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: Michael E. Gilkey, M.B.A., M.S.

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.