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Induced pluripotent stem cell – Wikipedia

Pluripotent stem cell generated directly from a somatic cell

Induced pluripotent stem cells (also known as iPS cells or iPSCs) are a type of pluripotent stem cell that can be generated directly from a somatic cell. The iPSC technology was pioneered by Shinya Yamanaka's lab in Kyoto, Japan, who showed in 2006 that the introduction of four specific genes (named Myc, Oct3/4, Sox2 and Klf4), collectively known as Yamanaka factors, encoding transcription factors could convert somatic cells into pluripotent stem cells.[1] He was awarded the 2012 Nobel Prize along with Sir John Gurdon "for the discovery that mature cells can be reprogrammed to become pluripotent."[2]

Pluripotent stem cells hold promise in the field of regenerative medicine.[3] Because they can propagate indefinitely, as well as give rise to every other cell type in the body (such as neurons, heart, pancreatic, and liver cells), they represent a single source of cells that could be used to replace those lost to damage or disease.

The most well-known type of pluripotent stem cell is the embryonic stem cell. However, since the generation of embryonic stem cells involves destruction (or at least manipulation)[4] of the pre-implantation stage embryo, there has been much controversy surrounding their use. Patient-matched embryonic stem cell lines can now be derived using somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT).

Since iPSCs can be derived directly from adult tissues, they not only bypass the need for embryos, but can be made in a patient-matched manner, which means that each individual could have their own pluripotent stem cell line. These unlimited supplies of autologous cells could be used to generate transplants without the risk of immune rejection. While the iPSC technology has not yet advanced to a stage where therapeutic transplants have been deemed safe, iPSCs are readily being used in personalized drug discovery efforts and understanding the patient-specific basis of disease.[5]

Yamanaka named iPSCs with a lower case "i" due to the popularity of the iPod and other products.[7][8][9][10][dubious discuss]

In his Nobel seminar, Yamanaka cited the earlier seminal work of Harold Weintraub on the role of myoblast determination protein 1 (MyoD) in reprogramming cell fate to a muscle lineage as an important precursor to the discovery of iPSCs.[11]

iPSCs are typically derived by introducing products of specific sets of pluripotency-associated genes, or "reprogramming factors", into a given cell type. The original set of reprogramming factors (also dubbed Yamanaka factors) are the transcription factors Oct4 (Pou5f1), Sox2, Klf4 and cMyc. While this combination is most conventional in producing iPSCs, each of the factors can be functionally replaced by related transcription factors, miRNAs, small molecules, or even non-related genes such as lineage specifiers.[12]It is also clear that pro-mitotic factors such as C-MYC/L-MYC or repression of cell cycle checkpoints, such as p53, are conduits to creating a compliant cellular state for iPSC reprograming .[13]

iPSC derivation is typically a slow and inefficient process, taking 12 weeks for mouse cells and 34 weeks for human cells, with efficiencies around 0.010.1%. However, considerable advances have been made in improving the efficiency and the time it takes to obtain iPSCs. Upon introduction of reprogramming factors, cells begin to form colonies that resemble pluripotent stem cells, which can be isolated based on their morphology, conditions that select for their growth, or through expression of surface markers or reporter genes.

Induced pluripotent stem cells were first generated by Shinya Yamanaka's team at Kyoto University, Japan, in 2006.[1] They hypothesized that genes important to embryonic stem cell (ESC) function might be able to induce an embryonic state in adult cells. They chose twenty-four genes previously identified as important in ESCs and used retroviruses to deliver these genes to mouse fibroblasts. The fibroblasts were engineered so that any cells reactivating the ESC-specific gene, Fbx15, could be isolated using antibiotic selection.

Upon delivery of all twenty-four factors, ESC-like colonies emerged that reactivated the Fbx15 reporter and could propagate indefinitely. To identify the genes necessary for reprogramming, the researchers removed one factor at a time from the pool of twenty-four. By this process, they identified four factors, Oct4, Sox2, cMyc, and Klf4, which were each necessary and together sufficient to generate ESC-like colonies under selection for reactivation of Fbx15.

In June 2007, three separate research groups, including that of Yamanaka's, a Harvard/University of California, Los Angeles collaboration, and a group at MIT, published studies that substantially improved on the reprogramming approach, giving rise to iPSCs that were indistinguishable from ESCs. Unlike the first generation of iPSCs, these second generation iPSCs produced viable chimeric mice and contributed to the mouse germline, thereby achieving the 'gold standard' for pluripotent stem cells.

These second-generation iPSCs were derived from mouse fibroblasts by retroviral-mediated expression of the same four transcription factors (Oct4, Sox2, cMyc, Klf4). However, instead of using Fbx15 to select for pluripotent cells, the researchers used Nanog, a gene that is functionally important in ESCs. By using this different strategy, the researchers created iPSCs that were functionally identical to ESCs.[14][15][16][17]

Reprogramming of human cells to iPSCs was reported in November 2007 by two independent research groups: Shinya Yamanaka of Kyoto University, Japan, who pioneered the original iPSC method, and James Thomson of University of Wisconsin-Madison who was the first to derive human embryonic stem cells. With the same principle used in mouse reprogramming, Yamanaka's group successfully transformed human fibroblasts into iPSCs with the same four pivotal genes, Oct4, Sox2, Klf4, and cMyc, using a retroviral system,[18] while Thomson and colleagues used a different set of factors, Oct4, Sox2, Nanog, and Lin28, using a lentiviral system.[19]

Obtaining fibroblasts to produce iPSCs involves a skin biopsy, and there has been a push towards identifying cell types that are more easily accessible.[20][21] In 2008, iPSCs were derived from human keratinocytes, which could be obtained from a single hair pluck.[22][23] In 2010, iPSCs were derived from peripheral blood cells,[24][25] and in 2012, iPSCs were made from renal epithelial cells in the urine.[26]

Other considerations for starting cell type include mutational load (for example, skin cells may harbor more mutations due to UV exposure),[20][21] time it takes to expand the population of starting cells,[20] and the ability to differentiate into a given cell type.[27]

[citation needed]

The generation of induced pluripotent cells is crucially dependent on the transcription factors used for the induction.

Oct-3/4 and certain products of the Sox gene family (Sox1, Sox2, Sox3, and Sox15) have been identified as crucial transcriptional regulators involved in the induction process whose absence makes induction impossible. Additional genes, however, including certain members of the Klf family (Klf1, Klf2, Klf4, and Klf5), the Myc family (c-myc, L-myc, and N-myc), Nanog, and LIN28, have been identified to increase the induction efficiency.

Although the methods pioneered by Yamanaka and others have demonstrated that adult cells can be reprogrammed to iPS cells, there are still challenges associated with this technology:

The table on the right summarizes the key strategies and techniques used to develop iPS cells in the first five years after Yamanaka et al.'s 2006 breakthrough. Rows of similar colors represent studies that used similar strategies for reprogramming.

One of the main strategies for avoiding problems (1) and (2) has been to use small molecules that can mimic the effects of transcription factors. These compounds can compensate for a reprogramming factor that does not effectively target the genome or fails at reprogramming for another reason; thus they raise reprogramming efficiency. They also avoid the problem of genomic integration, which in some cases contributes to tumor genesis. Key studies using such strategy were conducted in 2008. Melton et al. studied the effects of histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor valproic acid. They found that it increased reprogramming efficiency 100-fold (compared to Yamanaka's traditional transcription factor method).[42] The researchers proposed that this compound was mimicking the signaling that is usually caused by the transcription factor c-Myc. A similar type of compensation mechanism was proposed to mimic the effects of Sox2. In 2008, Ding et al. used the inhibition of histone methyl transferase (HMT) with BIX-01294 in combination with the activation of calcium channels in the plasma membrane in order to increase reprogramming efficiency.[43] Deng et al. of Beijing University reported in July 2013 that induced pluripotent stem cells can be created without any genetic modification. They used a cocktail of seven small-molecule compounds including DZNep to induce the mouse somatic cells into stem cells which they called CiPS cells with the efficiency at 0.2% comparable to those using standard iPSC production techniques. The CiPS cells were introduced into developing mouse embryos and were found to contribute to all major cells types, proving its pluripotency.[44][45]

Ding et al. demonstrated an alternative to transcription factor reprogramming through the use of drug-like chemicals. By studying the MET (mesenchymal-epithelial transition) process in which fibroblasts are pushed to a stem-cell like state, Ding's group identified two chemicals ALK5 inhibitor SB431412 and MEK (mitogen-activated protein kinase) inhibitor PD0325901 which was found to increase the efficiency of the classical genetic method by 100 fold. Adding a third compound known to be involved in the cell survival pathway, Thiazovivin further increases the efficiency by 200 fold. Using the combination of these three compounds also decreased the reprogramming process of the human fibroblasts from four weeks to two weeks.[46][47]

In April 2009, it was demonstrated that generation of iPS cells is possible without any genetic alteration of the adult cell: a repeated treatment of the cells with certain proteins channeled into the cells via poly-arginine anchors was sufficient to induce pluripotency.[48] The acronym given for those iPSCs is piPSCs (protein-induced pluripotent stem cells).

Another key strategy for avoiding problems such as tumorgenesis and low throughput has been to use alternate forms of vectors: adenovirus, plasmids, and naked DNA or protein compounds.

In 2008, Hochedlinger et al. used an adenovirus to transport the requisite four transcription factors into the DNA of skin and liver cells of mice, resulting in cells identical to ESCs. The adenovirus is unique from other vectors like viruses and retroviruses because it does not incorporate any of its own genes into the targeted host and avoids the potential for insertional mutagenesis.[43] In 2009, Freed et al. demonstrated successful reprogramming of human fibroblasts to iPS cells.[49] Another advantage of using adenoviruses is that they only need to present for a brief amount of time in order for effective reprogramming to take place.

Also in 2008, Yamanaka et al. found that they could transfer the four necessary genes with a plasmid.[35] The Yamanaka group successfully reprogrammed mouse cells by transfection with two plasmid constructs carrying the reprogramming factors; the first plasmid expressed c-Myc, while the second expressed the other three factors (Oct4, Klf4, and Sox2). Although the plasmid methods avoid viruses, they still require cancer-promoting genes to accomplish reprogramming. The other main issue with these methods is that they tend to be much less efficient compared to retroviral methods. Furthermore, transfected plasmids have been shown to integrate into the host genome and therefore they still pose the risk of insertional mutagenesis. Because non-retroviral approaches have demonstrated such low efficiency levels, researchers have attempted to effectively rescue the technique with what is known as the PiggyBac Transposon System. Several studies have demonstrated that this system can effectively deliver the key reprogramming factors without leaving footprint mutations in the host cell genome. The PiggyBac Transposon System involves the re-excision of exogenous genes, which eliminates the issue of insertional mutagenesis.[citation needed]

In January 2014, two articles were published claiming that a type of pluripotent stem cell can be generated by subjecting the cells to certain types of stress (bacterial toxin, a low pH of 5.7, or physical squeezing); the resulting cells were called STAP cells, for stimulus-triggered acquisition of pluripotency.[50]

In light of difficulties that other labs had replicating the results of the surprising study, in March 2014, one of the co-authors has called for the articles to be retracted.[51] On 4 June 2014, the lead author, Obokata agreed to retract both the papers [52] after she was found to have committed 'research misconduct' as concluded in an investigation by RIKEN on 1 April 2014.[53]

MicroRNAs are short RNA molecules that bind to complementary sequences on messenger RNA and block expression of a gene. Measuring variations in microRNA expression in iPS cells can be used to predict their differentiation potential.[54] Addition of microRNAs can also be used to enhance iPS potential. Several mechanisms have been proposed.[54] ES cell-specific microRNA molecules (such as miR-291, miR-294 and miR-295) enhance the efficiency of induced pluripotency by acting downstream of c-Myc.[55] microRNAs can also block expression of repressors of Yamanaka's four transcription factors, and there may be additional mechanisms induce reprogramming even in the absence of added exogenous transcription factors.[54]

Induced pluripotent stem cells are similar to natural pluripotent stem cells, such as embryonic stem cells, in many aspects, such as the expression of certain stem cell genes and proteins, chromatin methylation patterns, doubling time, embryoid body formation, teratoma formation, viable chimera formation, and potency and differentiability, but the full extent of their relation to natural pluripotent stem cells is still being assessed.[1]

Gene expression and genome-wide H3K4me3 and H3K27me3 were found to be extremely similar between ES and iPS cells.[56][citation needed] The generated iPSCs were remarkably similar to naturally isolated pluripotent stem cells (such as mouse and human embryonic stem cells, mESCs and hESCs, respectively) in the following respects, thus confirming the identity, authenticity, and pluripotency of iPSCs to naturally isolated pluripotent stem cells:

Recent achievements and future tasks for safe iPSC-based cell therapy are collected in the review of Okano et al.[67]

The task of producing iPS cells continues to be challenging due to the six problems mentioned above. A key tradeoff to overcome is that between efficiency and genomic integration. Most methods that do not rely on the integration of transgenes are inefficient, while those that do rely on the integration of transgenes face the problems of incomplete reprogramming and tumor genesis, although a vast number of techniques and methods have been attempted. Another large set of strategies is to perform a proteomic characterization of iPS cells.[58] Further studies and new strategies should generate optimal solutions to the five main challenges. One approach might attempt to combine the positive attributes of these strategies into an ultimately effective technique for reprogramming cells to iPS cells.

