Billings Clinic's internal medicine residency program earns accreditation

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Its official: Billings Clinics new internal-medicine program has earned accreditation.

The program, designed totrain primary-care physicians in the region, is the first of its kind in Montana and Wyoming. It has been accredited for three years by the Chicago-based Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education, the maximum length of time for an initial accreditation. It was one of only four internal-medicine residency programs throughout the nation that achieved accreditation.

At full capacity, the residency program could be producing as many as six new doctors a year.

The hope is that those new doctors will choose to practice in Montana, where most counties have a shortage of primary-care physicians and 10 counties have no physician at all.

The startup investment of "several million dollars" will be underwritten by Billings Clinic, Billings Clinic Foundation and grants.

The next step is torecruit students and some faculty members. Though the formal application process won't begin until September, there has already been a "heartwarming interest from students," said Dr.Roger Bush, director of the program.

The program will open to the first class of students in July 2014. The program will feature six positions each year in the three-year curriculum, a total of 18 slots when full.

The core faculty will be composed of about two dozen Billings Clinic physicians, drawn from the hospitals 240 physicians, and nearly 100 nurse practitioners and physician assistants.

The program will not only provide training in the outpatient and hospital settings but also "will teach our methods for providing care to our rural communities through collaboration, technology, and outreach clinics, Bush said.

"Our strategy is to be a learning laboratory to providebetter care, better health, better costs and to bring joy to the work of caring for others," Bush said.

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Billings Clinic's internal medicine residency program earns accreditation

BioLife Solutions Announces Presentation at 8th World Stem Cells & Regenerative Medicine Congress

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BOTHELL, Wash., May 23, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --BioLife Solutions, Inc. (BLFS), a leading developer, manufacturer and marketer of proprietary clinical grade hypothermic storage and cryopreservation freeze media for cells and tissues, and contract aseptic media manufacturer, today announced its participation at the Terrapinn World Stem Cells & Regenerative Medicine Congress 2013 this week in London.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20090814/BIOLIFELOGO)

Dr. Aby J. Mathew, BioLife's Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer, will make a presentation titled "Critical Stability and Biopreservation Considerations for Manufacturing, Storage and Clinical Delivery of Cell and Tissue Products," to the audience of executives and product development managers of commercial regenerative medicine companies. The presentation outlines the risk to clinical and commercial success of cell and tissue products due to stability limitations from the use of non-optimized storage, transport and cryopreservation freeze media. Comparative data illustrating the superior preservation efficacy of BioLife's HypoThermosol storage and shipping media, and CryoStor cryopreservation freeze media will be presented on relevant cell and tissue types.

Mike Rice, Chief Executive Officer, commented, "We continue to build traction in the high growth regenerative medicine market, and estimate that more than 65 percent of the presenting companies at this conference have adopted our best in class, clinical grade biopreservation media products. A key value-added service we provide, which directly translates into expanded product adoption, is the high quality consulting our team offers to prospective and current customers. Biopreservation outcomes such as cell and tissue shelf life, viability and recovery can greatly impact commercial potential. The combination of the efficacy and quality of our proprietary platform technology, along with our expert technical consulting services, is now recognized and highly valued in the development and commercialization of regenerative medicine products and therapies."

The regenerative medicine market is expected to grow to more than $35 billion by 2019, according to TriMark Publications' recently published "Regenerative MedicineMarkets" report. BioLife's addressable portion of the market is the demand for reagents used to store, ship and freeze source material and manufactured doses of cell-based products and therapies.

For a list of upcoming events, please visit http://biolifesolutions.com/cell-therapy/category/events/.

About BioLife Solutions

BioLife Solutions develops, manufactures and markets patented hypothermic storage and cryopreservation solutions for cells and tissues. The Company's proprietary HypoThermosol and CryoStor platform of solutions are highly valued in the biobanking, drug discovery, and regenerative medicine markets. BioLife's products are serum-free and protein-free, fully defined, and are formulated to reduce biopreservation-induced cell damage and death. BioLife's enabling technology provides academic and clinical researchers, and commercial companies significant improvements in post-thaw cell, tissue, and organ viability and function. For more information please visit http://www.biolifesolutions.com, and follow BioLife on Twitter.

This news release contains forward-looking statements as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements include any statements that relate to the intent, belief, plans or expectations of the Company or its management, or that are not a statement of historical fact. Any forward-looking statements in this news release are based on current expectations and beliefs and are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially. Some of the specific factors that could cause BioLife Solutions' actual results to differ materially are discussed in the Company's recent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. BioLife Solutions disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements as a result of developments occurring after the date of this press release.

