Healthcare Industry News: Bio-Matrix Scientific Group
News Release - June 18, 2007
Bio-Matrix Scientific Group, Inc.'s Dr. Geoffrey O'Neill Sees Promise in New Studies for Producing Embryonic-Like Stem Cells from Skin Cells
SAN DIEGO--(HSMN NewsFeed)--Dr. Geoffrey O'Neill, Chief Scientific Advisor of Bio-Matrix Scientific Group Inc. (OTCBB:BMSN ), commented on recently reported breakthrough research by biologists which resulted in the development of experimental approaches using the skin cells of adult mice (adult stem cells) to produce the equivalent of embryonic stem cells without the controversial destruction of embryos.Dr. O'Neill called the achievement a great advancement bringing the field of regenerative medicine closer to its major goal of converting a human patient's own cells into specialized tissues that might replace those damaged by disease.
Bio-Matrix Scientific Group, Inc. is a San Diego, CA-based biotechnology company focused on cryogenic storage of adult non-controversial stem cells and medical devices used in live tissue transfer.
"It is exciting that normal skin cells of adult rodents can be reprogrammed to the embryonic state. We are hopeful that the researchers' technique can be further adapted to human cells so a patient's skin cell could be used to generate new heart, liver or kidney cells for transplantable purposes and not be rejected by the patient's immune system," said, Dr. O'Neill, a pioneer in human stem cell transplantation who is leading the development of Bio-Matrix's validation protocols for the company's commercial adult stem cell processing and banking facility that is focused on harvesting stem cells from adipose or fat tissue, which is a new and important dimension in stem cell banking.
Of the three independent teams of scientists who reported having produced the equivalent of embryonic stem cells in mice without the controversial destruction of embryos, Dr. O'Neill said: "This is an important scientific advancement in finding a way to reprogram ordinary body cells to act like stem cells, avoiding the use of embryos altogether." He cautioned, however, that the clinical use of such reprogrammed cells may be many years away but also noted the advancements in the use of adult stem cells that have been harvested from adipose (fat) tissue. "Harvested, naturally programmed adult stem cells are being used increasingly in a variety of regenerative medical procedures including heart and bone repair. Adult stem cell research remains an important component of regenerative medicine, reinforcing the need for banks so the public can store these cells for future medical needs," he said.
For the studies, three teams infected mouse skin cells with viruses genetically engineered to activate four key genes that have the ability to turn other genes on and off in the proper configuration to make skin cells revert to an embryonic state, according to the Washington Post (June 7, 2007). Shinya Yamanaka of Kyoto University and colleagues published their findings in the journal Nature, and two U.S. teams - one led by Rudolf Jaenisch of the Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research and the other by Konrad Hochedlinger of Massachusetts General Hospital - published their findings in the journal Cell Stem Cell. The new studies are extensions of a study conducted in 2006 by Yamanaka and colleague Kazutoshi Takahasi that identified the four essential genes, according to The New York Times (June 6, 2007).
About Bio-Matrix Scientific Group
Bio-Matrix Scientific Group Inc. (www.BMSNonline.com) is a biotech research and development company that commercializes medical devices and monitoring systems for the growing, worldwide stem cell research market. The company aligns itself with strategic partners that offer key technologies in biomedical device development, tissue engineering, cell culturing, genome therapy and drug delivery systems to become a leading source for stem cell research technology and innovation. Bio-Matrix's new 15,000 sq. ft. state-of-the-art facility, located in the heart of San Diego's biotechnology corridor, plans to open in September 2007. It will house Bio-Matrix's secure Cryogenic Stem Cell Bank, three research laboratories, aseptic cellular/tissue class 10,000/100 processing laboratory, hematology, microbiology and flow cytometry laboratories. The facility plans to cater to the growing stem cell research segment of the $75 billion biotechnology and medical device industry.
DISCLAIMER: This news release may contain forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, some of which cannot be predicted or quantified. Future events and actual results could differ materially from those set forth in, contemplated by, or underlying the forward-looking statements. The risks and uncertainties to which forward-looking statements are subject include, but are not limited to, the effect of government regulation, competition and other material risks.
Source: Bio-Matrix Scientific Group
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