The use of stem cells to repair tendon and cartilage damage in horses is gaining momentum, with a British company saying its has successfully used it in the treatment on 300 performance horses.
The company behind it is VetCell Bioscience Ltd, set up by Britain's Royal Veterinary College in 2002.
Similar success is being enjoyed by researchers at Colorado State University's Equine Orthopaedic Center, reported on Horsetalk on January 6: http://www.horsetalk.co.nz/news/0601/003.shtml
The Colorado University's center, headed by New Zealand-born Dr Wayne McIlwraith, is among a handful of medical sites pioneering the revolutionary approach to treating equine joint injuries - ligament, tendon or bone fractures - with stem cells.
The London-based Vetcell is reportedly now going from strength to strength, and the firm says some of the most devastating injuries and diseases of performance horses are now treatable thanks to the therapy. Stem cells, for the first time, offer the prospect of a return to a fully functional tendon.
Like human athletes, competitive horses are vulnerable to joint injuries, especially tendon. Performance horses, like human athletes, are often pushed to their limits and this can lead to tendon or ligament injury. Injury to tendons is healed by extensive scar tissue, which limits the tendon?s normal role. The scar tissue impairs movement and is stronger than normal tendon, so does not stretch in the same way as normal tendon. In turn, this is likely lead to further lameness.
But, using the new technique to reduce the scar tissue formation caused by injury, and even regenerate damaged tendons, which is notoriously difficult in horses, can lead to complete recovery. The stem cell treatment is unique as it uses tissues to grow more tendon-like cells.
VetCell scientists are now working on revolutionary treatments to speed up human biological healing processes with stem cells. It is possible that similar repair mechanisms can be instituted in humans.
Greg McGarrell, CEO of VetCell, describes his firm as "a real zero to hero biotechnology company", built on a "shoe string".
"Our success is largely due to the cutting edge research at the Royal Veterinary College being combined with the knowledge of professional city people. This means that VetCell has had a commercial focus right from the start. While universities are keen to create spin-out companies, far too few of these become successful businesses. A key problem with spin-outs is that they lack good business management.
http://www.horsetalk.co.nz/
Friday, February 03, 2006
Stem cell treatment for tendon, cartilage repair gains momentum
The use of stem cells to repair tendon and cartilage damage in horses is gaining momentum, with a British company saying its has successfully used it in the treatment on 300 performance horses.
The company behind it is VetCell Bioscience Ltd, set up by Britain's Royal Veterinary College in 2002.
Similar success is being enjoyed by researchers at Colorado State University's Equine Orthopaedic Center, reported on Horsetalk on January 6: http://www.horsetalk.co.nz/news/0601/003.shtml
The Colorado University's center, headed by New Zealand-born Dr Wayne McIlwraith, is among a handful of medical sites pioneering the revolutionary approach to treating equine joint injuries - ligament, tendon or bone fractures - with stem cells.
The London-based Vetcell is reportedly now going from strength to strength, and the firm says some of the most devastating injuries and diseases of performance horses are now treatable thanks to the therapy. Stem cells, for the first time, offer the prospect of a return to a fully functional tendon.
Like human athletes, competitive horses are vulnerable to joint injuries, especially tendon. Performance horses, like human athletes, are often pushed to their limits and this can lead to tendon or ligament injury. Injury to tendons is healed by extensive scar tissue, which limits the tendon?s normal role. The scar tissue impairs movement and is stronger than normal tendon, so does not stretch in the same way as normal tendon. In turn, this is likely lead to further lameness.
But, using the new technique to reduce the scar tissue formation caused by injury, and even regenerate damaged tendons, which is notoriously difficult in horses, can lead to complete recovery. The stem cell treatment is unique as it uses tissues to grow more tendon-like cells.
VetCell scientists are now working on revolutionary treatments to speed up human biological healing processes with stem cells. It is possible that similar repair mechanisms can be instituted in humans.
Greg McGarrell, CEO of VetCell, describes his firm as "a real zero to hero biotechnology company", built on a "shoe string".
"Our success is largely due to the cutting edge research at the Royal Veterinary College being combined with the knowledge of professional city people. This means that VetCell has had a commercial focus right from the start. While universities are keen to create spin-out companies, far too few of these become successful businesses. A key problem with spin-outs is that they lack good business management.
www.horsetalk.co.nz
The company behind it is VetCell Bioscience Ltd, set up by Britain's Royal Veterinary College in 2002.
Similar success is being enjoyed by researchers at Colorado State University's Equine Orthopaedic Center, reported on Horsetalk on January 6: http://www.horsetalk.co.nz/news/0601/003.shtml
The Colorado University's center, headed by New Zealand-born Dr Wayne McIlwraith, is among a handful of medical sites pioneering the revolutionary approach to treating equine joint injuries - ligament, tendon or bone fractures - with stem cells.
