Longeveron announced receiving a $750,000 grant from the Maryland Stem Cell Research Fund (MSCRF) to continue stem cell research. Longeveron will partner with the University of Maryland and Johns Hopkins University to conduct a clinical trial for Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS), a rare and often fatal condition in infants caused by an underdeveloped heart.
"We anticipate that the HLHS trial may be a game changing procedure to improve the ventricular performance for these HLHS babies that will improve their outcomes and allow them to live longer lives," Dr. Sunjay Kaushal, Director of Pediatric Cardiac Surgery at University of Maryland, and Site Investigator on this award said.
The MSCRF was established by the Governor and the Maryland General Assembly through the Maryland Stem Cell Research Act of 2006 to accelerate research using human stem cells and advance medical treatment. In a news release earlier this month, Rabbi Avram Reisner, Chair of the Maryland Stem Cell Research Commission said, "The awards announced are the first in our new Accelerating Cure initiative. They represent some of the most advanced regenerative medicine projects that are being undertaken. These awardees are at the leading edge of medical innovation and exemplify the purpose and mission of the Maryland Stem Cell Research Fund."