Health + Wellness
For 26 years, Nanofilm has been creating formulas for cleaning products and optical coatings in Valley View. Similarly, SDG Inc. in the Cleveland Clinic's Innovation Center has spent the last 16 years developing nanotechnologies in the medical and healthcare fields.
Until recently, the two were unaware of the each other's existence. Then, at a nanotechnologies networking meeting run by Polymer Ohio, Nanofilm's president and CEO Scott Rickert and SDG co-founder and senior vice president Robert Geho crossed paths. The meeting was the beginning of partnership in which each company brings their talents to the table to develop new products.
In early May Nanofilm and SDG Inc. signed a comprehensive joint development and licensing agreement to develop and commercialize nano-formulas that combine the two companies' technologies. Among the planned projects is development of technology to control the release and toxicity of bio-active agents at the nano-scale. Potential applications include longer lasting anti-bacterial surface treatments.
"I'm very excited about this," says Rickert. "Up until this point we have not had any way to do anything unique in the medicine and healthcare markets. We both have experience in the technology, but didn't know the other one's areas. This will allow us to take polymer films and make bioactive products that make our lives better and safer."
Rickert sees huge growth potential in the partnership. "It's going to be huge," he says. "Every time we come out with a new product announcement I see us hiring 20 more people." Rickert says they hope to announce their first new product development sometime this year.
Source: Scott Rickert
Writer: Karin Connelly
Explorys has formed one of the largest healthcare databases in the world, helping medical professionals provide better patient care and diagnoses. Spun off from the Cleveland Clinic in 2009 by Charlie Lougheed and Stephen McHale, Explorys has become one of the world's largest data platforms with over three billion clinical events and partner agreements with major healthcare systems that span over 10 million patients nationwide.
In its short life, Explorys has gotten six major healthcare providers on board, with the likes of Cleveland Clinic, University Hospitals, Summa Health System, MetroHealth and MedStar. These providers use Explorys solutions to discover actionable correlations and trends in treatments and outcomes to improve safety, increase quality, and to create cost efficiencies in delivering care.
"Explorys takes the data and puts it on a larger scale," says Lougheed. "We're changing the game in terms of how we treat populations and sub-populations of patients."
The company has grown to 25 employees. "We plan to double by the end of the year and double again next year," says Lougheed. "It's all in Cleveland and they're all high-tech jobs. We're pretty excited about what we can do in the community. We think we can grow this company into the hundreds in Northeast Ohio."
That growth will be possible thanks to $11.5 million in Series C financing led by Austin Ventures and Foundation Medical Partners, with follow-on investments from Santé Ventures and Cleveland Clinic.
"The validation that came from a group like Austin Ventures in a Cleveland-based company was really fulfilling," says Lougheed. "Others outside of Ohio really do see a good thing happening in this part of the country."
Source: Charlie Lougheed
Writer: Karin Connelly
In its short life, Explorys has gotten six major healthcare providers on board, with the likes of Cleveland Clinic, University Hospitals, Summa Health System, MetroHealth and MedStar. These providers use Explorys solutions to discover actionable correlations and trends in treatments and outcomes to improve safety, increase quality, and to create cost efficiencies in delivering care.
"Explorys takes the data and puts it on a larger scale," says Lougheed. "We're changing the game in terms of how we treat populations and sub-populations of patients."
The company has grown to 25 employees. "We plan to double by the end of the year and double again next year," says Lougheed. "It's all in Cleveland and they're all high-tech jobs. We're pretty excited about what we can do in the community. We think we can grow this company into the hundreds in Northeast Ohio."
That growth will be possible thanks to $11.5 million in Series C financing led by Austin Ventures and Foundation Medical Partners, with follow-on investments from Santé Ventures and Cleveland Clinic.
"The validation that came from a group like Austin Ventures in a Cleveland-based company was really fulfilling," says Lougheed. "Others outside of Ohio really do see a good thing happening in this part of the country."
