosis and the viability of stem cells for lung disease in general.

Their astonishment at the treatments overwhelming success is not unusual many doctors like them are skeptical of the clinical application of stem cells for lung disease, simply because advancements in the field have been so recent. But skeptics need only witness the success of these treatments, as Garys doctors did, to have their position turned upside down.

Gary says prior to his stem cell treatment, his cardiologist said the next time hed see me would be in a hospital bed. Quite to the contrary, Gary is now able to enjoy many aspects of life that were previously limited by his condition. In his words, Ive been able to do things with [my grandchildren]. Before I was only able to sit down and watch them.

As a result of his refusal to accept his original prognosis, Gary and his wife are now looking into the future and planning ahead. Lung Institute continues to produce positive results, much like those experienced by Gary, and in doing so, is changing the lives of many suffering from chronic and debilitating pulmonary conditions.

About Lung Institute At Lung Institute (LI), we are changing the lives of hundreds of people across the nation through the innovative technology of regenerative medicine. We are committed to providing patients a more effective way to address pulmonary conditions and improve quality of life. Our physicians, through their designated practices, have gained worldwide recognition for the successful application of revolutionary minimally invasive stem cell therapies. With over a century of combined medical experience, our doctors have established a patient experience designed with the highest concern for patient safety and quality of care. For more information, visit our website at LungInstitute.com, like us on Facebook or call us today at 1-855-469-5864.

Read the original post:
Lung Institute's Innovative Stem Cell Procedure is Giving End Stage Lung Disease Patients a New Option

Gene, stem cell therapies trials underway for Parkinson’s, but not in Mumbai

illustration by: Ravi Jadhav

Stem cells and gene hold promising treatment options for Parkinson's Disease, say doctors across the globe, including those in Mumbai.

Eleven trials to test stem cell and gene therapies for treating the disease are currently underway. In Mumbai, however, only two out of these 11 trials were being done resource constraints led to one being canned and regulatory hurdles have put the other one on hold.

Currently, neuro-augmentative therapies, such as usage of drugs or deep brain stimulation (DBS), are being used to treat Parkinson's Disease. "The future holds hope for neuro-restorative therapies like that of stem cells or gene infusion. Stem cells are the very primary kind of cells which can take on the function of any body part's cells after their infusion with that body part. It (the treatment) involves restoration of brain function to normal. In the next five to seven years, this may pave the way for the future," said Dr Paresh Doshi, neurologist at Jaslok Hospital on Peddar Road.

Doshi said trial of Duodopa therapy, which involves infusion of an active ingredient gel called Levodopa in the intestines, has been kept on hold. Jaslok Hospital was the only centre in the whole of Southeast Asia that was running the trial.

"Levodopa gets converted into dopamine in the body. Normal levels of dopamine control Parkinson's Disease," said Doshi.

A trial to infuse stem cells from the patient's body into the patient himself/herself had been underway in a small group of patients in India, but it had to be stopped due to the inability to recruit more patients.

Doshi said, "We could only recruit four patients for two years. However, a similar trial is underway in China and another trial, which explores adipose tissue stem cells, is underway in South Africa."

In January, medical journal The Lancet reported that after 16 years of trials, gene therapy is showing promising results in humans. "Three genes that promote the formation of dopamine-generating cells in the brain were injected in the brain, bound with a viral vector, in 15 patients. ...dopamine... becomes deficient in patients with Parkinson's," The Lancet report stated.

Three patients from the UK and 12 from France in advanced stages of Parkinson's Disease underwent an operation, wherein the virus with the three genes was injected in their brains. The patients, who had become stiff due to the disease, showed a 30% improvement in their movement after the surgery. After four years of follow-ups, they continued to improve and dopamine kept on being produced in their brain, in parts where it was not being produced before.

More here:
Gene, stem cell therapies trials underway for Parkinson's, but not in Mumbai

NBI files raps vs Arroyo’s ‘fake’ stem cell doc

MANILA - The National Bureau of Investigation-Anti-Organized and Transnational Crime Division (NBI-AOTCD) has filed a case against an allegedly fake doctor who once administered stem cell therapy on former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

Members of the NBI-AOCTD, headed by Head Agent Rommel J. Vallejo, acted on the complaint filed by Dr. Eunice Salazar-Abad, who worked as an aesthetic physician for Antonia Carandang-Park.

