[Proneuron1] SHRINERS HOSPITALS FOR CHILDREN, PHILADELPHIA NOW ENROLLING FOR PRONEURON'S PHASE II PROCORD STUDY

[proneuron1 at list.proneuron.com]

SHRINERS HOSPITALS FOR CHILDREN, PHILADELPHIA NOW ENROLLING FOR PRONEURON'S
PHASE II PROCORD STUDY
The experimental ProCord procedure involves injecting specially treated
autologous macrophages (type of white blood cell) into a patient's damaged
spinal cord to help stimulate repair.

Philadelphia, PA, November 18, 04 - Shriners Hospitals for Children,
Philadelphia is now enrolling for Proneuron's Phase II trial of ProCord, for
complete spinal cord injury. The official announcement was made at the
Spinal Cord Injury Conference at Shriners Hospital in Philadelphia. 
"Adolescents with spinal cord injuries have an opportunity to participate in
this pivotal study for spinal cord regeneration. In addition to this
experimental procedure, adolescents who come to Philadelphia will receive
state-of-the-art medical, nursing and rehabilitation services and will be
introduced to the spectrum of additional clinical and research programs
available. This study represents Shriners Philadelphia Hospital's ongoing
commitment to improving the physical, emotional and social health of
children with traumatic, life changing injuries," stated Dr. Randal Betz,
Chief of Staff, Shriners Hospital, Philadelphia.

Patients found eligible for the study will be randomly assigned to either a
treatment or control group. Patients in the control group will not receive
the experimental procedure. All control and treatment patients will receive
standard spinal cord injury care and rehabilitation and will receive
follow-up testing for one year.

This international, multi-center, randomized-controlled, experimental study
is open to patients who meet eligibility criteria, including but not limited
to an ASIA Grade A injury between C5-T11 vertebrae, within 14 days of
injury. Asia Grade A is defined as patients who have no feeling or movement
below the point of injury. Shriners Hospital is at liberty to enroll
adolescents 16 years of age and older.


Patient, Immediate Family of Patient and/or Physician inquiries:
---------------------------------------------------------------
24 hour a day Patient Recruitment Center:
E-mail: clinical.trial at proneuron.com
Telephone: 1-866-539-0767 (U.S. toll free) or 1-506-652-3486.
Fax 1-866-214-7078
**Callers outside the U.S., please use standard international dialing code
For additional information: www.proneuron.com

In addition to Shriners Hospitals for Children, Philadelphia the following
sites are also enrolling patients in the ProCord study: University Hospital
(Newark) in cooperation with Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation, West
Orange, New Jersey; The Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City; Craig
Hospital in Denver, Colorado, and Chaim Sheba Medical Center in Israel.
Shepherd Center in Atlanta, GA, also anticipated to begin enrollment in
early 2005, is already taking an active role in the study as a referral and
rehabilitation center.


About Shriners Hospitals for Children Philadelphia:
--------------------------------------------------
Shriners Hospitals for Children, Philadelphia is a Center of Excellence in
Pediatric Orthopaedics. The hospital is staffed by nationally and
internationally known professionals specializing in providing medical and
rehabilitative expertise to children with spinal cord injuries, orthopaedic
spine deformities and, upper and lower extremity orthopaedic impairments.
Through the expanded patient care programs at Shriners Hospitals,
Philadelphia, including research and education, families with children with
spinal cord injury and orthopaedic impairments have improved their quality
of life. 

Shriners Philadelphia Hospital is equipped and staffed to provide care for
virtually all pediatric orthopaedic problems, with the exception of acute
trauma. The hospital has developed a special expertise in the following
areas: Spinal Cord Injuries, Cerebral Palsy, Scoliosis (curvature of the
spine), brachial plexus injuries, Spina Bifida, Chest Deformities, Hand
Disorders, Club Foot, Hip Disorders. All services are provided at no charge
to the patient or family. 

Shriners Hospitals for Children, Philadelphia is part of the Shriners
Hospital System, which comprises 18 orthopaedic hospitals, three burn
centers and one hospital in northern California, which specializes in both
orthopaedics and burns, bringing the total to 22 hospitals in North America.
The Philadelphia Hospital serves children primarily from the Mid-Atlantic
States, but also those from the entire eastern coast of North America and
the Caribbean Islands.

The Philadelphia Shriners Hospital is also a designated research center
within the Shriners Hospitals healthcare system. In addition to the ProCord
study for adolescents with newly acquired spinal cord injuries, Philadelphia
Hospital is conducting spinal cord research to study the health benefits of
functional electrical stimulation assisted cycling in young children with
SCI, to evaluate the effectiveness of surgical interventions for improved
hand and arm function in children with tetraplegia and to demonstrate the
outcomes of activity based rehabilitation (combined cycling, swimming and
treadmill training) in children with SCI of all levels. 
Shriners Hospitals recognizes the vital role of family in the child's
rehabilitation process. Using a team-centered approach and a family-centered
care, Shriners Hospitals encourages and supports the family's participation
in all aspects of the child's care. 


Press Inquiries
---------------
Marjie Hadad, (Media Liaison) Proneuron, 011-972-54-536-5220 or
Marjie.hadad at proneuron.com
Terry Diamond, (Director of Public Relations) Shriners Hospital for
Children, Philadelphia,
1-800-281-4050 ext 4055 or tdiamond at shrinenet.org