PerkinElmer Establishes ViaCord Research Institute™
to Further Cord Blood Stem Cell Advancements
-
Led by Medical Scientific Advisory Board of Leading Scientists and
Physicians
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Institute Will Focus on Expanding Uses of Cord Blood Stem Cells
WALTHAM, Mass. (Business Wire EON/PRWEB ) July 3, 2008 --
PerkinElmer, Inc., a global
leader in Health Sciences and Photonics, today announced the creation of
the ViaCord Research Institute™
(VRI™) aimed at investigating new potential
future uses of umbilical cord blood-derived stem cells. Led by a team of
leading scientists and physicians, VRI will focus on supporting science,
technology and medical treatments using cord
blood stem cells in five key areas: cord blood technologies,
emerging stem cell therapies, genetic screening, product development and
related transplants.
Cord blood is a valuable, non-controversial source of stem cells with
proven effect in treating more than 70 serious diseases, including many
cancers and immunodeficiencies. To date, more than 10,000 cord blood
transplants have been performed worldwide. In the future, medical use of
cord blood stem cells may be expanded to include treatment of cardiac
disease, autoimmune diseases or neurological disorders.
“We are very excited to focus our efforts on
expanding the uses of cord blood stem cells with the establishment of
the ViaCord Research Institute,” said Jim
Corbett, president, ViaCord, a wholly owned subsidiary of PerkinElmer. “VRI’s
mission to support science, technology and medical treatments using cord
blood stem cells, and to leverage genetic information to facilitate the
best treatment options, will enable us to continue to deliver on our
commitment to increase the value of cord blood to families.”
VRI will leverage ViaCord’s 15 years of stem
cell scientific expertise and PerkinElmer’s
extensive genetics experience in combination with insights from an
advisory board of leading experts in the areas of stem cell biology,
maternal-fetal medicine, obstetrics and gynecology, transplant medicine
and genetics. VRI will be chaired by ViaCord’s
chief technology officer, Morey Kraus, and counseled on a range of
scientific and product development issues by a standing Medical
Scientific Advisory Board (MSAB). Members include:
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Andrei Rebarber, MD, FACOG, president, Maternal Fetal Medicine
Associates PLLC and Carnegie Hill Imaging for Women PLLC; medical
director, Maternal Fetal Medicine Program, The Valley Hospital,
Ridgewood, NJ; and associate professor, Department of Obstetrics and
Gynecology, Mount Sinai School of Medicine
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Mark Walters, MD, medical director, ViaCord Processing Laboratory;
director, Sibling Connection Program; and director, Blood and Marrow
Transplant Program, Children’s Hospital &
Research Center, Oakland
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Steven Fleischman, MD, FACOG, assistant clinical professor, Yale
University School of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology
and Reproductive Sciences
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Robert Briddell, scientific director, ViaCord Processing Laboratory
PerkinElmer is the established global leader in neonatal screening and
is committed to growing its offerings in prenatal screening and maternal
health worldwide. The Company provides customers with the most
comprehensive array of newborn screening solutions available, including
the world’s first and only tandem mass
spectrometry kit cleared by the FDA, and PerkinElmer Genetics, a
full-service newborn screening laboratory. PerkinElmer provides families
the option of preserving their baby’s
umbilical cord blood at the time of birth for possible future medical
use in treating more than 70 diseases, many cancers and
immunodeficiencies through its ViaCord business. PerkinElmer also
provides first-trimester prenatal risk assessment testing under the
brand name Ultra-Screen®, through its NTD
Laboratories subsidiary.
PerkinElmer, Inc. is a global technology leader driving growth and
innovation in Health Sciences and Photonics markets to improve the
quality of life. The Company reported revenues of $1.8 billion in 2007,
has 9,100 employees serving customers in more than 150 countries, and is
a component of the S&P 500 Index. Additional information is
available through www.perkinelmer.com
or 1-877-PKI-NYSE.
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