SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Stemedica Cell Technologies Inc., a leading manufacturer of adult, allogeneic stem cells and stem cell factors, welcomes to its Scientific and Medical Advisory Board prominent stem cell and regenerative medicine expert Dr. Mahendra Rao, M.D., Ph.D. As a Founding Director of the National Institute of Health (NIH) Center for Regenerative Medicine (CRM), he has built the Center into a world-class organization recognized for its excellence in the clinical translation of stem cell technology, and his expertise will help Stemedica shape its strategy to meet global demand for its stem cell technology.
“I look forward to a long and beneficial relationship with Stemedica,” Dr. Mahendra Rao says. “In my various professional assignments and industry engagements, I have had an opportunity to extensively review the stem cell technology that is available in the marketplace. I decided to join the Stemedica team because Stemedica has developed an elegant manufacturing process and is committed to cell-based therapies for multiple medical diseases that are difficult to treat.”
Dr. Rao is internationally renowned for his research in stem cells and regenerative medicine. He has worked in the stem cell field for more than 20 years, with positions in academia, government, regulatory affairs and industry, and he has authored more than 300 publications. He received his M.D. from Bombay University and his Ph.D. in developmental neurobiology from the California Institute of Technology. Following postdoctoral training at Case Western Reserve University, he established his research laboratory in neural development at the University of Utah. He next joined the National Institute on Aging as Chief of the Neurosciences Section, where he studied neural progenitor cells. Most recently, he was Vice President of Regenerative Medicine at Life Technologies.
“We are very fortunate to have someone of Dr. Rao’s caliber join the Stemedica Team,” says Maynard A. Howe, Ph.D., Vice Chairman and CEO of Stemedica. “His experience and expertise are already proving invaluable as Stemedica strengthens its global leadership position in manufacturing multiple stem cell products for use in various clinical trials in the United States and internationally.”
Throughout his career, Dr. Rao has served internationally on advisory boards for companies involved in stem cell processing and translational applications. He has also participated on committees including Chairman of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Cellular Tissue and Gene Therapies Advisory Committee, the California Institute of Regenerative Medicine, International Society for Stem Cell Research and as the liaison to the International Society for Cellular Therapy.
“Based on his extensive stem cell and regenerative medicine accomplishments, Dr. Rao is the ideal candidate to advise Stemedica during this period of rapid growth,” states Alex Kharazi, M.D., Ph.D., CTO of Stemedica Cell Technologies Inc.
About Stemedica Cell Technologies Inc.
Stemedica Cell Technologies Inc. is a specialty biopharmaceutical company that is committed to the manufacturing and development of best-in-class, allogeneic, adult stem cells and stem cell factors for use by approved research institutions and hospitals for pre-clinical and clinical (human) trials. The company is a government-licensed manufacturer of clinical-grade stem cells and is approved by the FDA for clinical trials in acute myocardial infarction, chronic heart failure, cutaneous photoaging and ischemic stroke. Stemedica is currently developing regulatory pathways for a number of other medical indications using adult, allogeneic stem cells. The company has headquarters in San Diego, Calif., and can be found online at www.stemedica.com.
