Historical highlights

Non-embryonic stem cell and regenerative medicine research in Northeast Ohio began in 1980 when Hillard Lazarus, M.D., now professor of medicine at the Case School of Medicine, performed the first stem cell transplant in Ohio at University Hospitals Case Medical Center. The procedure involved transplanting bone marrow cells to treat a patient suffering from leukemia. Other historical highlights:

1980

• First stem cell transplant in the State of Ohio performed by Dr. Hillard Lazarus at University Hospitals Case Medical Center (UHCMC).

1986

• Drs. Arnold Caplan and Stephen Haynesworth, Department of Biology at Case Western Reserve University (CWRU), filed a series of patent applications describing mesenchymal stem cells. These stem cells patents have now become the foundation for an internationally recognized industry for cellular therapeutics.

1989-2000

• A series of patents was secured by CWRU for mesenchymal stem cell transplantation, mesenchymal gene therapy, mesenchymal support of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, etc.

1994

• Drs. Caplan and Haynesworth founded Osiris Therapeutics, a company devoted to mesenchymal stem cell research and therapeutics.

1996-2000

• Three first-in-the-nation clinical trials began at UHCMC using mesenchymal stem cells.

1997

• Dr. Mary Laughlin performed the first adult umbilical cord transplant at UHCMC.

1999

• Dr. Stan Gerson received a patent for drug selection stem cell gene therapy. This patent led to three clinical trials, with two in Ohio: one in Cleveland and the other in Cincinnati.

2002

• The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute and the National Cancer Institute (NHLBI/NCI) awarded UHCMC and Case Transplant Program headed by Dr. Hillard Lazarus a Stem Cell Transplantation Center of Excellence. This award entitled UHCMC and CWRU to become one of the fifteen centers nationally to participate in stem cell transplantation.

2003

• The NHLBI awarded Dr. Jaroslaw Maciejewski, Cleveland Clinic (CC), a Center of Excellence in Stem Cell Failure Syndromes.
• The Center for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine (CSCRM) was established by Case Western Reserve University (CWRU), the Cleveland Clinic (CC), University Hospitals Case Medical Center (UHCMC) and Athersys, Inc. with a $19.5 million award from the State of Ohio as a Wright Center of Innovation.
• The NHLBI awarded Dr. Jaroslaw Maciejewski, Cleveland Clinic (CC), a Center of Excellence in Stem Cell Failure Syndromes.

2004

• Drs. Trapp, Macklin and Miller, at CC and CWRU, were awarded a National Center of Excellence in Multiple Sclerosis in Stem Cell Research.
• Arteriocyte, Inc. formed to focus on the use of stem cell technology to increase blood flow with initial focus on cardiovascular applications.
• AcelleRX spun out from CCF Innovations to focus on the use of molecular cues and stem cells to increase myocardial repair after myocardial infarction.
• Cell Targeting created to use transient molecular markers to direct cell homing.
• Ohio BioGel began through scaffold and tissue engineering technology for cartilage replacement and visco-supplementation

2005

• Federal Appropriation of $4.5 million for National Center of Regenerative Medicine (NCRM).
• Ohio Board of Regents funds $1.25 million for Ohio Eminent Scholar for Stem Cell Research.
• Clinical Tissue Engineering Center (CTEC) received $4 million from Ohio Third Frontier.
• Construction of CCF Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine is completed.
• FDA compliant Clinical Cell Processing Facility is opened on the Sixth Floor of the Wolstein Building.

2006

• Federal Appropriation of $1.4 million for National Center of Regenerative Medicine (NCRM).
• CSCRM received an additional $8 million award from the State of Ohio.
• Initiated the Ohio Cell-Based Therapy Consortium to coordinate and pursue multi-institutional clinical trials across the State of Ohio.
• Opened the Small Animal Imaging Center with access to world-class imaging technologies used in preclinical and clinical studies.

2007

• Held MSC 2007 Conference in Cleveland, a global adult stem cell meeting which had over 300 attendees from 27 different countries.
• Collaborated with the Great Lakes Science Center to redesign their BioMedTech Exhibit.
• With the support of the Myelin Repair Foundation, started the Human Neural Assay Center with Dr. Miller.
• Invenio Therapeutics incorporated to commercialize a new drug to treat leukemia.

2008

• Alliance for Regererative Medicine funded $11.3 million by the Armed Forces Institute of Regenerative Medicine.
• CTEC received an additional $5 million award from the State of Ohio.
• Federal Appropriation of $0.1 million for National Center of Regenerative Medicine (NCRM).
• Started 2 new adult stem cell clinical trials in heart disease and graft versus host disease.
• Began planning for RENEW, a consortium-based, internationally coordinated educational, research, and translational program.
• Began ENGAGE, promotes and supports undergraduate students’ participation in research and creative projects within the field of stem cells and regenerative medicine.
• Joined Interstate Alliance on Stem Cell Research whose mission is to advance stem cell research (human embryonic, adult, and other) by fostering effective interstate collaboration, by assisting states in developing research programs, and by promoting efficient and responsible use of public funds.
• Established Cell Therapy Integrated Services (CTIS) to provide support for early phase cell therapy clinical trials utilizing the CSCRM Cell Production Facility and the UHCMC Cell Processing Facility.

2009

• Held Regenerative Medicine and Adult Stem Cell Therapy conference (MSC 2009), an international stem cell meeting which had 243 attendees from 18 different countries, accepted 90 abstracts and brought together over 100 different institutions from around the world.
• Attained over 125 principal investigators.
• CSCRM received a third award from the Ohio Third Frontier for an additional $5 million.
• Achieved FDA approval for phase I clinical trials in Multiple Sclerosis, Stroke, and Critical Limb Ischemia.