The latter is the owner of Green and Young Health and Wellness Center based in San Jose, Tagaytay City.

Vallejo said: Even for a short period of time working at the clinic, she began to notice some irregularities and the unorthodox method being applied by Park in treating the patients. She discovered too, that Park is using her name and her license number in dealing with patients.

Salazar-Abad then verified with the Professional Regulation Commission to check if Park is a licensed doctor,

Based on a document dated August 12, 2013, the PRC certified that after a diligent search, the name Antonia Carandang Park does not appear in the database of Physician, which contains the names of those duly authorized to practice medicine in the Philippines.

The document reads, this certification is issued upon request of the Board of Medicine for whatever legal purpose it may serve.

Park gained popularity when she treated Arroyo, who had been complaining of pains due to a cervical spine surgery.

Salazar-Abad noted Park did not make any effort to speak up when reports tagged her as a doctor. She said Park also misrepresented herself as an oncologist.

Vallejo said Park filed her counter-affidavit on August 22, saying she is not a quack doctor.

View post:
NBI files raps vs Arroyo's 'fake' stem cell doc

Lung Institute's Innovative Stem Cell Procedure is Giving End Stage Lung Disease Patients a New Option

Tampa, Florida (PRWEB) April 10, 2014

One year ago, Gary Oberschlake was diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), a deadly lung disease with no known cause characterized by the permanent scarring of lung tissue. Gary wasnt alone approximately 48,000 others received the same diagnosis last year. Claiming the lives of nearly 40,000 individuals annually, IPF is as deadly as breast cancer.

Doctors told Gary, a family man with a wife, four children, and four grandchildren, his only treatment option was a double lung transplant. Knowing the inherent risks associated with this procedure, including his bodys rejection of the new lungs, Gary refused to accept it as his only chance for survival.

After spending considerable time researching possible alternative options, Gary became fascinated by recent developments in stem cell medicine, and its potential for treating sufferers of chronic lung disease like IPF. His excitement regarding this option was met with doubt expressed by his pulmonologist, who didnt see the clinical viability of stem cells for lung conditions at the time. Despite his doctors reluctance, Gary decided to give stem cell therapy a chance.

According to his wife Debra, when he found Lung Institute in Tampa, FL, it was like it was meant to be. And, feeling as though it was a sign he couldnt ignore, Gary made the decision to pursue autologous stem cell treatment at Lung Institute in Tampa.

Today, nine months after receiving his first treatment at Lung Institute, Gary has seen results that have far exceeded his expectations, leaving his pulmonologist and cardiologist in disbelief. In fact, all the doctors he saw after his treatments have been shocked by his positive progression, which has completely changed their perspective on his prognosis and the viability of stem cells for lung disease in general.

Their astonishment at the treatments overwhelming success is not unusual many doctors like them are skeptical of the clinical application of stem cells for lung disease, simply because advancements in the field have been so recent. But skeptics need only witness the success of these treatments, as Garys doctors did, to have their position turned upside down.

Gary says prior to his stem cell treatment, his cardiologist said the next time hed see me would be in a hospital bed. Quite to the contrary, Gary is now able to enjoy many aspects of life that were previously limited by his condition. In his words, Ive been able to do things with [my grandchildren]. Before I was only able to sit down and watch them.

As a result of his refusal to accept his original prognosis, Gary and his wife are now looking into the future and planning ahead. Lung Institute continues to produce positive results, much like those experienced by Gary, and in doing so, is changing the lives of many suffering from chronic and debilitating pulmonary conditions.

About Lung Institute At Lung Institute (LI), we are changing the lives of hundreds of people across the nation through the innovative technology of regenerative medicine. We are committed to providing patients a more effective way to address pulmonary conditions and improve quality of life. Our physicians, through their designated practices, have gained worldwide recognition for the successful application of revolutionary minimally invasive stem cell therapies. With over a century of combined medical experience, our doctors have established a patient experience designed with the highest concern for patient safety and quality of care. For more information, visit our website at LungInstitute.com, like us on Facebook or call us today at 1-855-469-5864.

