CellCura relocates to Skien

CellCura is pleased to announce it has relocated it’s principal European offices and assembly plant to new premises in Skien south of Oslo. Commenting on the move the CEO, Lesley Hutchins said, "We believe this location close to regional air and ground transportation will ensure we can provide the best possible service to our customers worldwide".

The move to the new premises, which is centrally placed within a new regional biotech cluster development, has been assisted by Skien Næringsfond as and Klosterøyafondet. CellCura is pleased to be one of the companies supporting the ongoing area development and the ecologically sound re-use of former heavy industrial sites. Ms Hutchins further commented that "the new facility has capacity for growth as we anticipate rapidly increasing demand for the CellCura workstations which can be used in both IVF laboratories and research laboratories working with Stem Cells and other cell biology applications."

The CellCura IVF Workstation

"The CellCura IVF Workstation* was unveiled at the 23rd annual European Society for Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE) meeting in Lyon France. Both in Lyon and at subsequent meetings and shows all who have experienced it have clearly been excited by the benfits offered by the many unique features.

To understand more about why the Integrated IVF Workstation from CellCura will create a new standard in laboratory efficiency and documentation and provide intelligent workplace solutions for ART click here

*Patent Pending, Design Pending.

Norwegian Stem Cell Company Comes to Madison

Madison, Wis. -- CellCura, a Norwegian biotechnology company, is opening a location in Madison, Wisconsin, in order to facilitate collaboration with WiCell Research Institute on stem cell-related research equipment and products, the company announced today.

The selection was made after an extensive international search of locations. Madison was chosen for its overall quality of life, accessibility to world-class stem cell scientists at the University of Wisconsin, and proximity to WiCell.

CellCura is dedicated to the development of novel products for Assisted Reproduction Technology (ART) and will utilize its technologies in close cooperation with WiCell to generate unique products for the stem cell market. The company will locate in UW-Madison's University Research Park with a small team of key employees. CellCura has entered into a license agreement with the WiCell Research Institute for rights to stem cell technology developed by Dr. James Thomson, the founder of human embryonic stem cell research.

"I am extremely pleased that this company has chosen to locate near the scientific expertise at WiCell and the University of Wisconsin-Madison," said Carl Gulbrandsen, Director of WiCell Research Institute. "This move demonstrates the value of Wisconsin's leadership in human embryonic stem cell research. We look forward to a partnership that will benefit CellCura and the entire Madison community."

CellCura President Dag Dvergsten announced that Lesley Hutchins will serve as president of the Madison operation. CellCura and WiCell scientists have already been working together for months. The success of this research collaboration demonstrated a need for proximity to WiCell and the university.

Tom Loftus, former U.S. Ambassador to Norway, played an important role in bringing CellCura executives to Madison to explore the opportunities for companies targeting the stem cell market.

"We are confident that our collaboration with WiCell will lead to a number of dedicated products that will be useful for stem cell scientists all over the world," said Dvergsten. "With more than 114 scientists at WiCell and the university working at the forefront of stem cell research, CellCura will have the opportunity to obtain unique information about the specialized needs of the stem cell research community."

"The eagerness of WiCell to collaborate with a company like ours, and the tremendous infrastructure already in place for stem cell research made Madison an easy choice," he added.

CellCura is the fourth stem cell company to start or locate in Madison in the last 2 years. Thomson and his colleagues recently started two companies, Cellular Dynamics and Stem Cell Products, while Beth Donley and Gabriela Cezar started Stemina Biomarker Discovery.

About WiCell

The WiCell Research Institute is dedicated to expanding the frontiers of science and medicine by unlocking the potential of stem cells. As a subsidiary of the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation and a supporting organization of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, WiCell conducts research, supports research at UW-Madison, hosts the National Stem Cell Bank, provides training for scientists, and offers educational outreach programs for K-12 students and the community.

About CellCura

CellCura AS is a Norwegian company dedicated to the development of novel equipment and products for use in Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) and stem cell research throughout the world. Its core technologies have been developed through 15 years of research and CellCura's products will improve safety and efficiency in both clinical and research environments.