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Norwood Immunology Partners With Australian Stem Cell Centre and Monash University

Posted on: Tuesday, 21 March 2006, 12:01 CST

Norwood Abbey Ltd (ASX:NAL) through its subsidiary Norwood Immunology Ltd (AIM:NIM), has announced the signing of a tripartite research agreement with the Australian Stem Cell Centre (ASCC) and Monash University, to form an important new technology platform combining immune system research with stem cell know-how. The new research technology has the potential to add significant value to Norwood Immunology's Intellectual Property pipeline.

The research will focus on controlling the immune system to minimise rejection of stem cell therapies introduced into the body. This may enable the successful engraftment of stem cells to repair organs and tissues that are damaged as a result of disease processes.

The immune system will usually only accept cells that it recognises as its own. Foreign cells and tissues are routinely rejected posing significant difficulties when a patient undergoes a transplant procedure. Immune rejection stands as one of the major hurdles facing stem cell researchers in developing potential clinical treatments.

Associate Professor Richard Boyd is the principal investigator and the director of the research program. 'This research will address one of the major hurdles facing stem cell scientists around the world, and that is how to stop the body from rejecting introduced cells,' he said. 'The research skills of NIM and the ASCC are highly complementary and the incorporation of stem cells should also enhance NIM's platform technology for repairing damage to the immune system. I believe we are the only group with a research program that aims to combine the immune system with stem cell technology.'

The agreement signed between Norwood Immunology, Monash University and the Australian Stem Cell Centre (ASCC) proposes the research will take place at the Monash Immunology and Stem Cell Laboratories at the University's Clayton campus in Melbourne with access to the Australian Stem Cell Centre's specialised research facilities in the same building. The research will be funded jointly by the Australian Stem Cell Centre and Norwood Immunology and the intellectual property that results from the work will be jointly commercialized by the ASCC and Norwood Immunology.

Combining immunology with stem cell research builds upon foundation technologies established by both the Australian Stem Cell Centre and Norwood Immunology.

Under the agreement, Norwood Immunology will provide the ASCC with access to its thymic and bone marrow regrowth technology. This provides a method of replenishing stem cells and potentially facilitates the engraftment and uptake of introduced stem cells into the body, improving their ability to repair damaged tissue and minimising their likelihood of rejection.

Background

Norwood Immunology is a company focused on technologies and therapies to rejuvenate activity of the immune system, through re-growth of the thymus, improvements in bone marrow function and enhancement of T cell functionality. To find out more about the Norwood group, visit www.norwoodabbey.com and www.norwoodimmunology.com.

Source: Business Wire

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