View post:

Lung Institute's Innovative Stem Cell Procedure is Giving End Stage Lung Disease Patients a New Option

Mahendra Rao Joins The New York Stem Cell Foundation Research Institute

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Newswise NEW YORK, NY (April 9, 2014) Dr. Mahendra Rao, who has directed the Center for Regenerative Medicine at the National Institutes of Health (NIH CRM) since 2010, will join The New York Stem Cell Foundation (NYSCF) Research Institute as its Vice President for Regenerative Medicine, a newly created position, Susan Solomon, NYSCF Chief Executive Officer, announced today.

Dr. Rao, who holds an MD degree and a PhD in developmental neurobiology, is one of the nations most prominent stem cell scientists. He has over twenty years of experience in all aspects of the stem cell field including government, academia, and business. Before joining the NIH, Dr. Rao spent six years as the vice president of Regenerative Medicine at Life Technologies, Inc. (now Thermo Fisher Scientific) after serving as the chief of Neurosciences at the National Institute on Aging and co-founding Q Therapeutics, a neural stem cell company based in Utah. Dr. Rao is tenured at the University of Utah School of Medicine in both Neurobiology and Anatomy and has over twenty submitted and ten issued patents.

Dr. Raos expertise in translational research, academia, and industry make him a valuable asset in our mission to take stem cell research from the laboratory to the clinic in order to find cures for the diseases that affect those we love, Solomon said. We are delighted to have him on board.

Solomon said that recruiting Dr. Rao is a major coup for NYSCF as it builds on its existing successes and carries out its strategic goals. Dr. Raos expertise and experience in setting up a company and in leading the translational effort at NIH will complement their expertise in automation and high-throughput induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cell generation.

I am enthused about NYSCFs efforts to generate high-quality stem cell lines and partner with the pharma and academic communities. I am excited to be joining them to advance their goals, said Dr. Rao.

In addition to his business career, Dr. Rao has served on scientific advisory boards, editorial boards and review panels and on committees including as the U.S. Food and Drug Administrations Cellular, Tissue, and Gene Therapies Advisory Committee chair and as the California Institute of Regenerative Medicine and International Society for Stem Cell Research liaison to the International Society for Cellular Therapy. Currently, he sits on the board of Cesca Therapeutics, Inc. and serves as the Chief Strategy Officer and Chairman of the Scientific Advisory Board at Q Therapeutics.

"Mahendra is a widely-recognized and accomplished leader in stem cell research. He will be a major asset for NYSCF as we continue to develop new therapeutics for patients," said Dr. Zach Hall, NYSCF Board Member and former Director of National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.

About The New York Stem Cell Foundation

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Mahendra Rao Joins The New York Stem Cell Foundation Research Institute

NBI files raps vs Arroyo's 'fake' stem cell doc

MANILA - The National Bureau of Investigation-Anti-Organized and Transnational Crime Division (NBI-AOTCD) has filed a case against an allegedly fake doctor who once administered stem cell therapy on former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

Members of the NBI-AOCTD, headed by Head Agent Rommel J. Vallejo, acted on the complaint filed by Dr. Eunice Salazar-Abad, who worked as an aesthetic physician for Antonia Carandang-Park.

The latter is the owner of Green and Young Health and Wellness Center based in San Jose, Tagaytay City.

Vallejo said: Even for a short period of time working at the clinic, she began to notice some irregularities and the unorthodox method being applied by Park in treating the patients. She discovered too, that Park is using her name and her license number in dealing with patients.

Salazar-Abad then verified with the Professional Regulation Commission to check if Park is a licensed doctor,

Based on a document dated August 12, 2013, the PRC certified that after a diligent search, the name Antonia Carandang Park does not appear in the database of Physician, which contains the names of those duly authorized to practice medicine in the Philippines.

The document reads, this certification is issued upon request of the Board of Medicine for whatever legal purpose it may serve.

Park gained popularity when she treated Arroyo, who had been complaining of pains due to a cervical spine surgery.

Salazar-Abad noted Park did not make any effort to speak up when reports tagged her as a doctor. She said Park also misrepresented herself as an oncologist.

Vallejo said Park filed her counter-affidavit on August 22, saying she is not a quack doctor.

