What once seemed futuristic and only found in sci-fi movies has made its way to Arizona. The Valley’s first umbilical-cord blood bank opens this summer in Gilbert. The Celebration Stem Cell Centre (CSCC) is a “family-owned” private umbilical cord blood bank, public cord blood donation, genetic counseling and research facility located across the street from the Mercy Gilbert Medical Center campus. CSCC plans to begin processing billions of life-saving umbilical cord blood stem cells by July of 2010.

The center will give Valley residents an opportunity to learn and contribute to cutting-edge stem-cell research as well as reinforce the increased commercial investment and continued growth of the life science sector in Gilbert and the East Valley.

Although stem cell research has been ongoing for over twenty years, it is considered a relatively new technology. The advancements in medical technology and positive patient outcomes have spurred new clinical trials investigation treatments for several disease states. Scientists and researchers have great hope for stem cell research and its ability to uncover treatments and possibly even cures for some of the maladies diseases including heart disease, diabetes and neurodegenerative deseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. The Celebration Stem Cell Centre is committed to providing the highest quality of viable stem cells for future medical treatments.

The CSCC only works with n on-controversial forms of stem cells derived from umbilical cord blood and adult tissues. The CSCC uses the latest technology to process and store cord blood, bone marrow and adipose (fat) tissues.

Cord blood banking has become a popular trend among new and expectant parents. Immediately after birth, blood from the umbilical cord is collected, processed and stored. The blood that remains in the umbilical cord after birth, which is normally discarded, is a rich source of stem cells. The CSCC is meeting the need for public cord blood banking by being the first facility in Arizona to collaborate with hospitals throughout the state to process and bank umbilical cord blood donations. Donated cord blood stem cells will be available on a public registry for patients around the world.

World-renowned Cardiologist Dr. Nabil Dib serves as Medical Director and Chief Investigator at the Celebration Stem Cell Centre. Dr. Dib is currently the Director of both Clinical Cardiovascular Research and New Devices at Chandler Regional and Mercy Gilbert Medical Centers. In addition, he leads his own clinical team at Cardiovascular and Stem Cell Consultants. He is currently the Principal Investigator of more than twenty clinical trials in stem cell and gene therapy.

“Currently, there is an overwhelmind lack of education and public awareness regarding the curing powers of stem cells.”
-Christian Beaudry, CSCC Director of Operations

©2010 Celebration Stem Cell Centre. All Rights Reserved.

Gilbert, AZ, July 20, 2010 – A collaborative partnership between Mercy Gilbert Medical Center and Celebration Stem Cell Centre is turning Gilbert, Arizona into one of the world’s leading research centers for cord blood stem cell research, processing, and storage. Mercy Gilbert Medical Center, several Phoenix-area hospitals, and other Catholic Healthcare West hospitals have agreed to collect donated cord blood from consenting patients for the processing, storage, and subsequent delivery of stem cells for worldwide clinical research made available through Celebration Stem Cell Centre. Cord blood stem cells are non-controversial, unlike embryonic stem cells, because it is collected from the umbilical cord of newborn babies, which is usually discarded. Researchers, institutions, and companies interested in opening offices in Gilbert for stem cell research should contact Gilbert’s economic development division at: busdev@gilbertaz.gov or (480) 503-6010.

“In the future, Gilbert will be a worldwide destination for patient treatment and center for scientists to be trained from basic science to clinical application for stem cells,” said Dr. Nabil Dib, Medical Director and Chief Investigator at the Celebration Stem Cell Centre.

“Gilbert is proving its commitment to successfully establishing healthcare and life sciences as one of its strategic industry clusters,” stated Laurie Eberst, President of Mercy Gilbert Medical Center. “The Celebration Stem Cell Centre, our hospital, Gilbert’s Economic Development Division, and other local resources are helping to build a world-class bioscience landscape and community for healthcare and biomedical development.”

