Released on: January 7, 2008, 10:55 am

Press Release Author: GTCBIO

Industry: Pharmaceuticals

Press Release Summary: MONROVIA, CA - Joseph Frank, Chief, Experimental Neuroimaging
Section, Laboratory of Diagnostic Radiology at NIH will speak at GTCbio's 3rd
Imaging in Drug Development conference on March 17-18, 2008 in San Diego.

Press Release Body: Chief, Diagnostic Radiology at NIH to speak at 3rd Imaging in
Drug Development conference March 2008


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 20, 2007

MONROVIA, CA - Joseph Frank, Chief, Experimental Neuroimaging Section, Laboratory of
Diagnostic Radiology at NIH will speak at GTCbio's 3rd Imaging in Drug Development
conference on March 17-18, 2008 in San Diego.

Dr. Frank will present on using MRI to monitor cellular therapy.

Magnetic labeling of cells provides the ability to monitor the temporal spatial
migration of stem cells and other mammalian cells using in vivo MRI. Various methods
have been used to magnetically label cells using FDA approved dextran coated
superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) nanoparticles complexed to FDA approved
transfection agents allowing for efficient and effective uptake of the contrast
agent by stem cells. A variety of different approaches have been used to label stem
cells with SPIO nanoparticles with no toxicity, alterations in viability,
proliferation, production of reactive oxygen species, increase rates of apoptosis or
ability to differentiate. Both experimental and clinically used paramagnetic
(gadolinium) and superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) nanoparticles have been used to
label stem cells, progenitor cells, immune cells and cancer cell lines for cellular
MRI studies (1,2,3). Larger micron sized iron oxide commercially available
particles or beads (MPIO) are also being used to label cells for cellular MRI
studies in experimental models (4). Labeled cells have been implanted under
stereotactic guidance intracerebrally or intraventricularly into contralateral
hemisphere to pathology (i.e., stroke, brain tumor) demonstrating the ability of the
labeled cells to migrate out of the ventricle or across the corpus callosum being
tracked by MRI. Magnetically labeled stem cells and progenitor cells have been
directly implanted into the spinal cord adjacent to the area of induced trauma or
pathology. Intravenous and intracardiac injection of labeled cells has also been
used although larger numbers of labeled cells are usually injected because of the
initial homing of cells in to other organs such as lung, liver spleen and bone
marrow prior to the migration to target tissue. Dendritic cells labeled with SPIO
can provide the capability to track cells used for immunotherapy (5). Neuronal
cells labeled with ferumoxides could be track by MRI following implantation into
damaged cortex and white matter for several weeks in a patient suffering from
traumatic brain injury (6). Potential applications of using magnetically labeled
stem cells and MRI should allow for the development of novel experimental and
clinical treatment trials providing a non-invasive approach that can be used to
optimize cellular based therapies to determine when to give cells, how often to give
cells and potentially the number and combination
of cells that will that can be used.

The 3rd Imaging in Pre-clinical & Clinical Drug Development conference features
presentations on novel imaging methods and technology, imaging in drug development
and therapy, imaging applications in CNS, imaging applications in oncology and
imaging applications in the cardiovascular system. For more information, visit
www.gtcbio.com.


ABOUT GTCbio

GTCbio organizes conferences specifically for the biomedical and biopharmaceutical
industries. Our goal is to facilitate the exchange of biopharmaceutical and
biomedical intelligence between industry leaders, academic and government
organizations, and the financial community.

GTCbio is a subsidiary of Global Technology Community, LLC, a privately held company
founded in 2002.

Contact: GTCBIO (626) 256-6405, (626) 256-6460 fax, customerservices@gtcbio.com



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Contact Details: Contact: GTCBIO (626) 256-6405, (626) 256-6460 fax,
customerservices@gtcbio.com