LONDON, Ontario, Aug. 26, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Lawson Health Research Institute (Lawson) and STEMCELL Technologies Inc. announced today that they have signed a license agreement giving STEMCELL global exclusive rights to commercialize novel tools for Parkinson’s Disease research.
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Parkinson’s Disease is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder, after Alzheimer’s disease, affecting about seven to ten million people around the world. It is characterized by progressive neurological impairment that produces tremor, slowness of movement, impaired balance, muscle rigidity, cognitive decline and other medical disturbances. The symptoms are caused by the death of cells in the nervous system, including those that generate dopamine, which is a chemical neurotransmitter that sends signals between nerve cells. Although specific gene mutations have been identified in a minority of patients, there is no known cause in most individuals. There is currently no cure for Parkinson’s Disease.
A team led by Dr. Matthew Hebb, a neurosurgeon-researcher at Lawson and Western University’s Department of Clinical Neurological Sciences has been developing innovative strategies to study Parkinson’s Disease. “The partnership with STEMCELL Technologies greatly expands the expertise focused on moving this technology forward and providing critical access to researchers worldwide.” says Dr. Hebb.
Commenting on the agreement:
“We are delighted for the opportunity to bring these important products to the research community and we are excited to be the exclusive supplier.”
- Dr. Allen Eaves, CEO and President of STEMCELL Technologies
“Lawson’s partnership with STEMCELL Technologies is critically important to provide global access to these novel research tools that are anticipated to enable unique insights into the disease process.”
- Kirk Brown, Manager, Business Development, Lawson
“Lawson is very pleased to partner with STEMCELL Technologies to make these products available to all researchers, with the immediate goal of moving Parkinson’s Disease research forward and the ultimate goal that it will lead to better treatment options for patients.”
- Dr. David Hill, Scientific Director, Lawson
About Lawson
As the research institute of London Health Sciences Centre and St. Joseph’s Health Care London, and working in partnership with Western University, Lawson Health Research Institute is committed to furthering scientific knowledge to advance health care around the world. Commercialization at Lawson is facilitated by WORLDiscoveries®, a joint venture of Lawson, Western, and Robart’s Research Institute. As the business development arm of London, Ontario’s extensive research network, it is a bridge between local invention and global industry.
About STEMCELL Technologies
As Scientists Helping Scientists, STEMCELL Technologies Inc. is committed to providing high-quality cell culture media, cell isolation products and accessory reagents for life science research. Driven by science and a passion for quality, STEMCELL Technologies provides over 2000 products to more than 70 countries worldwide. STEMCELL Technologies’ specialty cell culture reagents, instruments and tools are designed to support science along the basic to translational research continuum. To learn more, visit www.stemcell.com.
For more information, please contact: Lawson - Laura Goncalves Communications & External Relations T: 519-685-8500 ext. 64059 C: 226-448-1525 laura.goncalves@lawsonresearch.com https://twitter.com/lawsonresearch STEMCELL – LubaMetlitskaia, MSc. Director, Licensing and Business Development e-mail: bdv@stemcell.com visit us at: www.stemcell.com
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