Another approach is the use of iPS cells derived from patients to identify therapeutic drugs able to rescue a phenotype. For instance, iPS cell lines derived from patients affected by ectodermal dysplasia syndrome (EEC), in which the p63 gene is mutated, display abnormal epithelial commitment that could be partially rescued by a small compound.[68]

An attractive feature of human iPS cells is the ability to derive them from adult patients to study the cellular basis of human disease. Since iPS cells are self-renewing and pluripotent, they represent a theoretically unlimited source of patient-derived cells which can be turned into any type of cell in the body. This is particularly important because many other types of human cells derived from patients tend to stop growing after a few passages in laboratory culture. iPS cells have been generated for a wide variety of human genetic diseases, including common disorders such as Down syndrome and polycystic kidney disease.[69][70] In many instances, the patient-derived iPS cells exhibit cellular defects not observed in iPS cells from healthy subjects, providing insight into the pathophysiology of the disease.[71] An international collaborated project, StemBANCC, was formed in 2012 to build a collection of iPS cell lines for drug screening for a variety of disease. Managed by the University of Oxford, the effort pooled funds and resources from 10 pharmaceutical companies and 23 universities. The goal is to generate a library of 1,500 iPS cell lines which will be used in early drug testing by providing a simulated human disease environment.[72] Furthermore, combining hiPSC technology and small molecule or genetically encoded voltage and calcium indicators provided a large-scale and high-throughput platform for cardiovascular drug safety screening.[73][74][75][76]

A proof-of-concept of using induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) to generate human organ for transplantation was reported by researchers from Japan. Human 'liver buds' (iPSC-LBs) were grown from a mixture of three different kinds of stem cells: hepatocytes (for liver function) coaxed from iPSCs; endothelial stem cells (to form lining of blood vessels) from umbilical cord blood; and mesenchymal stem cells (to form connective tissue). This new approach allows different cell types to self-organize into a complex organ, mimicking the process in fetal development. After growing in vitro for a few days, the liver buds were transplanted into mice where the 'liver' quickly connected with the host blood vessels and continued to grow. Most importantly, it performed regular liver functions including metabolizing drugs and producing liver-specific proteins. Further studies will monitor the longevity of the transplanted organ in the host body (ability to integrate or avoid rejection) and whether it will transform into tumors.[77][78] Using this method, cells from one mouse could be used to test 1,000 drug compounds to treat liver disease, and reduce animal use by up to 50,000.[79]

In 2021, a switchable Yamanaka factors-reprogramming-based approach for regeneration of damaged heart without tumor-formation was demonstrated in mice and was successful if the intervention was carried out immediately before or after a heart attack.[80]

Embryonic cord-blood cells were induced into pluripotent stem cells using plasmid DNA. Using cell surface endothelial/pericytic markers CD31 and CD146, researchers identified 'vascular progenitor', the high-quality, multipotent vascular stem cells. After the iPS cells were injected directly into the vitreous of the damaged retina of mice, the stem cells engrafted into the retina, grew and repaired the vascular vessels.[81][82]

Labelled iPSCs-derived NSCs injected into laboratory animals with brain lesions were shown to migrate to the lesions and some motor function improvement was observed.[83]

Beating cardiac muscle cells, iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes, can be mass-produced using chemically defined differentiation protocols.[84][85] These protocols typically modulate the same developmental signaling pathways required for heart development .[86] These iPSC-cardiomyocytes can recapitulate genetic arrhythmias and cardiac drug responses, since they exhibit the same genetic background as the patient from which they were derived.[87][88][89]

In June 2014, Takara Bio received technology transfer from iHeart Japan, a venture company from Kyoto University's iPS Cell Research Institute, to make it possible to exclusively use technologies and patents that induce differentiation of iPS cells into cardiomyocytes in Asia. The company announced the idea of selling cardiomyocytes to pharmaceutical companies and universities to help develop new drugs for heart disease.[90]

On March 9, 2018, the Specified Regenerative Medicine Committee of Osaka University officially approved the world's first clinical research plan to transplant a "myocardial sheet" made from iPS cells into the heart of patients with severe heart failure. Osaka University announced that it had filed an application with the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare on the same day.

On May 16, 2018, the clinical research plan was approved by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare's expert group with a condition.[91][92]

In October 2019, a group at Okayama University developed a model of ischemic heart disease using cardiomyocytes differentiated from iPS cells.[93]

Although a pint of donated blood contains about two trillion red blood cells and over 107 million blood donations are collected globally, there is still a critical need for blood for transfusion. In 2014, type O red blood cells were synthesized at the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service from iPSC. The cells were induced to become a mesoderm and then blood cells and then red blood cells. The final step was to make them eject their nuclei and mature properly. Type O can be transfused into all patients. Human clinical trials were not expected to begin before 2016.[94]

The first human clinical trial using autologous iPSCs was approved by the Japan Ministry Health and was to be conducted in 2014 at the Riken Center for Developmental Biology in Kobe. However the trial was suspended after Japan's new regenerative medicine laws came into effect in November 2015.[95] More specifically, an existing set of guidelines was strengthened to have the force of law (previously mere recommendations).[96] iPSCs derived from skin cells from six patients with wet age-related macular degeneration were reprogrammed to differentiate into retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells. The cell sheet would be transplanted into the affected retina where the degenerated RPE tissue was excised. Safety and vision restoration monitoring were to last one to three years.[97][98]

In March 2017, a team led by Masayo Takahashi completed the first successful transplant of iPS-derived retinal cells from a donor into the eye of a person with advanced macular degeneration.[99] However it was reported that they are now having complications.[100] The benefits of using autologous iPSCs are that there is theoretically no risk of rejection and that it eliminates the need to use embryonic stem cells. However, these iPSCs were derived from another person.[98]

New clinical trials involving iPSCs are now ongoing not only in Japan, but also in the US and Europe.[101] Research in 2021 on the trial registry Clinicaltrials.gov identified 129 trial listings mentioning iPSCs, but most were non-interventional.[102]

To make iPSC-based regenerative medicine technologies available to more patients, it is necessary to create universal iPSCs that can be transplanted independently of haplotypes of HLA. The current strategy for the creation of universal iPSCs has two main goals: to remove HLA expression and to prevent NK cells attacks due to deletion of HLA. Deletion of the B2M and CIITA genes using the CRISPR/Cas9 system has been reported to suppress the expression of HLA class I and class II, respectively. To avoid NK cell attacks. transduction of ligands inhibiting NK-cells, such as HLA-E and CD47 has been used.[103] HLA-C is left unchanged, since the 12 common HLA-C alleles are enough to cover 95% of the world's population.[103]

A multipotent mesenchymal stem cell, when induced into pluripotence, holds great promise to slow or reverse aging phenotypes. Such anti-aging properties were demonstrated in early clinical trials in 2017.[104] In 2020, Stanford University researchers concluded after studying elderly mice that old human cells when subjected to the Yamanaka factors, might rejuvenate and become nearly indistinguishable from their younger counterparts.[105]

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Dr. Terrie Inder, a leading neonatologist and child neurologist, named to new position of chair of Center of Neonatal Research at CHOC – PR Newswire

ORANGE, Calif., June 8, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Children's Hospital of Orange County (CHOC) has recruited dual-boarded neonatologist and child neurologist Dr. Terrie Inder, internationally known for her clinical and scholarly innovation, leadership, and mentoring, to the newly created position of chair of neonatal research.

Currently chair of the department of pediatric newborn medicine at Brigham and Women's Hospital, a major teaching hospital at Harvard Medical School in Boston, Dr. Inder will lead the development of the Center of Neonatal Research at CHOC starting Sept. 1, 2022.

Her appointment highlights CHOC's mission to advance research and clinical outcomes for children and families, said Dr.Vijay Dhar, division chief of neonatology for CHOC Specialists.

"She joins a stellar team of clinicians," Dr. Dhar said. "Together, we will make CHOC the leading destination for neonatal- perinatal care, research and training."

Dr. Inder, an expert in the development of the newborn brain, aims to build on her track record of clinical and academic excellence at CHOC, where she'll lead efforts to advance scientific studies and improve clinical outcomes in neonatal- perinatal medicine.

"CHOC has a very dedicated group of clinicians who are hungry to make a difference, and I hope, with true humility and privilege, to be able to help them a little bit," said Dr. Inder, adding that she found CHOC's leaders to be "phenomenally grounded, aspirational and hard-working."

Will lead 80 neonatologists

The Center of Neonatal Research at CHOC will advance scientific studies and improve clinical outcomes in the field of neonatal-perinatal medicine. In collaboration with UC Irvine, Dr. Inder will coordinate participation at conferences, develop doctoral and post-doctoral programs, recruit research scientists, and provide research opportunities for residents and fellows.

She also will mentor a staff of 80 neonatologists based at CHOC, UCI and a network of neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) and birthing centers totaling more than 300 NICU beds and nearly 50,000 births a year.

"I am thrilled that Dr. Inder will be joining us," said Dr. Terry Sanger, CHOC's chief scientific officer. "Her research has been foundational to the understanding of early brain development and disorders of neonates, including the origins of cerebral palsy. She will be a tremendous contributor to children's health in Southern California, and I am excited to think that the resources of CHOC, UCI and Orange County will be able to support and grow her groundbreaking research."

A record of firsts

A native of New Zealand, Dr. Inder started practicing medicine in the U.S. in 2005 after being recruited by St. Louis Children's Hospital, the pediatric teaching hospital for Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Mo.

There, she founded the Washington University Neonatal Development Research team, which has grown to 55 investigators, and succeeded in securing National Institutes of Health funding to establish the Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center.

Dr. Inder joined Brigham and Women's Hospital in 2013 as its first chair of pediatric newborn medicine. There, she assisted with rebuilding a new clinical facility with a novel design system optimizing differing models of care, established a neonatal transport program and built a consolidated network, and established more than 50 clinical care pathways and created programs in fetal care and specialized clinical care for neonatal neurocritical care.

At Brigham and Women's, Dr. Inder also increased research funding by tenfold, grew her department's research faculty, and opened a state-of-the-art NICU with single-family rooms and a first-of-its-kind, dedicated magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system that expanded neurocritical care for babies.

Her department at Brigham and Women's now educates more than 200 trainees in pediatric and neonatal medicine with a commitment to national and international teaching.

Moving up

While practicing in Australia between 2001 and 2005, Dr. Inder also became known for innovation. She founded an MRI facility at the Murdoch Children's Research Institute at Royal Women's Hospital in Melbourne. The novel imaging center required cooperation across multiple departments, research institutes and with the regional and state government.

Recruited by several leading pediatric healthcare systems during her time in Boston, Dr. Inder said she decided to join CHOC because of its people and promise of significant growth in its clinical, research and educational missions.

"I think with the investments being made now, CHOC is on a steady upward trajectory," Dr. Inder said.

Impacting care

With more than 200 peer-reviewed articles published, Dr. Inder's primary research is targeted at understanding the timing, mechanisms and impact of cerebral injury and altered cerebral development in infants at high risk for adverse neurodevelopmental outcome, including the prematurely born infant, the sick term-born infant, and the infant with congenital heart disease.

"All of my research efforts are designed to be immediately translatable to impact care," Dr. Inder said.

One of her many side projects includes working as an editor on the seventh-edition of a landmark work in her field, "Volpe's Neurology of the Newborn," written by Dr. Joseph Volpe, a mentor.

Outside of work, Dr. Inder, who has three adult children, enjoys gardening and spending time her mini-Goldendoodle, Oscar.

About CHOC:

CHOC, a pediatric healthcare system based in Orange County, California, is committed to being a leading destination for children'shealth by providing exceptional and innovative care. Our growing community includes two state-of-the-art hospitals in Orange and Mission Viejo and a regional network of primary and specialty care clinics serving children and families in four counties. CHOC offers several clinical programs of excellence providing the highest levels of care for the most serious pediatric illnesses and injuries, both physical and mental. Our research and innovation institutes are focused on translating real patient needs into real-world treatments so every child can live the healthiest and happiest life possible. To learn more, visit http://www.choc.org.

