Cellular Dynamics Announces Partnership with The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research to Provide Resources for Developing New Therapies

MADISON, Wis., May 25, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Cellular Dynamics International, Inc. (CDI), a FUJIFILM company, today announced an agreement with The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research (MJFF) to derive induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from 85 people in the MJFF-sponsored Parkinson's Progression Markers Initiative (PPMI). The collaborators will provide the cells to the scientific community in concert with rich available clinical and imaging data on these study volunteers in service to their shared goal to provide resources to accelerate the development of new therapies.

Key Points

• This Golub Capital iPSC PPMI Sub-study is funded by nationally recognized credit asset management firm Golub Capital, led by Lawrence and David Golub; David Golub is a member of the MJFF Board of Directors.

• In connection with Indiana University, 85 iPS cell lines will be derived from PPMI volunteers [with and without Parkinson's disease (PD)] and banked in Indianapolis.

• Generation of iPSC lines from individual patients will allow researchers to look at how diversity between patients influences the causes and progression of PD; this research could potentially lead to the development of treatments for particular subgroups of patients.

• PD is a progressive neurodegenerative condition that affects 5 million people worldwide and as many as 1 million in the United States. PD has no cure, and current treatment options only address some symptoms.

• iPSC technology provides unique advantages for improving understanding of PD.

Quotes

Mark Frasier, PhD, Senior Vice President, The Michael J. Fox Foundation, said, "This collaboration builds on the contributions of PPMI volunteers and the technical expertise of CDI to generate valuable research tools. Our Foundation's continued commitment to open-access data and biospecimens speeds discovery toward greater understanding of Parkinson's disease and development of novel therapies."

Kaz Hirao, CDI Chairman and CEO, said, "Our partnership with The Michael J. Fox Foundation builds on our proven expertise in iPSC generation and looks ahead to the development of innovative clinical applications for these cells. Both by expanding access to research tools and by evaluating new avenues for cellular therapy, we are eager to help in the search for therapies that could provide long-lasting benefits for patients with Parkinson's disease."

Leadership Support

This pilot project, called the Golub Capital iPSC PPMI Sub-study, is made possible through leadership support of The Michael J. Fox Foundation by Golub Capital, a leader in credit investment management managing over $15 billion of capital with offices in Chicago, New York, San Francisco and Charlotte.

About Cellular Dynamics International (CDI), a FUJIFILM company

Cellular Dynamics International (CDI), a FUJIFILM company, is a leading developer and manufacturer of human cells used in drug discovery, toxicity testing, stem cell banking, and cell therapy development. The Company partners with innovators from around the world to combine biologically relevant human cells with the newest technologies to drive advancements in medicine and healthier living. CDI's technology offers the potential to create induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from anyone, starting with a standard blood draw, and followed by the powerful capability to develop into virtually any cell type in the human body. Our proprietary manufacturing system produces billions of cells daily, resulting in inventoried iCell® products and donor-specific MyCell® Products in the quantity, quality, purity, and reproducibility required for drug and cell therapy development. Founded in 2004 by Dr. James Thomson, a pioneer in human pluripotent stem cell research, Cellular Dynamics is based in Madison, Wisconsin, with a second facility in Novato, California. For more information please visit www.cellulardynamics.com and follow us on Twitter @CellDynamics.

FUJIFILM Holdings Corporation, Tokyo, Japan brings continuous innovation and leading-edge products to a broad spectrum of industries, including: healthcare, with medical systems, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics; graphic systems; highly functional materials, such as flat panel display materials; optical devices, such as broadcast and cinema lenses; digital imaging; and document products. These are based on a vast portfolio of chemical, mechanical, optical, electronic, software and production technologies. Fujifilm is committed to environmental stewardship and good corporate citizenship. For more information, please visit: www.fujifilmholdings.com.

About The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research

As the world's largest nonprofit funder of Parkinson's research, The Michael J. Fox Foundation is dedicated to accelerating a cure for Parkinson's disease and improved therapies for those living with the condition today. The Foundation pursues its goals through an aggressively funded, highly targeted research program coupled with active global engagement of scientists, Parkinson's patients, business leaders, clinical trial participants, donors and volunteers. In addition to funding more than $525 million in research to date, the Foundation has fundamentally altered the trajectory of progress toward a cure. Operating at the hub of worldwide Parkinson's research, the Foundation forges groundbreaking collaborations with industry leaders, academic scientists and government research funders; increases the flow of participants into Parkinson's disease clinical trials with its online tool, Fox Trial Finder; promotes Parkinson's awareness through high-profile advocacy, events and outreach; and coordinates the grassroots involvement of thousands of Team Fox members around the world.

For more information, visit us on the Web, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Pinterest.

All product and company names herein may be trademarks of their registered owners.

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Tony Russo, Ph.D., or Lena Evans
Russo Partners, LLC
(212) 845-4251
(212) 845-4262
[email protected]
[email protected]  

Lisabeth Weiner
Lisabeth Weiner Consultants, Inc.
(312) 252-7360
(312) 485-6211 (cell) 
[email protected]

SOURCE Cellular Dynamics International (CDI), a FUJIFILM company

Related Links

http://www.cellulardynamics.com