Source: Charlie Lougheed
Writer: Karin Connelly
Earlier this year, construction began for the new Medical Mart and Convention Center, a project that has received a lukewarm response from skeptical taxpayers. Working hard to prove them wrong is Tony Prusak, who as Director of Convention Sales is tasked with booking events. As a lifelong Clevelander, Prusak is driven by a desire to improve Cleveland's economic future. How? By "selling more cheeseburgers."
explorys investment by austin venture firms in the news
The Austin American-Statesman covered the recent investment of $11.5 million by Austin Ventures and Austin-based Santé Ventures into Cleveland-based healthcare technology firm Explorys.
"Explorys was spun off from the Cleveland Clinic in 2009 to commercialize technology designed to help the hospital system analyze clinical data. Since then, a number of other major hospital systems have begun using Explorys' database of patient information."
Explorys says its system is one of the largest clinical databases in the world, with information on 10 million patients. Explorys told the Statesman that it will use the new money to double its 25-person staff and expand its server complex by adding capacity and data centers.
Austin Ventures general partner John Thornton said in the article, "Explorys is now positioned to quickly and effectively scale to the data needs of the health care providers. We are excited to provide an opportunity for them to continue their forward momentum and drive network growth."
Read the rest here.
"Explorys was spun off from the Cleveland Clinic in 2009 to commercialize technology designed to help the hospital system analyze clinical data. Since then, a number of other major hospital systems have begun using Explorys' database of patient information."
Explorys says its system is one of the largest clinical databases in the world, with information on 10 million patients. Explorys told the Statesman that it will use the new money to double its 25-person staff and expand its server complex by adding capacity and data centers.
Austin Ventures general partner John Thornton said in the article, "Explorys is now positioned to quickly and effectively scale to the data needs of the health care providers. We are excited to provide an opportunity for them to continue their forward momentum and drive network growth."
Read the rest here.
Adheris, the largest provider of direct-to-patient medication adherence programs, has chosen Cleveland-based CellepathicRx as its mobile platform provider. The partnership expands Adheris' delivery of its adherence-focused programs beyond mail to all mobile technology platforms -- text, email, web, and more.
"Medical adherence is a $300 billion a year problem," says Greg Muffler, CEO of CellepathicRx. "Our technology is a mobile platform that creates an ongoing intimate relationship with patients and their providers."
CellepathicRx's mobile health communication platform targets patients to help them understand and adhere to medication regimens, clinical trial protocols, health coaching, and health and wellness programs. The technology has been in development for more than two years, and was released in 2009.
"We chose CellepathicRx because of their deep knowledge of healthcare, retail pharmacies, and pharmaceutical industry technology, as well as the unique, flexible solution they offer," said Jim Rotsart, executive vice president of Adheris. "The use of mobile applications and texting is skyrocketing, so this relationship gives our pharmacy partners the opportunity to offer their patients choices regarding their healthcare -- whether it be receiving reminders, medication education, and/or copay assistance via email, mobile device, or traditional mail."
Muffler calls the relationship with Adheris a milestone for the company. "It's an inexpensive way to develop an ongoing relationship with patients," he says. "Our main goal is to ultimately improve patient outcomes, improve health and wellness, which we believe will have an impact on healthcare costs by getting people to take control of their own healthcare."
Source: Greg Muffler
Writer: Karin Connelly
"Medical adherence is a $300 billion a year problem," says Greg Muffler, CEO of CellepathicRx. "Our technology is a mobile platform that creates an ongoing intimate relationship with patients and their providers."
CellepathicRx's mobile health communication platform targets patients to help them understand and adhere to medication regimens, clinical trial protocols, health coaching, and health and wellness programs. The technology has been in development for more than two years, and was released in 2009.