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BioLife Solutions Announces Presentation at 8th World Stem Cells & Regenerative Medicine Congress

BTG builds interventional medicine platform with deals

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LONDON (Reuters) - Britain's BTG said it would make two acquisitions, one extending its expertise in liver cancer and the other a treatment for severe blood clots, to create an interventional medicine business with potential sales of $1 billion.

The company said on Thursday it had agreed to buy the targeted therapies division of Nordion Inc, for about $200 million in a deal that adds Therasphere radioactive glass beads treatment for liver cancer to its chemotherapy beads unit.

It is also buying EKOS Corp for an initial $180 million, and up to $40 million in future payments depending on achieving milestones, to gain an interventional treatment for severe blood clots.

Some of the cost of buying the Nordion unit will come from the placing of 32.8 million new shares, representing just under 10 percent of BTG's share capital.

Chief Executive Louise Makin said the deals would position BTG as a leading player in the rapidly growing interventional medicine market.

"By adding TheraSphere and EkoSonic into our current portfolio of oncology beads and Varisolve (PEM), our board's vision is to create an Interventional Medicine business with potential sales of $1 billion," she said.

(Reporting by Paul Sandle; editing by James Jukwey)

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BTG builds interventional medicine platform with deals

BTG says interventional medicine buys could boost sales to $1 bln

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By Paul Sandle

LONDON (Reuters) - British pharmaceutical company BTG announced two deals on Thursday that it said could create an interventional medicine business with potential sales of $1 billion.

Chief Executive Louise Makin told Reuters the deals would more than double BTG's revenues in the fast-growing market of targeting specific areas rather than administering drugs to the whole body.

BTG added to its liver cancer treatments by agreeing to buy the targeted therapies division of Nordion Inc for about $200 million, adding Therasphere radioactive glass beads to its chemotherapy beads unit.

It is also buying EKOS Corp for an initial $180 million, plus up to $40 million in future payments, to gain a treatment for severe blood clots, which can be fatal if they cause a pulmonary embolism.

Some of the cost of buying the Nordion unit will come from the placing of 32.8 million new shares, representing just under 10 percent of BTG's share capital, BTG said.

"Together we can see we are going to have the potential to build a $1 billion business," Makin said in an interview on Thursday. "We are going to have the important products for the vascular surgeons, the interventional radiologists and the interventional cardiologists."

Shares in the group were trading 0.2 percent lower at 338 pence by 11:49 GMT, outperforming a 2.2 percent weaker mid-cap index.

Analysts Savvas Neophytou at Panmure Gordon and Peel Hunt's Paul Cuddon both upgraded BTG to "buy" from "hold" on the back of the deals.

Cuddon said he did not expect the acquisitions to boost earnings in the next two years but in the longer term they could make BTG "a more compelling M&A target with critical mass in interventional medicine."

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BTG says interventional medicine buys could boost sales to $1 bln

Research and Markets: Personalized Medicine Market Analysis Report: 2013 Edition

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DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/r2fvhs/personalized) has announced the addition of the "Personalized Medicine Market Analysis" report to their offering.

Advancements in the field of genomics have created ample opportunities for personalized medicines to emerge in the healthcare industry. Personalized medicine represents an interface of therapeutics and diagnostics. It involves the tailoring of treatments as per individuals. The growing research applications and identification of molecular markers towards disease predisposition and progression have led to the growth of personalized medicine. Industry players have also rapidly adopted this field and are progressing towards achieving higher goals in the same.

According to our new research report, Personalized Medicine Market Analysis, the U.S. represents the brightest market for personalized medicine and is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of around 9.5% during 2012-2017. The need for rapid detection of diseases, especially cancer,and their more efficient treatments are primarily driving this market.

Besides USA, countries like the U.K., France, Germany, India, China, and Japan have also been trying to pioneer personalized medicine with the help of advanced technologies. A lot of investment has been undergoing for research and development to develop biomarkers and personalized healthcare solutions in order to improve the medical outcomes. Our report provides a prudent analysis at the country level, elucidating the level of personalized medicine penetration, recent industry developments and the future growth prospects.

Companies are actively involved in the development of advanced technological tools and diagnostic equipments that help in promoting personalized medicine. Strategic alliances and consolidation has also become a common trend towards greater market presence. Academic and private research institutions as well as small biotech and major pharmaceutical companies are increasingly looking for alternative ways to strengthen their pipelines. The report highlights the various strategies being adopted by market players and research institutes to promote growth in this field.

