Spring Point Project Welcomes Second Generation 'Medical-Grad...(terpriseand Alley Minnesota this award h...)

"The Tekne Award recognition, in response to our innovative high-tech biotechnology efforts and achievements generating 'medical grade' pigs, is a monumental accomplishment for Spring Point Project and its staff," says Spring Point Project CEO Henk-Jan Schuurman, PhD, who is an experienced researcher in the field of xenotransplantation -- the transplantation of living cells, tissues or organs from one species to another.

"Spring Point Project's expertise and commitment bring us in the forefront of technological advances. With unique science and technology, we will soon be able to provide a 'fix' for diabetes patients by using islet tissue from the 'medical grade' pigs in our facility."

Other groups working in xenotransplantation see Spring Point Project more and more as a leader in this arena as well. Various organizations in the United States, Japan, China and Europe are approaching Spring Point Project about the process for generating 'clean' pigs for transplantation in humans.

Inside the DRWF Islet Resource Facility, a highly skilled team actively cares for the pigs, which are fed special food and given disinfected water to drink and filtered air to breathe. Currently the facility houses approximately 100 pigs.

"There are very few buildings of this kind in the world, and we are fortunate to have top-class people to manage our facility and care for the pigs," says Tom Cartier, chairman of Spring Point Project. "Ongoing fundraising will allow these pigs to provide a new way of life for patients with diabetes and free them from this horrible disease. In coming years, we expect patients with diabetes to be able to lead lives free of insulin injections."

As a nonprofit organization, Spring Point Project heavily depends on donations. The co
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