"We chose CellepathicRx because of their deep knowledge of healthcare, retail pharmacies, and pharmaceutical industry technology, as well as the unique, flexible solution they offer," said Jim Rotsart, executive vice president of Adheris. "The use of mobile applications and texting is skyrocketing, so this relationship gives our pharmacy partners the opportunity to offer their patients choices regarding their healthcare -- whether it be receiving reminders, medication education, and/or copay assistance via email, mobile device, or traditional mail."
Muffler calls the relationship with Adheris a milestone for the company. "It's an inexpensive way to develop an ongoing relationship with patients," he says. "Our main goal is to ultimately improve patient outcomes, improve health and wellness, which we believe will have an impact on healthcare costs by getting people to take control of their own healthcare."
Source: Greg Muffler
Writer: Karin Connelly
Last year, Judson at University Circle tried something radically different. The nonprofit senior living campus gave two apartments to Cleveland Institute of Music (CIM) students in exchange for their participation in Judson's intergenerational programs.
The students quickly found that any time they practiced their instruments in public, they attracted an appreciative audience. Over the course of a year, they developed friendships that spanned generations.
Now one of Judson's intergenerational programs, Community Partners, has been nominated as one of 20 semi-finalists for the prestigious Eisner Prize for Intergenerational Excellence, a $100,000 grant from the California-based Eisner Foundation.
The Eisner Prize will recognize an individual or a non-profit organization that "excels in uniting multiple generations, especially seniors and youth, to bring about positive and lasting changes in their community," according to a press release. Members of the pulbic can cast their vote by visiting the website.
Judson created its first intergenerational collaboration with Ruffing Montessori School in Cleveland Heights 30 years ago. Today, Judson works with over 40 different educational and civic groups throughout Greater Cleveland. Judson's senior residents volunteer in local schools and communities, and in turn, students and adults volunteer at all three Judson facilities, Judson Manor, Judson Park and South Franklin Circle.
"Judson's intergenerational programs offer purposeful two-way learning opportunities that create meaningful relationships for all program participants," said Rob Lucarelli, Judson's Director of Communications, in a press release. "Using curriculum and arts-based programs that serve as a national model for connecting generations, we help to enrich lives and stimulate minds of all ages."
Individuals may vote for Judson once every 24 hours until May 15th.
Source: Rob Lucarelli
Writer: Lee Chilcote
The students quickly found that any time they practiced their instruments in public, they attracted an appreciative audience. Over the course of a year, they developed friendships that spanned generations.
Now one of Judson's intergenerational programs, Community Partners, has been nominated as one of 20 semi-finalists for the prestigious Eisner Prize for Intergenerational Excellence, a $100,000 grant from the California-based Eisner Foundation.
The Eisner Prize will recognize an individual or a non-profit organization that "excels in uniting multiple generations, especially seniors and youth, to bring about positive and lasting changes in their community," according to a press release. Members of the pulbic can cast their vote by visiting the website.
Judson created its first intergenerational collaboration with Ruffing Montessori School in Cleveland Heights 30 years ago. Today, Judson works with over 40 different educational and civic groups throughout Greater Cleveland. Judson's senior residents volunteer in local schools and communities, and in turn, students and adults volunteer at all three Judson facilities, Judson Manor, Judson Park and South Franklin Circle.
"Judson's intergenerational programs offer purposeful two-way learning opportunities that create meaningful relationships for all program participants," said Rob Lucarelli, Judson's Director of Communications, in a press release. "Using curriculum and arts-based programs that serve as a national model for connecting generations, we help to enrich lives and stimulate minds of all ages."
Individuals may vote for Judson once every 24 hours until May 15th.
Source: Rob Lucarelli
Writer: Lee Chilcote
Photo: Lonnie Timmons III
Since its launch in 2000, the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission has brought to Cleveland over 85 sporting events with an estimated economic impact of more than $300 million. Those events include the U.S. Figure Skating Championships, Senior PGA Championship, NCAA Women's Final Four, and the Gravity Games. This summer, the Commission's flagship event, the Continental Cup, will bring in 4,000 young athletes from 25 countries for four days of competition.
