PUBLIC RELEASE DATE: 4-Dec-2014 Contact: David Ruth david@rice.edu 713-348-6327 Rice University @RiceUNews Some National Football League (NFL) players have been seeking out unproven stem cell therapies to help accelerate recoveries from injuries, according to a new paper from Rice University's Baker Institute for Public Policy. While most players seem to receive treatment within the United States, several have traveled abroad for therapies unavailable domestically and may be unaware of the risks involved, the paper found. The paper is published in the 2014 World Stem Cell Report, which is a special supplement to the journal Stem Cells and Development and is the official publication of the 2014 World Stem Cell Summit being held Dec. 3-5 in San Antonio. "With the rise of new and unproven stem cell treatments, the NFL faces a daunting task of trying to better understand and regulate the use of these therapies in order to protect the health of its players," said Kirstin Matthews, the Baker Institute fellow in science and technology policy and an expert on ethical and policy issues related to biomedical research and development. She co-authored the paper with Maude Rowland Cuchiara, the Baker Institute scholar for science and technology policy. Each year, more … Continue reading →

Contact Information Available for logged-in reporters only Newswise New York, New York Research to Prevent Blindness (RPB), the leading eye research foundation, is partnering with the International Retinal Research Foundation (IRRF) to advance knowledge about age-related macular degeneration (AMD) through novel stem cell research. RPB/IRRF & RPB Sybil B. Harrington Catalyst Awards for Stem Cell Research Approaches for Age-Related Macular Degeneration (the Catalyst Awards) have been given to three leading researchers. Each will receive $250,000 over four years. Research related to both dry and wet forms of AMD is supported by these awards. Said RPB President Brian F. Hofland, PhD: The concept for these partnership grants evolved out of a significant gift that we received from an anonymous donor who wanted us to focus on stem cell research and AMD. It came with the condition that we would find matching funding. We found a valuable partner in the International Retina Research Foundation very quickly for two of the awards, and one we matched with bequest money that we received from the Sybil Harrington Estate a generous family that is committed to health-related research on several fronts. We are especially encouraged that this all came together at a key time in … Continue reading →