Avalon GloboCare Appoints Dr. James L. Gajewski, Former Medical Director at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, to Head Scientific and Clinical Advisory Board
FREEHOLD, N.J., Aug. 14, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Avalon GloboCare Corp. (OTCQB: AVCO), a leading global developer of cell-based technologies, announced today that the Company has appointed James L. Gajewski, M.D., M.A.C.P., to head its Scientific and Clinical Advisory Board.
Dr. James L. Gajewski received his A.B. degree in Government and International Studies from the University of Notre Dame, and his M.D. degree from Temple University School of Medicine. He subsequently completed his residency training in Internal Medicine at the University of Cincinnati Hospital and fellowship in Hematology and Oncology at UCLA Hospital and Clinics. His early medical career at UCLA focused on scientific and clinical research in the area of unrelated donor hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Many of the unrelated marrow donor transplantations he performed in 1988 and 1989 became the world’s longest survivors. Dr. Gajewski is one of the pioneers in graft-versus-host disease (GvHD), the need for better immunosuppression after unrelated donor transplant, as well as the need for use of molecular HLA typing to select for appropriate unrelated marrow donors. He further ventured into haploidentical transplantation and contributed to important clinical data with the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research (CIBMTR) on transplant outcomes.
During his tenure at University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Dr. Gajewski served as Professor of Medicine and Clinical Chief at the Department of Blood and Marrow Transplantation, Co-Medical Director of the Hematology Disease Site Center, Co-Medical Director of the Department of Blood and Marrow Transplantation Laboratory, as well as Deputy Chair of the Division of Cancer Medicine. He also played a leadership role as Managed Care Co-Medical Director at MD Anderson Cancer Center and as advisor to the Physician-in-Chief and the President’s Office.
Dr. Gajewski has also played a pioneering role on national payment policy focusing on CPT codes to adequately describe transplantation services, which has led to his appointment as member to the American Medical Association (AMA) Relative Value Scale Update Committee (RUC) which defines payment value for all physician provided patient care. Because of this achievement, Dr. Gajewski has been appointed to serve in committee leadership roles establishing episodes of care measures by acumen for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) implementation of the recent MACRA legislation.
Dr. Gajewski was founding committee member of both the Foundation for Accreditation of Cellular Therapy (FACT) and National Comprehensive Cancer Center Network’s leukemia and lymphoma clinical guidelines committee. He also served as the American Society for Bone Marrow Transplantation expert liaison to the FDA cellular therapeutics advisory committee. Dr. Gajewski currently serves on the Oregon Medical Association’s board of trustees and is President of the Oregon Society of Medical Oncology.
Dr. Gajewski has maintained a strong research interest in cellular therapy despite his numerous state and national committee roles. He has co-authored 162 peer reviewed publications and has written 15 book chapters. He has been a frequent speaker at national and international meetings in hematology, stem cell transplantation, and cellular therapy. He is also member of the journal editorial board in Blood, Journal of Clinical Oncology, Bone Marrow Transplantation, Transfusion, Biology of Blood and Marrow Transplantation, Pediatrics, and others. In 2016, Dr. Gajewski was honored by the American College of Physicians (ACP) as recipient of the prestigious ACP Mastership Award for lifetime achievement for his contribution in stem cell transplantation, cellular therapy, and public policies promoting access to healthcare.
Dr. David Jin, President and CEO of Avalon GloboCare, stated, “We are honored and pleased to welcome Dr. James Gajewski to head our Scientific and Clinical Advisory Board. He brings to Avalon GloboCare an impressive clinical background in stem cell transplantation and cellular therapy, as well as a wealth of knowledge and experience in regulatory affairs and medical economics. Jim will be an invaluable asset as we establish a leadership role within the regenerative medicine and cellular therapy sectors.”
Dr. James Gajewski commented, “I am delighted to join and lead Avalon’s Scientific and Clinical Advisory Board. I look forward to helping Avalon advance its mission of accelerating translational research, clinical development, and commercialization of cellular technologies and therapeutics.”
About Avalon GloboCare Corp.
Avalon GloboCare Corp. (OTCQB:AVCO) is a global intelligent biotech developer and healthcare service provider dedicated to promoting and empowering high impact, transformative cell-based /technologies and their clinical applications, as well as healthcare facility management through its core platforms, namely "Avalon Cell" and "Avalon Rehab." In addition, Avalon provides strategic advisory and outsourcing services to facilitate and enhance their clients' growth, development, as well as competitiveness in both domestic and global healthcare markets. Avalon also engages in the management of stem cell banks and specialty clinical laboratories. Through its U.S. subsidiaries, namely GenExosome Technologies Inc. and Avactis Biosciences Inc., Avalon will further establish our leading roles in the fields of CAR-T therapy, liquid biopsy, precision medicine and regenerative medicine.
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Released August 14, 2018