Cleveland-area SPR Therapeutics is tackling the chronic pain market with its Smartpatch technology. The Smartpatch external stimulator delivers an electrical signal to an electrode placed in the muscle. The electrical signals stimulate the target nerve within the muscle, thereby exercising the muscle to treat the pain. The Smartpatch system will serve the $150 billion pain market, in particular those suffering shoulder pain from strokes, as well as chronic lower back pain.
"It's a very simple short-term therapy that can eliminate chronic pain," says Maria Bennett, president and CEO of SPR. "It can be administered by a surgeon or non-surgeon, has no side effects and is completely reversible."
The company, which was founded in January 2010, is a spinoff of NDI Medical, which developed the technology and licensed it SPR. JumpStart Ventures announced last week that it will invest $250,000 in SPR Therapeutics to help bring the technology to market later this year or in early 2012.
"JumpStart's investment really allows us to complete the commercialization," says Bennett. "It helps us get to market, be prepared with all the pieces and parts so we can really hit the ground running."
Meant for use up to 30 days, Smartpatch has also demonstrated long-term pain relief. The company's series of clinical feasibility studies demonstrated that, at the end of the short-term therapy, 84 percent of patients experienced a significant reduction in pain and 40 percent were pain free. After completing the Smartpatch therapy, 78 percent of these patients continued to have significant pain relief.
Source: Maria Bennett
Writer: Karin Connelly
"It's a very simple short-term therapy that can eliminate chronic pain," says Maria Bennett, president and CEO of SPR. "It can be administered by a surgeon or non-surgeon, has no side effects and is completely reversible."
The company, which was founded in January 2010, is a spinoff of NDI Medical, which developed the technology and licensed it SPR. JumpStart Ventures announced last week that it will invest $250,000 in SPR Therapeutics to help bring the technology to market later this year or in early 2012.
"JumpStart's investment really allows us to complete the commercialization," says Bennett. "It helps us get to market, be prepared with all the pieces and parts so we can really hit the ground running."
Meant for use up to 30 days, Smartpatch has also demonstrated long-term pain relief. The company's series of clinical feasibility studies demonstrated that, at the end of the short-term therapy, 84 percent of patients experienced a significant reduction in pain and 40 percent were pain free. After completing the Smartpatch therapy, 78 percent of these patients continued to have significant pain relief.
Source: Maria Bennett
Writer: Karin Connelly
At a ceremonial groundbreaking last week, Neighborhood Progress (NPI) and Pennrose Properties celebrated a $15.1 million project to renovate the former St. Luke's Hospital into 72 units of affordable senior housing. The event highlighted the project's sustainability features, the rich history of Saint Luke's and a grassroots effort to involve youth in beautifying the building.
Ohio Housing Finance Agency Director Doug Garver told the audience that the Saint Luke's project was selected to receive competitive Low Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC) because of its unmatched site amenities. The renovation will be energy-efficient, and the site is adjacent to a school, a library, a public transit station, a walking path, shopping and parks. "It's truly green in every sense," he said.
Denise San Antonio Zeman, President and CEO of the Saint Luke's Foundation, highlighted the rich history of Saint Luke's Hospital. Cleveland General Hospital, as it was known then, was originally located at 274 Woodland Avenue. "Public health nurses rode around on bicycles to make their rounds," she said. "Today, we'd call that green."
Throughout its long history, Saint Luke's Hospital remained committed to the needs of the community and the poor, Zeman added. "Now it's time to change the hospital's focus to meet the contemporary needs of the community," she said.
The developers also highlighted artists Angelica Pozo and Anna Arnold, who recruited Harvey Rice Elementary School students to create artistic boards that will cover up windows in the portion of the building awaiting future redevelopment. "This was a way to involve the local community while also beautifying the building," said Joel Ratner, President of NPI.
