StemCyte, Inc. Joins Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing As Associate Sponsor Of No. 16 IndyCar Program For James Jakes Beginning With The 97th Indianapolis 500

BROWNSBURG, Ind., May 23, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing (RLL) and StemCyte, Inc., a global leader in human cord blood stem cell banking and therapeutics, announced today that StemCyte has become an associate sponsor of the No. 16 Acorn Stairlifts Indy car driven by James Jakes. Sponsorship is for the remainder of the IZOD IndyCar 2013 season.  

StemCyte, Inc. and Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing (RLL) will work to support awareness of umbilical cord blood banking and its educational initiative 'Stars for Stem Cells'. Cord blood stem cells are potential cures for over 80 illnesses, including cancers, blood disorders, immune and genetic diseases, and continue be a key element in regenerative medicine research.

"We are very excited about our relationship with Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing," said Calvin Cole, StemCyte President for Commercial Operations, North America. "We believe StemCyte's brand aligns with the pioneering image of IndyCar and the championship spirit of Bobby Rahal. Supporting driver James Jakes and getting the word out on options for expecting parents to secure their baby's cord blood for future life-saving treatments is very important."

"We are always looking towards innovation in our ongoing efforts within the world of motorsports," said Bobby Rahal, co-owner of Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing with CBS LATE SHOW host David Letterman and Mi-Jack co-owner Mike Lanigan.  "Working with StemCyte to promote awareness of cord blood banking, and the incredible medical research that can advance future healthcare, keeps all of us on the leading edge."

"As drivers we take lots of risk doing what we love," said RLL Indy car driver James Jakes. "New parents love nothing more than their children, and StemCyte helps them better manage that risk by banking their babies cord blood to protect against life-threatening illnesses today and in the future."

StemCyte continues to educate expectant parents about the value of banking their child's umbilical cord blood stem cells and development of new therapies to cure deadly and debilitating illnesses. They have been adding championship caliber voices like RLL and decorated US Olympic gymnast Shannon Miller to promote awareness of this option to expecting families.

In February 2013, the team announced the addition of James Jakes, 25, to the full season IndyCar Series season that will be sponsored by Acorn Stairlifts.  Jakes currently sits 22^nd in the points standing through four events in 2013 including St. Petersburg, Barber Motorsports Park, Long Beach and Sao Paulo, Brazil. 

About StemCyte, Inc.

Located in the US, India and Taiwan, StemCyte has established one of the largest, most racially diverse, and highest quality cord blood stem cell banks in the world.  StemCyte has supplied over 1,800 cord blood units to treat over 80 life-threatening diseases in over 300 transplant centers worldwide.  StemCyte is actively involved in the development of new umbilical cord blood-based cell therapies, supporting the largest clinical study for using unrelated cord blood transplantation for Thalassemia, one of the most common genetic diseases in the world, and the development of trials investigating regenerative spinal cord therapies.  StemCyte is one of the only for-profit companies contracted by the US Department of HHS to help contribute clinical grade cord blood units to the public National Cord Blood Inventory for unrelated transplants.  Its headquarters are in Covina, California.  To learn more visit www.StemCyte.com.

About Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing

Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, based in Hilliard, Ohio and Brownsburg, Ind., is co-owned by three-time IndyCar Champion and 1986 Indianapolis 500 winner Bobby Rahal, CBS LATE SHOW host David Letterman and Mi-Jack co-owner Mike Lanigan.  In 2013 the team will begin their 22nd year of open wheel competition and attempt to add to their 20 wins – including the 2004 Indy 500 from pole with Buddy Rice -- their 29 poles and 1992 series championship.  The team also competes in the American Le Mans Series as BMW Team RLL where they won both the Manufacturer and Team Championships in the GT category in 2010 and swept all three GT titles in 2011 - Manufacturer, Team and Driver. In 2012, the team finished second in the Team Championship and third in the Manufacturer Championship.

SOURCE StemCyte, Inc.