Targeted Hope April 2011

www.txstemcell.org

Targeted Hope Newsletter

April 2011

In this Issue

From the Chariman

Parkinson's

Alzheimer's

Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Burns

Critical Limb Ischemia

Dentistry

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Alzheimer's is the ultimate thief - it steals memories, independence, control and eventually life.

Today there are as many as 5.3 million Americans living with Alzheimer's disease - a disease that kills, but not before it takes everything away. Alzheimer's is the 6th-leading cause of death in the United States, killing more people than diabetes, and more than breast cancer and prostate cancer combined. Alzheimer's is the only one of the top 10 causes of death in the United States without an identified means to prevent it, cure it, or even slow its progression. In 2010, 14.9 million family members and friends provided 17 billion hours of care- unpaid care valued at over $202.6 billion. Alzheimer's runs in my family and my mother was diagnosed with it at 65 years of age, so this disease is near and dear to my heart. I encourage you to visit www.alz.gov to learn more about the escalating impact.

This is a national epidemic and we cannot put off finding a cure.

An article was published in the journal Stem Cells that describes how researchers used stem cells to create a type of brain cell that plays an important role in how the brain retrieves memories. This specific type of cell is destroyed in large numbers early in the course of Alzheimer's disease. The ability to make these cells may prove to be a valuable research tool. For example, if we can make these brain cells - which are important for memory function - in large quantity, easily and inexpensively in the laboratory, that should make it much easier to study how and why they die in Alzheimer's disease, and how we can prevent that cell death. This research is vital to finding answers and we believe stem cell research represents the best opportunity for an eventual cure.

I hope to see you April 19th at Antone's for our next education and networking celebration for cures. RSVP here to help our planning committee.

Sincerely,

David L. Bales, Chairman

Texans for Stem Cell Research

Reminder...

Don't Miss the Upcoming Event!

Music Meets Modern Medicine

Tuesday, April 19th 5:30 PM

Antone's, Austin's Home of the Blues

213 W 5th St Austin, Texas

Special Guests:

Dr. Sean Savitz, UT Medical School at Houston

Dr. Jay Schneider, UT Southwestern at Dallas

*Music to Follow with surprise mystery talent .. you'll have to come to find out!

Special guests will present updates on the research currently being conducted in the field and the great potential for future treatments of stroke and cardiovascular diseases.

CLICK HERE TO RSVP

New Help for Developing Parkinson's Cures

MercuryNews.com (March 27, 2011) Stanford University scientists say they have re-enacted this tragedy in a petri dish -- growing the young neurons from donated skin cells of a Parkinson's patient -- and then watching them sicken and perish. This feat, co-authored in this month's issue of the journal Cell, could accelerate the search for a cure of the crippling disorder. The research makes it possible, for the first time in medical history, to study the diseased cells and test compounds that might slow or even prevent their development.

Scientists build Parkinson's disease in a dish with cells from Google founder's mom

Stanford researchers create Parkinson's disease in a dish

Real Breakthrough for Alzheimer's

Chicogo Sun Times (March 4, 2011) A new ability to reprogram stem cells and grow a limitless supply of thehuman neurons will enable a rapid wave of drug testing for Alzheimer's disease, allow researchers to study why the neurons die and could potentially lead to transplanting the new neurons into people with Alzheimer's. "This by itself is not going to cure the disease," said Dr. Jack Kessler, chairman of neurology at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and co-author of the stem cell study. "But eventually it can have a big impact on one of the biggest symptoms ... the one that bothers people the most, memory loss." Read On

Read From Stem Cells to Neurons Lost in Alzheimer's

Progress Continues for New Inflammatory Bowel Disease Treatments

GLOBE NEWSWIRE (March 14, 2011) Despite treatment advances in recent years, Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) remains a debilitating condition for many individuals, and represents an area of substantial unmet medical need. The symptoms can be incapacitating. More than two million individuals in the US, Europe and Japan suffer from various forms of IBD, including Crohn's Disease and ulcerative colitis (UC), which is the most commonly diagnosed form of IBD. A Phase II clinical trial will evaluate the safety and efficacy of administration of allogeneic (donor) cell therapy product for the treatment of ulcerative colitis (UC). The trial is part of a strategic global collaboration to investigate a new treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

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New Hope for Wounded Warriors Suffering Debilitating Burns

FORT DETRICK (March 18, 2011) -- Burns are among the most painful and debilitating battlefield wounds and often turn deadly if infection sets in. But new hope is on the horizon for wounded warriors suffering debilitating burns. Two research consortia, made up of some of the best and brightest minds from 31 universities, are partnering with the U.S. Army Institute for Surgical Research at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, to help bridge that gap. In one study, cells are harvested from the patients' own unburned skin, processed and then sprayed on-thus none for skin grafts are required from donors and there's no risk of rejection. In a second study, rather than spraying the new cells onto the patient, doctors will apply the new cells as sheets of skin.

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Race to Develop a First Treatment for Critical Limb Ischemia

(March 2011) -- Critical Limb Ischemia (CLI) is often present in individuals with severe peripheral arterial disease (PAD). It is a chronic condition that results in severe pain in the feet or toes, even while resting, and is known to wake up an individual at night. Left untreated, the complications of CLI will result in amputation. CLI afflicts about 1 million Americans and results in 160,000 amputations each year. There are currently no drugs approved by the US FDA for CLI. Researchers are studying ways to improving the blood circulation with various types of cell treatments in hopes of generating new small blood vessels to improve the circulation. The first treatment for critical limb ischemia (CLI) will be welcomed and you can review the long list of registered trials at ClinicalTrials.gov. Recent news...

Momentum for Dentistry & Stem Cells

(March 29th, 2011) --The discovery of stem cells derived from dental/craniofacial tissue has generated great enthusiasm and interest due to the possibilities for regeneration and the clinical applications. For the first time, the world's leading scientist will unite to discuss the potential for treating craniofacial tissues affected by chronic diseases, trauma, congenital anomalies, and tumors. Among the lead organizers of this important event is Darwin J. Prockop, M.D., Ph.D., Professor and Director, Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Texas A&M University Health Science Center who has an outstanding track record in organizing scientific conferences. He will soon add The First International Conference on Dental and Craniofacial Stem Cells to this prestigious list. The collegial conference format will set the stage for advancing the knowledge base about the biology, function and eventual clinical application of dental/craniofacial stem cells.

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