MEDIA CONTACT: [emailprotected]

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Dr. Terrie Inder, a leading neonatologist and child neurologist, named to new position of chair of Center of Neonatal Research at CHOC - PR Newswire

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Pursuing Optimal Therapy Remains a Challenge in Indolent B-Cell Lymphoma – Targeted Oncology

A significant proportion of patients worldwide live disease-free for a decade or longer following first-line therapy, with various approaches suggesting that there may be pathways to develop approaches for a cure for at least a subset of patients

Follicular lymphoma (FL) and other forms of indolent non-Hodgkin lymphoma (iNHL) are commonly considered incurable diseases with continual risk of relapse over time, shorter durations of response with each subsequent line of therapy, and a risk of transformation to a more aggressive B-cell lymphoma. Although these lymphomas are characterized as indolent, one of the most common causes of death for these patients is lymphoma.1 On the other hand, a significant proportion of patients worldwide live disease-free for a decade or longer following first-line therapy, with various approaches suggesting that there may be pathways to develop approaches for a cure for at least a subset of patients.1-5 In the Indolent B-Cell Lymphoma session during the Society of Hematologic Oncology 2021 Annual Meeting, 4 presentations were explored: Molecular Pathogenesis of Follicular Lymphoma and Its Relevance to Clinical Practice, Sequencing Therapy in Follicular Lymphoma, Novel Therapies in Indolent Lymphoma, and CAR T-Cell Therapy in Indolent Lymphoma in lectures by world-class experts Jessica Okosun, MA, MB BChir, MRCP, FRCPath, PhD, Peter Martin, MD, Loretta Nastoupil, MD, and Caron Jacobson, MD, MMSc.

Next-generation sequencing studies, led by Michael R. Green, PhD, Dr Okosun, and others, have described the panoply of genomic events involved in FL and have aided in identifying candidate genetic drivers.6-9 This work clarified the diverse genomic landscape and the temporal clonal dynamics of FL. Common genomic events that occur with t(14;18) include high frequencies of mutations affecting epigenetic regulation, disruptions in pathways such as those involved in immune recognition (eg, TNFRSF14), NF-KB (eg, CARD11), and JAK/STAT signaling (eg, STAT6).9,10 Next-generation sequencing also has been used to examine factors associated with progression of FL, transformation of iNHL to more aggressive lymphomas, and spatial heterogeneity in FL. Recent studies have explored the subclonal diversity and spatial heterogeneity observed among patients with FL that have potential clinical implications for the development of prognostic and predictive biomarkers and targeted treatment strategies. For instance, exome sequencing of FL tumors and paired germline have identified nonsynonymous somatic variants corresponding to missense (81%), indels (10%), nonsense (7%), and splice site (2%) changes.6 This work revealed spatially discordant mutations in genes such as EZH2 and EP300. One attractive treatment paradigm emerging from this work involves specifically targeting highly recurrent and truncal gene mutations that have roles in FL pathogenesis. Other studies did not identify a single compelling genetic event responsible for transformation, but instead suggest that the acquisition of certain genetic alterations may result in aggressive transformation.7,9,11 Exploration of the FL genomics in this session can clarify stratified treatment approaches targeting specific early genetic lesions identified in FL and may eventually provide strategies to eradicate these cell populations and provide pathways to cure FL.

In the past decade, many new agents have been introduced for the management of FL, and therapeutic strategies have evolved over time. Recently, my co-chair in this session, Nathan Fowler, MD, and I reviewed data from trials addressing the safety and efficacy of lenalidomide alone and in combination with rituximab as a first-line therapy and as a treatment of patients with relapsed/refractory FL.12 However, since that review other agents have received FDA approval for patients with relapsed FL. There is considerable variation in response rates for recently approved therapies ranging from objective response rates of 40% to 60% for PI3K inhibitors, 35% to 65% for EZH2 inhibitors, and greater than 70% for autologous stem cell transplantation, and CD19-directed chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy.13-18 Recently approved therapies in relapsed FL have commonly been based on response rate and duration of response (DOR) demonstrated in phase 2 studies. However, despite numerous trials performed in the field, there is no single standard of care for patients with iNHL who are undergoing second-line treatment or beyond.

As a result of the patterns of relapse and transformation associated with iNHL, the clinical treatment of patients with FL and other iNHLs often requires multiple lines of therapy using various regimens with different mechanisms of action.19-22 The clinical benefits and adverse effects associated with the treatments available at relapse vary and are influenced by patient and disease characteristics at the time of progression, the duration of the interval from last treatment, and the toxicity and responses associated with the treatments previously administered. This results in a marked heterogeneity of clinical situations encountered during the treatment of these patients. Some patients with iNHL will remain well treated using available treatments, whereas others will develop disease refractory to conventional approaches and become candidates for novel treatments and clinical trials. Additional real-world data regarding patient characteristics at relapse, patterns of care, expectations of response rates and duration, and survival outcomes are lacking in the setting of relapsed and refractory iNHL. To help inform treatment decisions by health care providers treating patients with iNHL in this complex and evolving treatment landscape, Dr Martin will describe approaches for sequencing therapies. To optimally individualize treatment strategies for patients with previously untreated and relapsed iNHL, the risks and benefits of the available options should be well known. This lecture will enable providers to effectively discuss the goals of therapy with the patient at each intervention, which is also critical in providing an optimal sequence of therapy.

Although many patients with FL experience long or possibly near-normal life expectancies, there remains persistent variability in patient outcomes.19-22 Patients who relapse within 2 years of first-line chemoimmunotherapy or with histologic transformation are at risk for early mortality and are high-priority candidates for novel treatment strategies evaluated in clinical trials.23-25 Prior studies have demonstrated diminishing DOR by line of therapy.26,27

However, variability of iNHL disease biology, treatment options, and treatment patterns complicate outcome assessments based on line of therapy alone. Several novel and targeted therapies are being developed and evaluated in patients with relapsed iNHL, including cereblon inhibitors, antiCD20-CD3 bispecific antibodies, and additional anti-CD19 CAR T-cell therapies. Dr Nastoupil will provide key insights on the novel therapies available for patients in clinical trials and those that are establishing pathways toward applications in clinical settings.

CAR therapy targeting CD19 is one promising treatment for patients with relapsed or refractory FL and CD19+ iNHLs. Patients who are candidates for CAR T-cell therapy often have symptomatic disease that could be fatal if left untreated. Dr Jacobson will discuss strategies for bridging therapy, which may include chemotherapy, targeted therapy, or radiation therapy; approved and experimental CAR T-cell approaches for FL and iNHLs; and describe traditional and novel adverse events and outcomes from clinical trials involving CAR T-cell therapy.

REFERENCES:

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2. Bachy E, Seymour JF, Feugier P, et al. Sustained progression-free survival benefit of rituximab maintenance in patients with follicular lymphoma: long-term results of the PRIMA study. J Clin Oncol. 2019;37(31):2815-2824. doi:10.1200/JCO.19.01073.

3. Becnel MR, Nastoupil LJ, Samaniego F, et al. Lenalidomide plus rituximab (R 2 ) in previously untreated marginal zone lymphoma: subgroup analysis and long-term follow-up of an open-label phase 2 trial. Br J Haematol. 2019;185(5):874-882. doi:10.1111/bjh.15843

4. Strati P, Jain P, Johnson RJ, et al. Long-term follow-up of lenalidomide and rituximab as initial treatment of follicular lymphoma. Blood. 2021;137(8):1124-1129. doi:10.1182/blood.2020007994

5. Watanabe T, Tobinai K, Wakabayashi M, et al; JCOG0203 Collaborators. Outcomes after R-CHOP in patients with newly diagnosed advanced follicular lymphoma: a 10-year follow-up analysis of the JCOG0203 trial. Lancet Haematol. 2018;5(11):e520-e531. doi:10.1016/S2352-3026(18)30155-8

6. Araf S, Wang J, Korfi K, et al. Genomic profiling reveals spatial intra-tumor heterogeneity in follicular lymphoma [published correction appears in Leukemia. 2019;33(6):1540]. Leukemia. 2018;32(5):1261-1265. doi:10.1038/s41375-018-0043-y

7. Green MR, Gentles AJ, Nair RV, et al. Hierarchy in somatic mutations arising during genomic evolution and progression of follicular lymphoma. Blood. 2013;121(9):1604-1611. doi:10.1182/blood-2012-09-457283

8. Green MR, Kihira S, Liu CL, et al. Mutations in early follicular lymphoma progenitors are associated with suppressed antigen presentation. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2015;112(10):E1116-E1125. doi:10.1073/pnas.1501199112

9. Okosun J, Bdr C, Wang J, et al. Integrated genomic analysis identifies recurrent mutations and evolution patterns driving the initiation and progression of follicular lymphoma. Nat Genet. 2014;46(2):176-181. doi:10.1038/ng.2856

10. Kumar E, Pickard L, Okosun J. Pathogenesis of follicular lymphoma: genetics to the microenvironment to clinical translation. Br J Haematol. Published online March 10, 2021. doi:10.1111/bjh.17383

11. Okosun J, Montoto S, Fitzgibbon J. The routes for transformation of follicular lymphoma. Curr Opin Hematol. 2016;23(4):385-391. doi:10.1097/MOH.0000000000000255

12. Flowers CR, Leonard JP, Fowler NH. Lenalidomide in follicular lymphoma. Blood. 2020;135(24):2133-2136. doi:10.1182/blood.2019001751

13. Dreyling M, Santoro A, Mollica L, et al. Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase inhibition by copanlisib in relapsed or refractory indolent lymphoma. J Clin Oncol. 2017;35(35):3898-3905. doi:10.1200/JCO.2017.75.4648

14. Flinn IW, Miller CB, Ardeshna KM, et al. DYNAMO: a phase II study of duvelisib (IPI-145) in patients with refractory indolent non-Hodgkin lymphoma. J Clin Oncol. 2019;37(11):912-922. doi:10.1200/JCO.18.00915

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16. Jacobson C, Chavez JC, Sehgal AR, et al. Primary analysis of zuma-5: a phase 2 study of axicabtagene ciloleucel (axi-cel) in patients with relapsed/refractory (r/r) indolent non-Hodgkin lymphoma (iNHL). Blood. 2020;136(suppl 1):40-41. doi:10.1182/blood-2020-136834

17. Metzner B, Pott C, Mller TH, et al. Long-term clinical and molecular remissions in patients with follicular lymphoma following high-dose therapy and autologous stem cell transplantation. Ann Oncol. 2013;24(6):1609-1615. doi:10.1093/annonc/mds657

18. Morschhauser F, Tilly H, Chaidos A, et al. Tazemetostat for patients with relapsed or refractory follicular lymphoma: an open-label, single-arm, multicentre, phase 2 trial. Lancet Oncol. 2020;21(11):1433-1442. doi:10.1016/S1470-2045(20)30441-1

19. Flowers CR, Leonard JP, Nastoupil LJ. Novel immunotherapy approaches to follicular lymphoma. Hematology Am Soc Hematol Educ Program. 2018;2018(1):194-199. doi:10.1182/asheducation-2018.1.194

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27. Link BK, Day BM, Zhou X, et al. Second-line and subsequent therapy and outcomes for follicular lymphoma in the United States: data from the observational National LymphoCare Study. Br J Haematol. 2019;184(4):660-663. doi:10.1111/bjh.15149

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Pursuing Optimal Therapy Remains a Challenge in Indolent B-Cell Lymphoma - Targeted Oncology

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15 new groups of molecules to fight against aging and protect our cells; one step closer to staying healthy longer, new study shows – Canada NewsWire

A Concordia researcher, supported by Idunn Technologies, discovers new natural compounds that could promote longevity in health and reduce the incidence of associated diseases

MONTREAL, Sept. 9, 2020 /CNW/ - The recent pandemic has highlighted the importance of staying healthy so that you can better fight an infection or disease, if necessary. A Concordia University researcher has discovered 15 new plant extracts that help fight, not against infection, but against aging. These natural molecules could help prevent all the diseases associated with aging, not one at a time, but all at the same time. It is therefore a question of reducing the incidence of common ailments such as osteoarthritis, diabetes, cancer, heart disease, Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease. This approach has already been called "the ultimate preventive medicine" in the prestigious journal, Science.