Key Topics Covered:

1. Analyst View

2. Research Methodology

3. Personalized Medicine Market: An Introduction

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Research and Markets: Personalized Medicine Market Analysis Report: 2013 Edition

NTU's new medical school to pioneer use of plastinated bodies

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SINGAPORE: The Nanyang Technological University's (NTU) new medical school will be pioneering the use of plastinated bodies for medical education in Singapore.

They are real human bodies donated to science, and preserved using a method called plastination.

In these models, water and fat are replaced with certain plastics to produce specimens that can be touched and do not smell or decay.

The bodies are from Germany, and will be used to teach anatomy at the Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, which has been jointly set up by Imperial College London and NTU.

The school will no longer need to rely on traditionally-preserved cadavers, which are in short supply.

Assistant Professor Dinesh Srinivasan of Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine said: "(Plastinated bodies) can be used to demonstrate difficult structures and dissection areas in high definition, such as the blood vessels in the brain or the nerves in the spine. And there is no need for special chemicals, unlike traditional cadavers."

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NTU's new medical school to pioneer use of plastinated bodies

UCR MEDICAL SCHOOL: Funding in state budget, lawmakers say

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The bid to secure state funding for UC Riversides Medical School took another step forward this week when a proposal to provide $15 million in ongoing funding was placed in the state budget, according to Riverside's representatives in Sacramento.

The line item for the funding passed an Assembly's Budget Subcommittee late Wednesday, May 22, and a Senate Budget Subcommittee on Thursday morning, according to a press release issued Thursday afternoon by state Sen. Richard Roth and Assemblyman Jose Medina, both D-Riverside.

Those moves mean the medical school funding is progressing toward the final version of the budget going to Gov. Jerry Brown for his signature.

The Inland Southern California region continues to be identified as having the most severe shortage of primary care doctors in all of the United States, Roth said in the release.

This is a big step forward for the people of our region who have waited too long for the basic healthcare services they need.

Placing the UC Riverside Medical School into the budget is a critical step forward, Medina said in the release. We have waited far too long to ensure our regions families have access to meet their healthcare needs. We are facing a crisis today and that will get much worse as the demand for healthcare professionals increases with the implementation of the national Affordable Care Act.

The governor has previously declined to include state funding for the school, which is scheduled to open this fall.

Follow Jeff Horseman on Twitter: @JeffHorseman

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UCR MEDICAL SCHOOL: Funding in state budget, lawmakers say

NTU medical school to pioneer use of plastinated bodies in teaching

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Published on May 23, 2013 11:35 AM

NTU's new medical school will be pioneering the use of plastinated bodies for medical education in Singapore.Assistant Professor Dinesh Kumar Srinivasan, the Lead for Anatomy Teaching at LKCMedicine, said the plastinated human specimens are excellent tools for teaching anatomy as they are durable, safe and non-toxic. -- ST PHOTO:JAMIE KOH

NTU's new medical school will be pioneering the use of plastinated bodies for medical education in Singapore.Assistant Professor Dinesh Kumar Srinivasan, the Lead for Anatomy Teaching at LKCMedicine, said the plastinated human specimens are excellent tools for teaching anatomy as they are durable, safe and non-toxic. -- ST PHOTO:JAMIE KOH

NTU's new medical school will be pioneering the use of plastinated bodies for medical education in Singapore.Assistant Professor Dinesh Kumar Srinivasan, the Lead for Anatomy Teaching at LKCMedicine, said the plastinated human specimens are excellent tools for teaching anatomy as they are durable, safe and non-toxic. -- ST PHOTO:JAMIE KOH

JANTU's new medical school will be pioneering the use of plastinated bodies for medical education in Singapore.Assistant Professor Dinesh Kumar Srinivasan, the Lead for Anatomy Teaching at LKCMedicine, said the plastinated human specimens are excellent tools for teaching anatomy as they are durable, safe and non-toxic. -- ST PHOTO:JAMIE KOH

NTU's new medical school will be pioneering the use of plastinated bodies for medical education in Singapore.Assistant Professor Dinesh Kumar Srinivasan, the Lead for Anatomy Teaching at LKCMedicine, said the plastinated human specimens are excellent tools for teaching anatomy as they are durable, safe and non-toxic. -- ST PHOTO:JAMIE KOH

NTU's new medical school will be pioneering the use of plastinated bodies for medical education in Singapore.Assistant Professor Dinesh Kumar Srinivasan, the Lead for Anatomy Teaching at LKCMedicine, said the plastinated human specimens are excellent tools for teaching anatomy as they are durable, safe and non-toxic. -- ST PHOTO:JAMIE KOH

