26 May Cellular Dynamics enters collaboration with Michael J. Fox Foundation
By David Schuyler, Milwaukee Business Journal
Pioneering stem cell company Cellular Dynamics International Inc. of Madison said Wednesday that it has entered into a collaboration with The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research that’s designed to help develop new therapies for Parkinson’s disease.
Under the agreement, Cellular Dynamics will derive induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from 85 people in the Michael J. Fox Foundation-sponsored Parkinson’s Progression Markers Initiative (PPMI). The stem cells will be provided to the scientific community, along with the rich available clinical and imaging data on the volunteers in the study, to develop and accelerate new treatments for the disease.
The new research initiative is called the Golub Capital iPSC PPMI Sub-study and is being funded by national credit asset management firm Golub Capital (Nasdaq: GBDC) of Chicago, led by Lawrence and David Golub.David Golub is a member of the Michael J. Fox Foundation board of directors.
Cellular Dynamics will work with Indiana University to derive the 85 iPS cell lines from PPMI volunteers, both with and without Parkinson’s disease. The stem cells will be banked in Indianapolis. Read more …