Sources: Doug Garver, Denise Zeman, Joel Ratner
Writer: Lee Chilcote
Ohio Housing Finance Agency Director Doug Garver told the audience that the Saint Luke's project was selected to receive competitive Low Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC) because of its unmatched site amenities. The renovation will be energy-efficient, and the site is adjacent to a school, a library, a public transit station, a walking path, shopping and parks. "It's truly green in every sense," he said.
Denise San Antonio Zeman, President and CEO of the Saint Luke's Foundation, highlighted the rich history of Saint Luke's Hospital. Cleveland General Hospital, as it was known then, was originally located at 274 Woodland Avenue. "Public health nurses rode around on bicycles to make their rounds," she said. "Today, we'd call that green."
Throughout its long history, Saint Luke's Hospital remained committed to the needs of the community and the poor, Zeman added. "Now it's time to change the hospital's focus to meet the contemporary needs of the community," she said.
The developers also highlighted artists Angelica Pozo and Anna Arnold, who recruited Harvey Rice Elementary School students to create artistic boards that will cover up windows in the portion of the building awaiting future redevelopment. "This was a way to involve the local community while also beautifying the building," said Joel Ratner, President of NPI.
Sources: Doug Garver, Denise Zeman, Joel Ratner
Writer: Lee Chilcote
The North Union Farmers Market now operates eight different markets around the Greater Cleveland area. Three years ago, the nonprofit launched a new market at the Cleveland Clinic, bringing healthy, farm-fresh produce to a neighborhood that could use it most. Here is a video of the popular Cleveland Clinic market in action.
Neuros Medical, a Greater Cleveland based medical device company, has developed a neuro-stimulator that has proven to eliminate chronic pain in amputees. A feasibility study, the first test on humans, showed the company's high-frequency Electrical Nerve Block™ technology reduced pain to zero in four of the five patients studied.
The device, which looks like a pacemaker attached to a wire, uses a high-frequency signal to stop the pain. "It will literally block that pain signal before it gets to the brain to be received," says Neuros president and CEO Jon Snyder. "Patients have complete numbness with no side effects or issues with addiction."
The technology was developed by Case Western Reserve University biomedical engineering professors Kevin Kilgore and Niloy Bhadra. The study was conducted by Dr. Amol Soin of the Kettering Health Network Innovation Center and the Ohio Pain Clinic in Dayton.
"It's amazing when you look at pain studies, and patients have a pain level of seven and you get down to four," Snyder says of other studies in pain reduction. "We had patients with a seven, eight or nine get down to zero. We had one patient sleep through the night for the first time in years."
The next step is to share the data with strategic partners and venture capital firms while doing long-term studies and further develop the technology. "It really keeps you motivated to keep going to get it to market," says Snyder of the results. "It's really meaningful."
Source: Jon Snyder
Writer: Karin Connelly
The device, which looks like a pacemaker attached to a wire, uses a high-frequency signal to stop the pain. "It will literally block that pain signal before it gets to the brain to be received," says Neuros president and CEO Jon Snyder. "Patients have complete numbness with no side effects or issues with addiction."
The technology was developed by Case Western Reserve University biomedical engineering professors Kevin Kilgore and Niloy Bhadra. The study was conducted by Dr. Amol Soin of the Kettering Health Network Innovation Center and the Ohio Pain Clinic in Dayton.
"It's amazing when you look at pain studies, and patients have a pain level of seven and you get down to four," Snyder says of other studies in pain reduction. "We had patients with a seven, eight or nine get down to zero. We had one patient sleep through the night for the first time in years."
The next step is to share the data with strategic partners and venture capital firms while doing long-term studies and further develop the technology. "It really keeps you motivated to keep going to get it to market," says Snyder of the results. "It's really meaningful."
Source: Jon Snyder
Writer: Karin Connelly
JumpStart CEO Ray Leach has been named to the board of the National Venture Capital Association. The NVCA serves as the voice of the United States venture capital community and advocates for policies that encourage innovation and reward long-term investment.
