Washington, December 3 (ANI): A large, international consortium of scientists has identified fifteen new genetic regions associated with coronary artery disease- taking a significant step forward in understanding the root causes of this deadly disease. The new research brings the total number of validated genetic links with heart disease discovered through genome-wide association studies to 46. Coronary artery disease is the process by which plaque builds up in the wall of heart vessels, eventually leading to chest pain and potentially lethal heart attacks. It is the leading cause of death worldwide. The study, which includes researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine, provides insights into the molecular pathways causing coronary artery disease, which is also known as coronary atherosclerosis. "Perhaps the most interesting results of this study show that some people may be born with a predisposition to the development of coronary atherosclerosis because they have inherited mutations in some key genes related to inflammation," said Themistocles (Tim) Assimes, MD, PhD, a Stanford assistant professor of medicine and one of the study's lead authors. "There has been much debate as to whether inflammation seen in plaque buildup in heart vessels is a cause or a consequence of the plaques … Continue reading →

ScienceDaily (Dec. 2, 2012) Fifteen new genetic regions associated with coronary artery disease have been identified by a large, international consortium of scientists -- including researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine -- taking a significant step forward in understanding the root causes of this deadly disease. The new research brings the total number of validated genetic links with heart disease discovered through genome-wide association studies to 46. Coronary artery disease is the process by which plaque builds up in the wall of heart vessels, eventually leading to chest pain and potentially lethal heart attacks. It is the leading cause of death worldwide. The study, published online Dec. 2 in Nature Genetics, provides insights into the molecular pathways causing coronary artery disease, which is also known as coronary atherosclerosis. "Perhaps the most interesting results of this study show that some people may be born with a predisposition to the development of coronary atherosclerosis because they have inherited mutations in some key genes related to inflammation," said Themistocles (Tim) Assimes, MD, PhD, a Stanford assistant professor of medicine and one of the study's lead authors. "There has been much debate as to whether inflammation seen in plaque buildup in heart … Continue reading →

Public release date: 2-Dec-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ] Contact: Tracie White traciew@stanford.edu 650-723-7628 Stanford University Medical Center STANFORD, Calif. Fifteen new genetic regions associated with coronary artery disease have been identified by a large, international consortium of scientists including researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine taking a significant step forward in understanding the root causes of this deadly disease. The new research brings the total number of validated genetic links with heart disease discovered through genome-wide association studies to 46. Coronary artery disease is the process by which plaque builds up in the wall of heart vessels, eventually leading to chest pain and potentially lethal heart attacks. It is the leading cause of death worldwide. The study, which will be published online Dec. 2 in Nature Genetics, provides insights into the molecular pathways causing coronary artery disease, which is also known as coronary atherosclerosis. "Perhaps the most interesting results of this study show that some people may be born with a predisposition to the development of coronary atherosclerosis because they have inherited mutations in some key genes related to inflammation," said Themistocles (Tim) Assimes, MD, PhD, a Stanford assistant professor of medicine and one of the … Continue reading →

Posted by Juan Carlos Fanjul/CBS 12 News WEST PALM BEACH, Fla-- It may look like boring exhibits and the usual convention type crowds, but in this hall life-saving science is being talked about and big money will eventually make it into the local economy. "Probably injecting over a million dollars in the local economy and it's a showcase for Palm Beach County," said event organizer Bernard Siegel. Siegel says over 1,200 scientists from more than 40 countries are at the Palm Beach County Convention Center this week for the 8th annual World Stem Cell Summit. With the opening of Max Planck this week and the continued growth of Scripps in northern Palm Beach County and Torrey Pines in Saint Lucie County, Siegel says this convention means a coming of age for the region's biotech sector. "This is considered the largest meeting in the country and we have the top scientists," he added. Claudia Zylberberg owns AKRON Biotech, a Boca Raton-based supplier of raw materials for stem cell therapy she started just a few years ago. "I realized early on there was a lot of potential for growth and this turned out the right place to be," she said. Doctor Joshua … Continue reading →

