Researchers at Harvard University have recently published the results of a human clinical trial of a therapeutic that could increase the chances of success for blood stem cell transplantation. This will be the first time that the Harvard Stem Cell Institute has brought a discovery from the lab through clinical trials, marking the success of Harvard’s nine year-old goal of conducting groundbreaking research through the institute.
“The exciting part of this was the laboratory, industry, and clinical collaboration, because one would not expect that much close interplay in a very exploratory trial,” said hematologic oncologist and Harvard Stem Cell Institute faculty member Corey Cutler. “The fact that we were able to translate someone’s scientific discovery from down the hall into a patient just a few hundred yards away is the beauty of working here.”
According to Harvard University, the clinical testing is now entering Phase II, where the treatment to improve cord blood transplants will be tested at eight medical centers with 60 patients. The researchers have found thus far that bone marrow stem cells treated with prostaglandin had a four times better chance of being successfully transplanted. This use of prostaglandin has informed their research in cord blood transplants. Results of the Phase II trial should be available in 18-24 months.
The stem cell research products market is a fast growing industry, and not just at Harvard University. Private sources nationally contributed $1.7 billion in gifts for stem cell research. According to Yahoo Finance, the stem cell research products market, excluding stem cell antibodies, was valued at $1.28 billion in 2011. It is expected to grow to $2.10 billion by 2016. The total industry value was $5.72 billion in 2011.
Harvard University
Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
Harvard University receives a great deal of life science funding for projects including stem cell research. According to Harvard University, the school’s research is supported by more than $750 million of sponsored research funds each year. In 2012, the NIH awarded Harvard University $392 million in life science funding. A list of life science departments receiving NIH funding can be read about in our recent blog article $3.6M in Life Science Funding Awarded to Harvard University.
In addition to receiving life science funding from the NIH, Harvard University also received $55.3 million from the NSF in 2012. Harvard University had a total operating budget of $655 million in 2011. For more funding statistics for Harvard University, please read our blog article Harvard Medical Life Sciences Update on NIH Funding and Research.
Given Harvard University’s groundbreaking research and impressive life science funding statistics, it’s clear that Harvard University is market with a lot of potential for sales leads at life science events. Biotechnology Calendar, Inc. invites lab suppliers to network with others in their field at our Boston BioResearch Product Faire™ Event on April 24th, 2014.
Biotechnology Calendar, Inc. is a full-service science research marketing and events-planning company that organizes life science events at top research universities across the country. If you’d like to learn about a market with available life science funding closer to home, we encourage you to view our 2014 calendar of events. For more information on our Boston BioResearch Product Faire™ life science events, or to view more funding statistics for Harvard University, click on the button below.