Allograft Possibilities

China is quickly becoming a powerhouse in the field of regenerative medicine; however, despite the country’s obvious commitment to the cause and rapid successes in the field, they are also being questioned by worldwide authorities on regenerative medicine for their willingness to use unverified stem cell techniques in Chinese clinics and hospitals. Though they are continuing to make great strides, the lack of governmental regulation places a burden on the burgeoning research. A recent article on ScienceProgress.org details the intricate struggle.

What do you think about the Chinese approach to regenerative medicine? What, if any, are the implications for the US?

When helping was critical, the AlloSource team sprang into action.

AlloSource is one of the largest suppliers of allograft skin for burns in the nation. Burn skin is central to our mission and helps us play a part in saving people’s lives each and every day.

We service major medical centers in our core communities as well as in other communities across the nation and AlloSource is first to get the call when a crisis event happens. On January 26 we got the call again.

U.S. Air Force C-130 airplanes landed in Tampa, Florida last week with severely burned survivors of the Haitian earthquake inside. The patients were immediately transferred to Tampa General Hospital, one of our large allograft burn skin customers. The procurement coordinator at Tampa General was looking for all the skin that we could provide them to cope with their immediate and future needs. Tampa has implemented their disaster plan for burns and is now working around the clock on surgeries in the burn center.

Immediately the AlloSource team sprang into action releasing 55 square feet of skin. Read more

AlloSource was proud to earlier this month once again be involved with the Donate Life Rose Parade float, this year entitled New Life Rises. The float is an annual tribute to the millions of people touched by organ, tissue and blood donation. AlloSource sponsored a float rider from Colorado: Manuel Salazar, a 29-year-old quadruple amputee survivor of a horrific construction site accident, who now thrives thanks to his indomitable spirit and donated allograft tissue.

Several employees accompanied Manuel and his caregiver CoCo to Pasadena. They all were touched by the emotional and inspiring event; a few of their stories:

“What a wonderful experience.  The reception dinner was very emotional.  I had the opportunity to meet and talk with some of the donor families.  The strength and courage they have is truly amazing.  Having them all gathered at a dinner was really something. You could feel the emotions in the air.  Read more

Check out the view that AlloSource employees had from the stands of the Rose Parade as they watched the incredible Donate Life float pass by and cheered for float rider and tissue recipient Manuel Salazar.

Check out a few photos from the stunning float, featuring AlloSource’s float rider Manuel Salazar, a courageous quadruple amputee and tissue recipient.

For a third consecutive year, Donate Life was among the Rose Parade float award winners. This year’s “New Life Rises” entry won the prestigious Theme Trophy for Excellence in Presenting the Parade Theme, “A Cut Above The Rest.”

Additionally, ABC conducted a text-message poll allowing their millions of viewers to select their favorite float. The winner: Donate Life!

Our inspiring float rider representative for the Donate Life Rose Parade float, Manuel Salazar, has been a hit with media around Colorado. Leading up to and following his participation in the Rose Parade, Manuel was featured by FOX 31, Aurora Sentinel, Aurora 8, Broomfield Enterprise and 9News, which you can see below.

Science is Ever-Changing

I am continually invigorated by modern science that finds new ways to use donated human tissue to treat a host of medical conditions. I am very proud to have some of this pioneering innovation happening right here at AlloSource.

Last month, we shared two important new products with the world’s leaders in spinal care at the North American Spine Society (NASS) conference. These products, AlloStem Stem Cell Bone Growth Substitute and AlloWrap Natural Wound Cover, will provide new solutions for surgeons to form bone and cover wounds. You can read more about AlloStem further in the newsletter and on our blog. Read more

We are very proud to this year be sponsoring Manuel Salazar as a float rider in the 2010 Rose Bowl Parade aboard the Donate Life float. Manuel was rendered a quadruple amputee following a devastating construction site accident. Thanks to his incredible spirit and determination as well as allograft tissue transplants, Manuel now thrives as a quadruple amputee.

Check out the FOX story here: http://www.kdvr.com/news/kdvr-donatelife-120609,0,5087399.story

In this edition I want to share with you some exciting news regarding our accomplishments in developing and commercializing bone allografts containing adult mesenchymal stem cells.

A little more than a year ago we undertook the development of an adult stem cell technology platform with the goal of combining it with allografts to produce products with enhanced tissue regeneration capabilities.  We took a road less traveled with respect to the source of the cells.  Traditionally the focus has been on using bone marrow derived cells.  But limitations in quantity and recovery difficulties resulted in our choosing adipose tissue (fat in everyday parlance) as the source of cells. Read more

Last month, a team from AlloSource traveled to the North American Spine Society (NASS) annual meeting in San Francisco, where we unveiled two pioneering new products: AlloStem Stem Cell Bone Growth Substitute and AlloWrap Natural Wound Cover.

Orthopedic spine surgeons at the event told us how powerful AlloStem Stem Cell Bone Growth Substitute, a new bone growth substitute made from adult stem cells, will be as a biologic solution. The second product we introduced, AlloWrap Natural Wound Cover, is a natural biological wound cover that has shown impressive results in animal studies.

This was a key industry meeting for us, as AlloSource is now the world’s largest processor of live cellular bone growth substitutes – an accomplishment we’re very proud of. At the show we mingled with some of the world’s spine care leaders; there were nearly 4,000 in attendance from all over the globe.

Check out our brief video (above) for a tour of the AlloSource booth at the event.