A New International Congress on Regenerative Medicine Held With Great Success by Cryo-Save in Bosnia

ZUTPHEN, The Netherlands, December 14, 2011 -

It is part of Cryo-Save’s educational program deployment to increase the awareness of stem cells therapy and regenerative medicine amongst healthcare professionals.

The Second international congress “Regenerative medicine - stem cells, genetic engineering and biotechnology” was held on December 9 in Sarajevo, supported by the Institute for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology and Cryo-Save, Europe’s leading stem cell bank with their local partner, FAMILY-PLUS.

After the recent initiatives in Serbia and Italy, the Bosnian Congress joins Cryo-Save’s official training plans and reaffirms the efforts of the company to put together its educational program about stem cells therapies and current applications.

Arnoud van Tulder, CEO of Cryo-Save Group, addressed to participants that Cryo-Save is fully committed in creating a new approach towards stem cells storage, with the aim to increase global awareness about current treatments and future promising applications. “We are aware of our leading role and therefore we have created and supported different educational programs which should help doctors and scientists to offer latest news from current researches about use of stem cells. Our know-how directly derives from our experience: in over ten years of activity, we have over 200.000 samples stored”, van Tulder said.

With participation of local doctors, the congress also welcomed eminent names of world medicine, primarily those who regularly implement stem cell treatments in their practice.

Dr. Zoran Galić, from UCLA University in Los Angeles, referred that “field of stem cells presents one of the most dynamic research disciplines of modern medicine and points out large number of potential therapies based on these cells.”

Prof. Christof Stamm, from German Heart Institute Berlin (DHZB) - Cardiac, thoracic and vascular surgery, said that research work in the field of cardiovascular regenerative medicine raises hope. “Research on the treatment of heart muscle tissue with stem cells from bone marrow have created strong basis for clinical and experimental studies. For decades it’s been known that cord blood contains hematopoietic stem cells. One of main reasons for their use is their young age and their potential to differentiate easily into certain types of adult cells,” said prof. Stamm.

Cherie Daly, MD, member of ITERA and member of Medical Advisory Board of Parents Guide to Cord Blood Foundation, referred to the history of umbilical cord blood transplants. The past 23 years of cord blood stem cells transplantations showed that cord blood can successfully be preserved without losses in vitality and functionality; it is an efficient source of stem cells to treat a large number of diseases, including malignant hematological diseases, bone marrow, hemoglobinepathies and inborn errors of metabolism.

Cryo-Save: www.cryo-save.com/group

Cryo-Save, the leading international family stem cell bank, stores more than 200,000 samples from umbilical cord blood, cord tissue and adipose tissue. There are already many diseases treatable by the use of stem cells, and the number of treatments will only increase. Driven by its international business strategy, Cryo-Save is now represented in over 40 countries on four continents, with ultra-modern processing and storage facilities in the United States, Belgium, Germany, Dubai, India, South Africa and France (validation in progress).

More information: Cécile Kastler: cecile.kastler at cryo-save.com - tel. +41-55-222-0251