RegeNer8 - N8 Centre for Translational Regenerative Medicine

Routinely discarded following liposuction, these stem cells can now be extracted and frozen under strict GMP conditions for future use in regenerative medicine or cosmetic reconstruction procedures.

The Queen’s Award-winning company will announce the launch of the new lipo stem cell service at the annual conference of the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons in Birmingham (29-30 September 2011), where Future Health Scientific Director, Dr Julia Irving, will tell delegates that the use of stem cells in all fields of medicine, including their own, is set to grow.

Like the umbilical cord, lipoaspirate contains a mixture of cell types with the capability of regenerating or repairing tissues. Within this rich cell ‘soup’ are Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) which have both immune modulating effects and the ability to turn themselves into different kinds of bodily tissue, from bone and cartilage to muscle and tendon.

Interest in the medical applications for adult stem cells has been steadily increasing over the last decade but it is only recently that scientific attention has started to look at the potential of cells contained in fat tissue.

Said Dr Irving: “The concentration of such stem cells in adipose tissue is 500 times higher than bone marrow. However, until recently, no-one had the technology to separate these cells from the fat and then prepare them for future medical use.

“As a perfect match for the donor there is no problem with rejection but, just as importantly, lipoaspirate also contains blood vessel forming cells which will enable a new blood supply to form naturally around a transplant area. Now that we have the expertise to isolate and store these cells, I believe there will be increasing interest from those wanting to develop medical applications, including plastic surgeons who are constantly looking for ways to reduce rejection and improve engraftment.”

Such is the excitement in the potential of adipose-derived stem cells for human medicine that there are already around 40 clinical trials2 in progress. Studies range from treatments for immune modulation (GVHD) and heart attack (myocardial infarction) to wound healing (Chrons fistula) and repairing blood supply (limb ischemia). There are also current applications which include the treatment of burns, hard-to-heal wounds and fractures and cartilage repair in osteoarthritic joints.

Future Health’s new Lipo Stem Cell Service will cost: £1,695 including all processing, 25 years’ storage and the provision of special Lipo Collection Kit. During the liposuction the surgeon will place at least 50ml of the extracted fat tissue in a special, sterile adipose container provided in the kit. This sample, along with a blood sample from the patient and a completed simple health questionnaire, is then returned to Future Health’s laboratories via an approved medical courier within 48 hours of the procedure.

Surgeons and patients wanting more information should visit: www.futurehealthbiobank.com or call the Customer Care Line on 0800 954 5335.

Future Health is also launching two other new cell banking services in the near future. All the new services will be available in the UK during October and then gradually rolled out internationally.