Fibrocell Science, Inc. (OTCBB: FCSC), a biotechnology company focused on the development of autologous (personalized) cell therapies for aesthetic, medical and scientific applications, announced today that it has entered into a scientific collaboration with University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) to research the conversion of dermal fibroblasts into pure functional human cell types that may have greater regenerative capacity.
The collaboration is designed to set the stage for potential future diagnostic or treatments based on each person's own cells for illnesses such as Parkinson's disease, diabetes and heart disease. Under the terms of the agreement with UCLA, Fibrocell Science will provide funding, deep knowledge and expertise, and the broad potential of its proprietary platform technology in cell multiplication and expansion.
James A. Byrne, Ph.D., an Assistant Professor in UCLA's Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, will lead the investigational team at UCLA and, as part of the collaboration, has been appointed as a scientific advisor to Fibrocell Science. Dr. Byrne will leverage his experience converting human dermal fibroblasts to functional myocardial cells, which may have potential in the long term for applications in heart disease treatment.
"UCLA is on the forefront of cell science research, and Dr. Byrne is a renowned expert and researcher with pioneering discoveries in the study and re-engineering of human fibroblasts," said David Pernock, Fibrocell Science Chairman and CEO. Through this research collaboration, Fibrocell Science hopes to optimize the current range of clinical applications for autologous cellular therapies and broaden the use of patented Fibrocell Science technology, which can multiply human dermal fibroblasts. Dr. Byrne is the first scientist, in collaboration with Dr. Renee Reijo Pera, to isolate a subpopulation of human fibroblasts that are easier to epigenetically reprogram into pluripotent stem cells - or cells that can differentiate into other types of cells for tissue repair or treatment of disease. Building on this work, Fibrocell Science hopes to efficiently translate this unique human data into the development of safe, effective and clinically useful cell types.
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