Vladimir Titorenko, professor of biology at the Faculty of Arts and Sciences at Concordia, has been collaborating since 2013 with ric Simard, president of the company, Idunn Technologies, to discover new anti-aging molecules. This work has just been published in the scientific journal, Oncotarget. The TransBIOTech research center and the Cgep de Lvis-Lauzon also participated in these studies.

The recently published results were obtained from specific plant extracts, already recognized for various health benefits. Professor Titorenko's team identified the new anti-aging molecules from a long list of extracts from different parts of the plants studied. The new positive extracts (PE for "plant extract") are numbered as follows: PE26 (Serenoa repens), PE39 (Hypericum perforatum), PE42 (Ilex paraguariensis), PE47 (Ocimum tenuiflorum), PE59 (Solidago virgaurea), PE64 (Citrus sinensis ), PE68 (Humulus lupulus), PE69 (Vitis vinifera), PE72 (Andrographis paniculata), PE75 (Hydrastis canadensis), PE77 (Trigonella foenumgraecum), PE78 (Berberis vulgaris), PE79 (Crataegus monogyna), PE81 (Taraxacum erythrospermum) and PE83 (Ilex paraguariensis).

"We now have a large number of anti-aging plant extracts that may reduce the incidence or progression of age-related diseases in humans," said Dr. Vladimir Titorenko. This researcher devotes his efforts to understanding the molecular mechanisms that allow cells to resist aging.

Dr. Titorenko states that "With the aging of the population, the possibility of keeping people healthy longer constitutes a major advance which could have repercussions, not just in economic terms, but for the quality of life of the population and the capacity of the health care system in general."

The results of this research have clearly demonstrated that the beneficial effects observed on longevity are linked to the slowing of aging in yeast cells. "The identification of these new modulators could allow the development of new specialized products for healthy aging." explains Professor Titorenko.

A Quebec company, Idunn Technologies, is working to develop a large number of applications of these research results for human health. ric Simard is the co-editor of the article, CEO of Idunn Technologies and author of 4 books on healthy longevity (www.esimard.com). He explains that the company decided to market the fruits of this research by focusing on the optimization of natural products targeting the main health problems related to aging. These more effective products are marketed under the Vitoli brand (www.vitoli.ca).

The results presented also include analyses of the metabolic activity of mitochondria, the oxidation of membrane lipids, as well as the oxidation of proteins, DNA from mitochondria, and DNA from the cell nucleus. These anti-aging extracts, also called geroprotective or caloric restriction mimetics, increase the resistance of cells to oxidative stress and temperature. Improved cellular functioning reduces damage to cells while increasing their resistance to difficult situations. "Reduce wear and increase maintenance and cellular resistance; that's the secret to health longevity." concluded Dr. Simard.

This study was supported by a joint ARD-CRD (Applied Research and Development - Cooperative Research and Development) grant from Canada's Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC). The work was also funded by the Concordia University Research Chairs Fund, a Concordia University Graduate Scholarship, and a Concordia University Excellence Scholarship.

Read the full report of the study: Discovery of fifteen new geroprotective plant extracts and identification of cellular processes they affect to prolong the chronological lifespan of budding yeast.

SOURCE Idunn Technologies

For further information: Interviews in English with Vicky Lutchman, M.Sc. researcher (among the authors of the study: 514-887-7520)

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15 new groups of molecules to fight against aging and protect our cells; one step closer to staying healthy longer, new study shows - Canada NewsWire

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100 hospitals and health systems with great neurosurgery and spine programs | 2019 – Becker’s Hospital Review

Becker's Healthcare named the following organizations to the 2019 edition of its list "100 hospitals and health systems with great neurosurgery and spine programs."

The organizations featured on this year's list have extensive neurosurgery and spine programs, providing treatment and cutting edge research into brain and spine disorders. Many hospitals and health systems featured have earned top honors for medical excellence, outcomes and patient experience in their spine and brain surgery departments.

To develop this list, the Becker's Healthcare editorial team examined national rankings and awards for neurosurgery and spine care. The editorial team examined U.S. News & World Report national rankings for neurology and neurosurgery; CareChex national and regional rankings for neurological care and Blue Distinction Center for Spine Surgery designation to develop this list. Please contact Laura Dyrda at ldyrda@beckershealthcare.com with any questions about this list.

Note: Hospitals cannot pay for inclusion on this list. Organizations are presented in alphabetical order.

Abbott Northwestern Hospital (Minneapolis). At Abbott Northwestern Hospital's Spine Institute, physicians treat more than 4,000 patients annually. The hospital has been designated as a Blue Distinction Center for Spine Surgery by BlueCross BlueShield of Minnesota. With five area partners, Abbott Northwestern Hospital was ranked on U.S. News & World Report's list of 50 best hospitals for neurology and neurosurgery in 2019-20.

AdventHealth Orlando (Fla.). AdventHealth's Neuroscience Institute provides comprehensive care to patients with brain and spinal disorders. The health system's brain tumor team includes 12 physicians, and the spine team features 15 physicians that aim to stay at the forefront of spinal treatment. With an elite team, U.S. News & World Report ranked AdventHealth Orlando among the 50 best hospitals for neurology and neurosurgery for 2019-20.

Ascension Seton (Austin, Texas). Physicians at Ascension Seton's Brain & Spine Institute specialize in minimally invasive and complex surgery for patients suffering from problems with their brain, spine, cerebrovascular system and peripheral nerves. Spine, orthopedic and neurosurgeons at the hospital have been recognized nationally and internationally for pioneering new treatments and research. The Seton Brain & Spine Institute has five locations offering neurosurgery across Texas.

Atrium Health (Charlotte, N.C.). Atrium Health offers one of the region's largest neurosurgery specialty programs. The health system's spine institute has been recognized by Blue Cross Blue Shield as a Blue Distinction Center for its quality care and outcomes. An early adopter of minimally invasive and robotic surgery, Atrium Health's Neurosciences Institute has 20-plus years of groundbreaking investigator-initiated and industry-sponsored clinical trials.

Barnes-Jewish Hospital/Washington University School of Medicine (St. Louis). The Barnes-Jewish & Washington University Spine Center receives patient referrals from all around the world. As a result, it has grown into one of the largest clinical spine practices in the nation. U.S. News & World Report ranked Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine among the top 50 hospitals in the nation for neurology and neurosurgery, and the top hospital in Missouri for those specialties in 2019-20.

Barrow Neurological Institute (Phoenix). Physicians at Barrow Neurological Institute oversee more than 8,000 admissions and perform more than 5,000 neurosurgeries annually more than anywhere else in the U.S. There are 26 neurosurgeons, nine neurosurgery fellows and 28 neurosurgery residents on staff at the hospital. As one of the leading spine organizations in the world, U.S. News & World Report named Barrow Neurological Institute among the top 50 hospitals in the nation for neurology and neurosurgery in 2019-20.

Baptist Medical Center Jacksonville (Fla.). Surgeons at Baptist Medical Center have teamed up with Baptist MD Anderson Cancer Center in Jacksonville to conduct clinical trials related to brain and spine tumors. Along with its extensive brain and spine tumors division, Baptist Medical Center Jacksonville has a robust stroke and cerebrovascular care team and four neurologic oncologists. Neurosurgeons at the hospital's Stroke & Cerebrovascular Center are participating in more than 20 ongoing clinical trials.

Baylor St. Luke's Medical Center (Houston). Baylor St. Luke's Medical Center created its Neurosciences Institute in 2013, and it has since has been accredited by DNV GL Healthcare as a certified comprehensive stroke center. Baylor St. Luke's Medical Center neurosurgeons have also helped the hospital receive the Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award from the American Stroke Association. Baylor St. Luke's Medical Center was recognized in 2019-20 by U.S. News & World Report as one of the best hospitals in the nation for neurology and neurosurgery.

Beaumont Health (Southfield, Mich.). Beaumont Health was the first hospital in Michigan to create a pediatric stereo-EEG epilepsy surgery program to pinpoint seizures and cure drug-resistant epilepsy. The hospital's neurosurgery team is researching stem cell regeneration and spine reconstruction. Additionally, as a leading hospital for orthopedic surgery, neurosurgery and neurology, Beaumont Health has a leading spine team with on-call surgeons who can be at the hospital in 15 minutes no matter the time of day.

Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (Boston). All physicians at Beth Israel's Spine Center are board-certified and faculty of Boston-based Harvard Medical School. In total, there are four neurosurgeons and three orthopedic spine surgeons. To make care more accessible, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center has opened six spine centers throughout Massachusetts that provide comprehensive care patients in Boston and the surrounding area.

Boston Children's Hospital. The spine division of Boston Children's Hospital collaborates with the hospital's department of neurosurgery to treat complex spine conditions. Boston Children's Hospital has a complex cervical spine program as well as a spine and sports program. As a leading hospital for orthopedics and spine in the U.S., Boston Children's has various study groups, including a spinal deformity group whose Scoliosis Outcomes Database is cited in more than 45 abstracts and 15 peer-reviewed publications annually. In 2019-20, U.S. News & World Report ranked Boston Children's No. 1 in the nation for pediatric neurology and neurosurgery.

Brigham and Women's Hospital (Boston). The Comprehensive Spine Center at Brigham and Women's Faulkner Hospital brings together neurosurgeons, orthopedic surgeons, and specialists in pain management, physical medicine and rehabilitation. Brigham and Women's Hospital has five other spine centers throughout Massachusetts. U.S. News & World Report ranked the hospital among the top 20 in the nation for neurology and neurosurgery in 2019-20.

Carilion Clinic (Roanoke, Va.). The 1,026-bed Carilion Clinic hospital system provided care to nearly 1 million residents of Virginia and West Virginia in 2018. Touting around 13,320 employees and nine hospitals, the health system has 732 physicians across 77 specialties. Surgeons at Carilion's Institute for Orthopaedics and Neurosciences perform approximately 300 minimally invasive spine procedures annually, and it has the region's only deformity correction program for both adult and pediatric patients.

Cedars-Sinai Medical Center (Los Angeles). Serving more than 1 million patients annually at more than 40 locations, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center has more than 4,500 physicians on staff. The Cedars-Sinai spine team has 26 spine surgeons, assisted by eight advanced care providers. The health system is active in research efforts, hosting an array of clinical trials. Cedars-Sinai splits its spine care between four locations, including the Cedars-Sinai Spine Center and the Cedars-Sinai Kerlan-Jobe Institute. U.S. News & World Report ranked Cedars-Sinai as the No. 12 hospital for neurology and neurosurgery for 2019-20.

Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center. Established in 1883, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center has more than 600 beds and around 1.3 million patient encounters in fiscal year 2017. The hospital's Crawford Spine Center was recognized by U.S. News & World Report as among the best hospitals for pediatric neurology and neurosurgery for 2019-20. The hospital is also involved in spine research, focusing on endoscopic technology, scoliosis correction and guided spine growth.

Cleveland Clinic. Featuring both a robust clinical program and a comprehensive spine research lab, Cleveland Clinic's Center for Spine Health sees thousands of patients annually. The Center for Spine Health has three specialty departments to address lower back pain, spinal deformity and spine tumors. Cleveland Clinic has 14 spine surgeons on staff, 14 medical/interventional staff members and 13 advanced care providers in its Center for Spine Health. The center is also testing robotics and is in the midst of a cervical spondylotic myelopathy surgical trial. U.S. News & World Report ranked Cleveland Clinic No. 10 in the nation for neurology and neurosurgery in 2019-20.

Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center (Lebanon, N.H.). Dartmouth-Hitchcock developed its Center for Pain and Spine to meet the needs of its patient population, which comprises about 1.9 million people across northern New England. Anthem BlueCross BlueShield named the center a Blue Distinction Center for Spine Surgery for its commitment to good patient outcomes. U.S. News & World Report recognized the hospital as the highest performing neurosurgery institute in New Hampshire in 2019-20.

Duke University Hospital (Durham, N.C.). Duke University Hospital's comprehensive spine institute has 106 physicians on hand to provide an array of spine-related treatments. The spine team at Duke performs more than 1,200 spine surgeries annually. The hospital equipped all its surgery centers with intraoperative imaging equipment to ensure all procedures and physicians have access to real-time imaging information. U.S. News & World Report named Duke its No. 1 hospital in North Carolina and among the top 25 hospitals in the nation for neurology and neurosurgery in 2019-20.

Emory University Hospital (Atlanta). With its six locations throughout Atlanta, Emory University Orthopaedics & Spine Hospital offers patients comprehensive treatment options. Emory's neuroscience program will soon be headlined by the Emory Musculoskeletal Institute in Brookhaven, Ga. The institute broke ground in October 2019 and will be a 180,000-square-foot center dedicated to spine care. Emory University Hospital planners incorporated several environmentally conscious features into the institute. U.S. News & World Report ranked Emory among the top 50 hospitals in the nation for neurology and neurosurgery in 2019-20.

Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin (Milwaukee). Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin is the region's only academic regional medical center. Froedtert physicians see patients across the greater Milwaukee suburbs. Froedtert has four locations that specialize in spine care, including the outpatient clinic SpineCare. In 2017, Froedtert physicians treated 8,606 patients through its neurosurgery program.

Geisinger (Danville, Pa.). Founded more than a century ago, Geisinger has provided care to central Pennsylvania residents for generations. At the forefront of its neuroscience program is the Geisinger Neuroscience Institute. Employing a combination of treatment methods including microsurgery, minimally invasive surgery, robotic surgery and image-guided surgery, Geisinger has 24 providers on its neurosurgery staff. The health system is also on the forefront of innovation in healthcare delivery, with its ProvenCare program offering refunds to spine patients dissatisfied with their care. Geisinger is also a Walmart spine center of excellence, meaning the retail giant sends patients from across the country to undergo spinal evaluation and surgery at the health system.

Hackensack (N.J.) University Medical Center. Hackensack University Medical Center offers a robust program for neurosurgery care, including the Orthopedic Institute, which has more than 50 physicians on staff. Healthgrades has recognized Hackensack University Medical Center with its Cranial Neurosurgery Excellence Award for the last four years, and U.S. News & World Report ranked Hackensack as high performing for neurology and neurosurgery in 2019-20.

Henry Ford Hospital (Detroit). With more than 35 physicians specializing in spine and related specialties on staff, Henry Ford draws patients in Detroit and its greater suburban locations to its Henry Ford Spine Centers. In 2017 alone, Henry Ford surgeons performed some 75,000 surgeries across its 200 care sites. U.S. News & World Report ranked Henry Ford among the top 50 hospitals in the nation for neurology and neurosurgery in 2019-20.

Hoag Health Network (Newport Beach, Calif.). Hoag Health Network offers numerous spine programs, including care at Hoag Orthopedic Institute. In 2018, the institute reported 3,246 hospital spine procedures, as well as 180 ambulatory procedures. Hoag has two acute care hospitals, 11 urgent care centers and eight health centers it staffs with a team of more than 1,700 physicians and 6,000 employees. U.S. News & World Report ranked Hoag Hospital among the top 50 hospitals in the nation for neurology and neurosurgery in 2019-20.

Hospital for Special Surgery (New York City). Holding the No. 1 U.S. News & World Report ranking in orthopedics for 10 consecutive years, HSS surgeons perform more than 32,000 procedures annually. In 2016, the hospital reported 469 non-cervical spine fusion cases, which was well above the 48-procedure average for New York state. The hospital also focuses on research, with a 300-plus member research department that has a $45 million grant portfolio and $25 million in industry funding. Current spine-focused projects include studying spine instability, developmental deformity and tissue degeneration.

Houston Methodist Hospital. For nearly 30 years, Houston Methodist Hospital has been on the forefront of spine and neurosurgical care. The hospital is home to the center for neurodegeneration, which is comprised of 11 labs staffed with researchers working on therapies for chronic paralysis and neurologic loss. The hospital has 14 neurosurgeons on staff and was among the top 50 hospitals in the nation for neurology and neurosurgery by U.S. News & World Report for 2019-20.

Huntington Hospital (Pasadena, Calif.). Spine surgeons at Huntington Hospital specialize in treating spinal degenerative diseases such as deformities, lumbar stenosis and traumatic disorders. The hospital is home to a 32-bed orthopedic and neurological nursing unit, a 24-bed rehabilitation unit, an outpatient neurophysiology lab as well as angiography suites. In 2019-20, U.S. News & World Report ranked Huntington Hospital among the top 50 hospitals in the nation for neurology and neurosurgery.

Inova Fairfax Hospital (Falls Church, Va.). Inova Fairfax hospital is home to the largest neurological practice in the Washington, D.C., area. Nine Inova neurosurgeons perform more than 3,000 cases a year. The Inova team was the first in Northern Virginia to conduct MRI-guided surgeries to treat Parkinson's disease and a brain tumor. The Inova Neuroscience and Spine Institute has 12 specialized treatment programs and was awarded The Joint Commission's Gold Seal of Approval for its cervical and lumbar spine surgery program.

IU Health (Indianapolis). IU Health's Neuroscience Center offers patients treatment across a variety of neurological specialties, including oncology, spine surgery, stereotactic and functional neurosurgery, trauma treatment and pediatric neurosurgery. IU Health's team of neurosurgeons are at the forefront of using new technology for improving outcomes. Researchers at IU Health are currently pioneering four clinical trials on epilepsy and hematoma evacuation.

Jefferson Health (Philadelphia). Jefferson Hospital for Neuroscience is the only hospital in the Philadelphia region dedicated to neuroscience, and is one of the busiest academic neurosurgical programs in the U.S. The neuroscience program has five surgeons on staff, and in 2015, was the first in the region to offer deep brain stimulation. In 2019-20, U.S. News & World Report ranked Jefferson Health-Thomas Jefferson University Hospital among the top 50 hospitals in the nation for neurology and neurosurgery. The health system also has a robust spine program, with its spine surgeons completing around 7,000 procedures each year at inpatient and ambulatory locations. It was also the first in the country to enroll a patient in the INSPIRE 2.0 clinical trial examining treatment for spinal cord injury.

Johns Hopkins Medicine (Baltimore). Physicians in the department of neurology and neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins Medicine have been treating patients since 1889, and now perform more than 4,000 operations and 30,000 outpatient consultations each year. The Johns Hopkins Carnegie Center for Surgical Innovation, a collaboration between the departments of neurosurgery and biomedical engineering, is working on new technology to make spine surgery safer through image-guided interventions. Johns Hopkins neurosurgeons are actively researching and conducting clinical trials on Parkinson's disease, dementia and brain cancer. The Johns Hopkins Hospital was ranked No. 1 in the in the nation for neurology and neurosurgery in 2019-20 by U.S. News & World Report.

Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles Medical Center. Kaiser Permanente's neurologists and neurosurgeons perform hundreds of complex procedures each year in one of the nation's busiest neurosurgical centers. The health system's 70-year history gives it a leg up in educating the next generation of specialists through neurology and neurosurgery residency programs, as well as a neuroanesthesia fellowship program. Kaiser's Los Angeles Medical Center houses the health system's comprehensive spine surgery department as well as a radiosurgery program dating back to 1989.

Keck Medicine of USC (Los Angeles). The USC Spine Center aims to deliver a coordinated, conservative approach to spine care at four locations in the greater Los Angeles area. Specialists at USC Spine Center are all fellowship-trained faculty members at the Keck School of Medicine of USC and have collectively gained an overall patient satisfaction rating of over 4.5 out of 5 stars. USC Spine Center, which is part of USC Orthopaedic Surgery and USC Neurological Surgery, is recognized as a Blue Distinction Center for spine surgery by Blue Shield of California. Additionally, Keck Medicine of USC was ranked No. 16 in the nation for neurology and neurosurgery by U.S. News & World Report.

Lehigh Valley Health Network (Allentown, Pa.). Lehigh Valley Health Network's spine and neurology services are provided through its Institute for Surgical Excellence, where surgeons perform over 35,000 surgeries annually 70 percent more than other centers in the area. The system boasts the region's only spine neuronavigation system, as well as a 14-bed neuroscience intensive care unit. With surgeons currently involved in at least five clinical trials focused on neurology, Lehigh Valley Health Network offers patients unique opportunities to undergo new treatments in addition to surgery.

Lifespan (Providence, R.I.). With six experts on its surgical team, Lifespan's Comprehensive Spine Center is affiliated with the Providence-based Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, giving patients access to advanced technology and treatments. Operating at both Rhode Island Hospital in Providence and the newly opened Newport (R.I.) Hospital, the Comprehensive Spine Center is housed within the Norman Prince Neurosciences Institute. Lifespan's 13 neurosurgeons perform about 2,000 procedures annually, and they're researching the use of microelectrode arrays in epilepsy, light treatments for neurological disease, and deep brain stimulation for Alzheimer's patients.

Loyola University Medical Center (Maywood, Ill.). As an academic medical center with researchers involved in nearly 200 clinical trials, Loyola University Medical Center leverages unique neurosurgical techniques such as deep brain stimulation and stereotactic radiotherapy. Each year, Loyola's highly experienced surgeons perform over 1,000 cranial surgeries and collaborate on about 150 cranial-base operations at the Center for Cranial Base Surgery, which features a fully equipped speech and swallowing laboratory. With a 13-bed neuro intensive care unit, Loyola was ranked No. 28 in the nation for neurology and neurosurgery by U.S. News & World Report for 2019-20.

Massachusetts General Hospital (Boston). Massachusetts General Hospital's neurosurgery department performs more than 4,000 procedures every year and was the first to use deep brain stimulation to reduce epileptic seizures. MGH's team of 20 faculty neurosurgeons and 20 residents in training oversees 86 dedicated beds and a 22-bed ICU. Home to the nation's largest hospital-based neuroscience research program, MGH is committed to studying rare disorders of the nervous system, neurodegenerative disorders and effective ALS therapies. U.S. News & World Report ranked Mass General among the top 20 hospitals in the nation for neurology and neurosurgery in 2019-20.

Mayo Clinic (Rochester, Minn.). Mayo Clinic is one of the premier institutions for neurosurgery in the nation, with its Rochester location ranked No. 2 for neurology and neurosurgery by U.S. News & World Report in 2019-20. Neurosurgeons annually perform 7,000 procedures at its three campuses in Arizona, Florida and Minnesota. The health system is also on the forefront of neurosurgical research and currently has 31 clinical trials open for participation as well as a registry for primary spinal tumor research.

Medical University of South Carolina (Charleston). The Medical University of South Carolina's spine center team is a designated Blue Distinction Center for spine surgery, a mark of demonstrated quality outcomes. The hospital has $9 million in technology development funding through an in-house innovation program called Zucker Institute for Applied Neurosciences, a technology accelerator embedded within the health system to move new neuroscience innovations into the clinical settings quickly. The Medical University of South Carolina's spine program was one of the first in the state to offer patients endoscopic spine surgery, and it plans to expand its endoscopic and minimally invasive spine outpatient offerings.

MedStar Georgetown University Hospital (Washington, D.C.). The 609-bed MedStar Georgetown University Hospital has a multidisciplinary spine center and offers comprehensive neurosurgery services, including a pediatric neurosurgery program. It includes 12 neurosurgeons and spine specialists, of which five are trained in minimally invasive spine care. Its minimally invasive spine specialists have performed thousands of procedures, from discectomies to decompressions. In 2019-20, U.S. News & World Report named MedStar Georgetown University Hospital high performing in neurology and neurosurgery, as well as one of the best regional hospitals in the nation.

Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center (Houston). Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center includes the Memorial Hermann Orthopedic & Spine Hospital to offer patients the latest in spine care. The Memorial Hermann Orthopedic & Spine Hospital features 64 private patient rooms, eight two-room suites and 10 surgical suites. Patients coming to the medical center can also receive care at the Mischer Spine Center, where neurosurgeons perform more than 3,000 spine surgeries annually. The Mischer Spine Center is affiliated with Memorial Hermann Mischer Neuroscience Institute at the Texas Medical Center, which offers opportunities for patients to receive the benefits of cutting-edge research. There are 25 spine and nerve research clinical trials in progress or recently completed at the Mischer Neuroscience Institute.

MemorialCare (Fountain Valley, Calif.). Spine care at MemorialCare is offered by a multidisciplinary team of neurosurgeons, orthopedic surgeons and nonoperative specialists. Patients seeking care have the option of going to one of three California-based locations, in Long Beach, Laguna Hills or Fountain Valley. Two MemorialCare hospitals are ranked high performing in adult neurology and neurosurgery by U.S. News & World Report. The Spine Center at MemorialCare Long Beach Medical Center recently acquired robotic navigation technology to enhance precision in spine surgery.

Michigan Medicine (Ann Arbor). Michigan Medicine's neurosurgery department celebrated 100 years of offering adult and pediatric neurosurgical care last year. It includes 24 clinical faculty and eight research faculty members. Michigan Medicine's neurosurgery department also has a mission to educate and train the next generation of neurosurgical and spine care specialists via its residencies and fellowships. Its neurosurgeons are involved in an outreach program, Project Shunt, that offers neurosurgical care to children in Guatemala. U.S. News & World Report ranked Michigan Medicine No. 19 on its list of the 50 best hospitals for adult neurology and neurosurgery in 2019-20.