While most of the organization's 400 members represent venture capital firms on the East and West coasts, Leach is the only member representing the Midwest. "In order to be successful as a non-profit, we need healthy venture capital nationally," says Leach. "It's a great way to be there, convincing them they have to invest in the Midwest."
Northeast Ohio leads the Midwest in venture capital deal activity, second only to Chicago in the amount of capital raised by companies with $234 million.
Leach is one of six new NVCA members elected to a four-year term. He was nominated by former NVCA board chair David Morgenthaler of Morganthaler Ventures and member Ray Lane with Kleiner Perkins, who thought Leach would be a good advocate for JumpStart's missives.
"I'm excited to play a role in advancing venture capital nationally and to offer my viewpoint from a region that's reinvented itself with the assistance of innovative initiatives like Ohio's state-led Third Frontier," says Leach. "For example, entrepreneurs in Northeast Ohio have raised more than $1.1 billion in venture capital in the last five years. By serving on the NVCA's board, I hope to bring greater visibility to our region's activity to increase investments and ultimately job growth."
Source: Ray Leach
Writer: Karin Connelly
While most of the organization's 400 members represent venture capital firms on the East and West coasts, Leach is the only member representing the Midwest. "In order to be successful as a non-profit, we need healthy venture capital nationally," says Leach. "It's a great way to be there, convincing them they have to invest in the Midwest."
Northeast Ohio leads the Midwest in venture capital deal activity, second only to Chicago in the amount of capital raised by companies with $234 million.
Leach is one of six new NVCA members elected to a four-year term. He was nominated by former NVCA board chair David Morgenthaler of Morganthaler Ventures and member Ray Lane with Kleiner Perkins, who thought Leach would be a good advocate for JumpStart's missives.
"I'm excited to play a role in advancing venture capital nationally and to offer my viewpoint from a region that's reinvented itself with the assistance of innovative initiatives like Ohio's state-led Third Frontier," says Leach. "For example, entrepreneurs in Northeast Ohio have raised more than $1.1 billion in venture capital in the last five years. By serving on the NVCA's board, I hope to bring greater visibility to our region's activity to increase investments and ultimately job growth."
Source: Ray Leach
Writer: Karin Connelly
cle tops in autism care, says autism speaks
WebMD reports that Cleveland is one of the top 10 cities for autism care in the nation, according to a recent survey conducted by the nonprofit advocacy group Autism Speaks. New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, New Jersey, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Seattle, Milwaukee and Boston also made the top 10.
The survey is "the first to rank metropolitan areas on how well they provide educational, medical, and recreational resources for children with autism spectrum disorders, and flexible employment policies and respite care for parents. It includes responses from more than 800 people affected by autism in 48 states and the District of Columbia."
Only twenty-six percent of respondents said that they were satisfied with local schools, healthcare, and recreational activities. The other seventy-four percent said community services were generally unsatisfactory.
Says Autism Speaks President Mark Roithmayr, "We really wanted to get a pulse of the autism community across the United States. What were the things that were most important to them, and what were the things that made the biggest difference to them in their lives."
Read the rest here.
The survey is "the first to rank metropolitan areas on how well they provide educational, medical, and recreational resources for children with autism spectrum disorders, and flexible employment policies and respite care for parents. It includes responses from more than 800 people affected by autism in 48 states and the District of Columbia."
Only twenty-six percent of respondents said that they were satisfied with local schools, healthcare, and recreational activities. The other seventy-four percent said community services were generally unsatisfactory.
Says Autism Speaks President Mark Roithmayr, "We really wanted to get a pulse of the autism community across the United States. What were the things that were most important to them, and what were the things that made the biggest difference to them in their lives."
Read the rest here.
Thermalin Diabetes, a JumpStart Ventures portfolio company, recently closed $2.85 million in Series A investments, paving the way to the further development of short, medium and long lasting insulin analogs by Case Western Reserve Medical School Dr. Michael A. Weiss.