The London-based Vetcell is reportedly now going from strength to strength, and the firm says some of the most devastating injuries and diseases of performance horses are now treatable thanks to the therapy. Stem cells, for the first time, offer the prospect of a return to a fully functional tendon.
Like human athletes, competitive horses are vulnerable to joint injuries, especially tendon. Performance horses, like human athletes, are often pushed to their limits and this can lead to tendon or ligament injury. Injury to tendons is healed by extensive scar tissue, which limits the tendon?s normal role. The scar tissue impairs movement and is stronger than normal tendon, so does not stretch in the same way as normal tendon. In turn, this is likely lead to further lameness.
But, using the new technique to reduce the scar tissue formation caused by injury, and even regenerate damaged tendons, which is notoriously difficult in horses, can lead to complete recovery. The stem cell treatment is unique as it uses tissues to grow more tendon-like cells.
VetCell scientists are now working on revolutionary treatments to speed up human biological healing processes with stem cells. It is possible that similar repair mechanisms can be instituted in humans.
Greg McGarrell, CEO of VetCell, describes his firm as "a real zero to hero biotechnology company", built on a "shoe string".
"Our success is largely due to the cutting edge research at the Royal Veterinary College being combined with the knowledge of professional city people. This means that VetCell has had a commercial focus right from the start. While universities are keen to create spin-out companies, far too few of these become successful businesses. A key problem with spin-outs is that they lack good business management.
www.horsetalk.co.nz
Society Of Nuclear Medicine Experts Focus On Advances In Molecular Imaging For Cancer, Addiction, Alzheimer's Disease, Congestive Heart Disease
RESTON, Va.-Leading medical investigators will present recent developments in the diagnosis of cancer and heart and brain diseases during the Society of Nuclear Medicine's Mid-Winter Educational Symposium Feb. 11-12 at Wyndham Buttes in Tempe, Ariz. Noted physicians, scientists and technologists will present the latest news about using nuclear medicine and molecular imaging for the diagnosis, management and treatment of diseases to several hundred nuclear medicine physicians, radiologists, cardiologists, oncologists, technologists, pharmacists, medical physicists and other health care professionals. SNM is the largest scientific organization dedicated to nuclear medicine and molecular imaging, with more than 16,000 members.
This year's topics include new molecular imaging agents for oncology, new developments in Alzheimer's disease and addiction, an overview of congestive heart failure and nuclear imaging, imaging atherosclerosis and stem cells, radiation safety, potential future clinical tracers, an introduction to cell and molecular biology, small animal imaging instrumentation and the evolving role of a nuclear medicine technologist. “The society offers an exciting program in Tempe exploring the development of novel probes in molecular imaging, monitoring treatment response with positron emission tomography, radiotracer imaging in congestive heart failure, advanced image processing and clinical nuclear medicine technology,” said SNM President Peter S. Conti, M.D., Ph.D., professor of radiology, clinical pharmacy and biomedical engineering at the University of Southern California, Los Angeles.
“In addition, the evolving role of nuclear medicine technologists will be examined,” added SNM Technologist Section (SNMTS) President Valerie R. Cronin, CNMT, FSNMTS, director of imaging services in the Catholic Health System of Western New York in Buffalo, N.Y. Programs and speakers for this two-day symposium are listed here. * “Clinical Implementation of Advanced Image Processing and Reconstruction Algorithms,” Mark T. Madsen, Ph.D., organizer/moderator; James Halama, Ph.D., co-moderator; Hans Vijay, Ph.D.; Salvador Borges-Neto, M.D.; Eric C. Frey, Ph.D.; Richard W. Myers, M.D., and Jody Garrad.* “SPECT/CT: Instrumentation and Clinical Applications,” Mark T. Madsen, Ph.D., organizer/moderator; James Halama, Ph.D.; co-moderator; Manuel D. Cerqueira, M.D.; Frank P. DiFilippo, Ph.D.; James A. Patton, Ph.D.; and Jack A. Ziffer, M.D., Ph.D.