Link:

NBI files raps vs Arroyo's 'fake' stem cell doc

Gloria Arroyos stem cell therapy doc blamed for cancer patient’s death

A doctor offering stem cell therapy may face charges for the death of a cancer patient who allegedly underwent treatment similar to that administered to former president and incumbent Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

This was after it was found out that she is not a licensed doctor in the Philippines.

A report on GMA News TV's "News To Go" on Wednesday said a complaint has been filed against Dr. Antonia Carandang-Park at the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) by Bernard Tan, who claims that his daughter, Kate, died after going through the said alternative treatment.Cancer patient Kate Tan received stem cell therapy from Dr. Antonia Carandang-Park, Gloria Arroyo's doctor.

Park owns the Tagaytay-based Green & Young Health and Wellness Center where Arroyoburdened by persistent trouble with her cervical spinesought treatment in 2012.

In an interview with GMA News, Tan said his daughter, who had Hodgkin's lymphoma (a type of cancer of the blood), was given "the same treatment that [Park] did with Gloria," which included "juicing diet, vegetable diet... acupuncture coffee enema, at 'yun na nga, stem cell."

Stem cell therapy introduces new adult stem cells into damaged tissue in order to treat disease or injury.

"Ang sabi niya, 'Give me three months, magaling na 'yan,'" Tan told GMA News. He added that his family was easily convinced to take their daughter to Park's wellness center because "Presidente na ng Pilipinas ang pumunta doon."

"Siguro naman na-scrutinize na nila 'yan, na-background check na nila 'yan," he said. "Kumbaga, 'yung credibility no'n, nag-build up na."

Kate was fed nothing but bananas and vegetable juices for three months, and had eight rounds of "embryonic" stem cell treatment, he said.

However, the 23-year-old lost even more weight, prompting the family to seek the assistance of a different doctor. Kate had eight rounds of 'embryonic' stem cell treatment, her father Bernard Tan said.Seven months later, in July 2013, Kate passed away.

More here:
Gloria Arroyos stem cell therapy doc blamed for cancer patient's death

Stem Cell Institute Public Seminar on Adult Stem Cell Therapy Clinical Trials in New York City May 17th, 2014

New York, NY (PRWEB) April 09, 2014

The Stem Cell Institute, located in Panama City, Panama, will present an informational umbilical cord stem cell therapy seminar on Saturday, May 17, 2014 in New York City at the New York Hilton Midtown from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm.

Speakers include:

Neil Riordan PhD Clinical Trials: Umbilical Cord Mesenchymal Stem Cell Therapy for Autism and Spinal Cord Injury

Dr. Riordan is the founder of the Stem Cell Institute and Medistem Panama Inc.

Jorge Paz-Rodriguez MD Stem Cell Therapy for Autoimmune Disease: MS, Rheumatoid Arthritis and Lupus

Dr. Paz is the Medical Director at the Stem Cell Institute. He practiced internal medicine in the United States for over a decade before joining the Stem Cell Institute in Panama.

Light snacks will be served afterwards. Our speakers and stem cell therapy patients will also be on hand to share their personal experiences and answer questions.

Admission is free but space in limited and registration is required. For venue information and to register and reserve your tickets today, please visit: http://www.eventbrite.com/e/stem-cell-institute-seminar-tickets-11115112601 or call Cindy Cunningham, Patient Events Coordinator, at 1 (800) 980-7836.

About Stem Cell Institute Panama

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Stem Cell Institute Public Seminar on Adult Stem Cell Therapy Clinical Trials in New York City May 17th, 2014

Gloria Arroyos stem cell therapy doc blamed for cancer patient's death

A doctor offering stem cell therapy may face charges for the death of a cancer patient who allegedly underwent treatment similar to that administered to former president and incumbent Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

This was after it was found out that she is not a licensed doctor in the Philippines.

A report on GMA News TV's "News To Go" on Wednesday said a complaint has been filed against Dr. Antonia Carandang-Park at the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) by Bernard Tan, who claims that his daughter, Kate, died after going through the said alternative treatment.Cancer patient Kate Tan received stem cell therapy from Dr. Antonia Carandang-Park, Gloria Arroyo's doctor.