NTU's new medical school will be pioneering the use of plastinated bodies for medical education in Singapore.Assistant Professor Dinesh Kumar Srinivasan, the Lead for Anatomy Teaching at LKCMedicine, said the plastinated human specimens are excellent tools for teaching anatomy as they are durable, safe and non-toxic. -- ST PHOTO:JAMIE KOH

NTU's new medical school will be pioneering the use of plastinated bodies for medical education in Singapore.Assistant Professor Dinesh Kumar Srinivasan, the Lead for Anatomy Teaching at LKCMedicine, said the plastinated human specimens are excellent tools for teaching anatomy as they are durable, safe and non-toxic. -- ST PHOTO:JAMIE KOH

JANTU's new medical school will be pioneering the use of plastinated bodies for medical education in Singapore.Assistant Professor Dinesh Kumar Srinivasan, the Lead for Anatomy Teaching at LKCMedicine, said the plastinated human specimens are excellent tools for teaching anatomy as they are durable, safe and non-toxic. -- ST PHOTO:JAMIE KOH

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NTU medical school to pioneer use of plastinated bodies in teaching

UCR MEDICAL SCHOOL: Funding heading to state budget, lawmakers say

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The bid to secure state funding for UC Riversides Medical School took another step forward this week when a proposal to provide $15 million in ongoing funding was placed in the state budget, according to Riverside's representatives in Sacramento.

The line item for the funding passed an Assembly's Budget Subcommittee late Wednesday, May 22, and a Senate Budget Subcommittee on Thursday morning, according to a press release issued Thursday afternoon by state Sen. Richard Roth and Assemblyman Jose Medina, both D-Riverside.

Those moves mean the medical school funding is progressing toward the final version of the budget going to Gov. Jerry Brown for his signature.

The Inland Southern California region continues to be identified as having the most severe shortage of primary care doctors in all of the United States, Roth said in the release.

This is a big step forward for the people of our region who have waited too long for the basic healthcare services they need.

Placing the UC Riverside Medical School into the budget is a critical step forward, Medina said in the release. We have waited far too long to ensure our regions families have access to meet their healthcare needs. We are facing a crisis today and that will get much worse as the demand for healthcare professionals increases with the implementation of the national Affordable Care Act.

The governor has previously declined to include state funding for the school, which is scheduled to open this fall.

Follow Jeff Horseman on Twitter: @JeffHorseman

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UCR MEDICAL SCHOOL: Funding heading to state budget, lawmakers say

Medical school plan will work, Inslee says

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OLYMPIA Gov. Jay Inslee downplayed any conflict between the states two research universities over operations at the new joint medical school facility in Spokane, saying he wouldnt even call it a disagreement.

Im confident that we can find a way that Huskies and Cougars can work together on this, Inslee said during a news conference Tuesday.

As to whether the state would build a new four-year medical school in Spokane if the two universities cant come to an understanding, Inslee said that is getting a thousand miles ahead of ourselves.

In an interview Monday with The Spokesman-Reviews editorial board, Washington State University President Elson Floyd said the University of Washington is not sending enough second-year medical students to the new program at the Riverpoint Campus in Spokane that the two are jointly operating. The school will have only 17 students for the 20 slots approved by the Legislature for a pilot program, and Floyd criticized UW for not recruiting enough students to fill the slots.

If UW wont cooperate, WSU will plow our own way and explore setting up its own four-year med school, Floyd said.

UW President Michael Young said only 17 students were interested in the Spokane program. To the suggestion that WSU would set up its own med school, Young said, Good luck. Floyd doesnt understand how a medical school is run, he added.

Inslee said he talked to people about the med school when he was in Spokane over the weekend and Im confident in our ability to work through this.

State Rep. Marcus Riccelli, D-Spokane, whose district includes the Riverpoint campus, said legislators believe the schools need to meet the growing demand for doctors in small cities, towns and rural areas, and for increased medical treatment under federal health care reforms. Whether the Legislature would agree to fund a complete, separate medical school is unknown, he added, but we need to grow this program one way or the other.

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Medical school plan will work, Inslee says

Pope Francis meets with Angela Merkel. Economy and religious liberty discussed – Video

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Pope Francis meets with Angela Merkel. Economy and religious liberty discussed
http://en.romereports.com Pope Francis welcomed Germany #39;s Federal Chancellor, Angela Merkel, at the Vatican #39;s Apostolic Palace. During their brief Saturday meeting, both leaders talked about...

By: ROME REPORTS TV News Agency

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Pope Francis meets with Angela Merkel. Economy and religious liberty discussed - Video