WideCells Group PLC (LON:WDC), the healthcare services company focused on regenerative medicine including the provision of stem cell services and ground-breaking insurance for stem cell treatment, has today announced that its dedicated research facility, WideCells Institute of Stem Cell Technology (ISCT), has been granted a Research Licence (the ‘Licence’) from the UK’s Human Tissue Authority (‘HTA’). This Licence, Number 12669, enables the Company to proceed with cutting edge stem cell research at its base in Manchester and build on its position as a leading international innovator in the stem cell arena.
In conjunction with the granting of the Licence, the Company has already entered into corporate agreements with international companies wishing to collaborate with the team. Positioning the Company as one of the world leaders in stem cell research, initial research projects will include:
· A one-year project funded by world leading biotechnology company Qigenix, which has developed a medical laser shown in pilot studies to activate stem cells and enable them to produce even better and faster results in recipient patients. The research in the WideCells ISCT will be to attempt to fully understand the laser stem cell activation process which will enable the technology to be used more widely for an increasing number of patients. Californian based Qigenix will pay £100,000 for the research
· In house research to develop new technology using WideCells’ artificial bone product INDUS, together with mesenchymal stem cells to enable significantly faster bone formation. This will be a major advantage to both dentists and orthopaedic surgeons who need to restore bones in their patients
· Other collaborative research projects are in the final stages of discussion and will be announced in due course
WideCells Limited, which established the WideCells ISCT, is the 100% owned subsidiary of the Group which provides storage and research facilities in the University of Manchester Innovation Centre. It is led by Dr Peter Hollands, Group Chief Scientific Officer, who is a Clinical Scientist from Cambridge University with over 30 years’ experience in stem cell technology in teaching, research and clinical practice. The WideCells ISCT comprises of two Grade B clean rooms, one of which is dedicated to research, and a Cryogenics section in which there is the storage potential for over 500,000 stem cell products, with space for future expansion.
WideCells Group Plc CEO, João Andrade, said, “This licence opens up yet another dimension for us as we continue to work at the forefront of the stem cell industry in expanding our research division. We recently launched our innovative INDUS product, a new artificial bone material which targets the dental market; however now with this licence in place, we can expand our innovative research across a wider field. Our research division will now be in a revenue generative position, alongside CellPlan our medical insurance product, thereby strengthening our overall financial position. I am delighted with the position of the Company at it stands, and I look forward to providing further news in the near term on our rapid development and product roll out.”
WideCells Group CSO, Dr Peter Hollands, said, “Research is a key activity in the WideCells ISCT which will enable us to create novel stem cell treatments for patients, develop patents of technology and generate significant income. We will also contribute to the wider knowledge on stem cell technology by publishing data in medical journals and presenting our findings at medical conferences. These are extremely exciting times for stem cell technology and we are proud to be at the forefront of both innovation and development.”