“We are proud and excited by the number of industry leading healthcare institutions and life science companies that have chosen Gilbert as their location based on our infrastructure, resources, business climate, and economic incentives,” said Gilbert Mayor John Lewis. “Quality and accessible healthcare services is an important benefit to our community and life science companies represent a key ingredient to our future economic growth and health.”

Gilbert, Arizona Life Science Resources

• Location of the new M.D. Anderson Banner Cancer Center, scheduled to open in 2011.
• Major Healthcare Providers/Services: Mercy Gilbert Medical Center, Banner Gateway Medical Center, Gilbert Hospital, and Ironwood Cancer Research Center.
• Over 2 million square feet of state-of-the-art hospital and clinical research facilities.
• 300 acres of real estate earmarked for healthcare facilities and services.
• Close proximity to over 800 science and technology firms, potential for collaborative partnerships.
• Access to 100,000 healthcare practitioners and technicians within 45 minute commute.
• Educational resources: Arizona State University Polytechnic, A.T. Still University, Pima Medical Institute, the Bryman School, and Chandler-Gilbert Community College.
• Regional Assets: The Science Foundation Arizona, Arizona Biodesign Institute at Arizona State University, Translational Genomics Research Institute.

About Gilbert, Ariz. Economic Development Services
Gilbert’s economic development division is committed to the attraction and retention of business and industry to the Gilbert community. The division provides expert site selection services, operational cost analysis, incentive comparisons, workforce studies and the ability to connect knowledge assets that spur innovation.

About Celebration Stem Cell Centre
The Celebration Stem Cell Centre (CSCC) in Gilbert, Arizona is a private umbilical cord blood bank, public cord blood donation bank, adult stem cell processing, genetic counseling and research facility. CSCC services include the processing and banking of umbilical cord blood, bone marrow and adipose (fat) tissue derived stem cells. It also offers genetic counseling, bone marrow match testing and a registry that will be available to the public and medical community.

About Mercy Gilbert Medical Center
Mercy Gilbert Medical Center is a full-service, 212-bed, acute care, not-for-profit community hospital providing exceptional healthcare to the East Valley. Services offered include cardiovascular, emergency, family birth center, gastrointestinal, pediatric and adolescent, sleep center, orthopedics, and diagnostic services, among others. The hospital is part of Catholic Healthcare West (CHW) one of the largest healthcare systems in the West with 40 hospitals in Arizona, California and Nevada.

About Gilbert, Arizona
Gilbert, Arizona is located approximately 10 miles southeast of Phoenix, Arizona. With a population of 220,000 Gilbert was ranked the 4th fastest-growing large municipality in the nation according to CNN/Money Magazine. Gilbert also has one of the finest K-12 education systems in Arizona and ranks 36th out of the top 100 best places to live in America. For additional details on Gilbert’s low operating costs, established aviation and aerospace employers, incentives and available workforce, please contact the Economic Development Division at busdev@gilbertaz.gov or 480.503.6010, or visit: http://www.gilbertaz.gov/busdevmedia/default.cfm

©2010 Celebration Stem Cell Centre. All Rights Reserved.

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©2010 Celebration Stem Cell Centre. All Rights Reserved.

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©2010 Celebration Stem Cell Centre. All Rights Reserved.

Kiva Family Fun Night will be an evening full of fun, food, games, and entertainment for the entire family. Kiva is pleased to announce that the Celebration Stem Cell Centre (CSCC), in conjunction with The Victoria Lund Foundation and the Rob and Rachel Lund Schemitsch family, will be the exclusive sponsors for Kiva’s Family Fun Night.

Kiva Elementary School is located at 6911 E. McDonald Drive, Paradise Valley, AZ 85253. For more information, visit www.kivapto.org.

The CSCC is a “family-owned” private umbilical cord blood bank, public cord blood donation, genetic counseling and research facility. The grand opening is scheduled for January 2010 and is located near the Mercy Gilbert Medical Campus in Gilbert, Arizona.

If interested in storing or donating your child’s cord blood, please Contact Us before the 34th week of pregnancy.

©2010 Celebration Stem Cell Centre. All Rights Reserved.