Milton S. Hershey Medical Center (Hershey, Pa.). Milton S. Hershey Medical Center offers spine and neurosurgery services via its spine center, which includes a 25-person care team. The spine center has developed a "back coach" program, which offers information and resources to those suffering from chronic back and neck pain. The hospital also has a robust neurosurgery research faculty that includes 17 members focusing on several key research areas, including using 3D models to understand tumor growth.

Montefiore Health System (New York City). Montefiore Health System aims to be at the forefront of neurosurgical research and care with eight comprehensive care centers and 12 neurosurgeons on staff. Earlier this year, Montefiore held its first pediatric neurointerventional symposium, which included experts from the U.S. and Canada. Montefiore Medical Center, the health system's flagship, was ranked among the top 50 hospitals in the nation for adult neurology and neurosurgery by U.S. News & World Report for 2019-20.

Moses H. Cone Memorial Hospital (Greensboro, N.C.). The 517-bed Moses H. Cone Memorial Hospital has received several recognitions for its spine care services, including being ranked No. 1 in the state for medical excellence in spinal surgery and spinal fusion by CareChex in 2018. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina also designated the facility a Blue Distinction Center + for spine surgery last year. The hospital offers major interventional neuroradiology and neurosurgery treatments with a multidisciplinary team of neurologists, neuroradiologists other nonoperative specialists to ensure comprehensive care. Cone Health includes 19 orthopedic spine surgeons and neurosurgeons.

Mount Sinai Hospital (New York City). The Spine Hospital at Mount Sinai offers the full spectrum of cervical, thoracic and lumbar spine care. It includes 16 orthopedic and neurospine surgeons who provide care along with a team of nonoperative spine specialists. The hospital is also a preferred spine care site for retired NFL players. The health system has a strong foundation in research through various programs, including the Friedman Brain Institute, an interdisciplinary clinical and research hub focused on brain and spinal cord disorders. U.S. News & World Report ranked Mount Sinai Hospital among the top 20 hospitals in the nation for neurology and neurosurgery in 2019-20.

NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center (New York City). NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center's Weill Cornell Brain and Spine Center includes 24 neurosurgeons, neuroradiologists, neuropsychologists and neuroendocrinologists, who offer clinical services, conduct research and train students, residents and fellows. Patients receiving care at the center have access to the latest research-based medicine, including access to 16 neurosurgery-focused clinical trials. NewYork-Presbyterian was ranked No. 4 on U.S. News & World Report's 2019-20 list of the 50 best hospitals for neurology and neurosurgery.

Northwell Health (New Hyde Park, N.Y.). Northwell Health's Institute for Neurology and Neurosurgery includes a multidisciplinary team that offers a wide array of clinical services, and in collaboration with the Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, the physicians and scientists conduct research and clinical trials that advance the field. U.S. News & World Report ranked Northwell's North Shore University Hospital among the top 50 hospitals in the nation for neurology and neurosurgery, while also distinguishing Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City as high performing in the specialty for 2019-20.

Northwestern Memorial Hospital (Chicago). Northwestern Memorial Hospital includes 38 neurological surgery and spine surgery specialists. It also offers a combined orthopedic spine and neurosurgical spine fellowship to train the next generation of spine and neurosurgeons. Earlier this year, the hospital launched the Northwestern Medicine Hispanic Brain and Spine Tumor Program in Chicago, which aims to reduce barriers to specialized care for the Hispanic and Latino population. U.S. News & World Report ranked Northwestern Memorial Hospital No. 5 on its list of the 50 best hospitals for neurology and neurosurgery in 2019-20.

Norton Healthcare (Louisville, Ky.). Norton Healthcare is home to the Norton Leatherman Spine Center, serving patients in Louisville and southern Indiana. Specialists at Norton Leatherman Spine perform more than 4,000 surgeries annually, and patients see its providers there more than 30,000 times a year. The fellowship-trained specialists at Norton Leatherman Spine have an average of 20 years of experience and focus on research as well as training the next generation of spine surgeons. The hospital has trained more than 100 spine surgeons who are practicing across the country.

NYU Langone Health (New York City). NYU Langone Health's neurosurgery department consists of more than 20 full-time clinical and research faculty members who take on other physicians' most complex surgical cases. Combined with the system's orthopedic spine surgeons, NYU Langone supports about 2,700 spine procedures per year. Its spine center is equipped with robotic technology and a 3D platform for planning and performing surgeries and provides operative and nonoperative treatment for about 18,000 adults and children annually. NYU Langone Hospitals is ranked No. 9 among U.S. News & World Report's top 50 hospitals for neurology and neurosurgery.

Ochsner Medical Center (New Orleans). Ochsner Health System's neurosurgery program stands out for various reasons, including being the only such program in Louisiana and one of only five U.S. centers to offer in-utero surgery to repair spinal bifida in babies during pregnancy. Each year, neurosurgeons across Ochsner Health System perform more than 1,500 adult and pediatric surgeries. The health system's spine and back care program is also highly rated, earning five stars from Healthgrades. Ochsner Medical Center, part of Ochsner Health System, is among the nation's top 50 hospitals for neurology and neurosurgery, according to U.S. News & World Report's 2019-20 rankings.

Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center (Columbus). Ohio State University is the home of an 87-bed, 60,000-square-foot brain and spine hospital that includes specialized units for stroke care, neurotrauma and traumatic brain injuries and spinal cord injury. The university also houses one of the nation's only centers that pursue innovative projects and research through the Traumatic Brain Injury Model Systems program, which is sponsored by the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research. Additionally, the university has the only rehabilitation program in central Ohio certified to handle traumatic brain injury. In 2019-20, U.S. News & World Report recognized Wexner Medical Center as high performing in adult neurology and neurosurgery.

Oregon Health & Science University Hospital (Portland). Oregon Health & Science University Hospital has pioneered innovation in neurological surgery, including North America's first deep brain stimulation surgery, the world's first neuronal stem cell transplants and an intraoperative MRI facility. It also has a leading neurosurgery training program and advanced fellowships in skull base and vascular, functional and pediatric neurosurgery. The hospital is ranked No. 44 among U.S. News & World Report's top 50 hospitals for neurology and neurosurgery in 2019-20.

Penn Medicine (Philadelphia). Penn Medicine neurosurgeons perform more than 5,000 operations annually at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania Hospital, Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, Penn Medicine Virtua Neurosciences and the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Penn Medicine's neurosurgery department also includes a research program led by basic scientists in brain, spine and nervous system diseases and disorders. Penn Medicine researchers are working on a prognostic blood test that would detect and measure neuronal proteins in the cerebrospinal fluid. In 2019-20, U.S. News & World Report ranked the health system's Pennsylvania Hospital No. 31 in the nation for neurology and neurosurgery.

ProMedica (Toledo, Ohio). ProMedica is a health system with more than 794 hospital beds serving 27 counties in Ohio and southeast Michigan. The system includes the ProMedica Wildwood Orthopaedic and Spine Hospital, which is designated a Blue Distinction Center for spine care by the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association and earned the 2018 Press Ganey Guardian of Excellence Award for physician engagement. The system's ProMedica Toledo Hospital also offers advanced navigation and robotics for complex brain and spine surgeries; it became the first in Ohio to offer the 3D mapping technology in 2017.

Rush University Medical Center (Chicago). Rush University Medical Center is one of the top 10 hospitals in the nation for neurology and neurosurgery, according to U.S. News & World Report. Its neurosurgery program consistently reports the most neurosurgical discharges in the Chicago area. In 2018, the health system reported 4,334 neurological surgery outpatient visits focused on the brain and 6,498 outpatient neurological visits focused on the spine. The health system also has a robust spine and back care program, with 12 physicians and surgeons increasingly moving toward minimally invasive and outpatient procedures. The health systems surgeons aim to stay at the forefront of patient treatment and participate in clinical trials investigating degenerative disc disease treatment, registry data for metastatic spine tumors and spinal stenosis treatment with new technology.

Saint Barnabas Medical Center (Livingston, N.J.). Saint Barnabas Medical Center houses the 22-physician neurological team of RWJBarnabas Health, the largest healthcare system in New Jersey. The Saint Barnabas Institute of Neurology & Neurosurgery is a level 4 epilepsy center with nine physicians focused on excellence in clinical care as well as clinical research. The hospital also has an innovative spine surgery department that has used a microdiscectomy technique developed by a member of its team to treat more than 500 patients. Saint Barnabas is recognized as high performing in neurology and neurosurgery by U.S. News & World Report.

Saint Luke's Hospital of Kansas City (Mo.). Saint Luke's Marion Bloch Neuroscience Institute has an advanced comprehensive stroke center accredited by the Joint Commission that leads the region in endovascular interventions and outcomes. It provides advanced stroke care to more than 2,000 patients annually, and the integrated spine program earned designation as a Blue Distinction Center+ for Spine Surgery by Blue Cross Blue Shield Association. Saint Luke's Spine Surgery Program has earned the Joint Commission's Gold Seal of Approval of Spine Surgery Certification. The system also has a level 4 comprehensive epilepsy center and a seven-member neurosurgeon team. For 2019-20, Saint Luke's Hospital of Kansas City was named among U.S. News & World Report's top 50 hospitals for neurology and neurosurgery.

Scripps Health (San Diego). Scripps Health offers neurosurgery and follow-up care at five San Diego County locations. At Scripps Health locations, physicians offer advanced techniques and technology, including minimally invasive brain surgery treatments and a robotics platform. Programs of Scripps Green Hospital and Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla ranked among U.S. News & World Report's top 50 hospitals for neurology and neurosurgery in 2019-20.

Spectrum Health (Grand Rapids, Mich.). Spectrum Health's neurosurgery department specializes in disorders affecting the central nervous system and offers services at five centers across Michigan, including a level 4 epilepsy center. Spectrum Health is also home to Helen DeVos Children's Hospital, which has the only pediatric neurosurgery program in the region. As the largest hospital group in West Michigan, Spectrum Health has been ranked among America's 50 best hospitals by Healthgrades for four consecutive years and has 1,600 physicians focused on more than 110 specialties.

St. Luke's Boise (Idaho) Medical Center. St. Luke's Boise Medical Center is part of the nonprofit St. Luke's Health System, Idaho's largest, comprising 14 hospitals. St. Luke's Boise, which includes four neurosurgery centers and three spine clinics in Idaho, has been ranked as a top 100 hospital by IBM Watson Health. After doubling the number of referrals to its spine care clinic in 2018, the hospital plans to open another location in 2020.

Stanford (Calif.) Health Care. The Stanford department of neurosurgery is composed of 61 neurosurgeons who perform 4,000 neurosurgical operations annually. It was named the No. 9 hospital in the nation for neurology and neurosurgery by U.S. News & World Report in 2019-20 and its stroke center was the first in the nation to be certified as a comprehensive stroke center by the Joint Commission. The department has 30 active labs researching topics including brain injury, deep brain stimulation, brain tumors and epilepsy.

Stony Brook (N.Y.) University Hospital. Stony Brook University Hospital's Neurosurgery Spine Center is a tertiary care academic medical center that has been named one of America's 100 Best Hospitals for stroke care by Healthgrades for five consecutive years. Stony Brook has more than 70 labs researching topics including spine and brain trauma, stroke and multiple sclerosis. The Neurosurgery Spine Center is the only practice in Suffolk County with two full-time pediatric neurosurgeons, and the adult neurology center sees more than 18,000 patients per year.

Sutter Health (Sacramento, Calif.). Eleven hospitals within the Sutter Health network a 24-hospital, nonprofit health system with more than 12,000 physicians received recognition from the American Stroke Association for providing a high level of stroke care in 2019. Eden Medical Center in Castro Valley, Calif., was named one of America's 100 Best Hospitals for stroke care by Heathgrades in 2019. Sutter Medical Center in Sacramento, Calif., also earned recognition as high-performing in neurosurgery by U.S. News & World Report in 2019.

Swedish Medical Center (Englewood, Colo.). Swedish Medical Center serves as the Rocky Mountain region's neurotrauma provider and has spine experts who perform an average of 90 spine surgeries per month. Part of HCA's HealthONE, Blue Cross Blue Shield Association designated it a Blue Distinction Center for spine surgery, and UnitedHealth Group designated it a Center of Excellence for spine surgery. It serves as the region's referral center for the most advanced stroke treatment and was the state's first Joint Commission-certified comprehensive stroke center.

Texas Children's Hospital (Houston). Texas Children's Hospital was the first hospital in the world to use real-time MRI-guided thermal imaging and laser technology to treat epilepsy. Named the No. 3 best neurosurgery center on U.S. News & World Report's 2019-20 list, the hospital performs more than 950 neurosurgical operations every year. It was also the first hospital to use a device similar to a pacemaker in the brain, which recognizes oncoming seizures and prevents them.

