About us
NATIONAL CENTER FOR REGENERATIVE MEDICINE
A Partnership of Case Western Reserve
University, Cleveland Clinic, and
University Hospitals Case Medical Center
DIRECTOR:
Stanton L. Gerson, M.D.
CO-DIRECTOR: Jeremy N. Rich,
M.D.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: Debra S. Grega,
Ph.D.
A UNIQUE CENTER FOR NEW THERAPIES IN THE
21ST CENTURY
The National Center for Regenerative Medicine (NCRM)
builds upon leading research and clinical programs at
its founding institutions—Case Western Reserve
University (CWRU), Cleveland Clinic (CC), and
University Hospitals Case Medical Center (UHCMC)—in heart disease,
cancer, genetic disorders, and neurodegenerative
diseases, coupled with a 25-year history of research on
non-embryonic stem cells at these institutions. This
combination of outstanding clinical and research
programs combined with tested and proven experience of
using non-embryonic stem cell transplantation to treat
patients makes this center unique in the United
States.
Regenerative medicine represents a new form of
medicine using non-embryonic stem cells to generate new
tissue in diseased organs rather than using drugs or
devices to improve the function of organs.
The broad-based excellence of its partner
institutions provides the NCRM a comprehensive approach
including basic and clinical research, biomedical and
tissue engineering, and the development and
administration of new therapies to patients with cancer
and diabetes as well as heart, blood, bone, and nervous
system diseases. The center seeks to translate innovative
laboratory research into the clinical and commercial
arenas to replace and repair diseased tissues and
organs. NCRM and ist partner institutions and affiliated programs provide educational opportunities that enable nurses,
graduate students, and technicians to gain the complex
skills required to perform groundbreaking research and
deliver optimal patient care in this new field. These efforts help create a well-trained workforce for the
Center, for new businesses, and for other institutions.
NUMBER OF RESEARCHERS
Approximately 100 researchers from Case Western
Reserve University, Cleveland Clinic, and
University Hospitals Case Medical Center are investigators in
the center.
AREAS OF RESEARCH
The investigators at the NCRM are currently involved
in the following areas of research:
- Cardiovascular and vascular
- Hematopoietic and cancer
- Neurodegenerative and neurological
- Orthopedic and Musculoskeletal
FACILITIES
Researchers at the NCRM are at three institutions:
Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland Clinic,
and University Hospitals Case Medical Center. Basic science
laboratories are located on the Case and University
Hospitals Case Medical Center campus in the Wolstein Building,
Biomedical Research Building, the Biology Building, the
Frederick C. Robbins Building, and others. At the
Cleveland Clinic, laboratories are in the Alfred Lerner
Research Institute and the Center for Genome Research.
The treatment of patients and clinical research occurs
at University Hospitals Case Medical Center and Cleveland
Clinic.
INSTITUTIONAL, FEDERAL, AND STATE
SUPPORT
The partner institutions and the State of Ohio are
contributing more than $100 million and were pleased to
receive a $4.5 million federal appropriation in FY ’05
to support the NCRM. The State awarded nearly $19.5
million to Case Western Reserve University, the Cleveland Clinic, and University
Hospitals Case Medical Center and a Cleveland non-embryonic
stem cell company to initiate the Wright Center of
Innovation and $1.2 million to recruit an eminent
scholar in non-embryonic stem cell and regenerative
medicine.
PROGRESS
The State of Ohio award was used to construct a cell
processing facility for clinical trials (Case/University
Hospitals Case Medical Center) and research space (30,000 sq.
ft.) for the new department of Stem Cell and
Regenerative Medicine at the Cleveland Clinic. FY ’05 federal funds are being used for
infrastructure to recruit scientists, state-of-the-art
imaging equipment, and to construct research space. The
NCRM investment has resulted in three new NIH awards
($10.6 million): Dr. Cooper received a grant from the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS); and Dr. Jain and Dr. Simon were both awarded funds from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI). NCRM scientists received more than $62 million of funding from the
NIH in 2007. Furthermore, new stem cell therapies have already
originated at the center and are saving
lives.
COMMERCIALIZATION
Four start-up biotechnology companies have been
established through the research of the NCRM and its
founding partners.
- Arteriocyte, Inc. (Jan. 2004) use of stem cell technology to increase blood flow with initial focus on cardiovascular applications.
- Juventas Therapeutics, Inc. (Sept. 2004) use of molecular cues and stem cells to increase myocardial repair after myocardial infarction.
- Cell Targeting, Inc. (Nov. 2004) use of transient molecular markers to direct cell homing.
- Invenio Therapeutics, Inc. (June 2007) drug that terminally differentiates leukemia cells.
For more information on these companies, please click on the company names above.
