Singapore, Dec 4, 2009: Dr Susan Jiang, Chief Science Officer at Shenzhen Beike Biotechnology, spoke at a conference on High-Risk Diabetic Foot Care in New Delhi, India, November 22, 2009. Beike is China's leading stem cell research and regenerative medicine company.

The conference, organized by the Indian Podiatry Association (IPA), aimed to help podiatrists and researchers with an interest in foot disease to "update, interact, modernize and catch up with the advancing pace of scientific development in the field of podiatry." Dr Jiang's talk, titled "Umbilical Cord Mesenchymal Stem Cell and Clinical Application Prospects in Diabetic Foot Disease," outlined the promise of stem cells in the healing of diabetic wounds and diabetic foot pathology.

"I am excited to have had this opportunity to discuss the role that stem cell therapy can play in healing diabetic wounds and related foot conditions," said Dr Susan Jiang, speaking after the Conference. "India is one of the first countries to put forth clear and practical guidelines on the clinical use of stem cells. It has also been at the forefront in embracing this new technology, and utilizing its potential clinical applications. Together with leading clinicians in the field, Beike India is preparing a clinical trial of stem cell treatment in diabetic foot disease. Our pilot studies in China suggest that stem cell treatment will become a very practical and effective clinical intervention. We are happy to share our observations from our stem cell therapy studies with the Indian clinical community."

Dr Jiang's presentation highlighted the results and techniques used in Beike's Diabetic Foot clinical study performed in China. In December 2008, Beike completed a prospective clinical study scientifically testing the therapeutic value that autologous mononuclear stem cell therapy holds for diabetic lower-limb ischemia. In this 12 month follow-up study, of the 324 subjects who received stem cell therapy, 283 (87.3%) showed significant improvements indicated by clinical indicator tests performed 3 times over the treatment period.

The mechanism for these improvements requires more scientific inquiry before it is fully understood, however, Dr Jiang discussed how the study's data supported the angiogenesis hypothesis, which states that locally injected stem cells can enhance the growth of new blood vessels in poorly vascularized areas. The study collected angiographic, skin temperature, blood oxygen and other data to record the effects of possible angiogenesis.

The conference's scientific sessions, like Dr Jiang's, helped participants to further their understanding of clinical care for patients with diabetes and encouraged networking between the physicians and other foot care professionals in attendance. It also acted as a resource for participants to obtain up-to-date information on theory and management of diabetic foot disorders while serving to increase awareness of recent diabetic foot disorder research. The meeting emphasized the importance of incorporating effective treatment strategies for limb preservation based on available technologies and the need for a multidisciplinary team approach.