* “Monitoring Treatment Response With PET,” Alan H. Maurer, M.D., and Alexander J. McEwan, M.D., organizers and moderators; Homer A. Macapinlac, M.D.; Michael M. Graham, Ph.D., M.D.; Lale Kostakoglu, M.D.; Dominique Delbeke, M.D., Ph.D.; David A. Mankoff, M.D.; Chaitanya R. Divgi, M.D.; Sanjiv Gambhir, M.D., Ph.D.; and Alexander J. McEwan, M.D.* “Molecular Imaging: Development of Novel Probes,” Mathew L.Thakur, Ph.D., and Henry F. VanBrocklin, Ph.D., organizers; Michael Welch, Ph.D., moderator; Sanjiv Gambhir, M.D., Ph.D.; David R. Piwnica-Worms, M.D., Ph.D.; Martin G. Pomper, M.D., Ph.D.; Michael F. Tweedle, Ph.D.; Frank M. Bengel, M.D.; H. William Strauss, M.D.; Mehran M. Sadeghi, M.D.; Arion F. Chatziioannou, Ph.D.; Wolfgang A. Weber, M.D.; Chester A. Mathis, Ph.D.; and Joanna S. Fowler, Ph.D.* “Radiotracer Imaging in Congestive Heart Failure,” Albert J. Sinusas, M.D., organizer; Mark I. Travin, M.D., and Albert J. Sinusas, M.D., moderators; James A. Arrighi, M.D., and Mehran M. Sadeghi, M.D., co-moderators; Manuel D. Cerqueira, M.D.; Scott D. Flamm, M.D.; Elias H. Botvinick, M.D.; Marcelo F. Di Carli, M.D.; Mark I. Travin, M.D.; Rory Hachamovitch, M.D.; Albert J. Sinusas, M.D.; Joseph C. Wu,* M.D., Ph.D.; Vasken Dilsizian, M.D.; Albert J. Sinusas, M.D.; Wawrzyniec L. Dobrucki, Ph.D.; and Jeanne M. Link, Ph.D.* “Clinical Nuclear Medicine Technology,” Kathy S. Thomas, CNMT, FSNMTS, organizer/moderator; Frances L. Neagley, CNMT, FSNMTS, co-moderator; David Gilmore, CNMT, RT(R)(N); April Mann, CNMT, RT(N), FSNMTS; Martha W. Pickett, CNMT, FSNMTS; Paul E. Christian, CNMT; Nancy M. Swanston, CNMT, RT(N); Susan M. Minerich, CNMT; Vanessa L. Gates; and Frances L. Neagley, CNMT, FSNMTS.* “Translational Applications of Molecular Imaging and Radionuclide Therapy,” William C. Eckelman, Ph.D., organizer/moderator; Yu-Shin Ding, Ph.D.; Ronald G. Blasberg, M.D.; Hank F. Kung, Ph.D.; David R. Vera, Ph.D.; David A. Mankoff, M.D.; Jorge A. Carrasquillo, M.D.; Wynn A. Volkert, Ph.D.; and Robert W. Atcher, Ph.D.For more information or to register, visit SNM's Web site: http://www.snm.org/mwm. About the Society of Nuclear MedicineThe Society of Nuclear Medicine is an international scientific and professional organization of more than 16,000 members dedicated to promoting the science, technology and practical applications of nuclear medicine and molecular imaging to diagnose, manage and treat diseases in women, men and children. Founded more than 50 years ago, SNM continues to train physicians, technologists, scientists, physicists, chemists and radiopharmacists in state-of-the-art imaging procedures and advances; provide essential resources for health care practitioners and patients; publish the most prominent peer-reviewed resource in the field of nuclear and molecular imaging: The Journal of Nuclear Medicine; sponsor research grants, fellowships and awards; and host the premier nuclear medicine annual meeting. SNM members have introduced-and continue to explore-biological and technological innovations in medicine that noninvasively investigate the molecular basis of diseases, benefiting countless generations of patients. SNM is based in Reston, Va.; additional information can be found online at http://www.snm.org/. Society of Nuclear Medicine · 1850 Samuel Morse Drive · Reston, Copyright © 2006 SNM
www.medicalnewstoday.com
This year's topics include new molecular imaging agents for oncology, new developments in Alzheimer's disease and addiction, an overview of congestive heart failure and nuclear imaging, imaging atherosclerosis and stem cells, radiation safety, potential future clinical tracers, an introduction to cell and molecular biology, small animal imaging instrumentation and the evolving role of a nuclear medicine technologist. “The society offers an exciting program in Tempe exploring the development of novel probes in molecular imaging, monitoring treatment response with positron emission tomography, radiotracer imaging in congestive heart failure, advanced image processing and clinical nuclear medicine technology,” said SNM President Peter S. Conti, M.D., Ph.D., professor of radiology, clinical pharmacy and biomedical engineering at the University of Southern California, Los Angeles.
