MetroHealth Joins National Center for Regenerative Medicine as Part of Membership Expansion

MetroHealth has been accepted as an institutional member of the National Center for Regenerative Medicine, a leader in cellular manufacturing and regenerative medicine. The Center is based at Case Western Reserve University and operated by CWRU, Cleveland Clinic and University Hospitals. All three are nationally ranked and recognized research institutions.​

The Center is focused on research leading to the discovery of cell-based therapies for patient care. The invitation for MetroHealth to join the Center followed a vote by its board of governors last month.

"The National Center for Regenerative Medicine is leading the way in regenerative medicine, stem cell research, cellular manufacturing and clinical trials for cellular therapeutics," says Bernard Boulanger, MD, Chief Clinical Officer. "The addition of MetroHealth as a full member of the Center enhances our ability to bring these cutting-edge advances to the patients we serve."

The National Center for Regenerative Medicine is one of only a few academic institutions in the U.S. with a state-of-the-art cellular therapy manufacturing facility.

William Tse, MD, Director of MetroHealth's division of Hematology/Oncology and Deputy Director of the MetroHealth Cancer Center, credits the membership invitation as a direct result of MetroHealth's leadership, vision and investment in cellular immunotherapy research.

"Joining the National Center for Regenerative Medicine raises our status in the world of cancer research and treatment and makes us a more competitive institution for decades to come," he says. "We are part of an elite partnership now."

Dr. Tse believes affiliation with the National Center for Regenerative Medicine will provide more regulatory support and increased access to FDA approval for MetroHealth discoveries in treatment, enabling our patients to reap the benefits sooner.

The Center integrates the cell therapy and regenerative medicine activities of the largest biomedical research and health care institutions in Ohio – Case Western Reserve, University Hospitals and Cleveland Clinic. It is led by Stanton Gerson, MD, interim dean of the Case Western Reserve School of Medicine, Asa and Patricia Shiverick-Jane Shiverick (Tripp) Professor of Hematological Oncology, and director of the National Cancer Institute-designated Case Comprehensive Cancer Center; and co-led by Timothy Chan, MD, PhD, director of the Cleveland Clinic Center for Immunotherapy and Precision Immuno-Oncology. case.edu/medicine/ncrm/.

"With the addition of MetroHealth as a formal institutional member, all cellular therapy activities in the city are now united under the Center's umbrella, fostering collaboration, promoting efficiency, and expanding possibilities for better treatments and new discoveries," says Dr. Gerson, Director of the National Center for Regenerative Medicine.