The announcement includes a second $250,000 investment from JumpStart, and exceeds Thermalin's original target by $1 million. "Having this round closed is great," says Thermalin CEO Rick Berenson. "I'm very excited about the progress. I'm looking forward to being able to report further progress."
The company is now moving immediately into Series B, in which the hope is to raise another $8 million. "With that we should be able to get through [the first] phases of studies."
The patents on existing insulins on the market are due to expire in 2013 and 2014, so the interest in Thermalin's developments is huge worldwide. Weiss' work centers around developing insulins that are more stable and effective on a more timely basis.
Thermalin has developed about 40 different analogs. The funding will allow the company to continue testing to determine which analogs to commercialize.
Insulin is a $14 billion a year market -- the largest volume drug market in the world. Insulin sales are expected to double in the U.S., triple in Europe and increase 12-fold elsewhere in the world as the disease reaches epidemic levels.
Thermalin employs six full time scientists at the Cleveland Clinic's Global Cardiovascular Innovation Center. The investment allows for additional key hires, including a senior scientist.
Source: Rick Berenson
Writer: Karin Connelly
The announcement includes a second $250,000 investment from JumpStart, and exceeds Thermalin's original target by $1 million. "Having this round closed is great," says Thermalin CEO Rick Berenson. "I'm very excited about the progress. I'm looking forward to being able to report further progress."
The company is now moving immediately into Series B, in which the hope is to raise another $8 million. "With that we should be able to get through [the first] phases of studies."
The patents on existing insulins on the market are due to expire in 2013 and 2014, so the interest in Thermalin's developments is huge worldwide. Weiss' work centers around developing insulins that are more stable and effective on a more timely basis.
Thermalin has developed about 40 different analogs. The funding will allow the company to continue testing to determine which analogs to commercialize.
Insulin is a $14 billion a year market -- the largest volume drug market in the world. Insulin sales are expected to double in the U.S., triple in Europe and increase 12-fold elsewhere in the world as the disease reaches epidemic levels.
Thermalin employs six full time scientists at the Cleveland Clinic's Global Cardiovascular Innovation Center. The investment allows for additional key hires, including a senior scientist.
Source: Rick Berenson
Writer: Karin Connelly
clinic claims 'system for change' award
Practice Greenhealth has named Cleveland Clinic Health System as one of eight recipients of its "System for Change" award.
"This award recognizes health systems that are working cohesively to gather data, set system goals, benchmark, and share successes in environmental performance."
Other award recipients include Advocate Health Care, Oak Brook, IL; Bon Secours Health System, Inc., Marriotsville, MD; and Catholic Healthcare West, San Francisco, CA.
"Practice Greenhealth is the nation's leading membership and networking organization for institutions in the healthcare community that have made a commitment to sustainable, eco-friendly practices. Members include hospitals, healthcare systems, businesses and other stakeholders engaged in the greening of healthcare to improve the health of patients, staff and the environment."
Check out the full report here.
"This award recognizes health systems that are working cohesively to gather data, set system goals, benchmark, and share successes in environmental performance."
Other award recipients include Advocate Health Care, Oak Brook, IL; Bon Secours Health System, Inc., Marriotsville, MD; and Catholic Healthcare West, San Francisco, CA.
"Practice Greenhealth is the nation's leading membership and networking organization for institutions in the healthcare community that have made a commitment to sustainable, eco-friendly practices. Members include hospitals, healthcare systems, businesses and other stakeholders engaged in the greening of healthcare to improve the health of patients, staff and the environment."
Check out the full report here.
Cleveland-based ChanTest has tested more than 20,000 compounds for hundreds of pharmaceutical and biotech companies around the world since its founding in 1998. Over the years, the company has also developed a cell optimization service. These advancements have helped pharmaceutical and biotech companies develop safer drugs for a variety of health-related issues.
