Friday, October 23, 2009

Biocell Center opens amniotic stem cell bank in Medford

By Mass High Tech staff

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Biocell Center, a European biotechnology firm, has opened the first U.S. headquarters in Medford for the amniotic stem cell preservation company. Joining the official opening on Thursday was Governor Deval Patrick; Susan Windham-Bannister, president and CEO of the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center; Robert Coughlin, president and CEO of MassBio; and Paolo Alli, chief of the Cabinet of Governor Formigoni in Italy’s Lombardia region.

The company preserves stem cells from amniotic fluid and will do so for families interested in paying for the liquid nitrogen preservation of the stem cells in Biocell Center’s cryo-bank.

“Biocell Center selected Massachusetts because of its high concentration of leading medical centers and research institutions,” said Biocell Center CEO Kate Torchilin in a statement.

The company noted plans to work with hospitals and scientists in Boston and other parts of the U.S. on amniotic stem cell clinical research.