Park owns the Tagaytay-based Green & Young Health and Wellness Center where Arroyoburdened by persistent trouble with her cervical spinesought treatment in 2012.

In an interview with GMA News, Tan said his daughter, who had Hodgkin's lymphoma (a type of cancer of the blood), was given "the same treatment that [Park] did with Gloria," which included "juicing diet, vegetable diet... acupuncture coffee enema, at 'yun na nga, stem cell."

Stem cell therapy introduces new adult stem cells into damaged tissue in order to treat disease or injury.

"Ang sabi niya, 'Give me three months, magaling na 'yan,'" Tan told GMA News. He added that his family was easily convinced to take their daughter to Park's wellness center because "Presidente na ng Pilipinas ang pumunta doon."

"Siguro naman na-scrutinize na nila 'yan, na-background check na nila 'yan," he said. "Kumbaga, 'yung credibility no'n, nag-build up na."

Kate was fed nothing but bananas and vegetable juices for three months, and had eight rounds of "embryonic" stem cell treatment, he said.

However, the 23-year-old lost even more weight, prompting the family to seek the assistance of a different doctor. Kate had eight rounds of 'embryonic' stem cell treatment, her father Bernard Tan said.Seven months later, in July 2013, Kate passed away.

Read more from the original source:

Gloria Arroyos stem cell therapy doc blamed for cancer patient's death

NIH Stem-Cell Program Closes

The director of the agency's Center for Regenerative Medicine resigned on March 28 after just one clinical-trial award had been made

Therapies based on induced pluripotent stem cells, here differentiating into retinal cells on a scaffold, were the focus of the Center for Regenerative Medicine. Credit: NIH

Stem-cell researchers at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) have been left frustrated and confused following the demise of the agencys Center for Regenerative Medicine (CRM). The intramural programs director, stem-cell biologist Mahendra Rao, left the NIH, in Bethesda, Maryland, on 28March, and the centers website was taken down on 4 April. Although no official announcement had been made at the timeNaturewent to press, NIH officials say that they are rethinking how they will conduct in-house stem-cell research.

Researchers affiliated with the center say that they have been left in the dark. When contacted byNatureon 7April, George Daley, a stem-cell biologist at Harvard Medical School in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of the centers external advisory board, said that he had not yet been told of Raos departure or the centers closure.

The CRM was established in 2010 to centralize the NIHs stem-cell program. Its goal was to develop useful therapies from induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells adult cells that have been converted into embryonic-like stem cells and shepherd them towards clinical trials and regulatory approval. Its budget was intended to be $52million over seven years.

Rao took the helm in 2011. Relations seem to have soured last month owing to an NIH decision to award funding to only one project aiming to move iPS cells into a clinical trial. Rao says he resigned after this became clear. He says that he had hoped that five trials would be funded, especially because the center had already sorted out complex issues relating to tissue sources, patents and informed consent.

James Anderson, director of the NIHs Division of Program Coordination, Planning, and Strategic Initiatives, which administered the CRM, counters that only one application that made by Kapil Bharti of the National Eye Institute in Bethesda and his colleagues received a high enough score from an external review board to justify continued funding. The team aims to use iPS cells to treat age-related macular degeneration of the retina, and hopes to commence human trials within a few years. Several other proposals, which involved the treatment of cardiac disease, cancer and Parkinsons disease, will not receive funding to ready them for clinical trials. Anderson stresses that Bhartis trial will not be affected by the CRMs closure.

Other human iPS-cell trials are further along. For example, one on macular degeneration designed by Masayo Takahashi at the RIKEN Center for Developmental Biology in Kobe, Japan, began recruiting patients last August.

Anderson says that the CRM will not continue in its current form. The field is moving so fast that we need to rethink. To that end, the NIH plans to hold a workshop in May to gather stem-cell researchers together and decide what to do with the program and its remaining budget. To me thats just smart science, he says. If somethings not on track you dont keep spending money on it.

One option could be to allow CRM projects to be absorbed by the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, an NIH institute established in 2011 to translate basic research into therapies. But Anderson says that participants at the workshop will also discuss whether the NIH needs to replace the CRM with another dedicated stem-cell program.

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NIH Stem-Cell Program Closes