The Christ Hospital (Cincinnati). The Christ Hospital Joint & Spine Center is a seven-story facility with 14 operating rooms, four of which are dedicated solely to spine surgery. The Joint & Spine Center also offers physical, occupational and speech therapy services and physicians dedicated solely to joint, spine and brain care. Founded more than 125 years ago, The Christ Hospital has performed more spine procedures than any other hospital in the Cincinnati area.

Tulsa (Okla.) Spine & Specialty Hospital. Founded in 2002, Tulsa Spine & Specialty Hospital has a national reputation top-level patient care. It was named one of America's 100 best hospitals for spine surgery by Healthgrades. The physician-owned hospital was also honored with the Cigna Center of Excellence designation in 2018 for orthopedic back surgery and earned five stars from Healthgrades for spinal fusion in 2018. The hospital has 13 dedicated spine surgeons who perform minimally invasive procedures.

University of California San Diego Health. UC San Diego's neurosurgery division was founded in 1971 and features four intraoperative MRI and CT suites, destination skull base tumor programs and neurocritical care units. The division collaborates regularly with the UC San Diego School of Medicine, San Diego-based Scripps Research Institute and the Salk Institute for Biological Studies in La Jolla, Calif., and received $30 million in funding from the National Institutes of Health in 2018. It was ranked among the top 50 hospitals in the nation for neurology and neurosurgery in 2019-20 according to U.S. News & World Report.

UCI Health (Irvine, Calif.). UCI Health is the only academic health system in Orange County, Calif., and UCI Medical Center's neurosurgery department was recognized as high performing by U.S. News & World Report in 2019-20. The department of neurological surgery includes Orange County's first comprehensive stroke center, granted certification by The Joint Commission, as well as active research in neuro-oncology and spinal cord injury. The department frequently collaborates with other research organizations, such as UC Irvine's Reeve-Irvine Research Center, which is working to find new treatments for spinal cord injury.

UCLA Medical Center (Los Angeles). As UCLA Health's flagship hospital, UCLA Medical Center's neurosurgery department has ranked as one of the top neurosurgery programs in the nation for over 20 consecutive years by U.S. News & World Report. The department has its own neurosurgery app designed for patients with information about their physicians, procedures and hospital amenities. UCLA's Spine Center is also designated a Blue Distinction Center for Spine Surgery by Blue Shield of California.

UCSF Medical Center (San Francisco). The department of neurological surgery at UCSF Medical Center has 14 specialties, including pediatric neurosurgery. In 2011, the department developed the Quality Improvement and Patient Safety initiative with the goal of becoming a national leader in neurological surgery quality. The hospital is piloting an enhanced recovery after surgery pathway for cranial surgery as well as an opioid stewardship program. UCSF's Spine Center is also one of the largest spine centers in the country and sees over 10,000 patients a year. The department of neurological surgery at UCSF was recognized in 2019-20 as one of the top three neurosurgery programs in the country by U.S. News & World Report, which also ranks the UCSF Benioff Children's Hospitals among the top hospitals for pediatric neurosurgery in the nation.

UF Health (Gainesville, Fla.). The UF Health Spine Program provides comprehensive outpatient and inpatient treatment options at one location that features 17 neurosurgeons, three neurosurgery ORs, two neurosurgery hybrid interventional ORs and 48 private ICU patient rooms. The hospital provides complete spine services including the treatment of degenerative spinal diseases, spinal tumors as well as craniocervical junction anomalies and performs more than 1,000 procedures annually. For its 2019-20 rankings, U.S. News & World Report named UF Health Shands Hospital in Gainesville the No. 2 hospital in Florida, and it was ranked among the top in the nation for neurology and neurosurgery.

UK HealthCare Albert B. Chandler Hospital (Lexington, Ky.). UK Neurosurgery features nine neurosurgeons providing care for complex conditions including spinal tumors and deformities, stroke, ALS, and epilepsy. UK HealthCare Albert B. Chandler Hospital was ranked the No. 1 hospital in the state for neurology and neurosurgery by U.S. News & World Report's best hospitals survey for 2019-20. UK Neurosurgery collaborates with the UK Kentucky Neuroscience Institute on several research initiatives and is currently enrolling participants in ALS and epilepsy clinical trials.

UNC REX Hospital (Raleigh, N.C.). REX Neurosurgery & Spine Specialists features a team of 12 orthopedic spine and neurosurgeons providing comprehensive neurosurgical care including spinal fusion, minimally invasive spine surgery and reconstructive spine surgery. The department performs thousands of procedures each year and has been certified as a comprehensive stroke care center by The Joint Commission since 2011. UNC REX bolstered the department in the past year with the addition of an on-site spine physical therapist and a spine navigator to determine whether patients need imaging, surgery or physical therapy.

University Hospitals (Cleveland). The staff University Hospitals includes 11 orthopedic spine and neurosurgeons focused on providing exceptional patient care. The University Hospitals Spine Institute collaborates with the UH Neurological Institute, which features 13 centers of excellence and provides innovative neurosurgical therapies including CyberKnife, Gamma Knife and the NeuroBlate System. University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center was ranked among the best hospitals for neurology and neurosurgery in the nation by U.S. News & World Report in 2019-20.

University of Alabama Hospital at Birmingham. UAB Hospital at Birmingham is widely recognized for its spine care and brain cancer research, and its specialists treat more than 4,000 patients annually. UAB Neurology and Neurosurgery has eight comprehensive divisions and seven centers that care for 26,000 patients per year. The neurosurgery department is also responsible for around 5,000 procedures annually for both pediatric and adult patients. It features research faculty and physician scientists who collaborate to advance research in conditions such as Parkinson's disease, spinal cord injury and neurovascular disorders.

University of California Davis Medical Center (Sacramento). Spine and neurosurgeons at UC Davis Medical Center actively participate in research and clinical trials spanning a range of areas including lumbar fusion, traumatic brain injury and thoracic spinal cord injury. UC Davis Health's neurosurgery department features 13 physicians on its clinical faculty and its brain tumor program incorporates 19 physicians from several subspecialties to provide optimum care for adult and pediatric patients with tumors of the nervous system. The UC Davis Medical Center ranked among the best hospitals for neurology and neurosurgery in U.S. News & World Report's 2019-20 list.

University of Colorado Hospital (Aurora). UCHealth Spine Center at the Anschutz Medical Campus is staffed by renowned spine and neurosurgeons who have built a comprehensive and award-winning program. The hospital is certified by The Joint Commission as a comprehensive stroke center and its epilepsy program is rated as a Level 4 center by the National Association of Epilepsy Centers and earned the 2019 Get With the Guidelines Stroke Gold Plus Elite Plus award from the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association for outstanding care. The department of neurosurgery features 23 physicians and U.S. News & World Report ranked UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital among the best in the nation for neurology and neurosurgery for 2019-20.

University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics (Iowa City). The UI Spine Center has a robust program with 10 orthopedic spine and neurosurgeons who participate in next-generation surgical technology investigations to stay on the forefront of spine care. The hospital has earned the Blue Cross Blue Distinction Center+ designation for spine surgery and the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine is often ranked in the top 10 in National Institutes of Health funding for faculty members, including neurosurgery. The neurosurgery department specializes in the surgical treatment of degenerative spine pathology, epilepsy, brain and spinal cord tumors and was designated a center of excellence by the Parkinson's Foundation in 2018.

University of Kansas Hospital (Kansas City). The department of neurosurgery at the University of Kansas Medical Center is equipped with virtual reality systems and a 3D printer to assist neurosurgeons in planning procedures and training physicians in the latest technology. The hospital includes 11 neurosurgeons and a 14-physician neurosurgery residency program. It also has a robust spine center, the Marc A. Asher, MD, Comprehensive Spine Center, which opened in 2008 and includes 27 exam rooms, four diagnostic rooms and a 4,000-square-foot outpatient rehabilitation gym.

University of Miami (Fla.) Hospital and Clinics. Neurosurgeons at University of Miami Hospital and Clinics see more than 14,000 patients and perform over 4,000 procedures annually. The hospital was named among the best hospitals in Florida by U.S. News & World Report in 2019-20 and scored as a high-performing facility in the departments of neurology and neurosurgery. The hospital integrates the latest innovations into its neurosurgical research programs including robotics, 3D interoperative imaging and deep brain stimulation.

UW Health (Madison, Wis.). The neurosurgery residency program was founded at the University of Wisconsin's department of surgery in 1942 and has been in operation ever since. UW Health features 14 neurosurgeons, 12 research faculty and two fellows. Neurosurgeons in the department see more than 1,200 brain tumor patients per year in collaboration with the UW Carbone Cancer Center. The department focuses on both clinical and investigative aspects of care for neurological diseases and is currently participating in a range of clinical trials involving brain tumors, stroke, spinal cord injury and cervical spondylotic myelopathy.

University of Utah Hospitals and Clinics (Salt Lake City). University of Utah Hospitals and Clinics provides the full spectrum of neurosurgical care to patients with cranial and spinal diseases and disorders. The faculty includes 25 physicians who provide a range of services including cerebrovascular, spinal, functional, traumatic, tumor, and pediatric neurosurgery. Physicians at the hospital are actively involved in clinical trials with current projects including pediatric neurosurgery and venous thromboembolism.

University of Virginia Medical Center (Charlottesville). Spine specialists at the University of Virginia Medical Center, in partnership with colleagues from the neurosurgery department, perform more than 1,500 spine procedures each year. The medical center's neurosurgery department is led by Jeffrey Elias, MD, who was honored as the 2018 Edlich-Henderson Innovator of the Year by the UVA Licensing & Ventures Group. At the university, Dr. Elias pioneered the use of focused ultrasound to treat essential tremor and led a clinical trial that resulted in FDA approval of the treatment.

UW Medicine (Seattle). The department of neurological surgery at UW Medicine is the primary referral center for patients in Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana and Idaho who have complex neurological conditions. Twenty neurosurgeons, 15 neuroscientists and 79 adjunct clinical research faculty staff the department, and an additional 20 physicians are in its neurological surgery residency program. The neurological surgery department's outreach initiatives include National Institutes of Health-sponsored brain injury research in five Latin American countries.

UW Health (Madison, Wis.). In 1993, spine specialists at UW Health developed a minimally invasive treatment for spinal fusion surgery, becoming one of the first institutions to perform the procedure in the world and solidifying the health system as a leader in minimally invasive spine surgery. In addition to spine, providers at UW Health care for more than 1,200 brain tumor patients each year, working with the UW Carbone Cancer Center when additional treatment is needed. For 2019-20, U.S. News & World Report listed UW Health among the top 50 hospitals in the nation for neurology and neurosurgery.

UPMC (Pittsburgh). Part of the UPMC Neurological Institute, the UPMC department of neurosurgery is one of the largest academic neurosurgical providers in the nation, with more than 11,000 procedures performed annually. Among its accolades, the department ranks as one of the highest in the country in National Institutes of Health funding, and the department's chair, Robert Friedlander, MD, was elected to the National Academy of Medicine in 2018. U.S. News & World Report ranked UPMC's Presbyterian Shadyside hospital in Pittsburgh among the nation's top 50 hospitals for neurology and neurosurgery for 2019-20.

UR Medicine (Rochester, N.Y.). Patients across New York's Finger Lakes, Southern Tier and Western New York regions are served by UR Medicine Neurosurgery. At UR Medicine's Spine Center, physicians see more than 19,000 patients annually. In 2019, researchers led by the director of the hospital's department of neurosurgery's Translation Pair Research Program were selected to help the National Institutes of Health create a nonaddictive treatment for pain through clinical trials.

UT Southwestern Medical Center (Dallas). The Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, part of the department of neurological surgery at UT Southwestern Medical Center, ranks No. 15 in the nation for neurology and neurosurgery, according to U.S. News & World Report's 2019-20 list. The department's neuro-oncology program is supported by the Annette G. Strauss Center for Neuro-Oncology and collaborates with the Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center. In 2018, the Decherd Foundation awarded the hospital an endowment to create an annual award to recognize exceptional care for neurotrauma patients at UT Southwestern's teaching hospital, Dallas-based Parkland Memorial Hospital.

Vanderbilt University Medical Center (Nashville, Tenn.). In addition to 21 residents, the neurological surgery department at Vanderbilt University Medical Center has 16 physician faculty members who are part of its 32-member advance practice and research team. The department sees more than 5,000 surgeries and procedures each year. In 2019, neurological surgery researchers at Vanderbilt, supported by the National Institutes of Health, for the first time found improvements in brain networks after surgery in 15 people with temporal lobe epilepsy.

