NEW YORK, NY and PETACH TIKVAH, ISRAEL--(Marketwired - Apr 8, 2013) - BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics (OTCQB: BCLI), a leading developer of adult stem cell technologies for neurodegenerative diseases, announced today that Dana-Farber Cancer Institute ("Dana-Farber") has entered into an agreement to provide cGMP-compliant clean room facilities for production of BrainStorm's NurOwn stem cell candidate during its upcoming Phase II ALS trial in the USA. The Company's Phase II trial, to be launched in the second half of 2013 pending FDA approval, will be conducted at Massachusetts General Hospital ("MGH"), the University of Massachusetts ("UMass") Hospital and the Mayo Clinic. The Connell and O'Reilly Cell Manipulation Core Facility at Dana-Farber will produce NurOwn for the MGH and UMass Hospital clinical sites. "We are pleased to begin this work that could be of great value to ALS patients," said Dr. Jerome Ritz, Director of the Connell and O'Reilly Cell Manipulation Core Facility at Dana-Farber and Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School. "This is exactly the kind of service that the facility was set up to provide. We appreciate the opportunity to work closely with BrainStorm and colleagues at MGH and UMass to advance cell therapy solutions for difficult diseases." "Today's announcement … Continue reading →

JUPITER, Fla., April 9, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --BioRestorative Therapies, Inc. ("BRT" or the "Company") (BRTX), a life sciences company focused on adult stem cell based cellular therapies for various personal medical applications, announced todaythat Wayne Marasco, M.D., Ph.D., Chairman of BRT's Scientific Advisory Board, will be speaking at the Second International Vatican Adult Stem Cell Conference: Regenerative Medicine -- A Fundamental Shift in Science and Culture. The event will be held in Vatican City from April 11th to April 13th. Dr. Marasco is a Professor of Medicine in the Department of Cancer Immunology & AIDS at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School and will be speaking on April 13th during the session entitled "Stem Cells, Cancer and Aging A Search for Solutions." His talk is titled "What Questions Haven't Been Addressed with Respect to Stem Cells, Cancer and Aging?" "We are very excited to have Dr. Marasco be a featured speaker at the Second International Vatican Adult Stem Cell Conference," remarked Mark Weinreb, CEO of BRT. "He is extremely knowledgeable in the field of cellular biology, is a world-respected researcher and scientist, and has served exceptionally as the Chairman of our Scientific Advisory Board." About BioRestorative Therapies, Inc. BioRestorative Therapies, … Continue reading →

Incorporating a community service project with a cause near and dear to him, Elisha Galler, 17, is hoping residents in Sharon will turn out wearing purple on Apr. 22 to support raising awareness about epilepsy. His brother, Elan, 12, has had epilepsy since he was four and Galler said he wants to raise awareness as well as funds for research with his project. Inspired by the teal ribbons seen in town in September for the ovarian cancer Turn the Town Teal drive, Galler said he has purple ribbons he will be putting up as well. I thought it was amazing when I walked down the street. The ribbons really caught my eye, Galler said. We want to get as many people as possible wearing purple on Apr. 22. He also said bakeries in Shaws in Sharon and Canton as well as at Whole Foods in Legacy Place in Dedham will be selling purple frosted cupcakes the week of Apr. 22. Treat Cupcake Bar in Needham will be selling purple cupcakes the entire month of April. Galler said while three million people in the United States have some form of epilepsy, more than multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy and Parkinsons … Continue reading →

Autism Awareness and My Sibling Dolls Autism Awareness Day was April 2nd this year. My Sibling Dolls founder Loretta Boronat discusses the beginnings of autism awareness groups like AutismNJ, CO... By: MySiblingDolls … Continue reading →

