NEW YORK, Nov. 16, 2006 (PRIMEZONE) -- National Stem Cell Holding, Inc. (Pink Sheets:NHGI), a biotech company, announced today that Dr. Ian McNiece, Professor of Oncology with Johns Hopkins University and Director of the Division of Biomedical Sciences for Johns Hopkins Singapore, will serve as a consultant to the company overseeing the development of the National Stem Cell Cord Blood Bank.
As the company prepares to launch a state-of-the-art umbilical cord blood banking facility in early 2007, Dr. McNiece will be actively involved in preparing banking procedures and ensuring compliance with multiple agency accreditation standards. His role will also include overseeing the day-to-day activities of the facility.
"A member of our Scientific Advisory Board, Dr. McNiece adds great value to our organization," explains Michael Cohen, CEO of National Stem Cell. "His extensive background in stem and progenitor cell biology as well as his research into cellular therapies for regenerative and replacement tissue engineering makes him ideally suited to spearhead our cord blood banking operations."
The Food and Drug Administration has approved stem cell therapeutics as a potential treatment for more than 80 diseases creating a growing demand for transplant grade umbilical cord blood stem cells. The National Stem Cell Cord Blood Bank will meet this need and will have an added emphasis on ensuring genetic diversity. The company will focus on increasing participation of minority groups that are currently under-represented in the pool of available cord blood stem cell units.
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 is also opening a genetically diverse cord blood bank to meet the growing need for transplant grade umbilical cord blood stem cells. For more information, please visit www.nationalstemcell.com.