Worcester, MA / La Jolla, CA – Advanced Cell Technology, Inc. (OTCBB:ACTC.OB) announced today it has entered into a research collaboration agreement with the The Burnham Institute, a California based non-profit medical research institution, to conduct research that aims to isolate stem cell specific differentiation markers.
The research project will be conducted under the guidance of Advanced Cell Technology’s Principal Investigator, David Larocca, Ph.D., and The Burnham Institute’s Principal Investigator,
Erkki Ruoslahti, M.D., Ph.D. Dr. Larocca brings more than 20 years experience in biotechnology and discovery research, and holds over a dozen patents in the fields of functional genomics, gene delivery and cancer immunotherapy. Dr. Ruoslahti is Distinguished Professor of Cell Adhesion & Extracellular Matrix Biology and previous President/CEO at The Burnham Institute. The underlying theme of his work is metastasis, the process of cancer spread to distant sites in the body.
The research will be conducted at the facilities of The Burnham Institute in La Jolla, California.
“One of the key challenges to developing new therapies with embryonic stem cells is understanding and generating conditions for differentiating embryonic stem cells into desired cell types,” explained Dr. Michael D. West, President and Chief Scientific Officer of Advanced Cell Technology. “The goal of our collaboration with The Burnham Institute is to use particle display technology to identify markers for many of the lineages of cells that make up the human body. These markers will also prove valuable in purifying many kinds of cells for use in human therapy.”
“With the passage of California’s visionary Proposition 71, the California Stem Cell Initiative, and having just recently expanded our senior scientific team into California, we are excited and honored to be joining forces with one of California’s and the nation’s leading life-science research institutions, said William M. Caldwell, IV, Chief Executive Officer of Advanced Cell Technology. “This collaboration is a reflection of our shared goal – a commitment to bringing new cures and treatments to the bedside.”
Advanced Cell Technology, Inc., a Nevada corporation, is a biotechnology company applying stem cell technology in the emerging field of regenerative medicine. The company is currently headquartered in Worcester, Massachusetts. For more information about the company visit http://www.advancedcell.com
The Burnham Institute, founded in 1976, is an independent not-for-profit biomedical research institution dedicated to advancing the frontiers of scientific knowledge and providing the
foundation for tomorrow’s medical therapies. The Institute is home to three major centers: its original Cancer Center, the Del E. Webb Neuroscience and Aging Center established in 1999, and the Infectious and Inflammatory Disease Center dedicated in 2004. Since 1981, the Institute’s Cancer Center has earned the prestigious designation as a Non-comprehensive Cancer Center by the National Cancer Institute. Discoveries by Burnham scientists have contributed to the development of new drugs for Alzheimer’s disease, heart disease and several forms of cancer. Today the Burnham Institute employs over 700, including more than 550 scientists. The majority of the Institute’s funding derives from federal sources, but private philanthropic support is essential to continuing bold and innovative research. For additional information about the Institute and ways to support the research efforts of the Institute, visit http://www.burnham.org
Statements in this news release regarding future financial and operating results, future growth in research and development programs, potential applications of our technology, opportunities for the company and its subsidiary, Advanced Cell, Inc., and any other statements about the future expectations, beliefs, goals, plans, or prospects expressed by management constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Any statements that are not statements of historical fact (including statements containing the words “will,” “believes,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “expects,” “estimates,” and similar expressions) should also be considered to be forward-looking statements. There are a number of important factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements, including: limited operating history, need for future capital, risks inherent in the development and commercialization of potential products, protection of our intellectual property, and economic conditions generally. Additional information on potential factors that could affect our results and other risks and uncertainties are detailed from time to time in the company’s periodic reports, including the report on Form 10-QSB for the quarter ended March 31, 2005.
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