Press Releases<\/p>\n
First FDA-Approved Study of Stem Cells to Treat Hearing Loss Begins at<\/strong> HOUSTON, Jan. 12, 2012 \/PRNewswire\/ — Children’s Memorial Hermann The study, which will use patients’ stem cells from their own stored The year-long study will follow 10 children, ages 6 weeks to 18 months, “Children only have 18 months to acquire language skills and, if a Parents will be interviewed by phone to determine eligibility of their The Principal Investigator is Samer Fakhri, M.D., surgeon at Memorial “Currently, the only treatment options for sensorineural hearing loss Researchers will obtain and process the patients’ stored cord blood for Patients will return to the hospital to repeat all tests except the MRI “This study is exciting because it might offer a non-surgical option Since more infants are surviving premature birth, physicians and “We share Dr. Fakhri’s and Dr. Baumgartner’s passion and commitment to The study is supported by CBR and TIRR Foundation.<\/p>\n For information on participation in the study, visit About Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital<\/p>\n With 11 hospitals located in the Texas Medical Center and throughout About Cord Blood Registry Center for Regenerative Medicine<\/p>\n Cord Blood Registry\u00ae (CBR\u00ae) is the world’s largest and most experienced SOURCE Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital<\/p>\n Source:<\/p>\n http:\/\/www.hearingreview.com\/press_release.asp?id=10261936<\/a><\/p>\n To view the multimedia assets associated with this release, please
\n Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nHospital and Cord Blood Registry\u00ae (CBR) are launching the first
\nFDA-approved, Phase I safety study on the use of cord blood stem cells
\nto treat children with sensorineural hearing loss.<\/p>\n
\numbilical cord blood, is the first of its kind, and has the potential
\nto restore hearing. This follows evidence from published laboratory
\nstudies that cord blood helps repair damaged organs in the inner ear.<\/p>\n
\nwho have sustained post-birth hearing loss. Children who are deaf as a
\nresult of a genetic anomaly or syndrome are not eligible. To ensure
\nconsistency in cord blood stem cell processing, storage, and release
\nfor infusion, CBR is the only stem cell bank providing clients for the
\nstudy.<\/p>\n
\nchild does not hear well, they will not acquire the language skills to
\nspeak normally,” said James Baumgartner, M.D., sponsor of the study and
\nguest research collaborator at The University of Texas Health Science
\nCenter at Houston (UTHealth) Medical School.<\/p>\n
\nchildren for the study. Those who meet the criteria will be admitted to
\nChildren’s Memorial Hermann Hospital to undergo a series of blood
\ntests, hearing and speech tests, and an MRI that will view the tracts
\nthat send signals from the inner ear to the brain.<\/p>\n
\nHermann-Texas Medical Center and associate professor and program
\ndirector in the Department of Otorhinolaryngology \u2013 Head & Neck Surgery
\nat UTHealth. Linda Baumgartner, MS, CCC-SLP, Auditory-Verbal Therapist,
\nis a co-investigator.<\/p>\n
\nare hearing aids or cochlear implants,” Dr. Fakhri said. “We hope that
\nthis study will open avenues to additional treatment options for
\nhearing loss in children.”<\/p>\n
\ntreatment. The cells then will be given to the patients via IV
\ninfusion, and patients will be observed for several hours in the
\nhospital.<\/p>\n
\nat one month and one year, and all tests with an MRI at six months.<\/p>\n
\nfor some children with profound loss,” Linda Baumgartner said. “More
\nimportantly, this is the first treatment with the potential to restore
\nnormal hearing.”<\/p>\n
\nresearchers are seeing a rising number of very young children with
\nsignificant hearing loss. About 15 percent of children in the U.S. also
\nsuffer from low-frequency or high-frequency hearing loss that can
\nimpact the child’s speech, language, and social development and can
\nincrease their risk of developing learning disabilities, according to
\nDr. Fakhri.<\/p>\n
\nunderstanding more about the potential applications of cord blood to
\nhelp repair nerve tissue,” said Heather Brown, vice president of
\nscientific and medical affairs at CBR. “It is exciting to be at the
\nforefront of research to match children who have cord blood stored with
\nthis team of groundbreaking doctors studying autologous stem cell
\ntherapies for hearing loss.”<\/p>\n
\n http:\/\/www.cordblood.com\/hearingloss<\/a>.<\/p>\n
\ngreater Houston, Memorial Hermann is a vital healthcare resource known
\nfor world-class clinical expertise, quality patient care, and
\nleading-edge technology and innovation. Children’s Memorial Hermann is
\na 240-bed hospital dedicated to pediatric and neonatal care with an
\nadditional 68 beds dedicated to women’s services. The hospital’s
\ncompassion and healing expertise has distinguished it as one of the
\nfinest children’s hospitals in the nation. In partnership with the
\nUniversity of Texas Medical School, Children’s Memorial Hermann
\nspecialists provide care for more than 120,000 patient visits annually,
\nincluding the tiniest premature infants, children, and adolescents.
\nMemorial Hermann takes a holistic approach to healthcare, offering
\nprograms and services that address the physical, social, psychological
\nand spiritual aspects of well-being.<\/p>\n
\nstem cell bank. The company founded the CBR Center for Regenerative
\nMedicineSM to support and advance medical research in regenerative
\ntreatments and help to link client families with clinical researchers
\nwith trials currently in place or on the horizon. CBR has consistently
\nled the industry in technical innovations and safeguards more than
\n400,000 cord blood and cord tissue collections for individuals and
\ntheir families. The company was the first family bank accredited by
\nAABB and the company’s quality standards have been recognized through
\nISO 9001:2008 certification\u2014the global business standard for quality.
\nCBR also has released more client cord blood units for specific
\ntherapeutic use than any other family cord blood bank. For more
\ninformation, visit http:\/\/www.cordblood.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n
\nvisit:<\/p>\n