“In addition, the evolving role of nuclear medicine technologists will be examined,” added SNM Technologist Section (SNMTS) President Valerie R. Cronin, CNMT, FSNMTS, director of imaging services in the Catholic Health System of Western New York in Buffalo, N.Y. Programs and speakers for this two-day symposium are listed here. * “Clinical Implementation of Advanced Image Processing and Reconstruction Algorithms,” Mark T. Madsen, Ph.D., organizer/moderator; James Halama, Ph.D., co-moderator; Hans Vijay, Ph.D.; Salvador Borges-Neto, M.D.; Eric C. Frey, Ph.D.; Richard W. Myers, M.D., and Jody Garrad.* “SPECT/CT: Instrumentation and Clinical Applications,” Mark T. Madsen, Ph.D., organizer/moderator; James Halama, Ph.D.; co-moderator; Manuel D. Cerqueira, M.D.; Frank P. DiFilippo, Ph.D.; James A. Patton, Ph.D.; and Jack A. Ziffer, M.D., Ph.D.* “Monitoring Treatment Response With PET,” Alan H. Maurer, M.D., and Alexander J. McEwan, M.D., organizers and moderators; Homer A. Macapinlac, M.D.; Michael M. Graham, Ph.D., M.D.; Lale Kostakoglu, M.D.; Dominique Delbeke, M.D., Ph.D.; David A. Mankoff, M.D.; Chaitanya R. Divgi, M.D.; Sanjiv Gambhir, M.D., Ph.D.; and Alexander J. McEwan, M.D.* “Molecular Imaging: Development of Novel Probes,” Mathew L.Thakur, Ph.D., and Henry F. VanBrocklin, Ph.D., organizers; Michael Welch, Ph.D., moderator; Sanjiv Gambhir, M.D., Ph.D.; David R. Piwnica-Worms, M.D., Ph.D.; Martin G. Pomper, M.D., Ph.D.; Michael F. Tweedle, Ph.D.; Frank M. Bengel, M.D.; H. William Strauss, M.D.; Mehran M. Sadeghi, M.D.; Arion F. Chatziioannou, Ph.D.; Wolfgang A. Weber, M.D.; Chester A. Mathis, Ph.D.; and Joanna S. Fowler, Ph.D.* “Radiotracer Imaging in Congestive Heart Failure,” Albert J. Sinusas, M.D., organizer; Mark I. Travin, M.D., and Albert J. Sinusas, M.D., moderators; James A. Arrighi, M.D., and Mehran M. Sadeghi, M.D., co-moderators; Manuel D. Cerqueira, M.D.; Scott D. Flamm, M.D.; Elias H. Botvinick, M.D.; Marcelo F. Di Carli, M.D.; Mark I. Travin, M.D.; Rory Hachamovitch, M.D.; Albert J. Sinusas, M.D.; Joseph C. Wu,* M.D., Ph.D.; Vasken Dilsizian, M.D.; Albert J. Sinusas, M.D.; Wawrzyniec L. Dobrucki, Ph.D.; and Jeanne M. Link, Ph.D.* “Clinical Nuclear Medicine Technology,” Kathy S. Thomas, CNMT, FSNMTS, organizer/moderator; Frances L. Neagley, CNMT, FSNMTS, co-moderator; David Gilmore, CNMT, RT(R)(N); April Mann, CNMT, RT(N), FSNMTS; Martha W. Pickett, CNMT, FSNMTS; Paul E. Christian, CNMT; Nancy M. Swanston, CNMT, RT(N); Susan M. Minerich, CNMT; Vanessa L. Gates; and Frances L. Neagley, CNMT, FSNMTS.* “Translational Applications of Molecular Imaging and Radionuclide Therapy,” William C. Eckelman, Ph.D., organizer/moderator; Yu-Shin Ding, Ph.D.; Ronald G. Blasberg, M.D.; Hank F. Kung, Ph.D.; David R. Vera, Ph.D.; David A. Mankoff, M.D.; Jorge A. Carrasquillo, M.D.; Wynn A. Volkert, Ph.D.; and Robert W. Atcher, Ph.D.For more information or to register, visit SNM's Web site: http://www.snm.org/mwm. About the Society of Nuclear MedicineThe Society of Nuclear Medicine is an international scientific and professional organization of more than 16,000 members dedicated to promoting the science, technology and practical applications of nuclear medicine and molecular imaging to diagnose, manage and treat diseases in women, men and children. Founded more than 50 years ago, SNM continues to train physicians, technologists, scientists, physicists, chemists and radiopharmacists in state-of-the-art imaging procedures and advances; provide essential resources for health care practitioners and patients; publish the most prominent peer-reviewed resource in the field of nuclear and molecular imaging: The Journal of Nuclear Medicine; sponsor research grants, fellowships and awards; and host the premier nuclear medicine annual meeting. SNM members have introduced-and continue to explore-biological and technological innovations in medicine that noninvasively investigate the molecular basis of diseases, benefiting countless generations of patients. SNM is based in Reston, Va.; additional information can be found online at http://www.snm.org/. Society of Nuclear Medicine · 1850 Samuel Morse Drive · Reston, Copyright © 2006 SNM
www.medicalnewstoday.com
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)