Los Angeles, CA-- December 4, 2017-- Dr. Justin Ichida, co-founder and President of AcuraStem, Inc, was honored with the "Commitment to a Cure" award by the ALS Association Golden West Chapter at the organization's "Champions for Care and A Cure" event on Saturday, December 2, 2017.
The award recognizes Dr. Ichida's "pioneering work to convert patients’ skin cells into disease-affected neural cells, enabling them to screen thousands of drug-like compounds in search of potential therapeutics that could slow or stop ALS." In addition to his work at AcuraStem, Dr. Ichida has led cutting-edge research as an Assistant Professor of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine at the University of Southern California (USC), and as a Robertson Stem Cell Investigator at the New York Stem Cell Foundation.
The Golden West Chapter also presented its Spotlight Award and Cornerstone Award at the event, which is dedicated to raising awareness and conquering amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
Proceeds from the event, which took place at the Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows in Santa Monica, CA, will provide funding in the areas of ALS care services, public policy, and cutting-edge research. The Golden West Chapter provides services to more than 1,500 people with ALS and their families in 31 California counties and the state of Hawaii.
Photos courtesy of Henry Choi AND CHRIS MATHES
About AcuraStem Incorporated
AcuraStem has developed a breakthrough precision medicine platform called iNeuroRx®, which leverages patient stem cells and advanced machine learning technology to discover drugs for neurodegenerative diseases. AcuraStem has utilized this platform to identify innovative ALS targets and has generated a preclinical lead candidate (AS-1) that they are advancing to the clinic. AS-1 has strong genetic validation, a novel mechanism of action, and demonstrated proof of concept in animal studies.
SOURCE AcuraStem Incorporated
This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "may," "should," "potential," "continue," "expects," "anticipates," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates," and similar expressions. The forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those set forth or implied by any forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those reflected in the forward-looking statements include, among others, AcuraStem’s ability to successfully leverage the motor neuron cellular models developed at AcuraStem. The information in this release is provided only as of the date of this release, and AcuraStem does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this release on account of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by law.
For more information, please contact:
Erin Morris Huttlinger
Public Information Officer
ehuttlinger@acurastem.com
615.419.9988