VCU Medical Center (Richmond, Va.). With a 13-physician faculty, the Virginia Commonwealth University department of neurosurgery at VCU Medical Center is home to a new concept of outpatient medicine for orthopedic and neurological conditions. The VCU Health Neuroscience, Orthopaedic and Wellness Center, dubbed the "N.O.W. Center," aims to offer patient-centered care, using new software to help providers manage patients' progress during visits. The neurosurgery department at VCU Medical Center has been recognized by U.S. News & World Report, which named the hospital among the top 50 in the country for neurology and neurosurgery for 2018-19.

Vidant Medical Center (Greenville, N.C.). Vidant Medical Center is home to the only neuroscience intensive care unit in eastern North Carolina, as well as a specialized neuroscience rehabilitation unit. The hospital's neurosurgery department has 19 physicians and healthcare professionals. In April 2019, one of Vidant's neurosurgery department members co-authored a 12-month study of the use of a new neuro-spinal scaffold to treat acute thoracic complete spinal cord injury.

Wake Forest Baptist Health (Winston-Salem, N.C.). Every year, physicians at Wake Forest Baptist Health's spine center perform more than 1,000 surgeries on patients in need of treatment for back and neck disorders. Wake Forest Baptist Health is home to one of the nation's leading Gamma Knife Centers and is one of the few centers in the country to use deep brain stimulation to treat movement disorders, brain tumors, depression and Tourette syndrome. Additionally, the hospital's neurosurgery department has two neurosurgeons who specialize in pediatric care.

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100 hospitals and health systems with great neurosurgery and spine programs | 2019 - Becker's Hospital Review

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Stem Cell Therapy and Stem Cell Injection Provider Finder …

Stem cell therapy can be described as a means or process by which stem cells are used for the prevention, treatment or the cure of diseases. Stem cells are a special kind of cells that have features other types of cells dont have. As an illustration, stem cells are capable of proliferation. This implies that they can develop into any type of cell, and grow to start performing the functions of the tissue. In addition, they can regenerate. This means they can multiply themselves. This is most important when a new tissue has to be formed. Also, they modulate immune reactions. This has made them useful for the treatment of autoimmune diseases, especially those that affect the musculoskeletal system such as rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus and so on. Stem cells can be derrived from different sources. They can be extracted from the body, and in some specific parts of the body. This includes the blood, bone marrow, umbilical cord in newborns, adipose tissue, and from embryos. There are 2 main types of stem cell transplant. These are autologous stem cell transplant, and allogeneic stem cell transplant. The autologous stem cell transplant means that stem cells are extracted from the patient, processed, and then transplanted back to the patient, for therapeutic purposes. On the other hand, allogeneic stem cell transplant means the transplant of stem cells or from another individual, known as the donor, to another person, or recipient. Some treatments must be given to the receiver to prevent any cases of rejections, and other complications. The autologous is usually the most preferred type of transplant because of its almost zero side effects. Below are some of the stem cell treatments. Our goal is to provide education, research and an opportunity to connect with Stem Cell Doctors, as well as provide stem cell reviews

Adipose Stem Cell TreatmentsAdipose stem cell treatment is one of the most commonly used. This is because large quantities of stem cells can be derrived from them. According to statistics, the number of stem cells in adipose tissue are usually hundreds of times higher than what can be obtained from other sources, such as the bone marrow stem cells. Adipose stem cells have taken the center stage in the world of stem cell therapy. Apart from the ease that comes with the harvesting of these cells from the adipose tissue, they also have some special features, that separates them from other types of cells. Adipose stem cells are capable of regulating and modulating the immune system. This includes immune suppression, which is important for the treatment of autoimmune diseases. In addition, adipose stem cells can differentiate to form other types of cells. Some of them include the bone forming cells, cardiomyocytes, and cells of the nervous system.

This process can be divided into four parts. These are

Stem cell joint injection is fast becoming the new treatment of joint diseases. Stem cells derived from bone marrow, adipose and mesenchymal stem cells are the most commonly used. The stem cells are injected into the joints, and they proceed to repair and replace the damaged tissues. The cells also modulate the inflammatory process going on. Overall, stem cell joint injections significantly reduce the recovery time of patients and also eliminates pain and risks associated with surgery. Examples of diseases where this treatment is used include osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and so on. Researchers and physicians have rated this procedure to be the future of joint therapy.

Losing a tooth as a kid isnt news because youd eventually grow them back, but losing one as an adult isnt a pleasant experience. Youd have to go through the pains of getting a replacement from your dentist. Apart from the cost of these procedures, the pain and number of days youd have to stay at home nursing the pain is also a problem. Nevertheless, there are great teeth replacement therapies available for all kinds of dental problems. Although there are already good dental treatment methods, stem cell therapy might soon become the future of dental procedures. Currently, a lot of research is being done on how stem cells can be used to develop teeth naturally, especially in patients with dental problems. The aim of the project is to develop a method whereby peoples stem cells are used in regenerating their own teeth and within the shortest time possible. Some of the benefits of the stem cell tooth would be:

The quality of life of those that underwent serious procedures, especially those that had an allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation done was studied. It was discovered that this set of people had to cope with some psychological problems, even years after the procedure. In addition, allogeneic stem cell transplantation often comes with some side effects. However, this a small price to pay, considering that the adverse effects are not usually life-threatening. Also theses types of procedures are used for severe disorders or even terminal diseases. On the other hand, autologous stem cell transplantation bears the minimum to no side effects. Patients do have a great quality of life, both in the short term and in the long term.

This is one of the many uses of stem cells. The stem cell gun is a device that is used in treating people with wounds or burns. This is done by simply triggering it, and it sprays stem cells on the affected part. This kind of treatment is crucial for victims of a severe burn. Usually, people affected by severe burns would have to endure excruciating pain. The process of recovery is usually long, which might vary from weeks to months, depending on the severity of the burn. Even after treatment, most patients are left with scars forever. However, the stem cell gun eliminates these problems, the skin can be grown back in just a matter of days. The new skin also grows evenly and blends perfectly with the other part of the body. This process is also without the scars that are usually associated with the traditional burns therapy. The stem cell gun is without any side effects.

There is one company that focuses on the production of stem cell supplements. These stem cells are usually natural ingredients that increase the development of stem cells, and also keeps them healthy. The purpose of the stem cell supplements is to help reduce the aging process and make people look younger. These supplements work by replacing the dead or repairing the damaged tissues of the body. There have been a lot of testimonials to the efficacy of these supplements.

It is the goal of researchers to make stem cell therapy a good alternative for the millions of patients suffering from cardiac-related diseases. According to some experiments carried out in animals, stem cells were injected into the ones affected by heart diseases. A large percentage of them showed great improvement, even within just a few weeks. However, when the trial was carried out in humans, some stem cells went ahead to develop into heart muscles, but overall, the heart function was generally improved. The reason for the improvement has been attributed to the formation of new vessels in the heart. The topic that has generated a lot of arguments have been what type of cells should be used in the treatment of heart disorders. Stem cells extracted from the bone marrow, embryo have been in use, although bone marrow stem cells are the most commonly used. Stem cells extracted from bone marrow can differentiate into cardiac cells, while studies have shown that other stem cells cannot do the same. Even though the stem cell therapy has a lot of potential in the future, more research and studies have to be done to make that a reality.

The use of stem cells for the treatment of hair loss has increased significantly. This can be attributed to the discovery of stem cells in bone marrow, adipose cells, umbilical cord, and so on. Stem cells are extracted from the patient, through any of the sources listed above. Adipose tissue stem cells are usually the most convenient in this scenario, as they do not require any special extraction procedure. Adipose tissue is harvested from the abdominal area. The stem cells are then isolated from the other cells through a process known as centrifugation. The stem cells are then activated and are now ready for use. The isolated stem cells are then introduced into the scalp, under local anesthesia. The entire process takes about three hours. Patients are free to go home, after the procedure. Patients would begin to see improvements in just a few months, however, this depends largely on the patients ability to heal. Every patient has a different outcome.

Human umbilical stem cells are cells extracted from the umbilical cord of a healthy baby, shortly after birth. Umbilical cord tissue is abundant in stem cells, and the stem cells can differentiate into many types of cells such as red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. They are also capable of differentiating into non-blood cells such as muscle cells, cartilage cells and so on. These cells are usually preferred because its' extraction is minimally non invasive. It also is nearly painless. It also has zero risks of rejecting, as it does not require any form of matching or typing.Human umbilical stem cell injections are used for the treatment of spinal cord injuries. A trial was done on twenty-five patients that had late-stage spinal cord injuries. They were placed on human umbilical stem cell therapy, while another set of 25 patients were simultaneously placed on the usual rehabilitation therapy. The two groups were studied for the next twelve months. The results of the trial showed that those people placed on stem cell therapy by administering the human umbilical cell tissue injections had a significant recovery, as compared to the other group that underwent the traditional rehabilitation therapy. It was concluded that human umbilical tissue injections applied close to the injured part gives the best outcomes.

Stem cell therapy has been used for the treatment of many types diseases. This ranges from terminal illnesses such as cancer, joint diseases such as arthritis, and also autoimmune diseases. Stem cell therapy is often a better alternative to most traditional therapy today. This is because stem cell procedure is minimally invasive when compared to chemotherapy and so on. It harnesses the bodys own ability to heal. The stem cells are extracted from other parts of the body and then transplanted to other parts of the body, where they would repair and maintain the tissues. They also perform the function of modulating the immune system, which makes them important for the treatment of autoimmune diseases. Below are some of the diseases that stem cell therapies have been used successfully:

A stem cell bank can be described as a facility where stem cells are stored for future purposes. These are mostly amniotic stem cells, which are derived from the amnion fluid. Umbilical cord stem cells are also equally important as it is rich in stem cells and can be used for the treatment of many diseases. Examples of these diseases include cancer, blood disorders, autoimmune diseases, musculoskeletal diseases and so on. According to statistics, umbilical stem cells can be used for the treatment of over eighty diseases. Storing your stem cells should be seen as an investment in your health for future sake. Parents do have the option of either throwing away their babys umbilical cord or donating it to stem cell banks.

The adipose tissue contains a lot of stem cells, that has the ability to transform into other cells such as muscle, cartilage, neural cells. They are also important for the treatment of some cardiovascular diseases. This is what makes it important for people to want to store their stem cells. The future health benefit is huge. The only way adults can store their stem cells in sufficient amounts is to extract the stem cells from their fat tissues. This process is usually painless and fast. Although, the extraction might have to be done between 3 to 5 times before the needed quantity is gotten. People that missed the opportunity to store their stem cells, using their cord cells, can now store it using their own adipose tissues. This can be used at any point in time.

Side effects often accompany every kind of treatment. However, this depends largely on the individual. While patients might present with side effects, some other people wouldnt. Whether a patient will present with adverse effects, depends on the following factors;

Some of the common side effects of stem cell transplant are;

Stem cell treatment has been largely successful so far, however, more studies and research needs to be done. Stem cell therapy could be the future.

Stem cells are unique cells that have some special features such as self-regeneration, tissue repair, and modulation of the immune system. These are the features that are employed in the treatment of diseases.

Our doctors are certified by iSTEMCELL but operate as part of a medical group or as independent business owners and as such are free to charge what the feel to be the right fit for their practice and clients. We have seen Stem Cell Treatment costs range from $3500 upwards of $30,000 depending on the condition and protocol required for intended results. Find the Best Stem Cell Doctor Near me If you are interested in saving money, try our STEM CELL COUPON!

Travel Medcations are becoming very popular around the globe for several reasons but not for what one might think. It is not about traveling to Mexico to save money, but to get procedures or protocols that are not yet available in your home country. Many procedures are started in your home country, then the tissue is set to the tissue lab where it is then grown in a process to maximize live cells, then sent to a hospital in Mexico designed to treat or provide different therapies for different conditions. If you're ready to take a medical vacation call 972-800-6670 for our"WHITE GLOVE" service.

Chen, C. and Hou, J. (2016). Mesenchymal stem cell-based therapy in kidney transplantation. Stem Cell Research & Therapy, 7(1).

Donnelly, A., Johar, S., OBrien, T. and Tuan, R. (2010). Welcome to Stem Cell Research & Therapy. Stem Cell Research & Therapy, 1(1), p.1.

Groothuis, S. (2015). Changes in Stem Cell Research. Stem Cell Research, 14(1), p.130.

Rao, M. (2012). Stem cells and regenerative medicine. Stem Cell Research & Therapy, 3(4), p.27.

Vunjak-Novakovic, G. (2013). Physical influences on stem cells. Stem Cell Research & Therapy, 4(6), p.153.

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