The specific aim in the establishment of this Center of Excellence is to research the development of a product and system which will isolate and expand stem cells which may be used for therapeutic liver re-population in patients with healthy cells for patients with liver disease, especially, but not exclusively, acute liver failure. It is furthermore our belief that access to autologous or allogeneic hepatic stem cells would allow the development of an "artificial liver."

CEO, David Chin, stated, "The NIH intends to commit up to $4.5 million in FY 2005 to fund three new Centers of Excellence in Translational Human Stem Cell Research. We have been in discussions with prominent Southern California Doctors, researchers, and educational collaborators at hospitals, universities, small and blue chip companies in order to study the feasibility of founding a Stem Cell Research Center for the rapid development of Stem Cell technology. We are still aggressively seeking and hereby invite inquiries from new collaborative industry partners including stem cell biologists, researchers and clinicians with disease-specific expertise, physicians and surgeons skilled in novel modes of cell delivery, and investigators experienced in developing and assessing animal models of human diseases to create a new research team in California. We have successfully submitted the proposal to the NIH government grant by the due date March 24th, 2005."

U.S. BioDefense, Inc. will conduct most of the research required for the project described in this proposal in the company's internal lab facilities at its headquarters in City of Industry, California. In addition, the company will use outside lab facilities that include specialty ultra clean rooms and animal testing labs. U.S. BioDefense, Inc. has relationships in place that will enable the company to use facilities at Children's Hospital of Orange County (CHOC), Stanford University, the University of California at Los Angeles, and the University of California, Irvine for this project.

Final determination of the successful funding award is not guaranteed by the company and qualification for a National Institutes of Health 'Center of Excellence in Translational Human Stem Cell Research' Grant will be made by the NIH following review of the grant company's LOI followed by its proposal. A Letter of Intent was provided to the NIH as required under grant guidelines outlining the functions and backgrounds of collaborative parties on February 24th to qualify for the submitting of the final grant proposal by the March 24th deadline.

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