Ten years ago, Bernard Siegel was just another South Florida lawyer handling child custody cases. Then he filed a petition in Broward County Circuit Court to appoint a temporary guardian for "Baby Eve," a landmark 2002 case that exposed the claims of "human cloning" to be a sham. Siegel walked away believing such claims were overshadowing important work. "I realized the damage to science that was taking place," he said.. Today, the 63-year-old is one of the world's leading champions for stem-cell research and the man behind the World Stem Cell Summit this week in West Palm Beach. Scientists as from as far away as Japan, some from Nobel Prize-winning institutes, will be meeting through Wednesday at the Palm Beach Convention Center, the first time the summit is being held in Florida. "Stem cell research has enormous societal benefit to alleviate human suffering," said Siegel, pointing to the research leading to drug discovery and potential cures. Russell Allen, executive director of BioFlorida, the statewide industry group, said he is aware of Siegel's unusual beginnings in the industry, but "he has an international reputation as a bioscience advocate, not just in the stem cell world." Siegel's unexpected journey from the courtroom … Continue reading →

We have permission to take others off the website, http://www.worldstemcellsummit.com/featured-speakers World Stem Cell Summit organizer Bernie Siegel has joined forces with scientists from the University of Miami to host the 1,000 attendees from 34 countries expected at the summit in West Palm Beach this week. Each have made discoveries in stem-cell research that could make a difference for those suffering from diabetes and heart disease. Dr. Joshua Hare, a cardiologist at UM's Miller School of Medicine, has been a pioneer the use of stem cell therapy to repair damaged hearts. Recently, he completed a clinical trial where scarring was reduced by 33 percent in patients who had previous heart attacks. "The No. 1 reason for heart failure is because of cardiac scarring. If you can remove it and replace with new tissue, that's very exciting," he said. Dr. Camillo Ricordi, director of UM's Diabetes Research Institute, developed an experimental procedure that has improved blood glucose control and the quality of life of some Type 1 diabetics. But the procedure involves organ donors. Ultimately, he's seeking a cure that involves "replacing cells in Type 1 diabetics with insulin-producing cells that are in our own body." "I definitely think the cure is … Continue reading →

NEW YORK, Dec. 3, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- NeoStem, Inc. (NYSE MKT:NBS) ("NeoStem" or the "Company"), an emerging leader in the fast growing cell therapy market, today announced that the Company and its subsidiary, Progenitor Cell Therapy ("PCT"), will present at multiple conferences in December. World Stem Cell Summit RedChip Small-Cap Equities Virtual Conference Cell Therapy Manufacturing (Informa Life Sciences' 3rd Annual VIC Congress 2012) American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting and Exposition ("ASH") NeoStem's abstract on VSELTM Technology titled "A Lin-CD45-CD34+ Population of Extracellular Vesicles in Human Blood That Mimics Very Small Embryonic-Like Stem Cells (VSELs) by Flow Cytometry" has been selected for publication online in December in conjunction with the ASH Annual Meeting and Exposition, December 8-11, 2012. The abstract will be available at http://bloodjournal.hematologylibrary.org/site/misc/ASH_Meeting_Abstracts_Info.xhtml. About NeoStem, Inc. NeoStem, continues to develop and build on its core capabilities in cell therapy, capitalizing on the paradigm shift occurring in medicine. We anticipate that cell therapy will have a significant role in the fight against chronic disease and in lessening the economic burden that these diseases pose to modern society. We are emerging as a technology and market leading company in this fast developing cell therapy industry. Our multi-faceted business … Continue reading →

SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, CA--(Marketwire - Dec 3, 2012) - VistaGen Therapeutics, Inc. ( OTCBB : VSTA ), a biotechnology company applying stem cell technology for drug rescue, predictive toxicology and drug metabolism screening, has formalized its membership in the Toronto-based Centre for Commercialization of Regenerative Medicine's (CCRM) Industry Consortium. "VistaGen's membership reflects our strong association with CCRM and its core programs and objectives, both directly and through our strategic relationships with Dr. Gordon Keller and the University Health Network (UHN).Our long-term sponsored research agreement with Dr. Keller, UHN and UHN's McEwen Centre for Regenerative Medicine offers both a solid foundation and unique opportunities for expanding the commercial applications of our Human Clinical Trials in a Test Tube platform by building multi-party collaborations with CCRM and members of its Industry Consortium," says Shawn Singh, VistaGen CEO. "These collaborations have the potential to transform medicine and accelerate significant advances in human health and wellness that stem cell technologies and regenerative medicine promise." "Even before VistaGen joined CCRM's Industry Consortium it was active in the Toronto regenerative medicine community and advising us as we prepared to launch in 2011," explains Dr. Michael May, CEO of the Centre for Commercialization of Regenerative Medicine. "I'm … Continue reading →