NEW YORK, Nov. 7, 2006 (PRIMEZONE) -- National Stem Cell Holding, Inc. (Pink Sheets:NHGI), a biotech company based in New York, announced today that Michael J. Shamblott, Ph.D., a founding member of the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine's Institute for Cell Engineering, has been named the company's Chief Scientific Advisor. In this new role, Dr. Shamblott will lead the National Stem Cell Scientific Advisory Board which was established to guide the research and development initiatives of the company.
Dr. Shamblott also serves as Director of the Johns Hopkins Diabetes and Pancreatic Regeneration Program and is an Assistant Professor of Gynecology and Obstetrics.
An eminent researcher in the description of human embryonic stem cells, Dr. Shamblott published one of the first two reports written on the human stem cell from embryonic sources in the article "Derivation of Pluripotent Stem Cells from Cultured Human Primordial Germ Cells" (Michael J. Shamblott, John D. Gearhart, et al, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Vol. 95, Issue 23, 13726-13731, November 10, 1998). He also received the 1999 Alfred Blalock Research Prize and the 2002 Mary Tyler Moore and S. Robert Levine M.D. Clinical Career Development Award for research. Shamblott sits on the ethical advisory board of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and is an ad hoc member of the NIH Cellular Aspects of Diabetes and Obesity (CADO) study section.
Through a sponsored research agreement with John Hopkins University School of Medicine's Institute for Cell Engineering ("ICE") and spearheaded by Dr. Shamblott, National Stem Cell has already begun development of potential stem cell therapies for the treatment of diabetes and cardiac injury. The company is also working with Dr. Shamblott and his ICE team to develop a platform that will allow for the growth of contaminant-free human embryonic stem (hES) cell lines which will be made available to the research community.
"Michael Shamblott has been a key member of our Scientific Advisory Board, and we are delighted that he has agreed to lead this prestigious group," explains Michael Cohen, CEO of National Stem Cell. "His expertise and commitment to finding therapies for some of the most devastating conditions corresponds well with our company's goals. We look forward to Dr. Shamblott's contributions as leader of our Scientific Advisory Board."
This press release contains forward-looking statements regarding the Company's financial or business outlook. Such statements are based on management's current beliefs and expectations. There are a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from management's current beliefs and expectations. National Stem Cell Holding, Inc. does not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking statements.
About National Stem Cell Holding, Inc.
National Stem Cell Holding, Inc. (Pink Sheets:NHGI) is a biotechnology company headquartered in New York City dedicated to the advancement of regenerative medicine. Incorporated in 2005, National Stem Cell Holding is the parent company of National Stem Cell, Inc. which operates the Sperm Bank of New York as a wholly owned subsidiary. Through its sponsored research agreement with the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine's Institute for Cell Engineering National Stem Cell is focused on the development of potential stem cell therapies for the treatment of diabetes and cardiac injury. The company also plans to develop a genetically diverse umbilical cord blood bank to meet the growing need for transplant grade umbilical cord blood stem cells. For more information, please visit www.nationalstemcell.com.