BY AMULYA RAGHUVEER WEDNESDAY, MAY 11TH 2016
ProMedica is teaming up with the family of hockey legend Gordie Howe to launch a human stem cell trial for traumatic brain injuries. (WNWO)
http://snip.ly/hs0wx#http://nbc24.com/news/local/promedica-gordie-howe-family-team-up-for-traumatic-brain-injury-stem-cell-trial
TOLEDO, Oh. (WNWO) -- ProMedica is teaming up with the family of hockey legend Gordie Howe to launch a human stem cell trial for traumatic brain injuries.
The announcement was made official on Wednesday at the Inverness Club in Toledo where the health system was joined by its trial partner San Diego-based Stemedica Cell Technologies, Murray Howe, MD, son of Gordie Howe, and Joseph Maroon, MD, team neurosurgeon for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The Gordie Howe Initiative, as the three-year effort will be called, will support clinical research, advance treatment of TBI, and increase awareness about the injuries. It will initially focus efforts on war veterans, athletes, and victims of auto accidents.
TBI affects an estimated 1.7 million Americans each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It is a leading cause of death and disability, including impaired thinking, memory, movement, sensation, and emotional functioning. Many returning military veterans and professional athletes in contact sports such as football, soccer, and hockey are some of the condition's most notorious victims.
Howe, also known as "Mr. Hockey," is considered one of the greatest professional hockey players of all time. After suffering a stroke in 2014, Howe participated in a clinical trial utilizing Stemedica's stem cell products which resulted in significant improvement of his medical condition as reported by his family.
"Our family is deeply honored to have this initiative named after our father," said Murray Howe, MD, ProMedica radiologist. "My father was a leader on the ice and it is a privilege for him to continue that legacy by supporting this initiative."
In its first stage, twenty four patients with moderate to severe TBI will be enrolled in the clinical trial to be conducted at ProMedica Toledo Hospital. Patients will help researchers evaluate the safety and efficacy of Stemedica's proprietary allogeneic mesenchymal stem cells.
"There is encouraging preliminary evidence that stem cells may have a positive impact on enhancing the quality of life for individuals with TBI," said Lee Hammerling, MD, ProMedica chief medical officer. "We are optimistic about the potential of this research and look forward to working in partnership with Stemedica and other agencies, entities and concerned individuals to form a coalition for advancing potential solutions for TBI."
The Gordie Howe Initiative will also work to raise awareness for the role emerging technologies can play in treating TBI.
"We are delighted to be working with ProMedica and the Gordie Howe family in advancing this initiative," said Maynard A. Howe, PhD, Stemedica vice chairman and chief executive officer. "Together, through collaboration, innovation and inspiration, we have the opportunity to make significant advancements in traumatic brain injury research at a human level. This unique and dynamic partnership model will allow us to attract the resources we need in order to accelerate possible opportunities for those in need."
A nine-person, nationally-recognized scientific advisory board will supervise all aspects of the trial and research, which will use stem cells taken from bone marrow tissue obtained from a healthy adult volunteer. The donation was made through a government-licensed bone marrow donation program and was grown by Stemedica in a low oxygen, ischemic environment.
The first clinical trial patients in the Gordie Howe Initiative are expected to be enrolled beginning this summer.
ProMedica is teaming up with the family of hockey legend Gordie Howe to launch a human stem cell trial for traumatic brain injuries. (WNWO)
http://snip.ly/hs0wx#http://nbc24.com/news/local/promedica-gordie-howe-family-team-up-for-traumatic-brain-injury-stem-cell-trial
TOLEDO, Oh. (WNWO) -- ProMedica is teaming up with the family of hockey legend Gordie Howe to launch a human stem cell trial for traumatic brain injuries.
The announcement was made official on Wednesday at the Inverness Club in Toledo where the health system was joined by its trial partner San Diego-based Stemedica Cell Technologies, Murray Howe, MD, son of Gordie Howe, and Joseph Maroon, MD, team neurosurgeon for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The Gordie Howe Initiative, as the three-year effort will be called, will support clinical research, advance treatment of TBI, and increase awareness about the injuries. It will initially focus efforts on war veterans, athletes, and victims of auto accidents.
TBI affects an estimated 1.7 million Americans each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It is a leading cause of death and disability, including impaired thinking, memory, movement, sensation, and emotional functioning. Many returning military veterans and professional athletes in contact sports such as football, soccer, and hockey are some of the condition's most notorious victims.
Howe, also known as "Mr. Hockey," is considered one of the greatest professional hockey players of all time. After suffering a stroke in 2014, Howe participated in a clinical trial utilizing Stemedica's stem cell products which resulted in significant improvement of his medical condition as reported by his family.
"Our family is deeply honored to have this initiative named after our father," said Murray Howe, MD, ProMedica radiologist. "My father was a leader on the ice and it is a privilege for him to continue that legacy by supporting this initiative."
In its first stage, twenty four patients with moderate to severe TBI will be enrolled in the clinical trial to be conducted at ProMedica Toledo Hospital. Patients will help researchers evaluate the safety and efficacy of Stemedica's proprietary allogeneic mesenchymal stem cells.
"There is encouraging preliminary evidence that stem cells may have a positive impact on enhancing the quality of life for individuals with TBI," said Lee Hammerling, MD, ProMedica chief medical officer. "We are optimistic about the potential of this research and look forward to working in partnership with Stemedica and other agencies, entities and concerned individuals to form a coalition for advancing potential solutions for TBI."
The Gordie Howe Initiative will also work to raise awareness for the role emerging technologies can play in treating TBI.
"We are delighted to be working with ProMedica and the Gordie Howe family in advancing this initiative," said Maynard A. Howe, PhD, Stemedica vice chairman and chief executive officer. "Together, through collaboration, innovation and inspiration, we have the opportunity to make significant advancements in traumatic brain injury research at a human level. This unique and dynamic partnership model will allow us to attract the resources we need in order to accelerate possible opportunities for those in need."
A nine-person, nationally-recognized scientific advisory board will supervise all aspects of the trial and research, which will use stem cells taken from bone marrow tissue obtained from a healthy adult volunteer. The donation was made through a government-licensed bone marrow donation program and was grown by Stemedica in a low oxygen, ischemic environment.
The first clinical trial patients in the Gordie Howe Initiative are expected to be enrolled beginning this summer.