Center for Stem Cell & Regenerative Medicine Receives $8 Million from Third Frontier Program to Continue Adult Stem Cell Commercialization Programs
State funding represents major step for joint project of Case, University Hospitals of Cleveland, Cleveland Clinic and Athersys
The Biomedical Research and Commercialization Program (BRCP)
of the State of Ohio Third Frontier Program (TFP) announced
May 12, 2006 that Case Western Reserve University (Case) and
its partners, University Hospitals of Cleveland (UHC), Cleveland
Clinic, and Athersys, Inc., will receive $8 million to continue
clinical commercialization programs in the Center for Stem Cell
and Regenerative Medicine (CSCRM) for the next three years.
The center, established in 2003 with an initial TFP award of
$19.5 million (combined Wright Center and Research & Commercialization),
has united international leaders in stem cell biology, therapeutics,
and clinical medicine to develop novel cell-based therapeutics
for the benefit of patients throughout Ohio. The center’s
leadership is comprised of Director Stanton Gerson, M.D., who
also directs the Case Comprehensive Cancer Center and the Ireland
Cancer Center of UHC, Co-director Paul DiCorleto, Ph.D., who
also directs the Cleveland Clinic’s Lerner Research Institute
and Executive Director Debra Grega, Ph.D.
The new award will support development of new therapies for
heart, cancer and neurological disorders, with funds targeted
for early patient clinical trials. This builds on current strengths
as cancer and cardiovascular disease are disciplines in which
the two clinical centers (Cleveland Clinic and UHC) rank among
the top five institutions in the United States.
"This continued support from the Third Frontier Program
is a validation of the development work accomplished thus far
and a vote of confidence for the translational projects proposed
for the next three years," said Dr. Gerson.
New therapeutic approaches have led to the establishment of
four new companies within the past three years: Arteriocyte,
Inc., RegenRx, Inc, Ohio BioGel and Cell Targeting Inc. Additionally,
61 new jobs with an average salary of $64,925, have been created
since the center was established.
The original Wright Center award paid for two major construction
projects: 1) 20,000 sq. ft. new research space at the Cleveland
Clinic for a new Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine,
and 2) the 3,000 sq. ft. Cell Production Facility on the Case
campus. The new Cleveland Clinic department will have eight
to ten new stem cell laboratory heads with about 100 total employees.
The Cell Production Facility, which opened November 2005, provides
ultra sterile, dedicated space for the preparation and expansion
of stem cells that are and will be used in early human clinical
trials at UHC and Cleveland Clinic.
All research at CSCRM uses non-embryonic stem cells derived
from bone marrow, umbilical cord blood (after a child is born)
or other adult tissue. Non-embryonic stem cell (also called
adult stem cell) research has been exceptionally strong in the
state of Ohio for the past 20 years. To reach the goal of broad
clinical application for patient benefit, CSCRM has focused
on bringing together academic investigators and industry partners
to accelerate moving cutting-edge research into the clinic.
The center has had remarkable success in developing interdisciplinary
and inter-institutional collaborations. Aided by their immediate
proximity, Case, Cleveland Clinic, UHC and Athersys each bring
scientific excellence, novel technology, commercial outcomes
and a history of successful collaboration. The current award
adds to the original $19.5 million state support, $37.9 million
in NIH investigator funding and $6.5 million in federal appropriations
to the National Center for Regenerative Medicine of which CSCRM
is a prominent component.
The TFP and its awards are funded by the 1998 Tobacco Master
Settlement Agreement and the 2005 Bond Issue. The BRCP is a
key component of the Third Frontier Program, a sweeping 10-year
plan to set Ohio’s course for national leadership in the
high-tech economy of the 21st century.