KALAMAZOO, MI Tom Pinto, 22, keeps a digital camera in his pocket to snap shots of chicken, goat and horse at Tillers International, where he receives weekly therapy for autism on a farm with Dr. Liz Farner. Farner said she jokingly calls Pinto "The Cow Whisperer" because he walks right up to the cows, which always scurry away when she gets too close, but they often migrate closer to him. He can make all the noises and talks right back to them, said Farner, 51, who has been using farm therapy with patients since 2000. Its a good fit, people with autism seem to really blossom on the farm. Pintos mother, Catherine, said spending time with farm animals is not only an effective therapy for Tom, but it also gives her adult son with autism a way to contribute to the community by collecting freshly laid eggs and helping cultivate locally grown plants. To open this opportunity to others, Catherine and Cindy Semark, both Kalamazoo mothers of adults with autism, are forming an organization designed to give adults diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder the option to live and work in an agricultural community in Kalamazoo County. The founders of AACORN … Continue reading →

Posted at: 04/08/2013 4:06 AM | Updated at: 04/08/2013 6:19 AM The University of Rochester is hosting an event to raise awareness of autism and treatment as part of National Autism Awareness Month. The awareness event is Monday, April 8, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Saunders Building at the U of R Medical Center on Crittenden Boulevard. The event aims to inform families affected by autism about the kinds of support available to them. Golisano Children's Hospital at the University of Rochester offers services and research in the study of autism. Autism Speaks is the world's largest autism advocacy group, and there will be representatives at Monday's event. Autism Speaks provides some of the funds that Golisano Children's hospital uses in its research and support. Attendees are encouraged to wear blue in support of National Autism Awareness Month. Have a story you want our news team to investigate? Call us at 585-232-1010, click here to send us an e-mail or leave us a Facebook post or tweet. See the article here: URMC hosts Autism Speaks event … Continue reading →

Atrial fibrillation and stroke treatment? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QOhENVFWiXw Atrial fibrillation and stroke treatment? Arteries blockage can cause strokes and heart attacks. Remove Dangerous ... By: Angina Rex … Continue reading →

Medical researchers are seeking the "holy grail" of stroke treatment in an attempt to break new ground for patients. The Glasgow-based team hopes to extend the amount of time viable brain tissue, known as the penumbra, can be treated around the "dead" area after stroke. Currently clinicians use clot-busting drugs in a treatment only licensed for four-and-a-half hours. Dr Celestine Santosh, neuroradiologist at Southern General Hospital, said: "This obviously has major limitations as one-third of all stroke patients don't know the time of their onset of symptoms. However, research shows that the penumbra can stay viable up to 48 hours after a stroke so it gives us more much-needed valuable time to treat the patient. "Therefore accurately identifying the penumbra is really the holy grail in stroke." Dr Santosh is working with the hospital's neuroradiology and clinical physics departments, and the University of Glasgow. Research centres on a technique called Glasgow oxygen level dependent (Gold) which uses an MRI scanner, oxygen-rich liquid and oxygen to identify the penumbra. Human stroke trials are expected to begin in Glasgow in 2015. Dr Santosh said work is focused on getting oxygen to the right area. "We realise this is a unique project which … Continue reading →

Custom byline text: Helen Puttick Health Correspondent The new method aims to eliminate one of the main problems faced when victims first arrive in hospital working out how long it has been since they suffered their attack. Doctors have a window of four-and-a-half hours in which to give patients a clot-busting treatment. After this time, the dangers of the drug might outweigh the benefits. However, patients are often unable to identify when their stroke occurred and just a small percentage are therefore able to have the treatment, which can help save brain tissue. Dr Celestine Santosh, a neuroradiologist at the Glasgow's Southern General, is leading the development of a new system to identify which patients should have the treatment. The procedure is also a therapy, helping reduce some of the disabilities caused by strokes. It is hoped the system, called the Glasgow Oxygen Level Dependent (Gold) Technique, will eventually be good enough to be used internationally. Strokes occur when the blood supply to the brain is disturbed, usually by a blockage. The Gold technique works by giving patients an MRI scan while they are inhaling oxygen through a mask. Continue reading here: Stroke test 'revolutionary' … Continue reading →