The General Hospital Corporation

Viacell, Inc.

T. Breeders, Inc.

Viacord LLC

Morey Kraus

Seth P Finklestein

Paul T Clark

Jill Friberg

Paul T Wilder

Robert H Brown, Jr

Liqin Liu

Paul Wilder

Hongkui Deng

Methods of causing an improvement in central nervous system function are provided. The methods include administering an aliquot of stem cells to the patient, the cells being derived from blood, e.g., umbilical cord blood. In some cases a growth factor is administered with the cells.

Methods of improving central nervous system functioning

Methods for improving central nervous system functioning

The invention features methods for treating a patient suffering from muscular dystrophy by administration of umbilical cord blood cells, e.g., by IV infusion.

Treatment of muscular dystrophy with cord blood cells

The present invention features methods of modulating primary stem cell differentiation in culture by altering the endogenous activity of an insulin-like growth factor.

Modulation of primary stem cell differentiation using an insulin-like growth factor binding protein

Methods are provided for expanding populations of non-fetal hemangioblasts, for example a method including (a) providing a first cell population containing non-fetal hemangioblasts; and (b) growing the enriched cell culture under conditions that promote the proliferation of the non-fetal hemangioblasts. Preferred populations include non-fetal uncommitted human hemangioblasts.

Cell population containing non-fetal hemangioblasts and method for producing same

Methods and systems are provided for the selective expansion of target cell populations, and methods of treating patients with cell populations and products.

Selective expansion of target cell populations

A method is provided for selective expansion of a predetermined target population of cells, including (a) introducing a starting sample of cells into a growth medium; (b) causing cells of the predetermined target cell population to divide; and (c) concurrently with, intermittently during, or following step (b) contacting the starting cells with a selection element, comprising a plurality of selective binding molecules with specific affinity either for target cells or for non-target cells to select cells of said predetermined target population from other cells in the growth medium. Systems are provided for selective expansion and methods of treating patients with cell populations and products.

A system is provided for selective clonogenic expansion of relatively undifferentiated cells, including (a) a tube containing a plurality of beads of a size which permits a plurality of the undifferentiated cells to grow thereon, the beads bearing on their surfaces a selective binding molecule which binds to a surface antigen present on the relatively undifferentiated cells, wherein the antigen is not present on the surfaces of the relatively differentiated cells; (b) means for continuously providing nutrients to the relatively undifferentiated cells growing on the beads, wherein the nutrients are delivered via a fluid which flows through the tube and past the beads; and (c) means for continuously harvesting the relatively undifferentiated cells downstream of the beads.

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Jefferson, MA, United States of America

Morey Kraus