ChanTest has now formed an agreement with Molecular Devices, a Sunnyvale, California, company, to further its impact on the industry. Molecular Devices will distribute ChanTest's ion channels and promote its cell optimization services to a number of global customers.
Dr. Arthur Brown, founder of ChanTest, says that this partnership will benefit ChanTest because of the screening instrumentation provided by Molecular Devices. These include automated electrophysiology devices, which study the effects of electric activity in the body. "The ability to screen ion channels with automated electrophysiology is revolutionizing drug discovery," according to Dr. Brown.
ChanTest has a staff of 70 people, including scientists specializing in molecular and cell biology, chemistry and electrophysiology.
SOURCE: ChanTest
WRITER: Diane DiPiero
ChanTest has now formed an agreement with Molecular Devices, a Sunnyvale, California, company, to further its impact on the industry. Molecular Devices will distribute ChanTest's ion channels and promote its cell optimization services to a number of global customers.
Dr. Arthur Brown, founder of ChanTest, says that this partnership will benefit ChanTest because of the screening instrumentation provided by Molecular Devices. These include automated electrophysiology devices, which study the effects of electric activity in the body. "The ability to screen ion channels with automated electrophysiology is revolutionizing drug discovery," according to Dr. Brown.
ChanTest has a staff of 70 people, including scientists specializing in molecular and cell biology, chemistry and electrophysiology.
SOURCE: ChanTest
WRITER: Diane DiPiero
Local rowing advocates say their beloved sport is about to get even bigger thanks to the Cleveland Rowing Foundation's recent acquisition of Rivergate Park, a former marina on the East Bank of the Flats. Over the next two years, CRF will redevelop Rivergate into a seven-acre riverside recreation venue, with a boathouse, kayak rental and public park. Rivergate is part of an emerging recreation district in the Flats that includes a new skate park and bike path to Whiskey Island.
According to Gil Van Bokkelen, chairman and CEO of Athersys,
inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) continues to be a debilitating
condition for many people. Could Athersys' MultiStem cell therapy
product benefit the more than two million people worldwide who suffer
from some form of IBD, such as ulcerative colitis?
A new phase II clinical trial will search for the answer. Athersys, in collaboration with Pfizer Inc., is conducting a study involving about 126 people in clinical sites across North America and Europe. Participants will receive multiple doses of either MultiStem or a placebo over the course of several weeks. Baseline and eight-week evaluations will be conducted, and all patients will receive follow-up evaluations through 12 months.
MultiStem is produced from nonembryonic tissues such as adult bone marrow. The human stem cells in the product have the ability to reduce inflammation, protect damaged tissue or form new blood vessels in injured areas. In addition to ulcerative colitis and other forms of inflammatory bowel disease, MultiStem has shown promise in aiding with bone marrow transplants and in the treatment of damage from ischemic strokes, which is caused by a blockage in blood flow to the brain.
Athersys trades on the NASDAQ and has experienced steady growth during the last 12 months.
SOURCE: Athersys
WRITER: Diane DiPiero
A new phase II clinical trial will search for the answer. Athersys, in collaboration with Pfizer Inc., is conducting a study involving about 126 people in clinical sites across North America and Europe. Participants will receive multiple doses of either MultiStem or a placebo over the course of several weeks. Baseline and eight-week evaluations will be conducted, and all patients will receive follow-up evaluations through 12 months.
MultiStem is produced from nonembryonic tissues such as adult bone marrow. The human stem cells in the product have the ability to reduce inflammation, protect damaged tissue or form new blood vessels in injured areas. In addition to ulcerative colitis and other forms of inflammatory bowel disease, MultiStem has shown promise in aiding with bone marrow transplants and in the treatment of damage from ischemic strokes, which is caused by a blockage in blood flow to the brain.
Athersys trades on the NASDAQ and has experienced steady growth during the last 12 months.
SOURCE: Athersys
WRITER: Diane DiPiero
