Freeport, The Bahamas (PRWEB) July 09, 2013

Okyanos Heart Institute, whose mission it is to bring a new standard of care and better quality of life to patients with coronary artery disease using cardiac stem cell therapy, has announced that Antonio Colombo, M.D., F.A.C.C. has joined the esteemed group of Okyanos medical advisory council members. Dr. Colombo is director of the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory at Columbus Hospital and chief of invasive cardiology at San Raffaele Hospital, both in Milan, Italy, and is a visiting professor of medicine at Columbia Medical Center in New York, USA.

Dr. Colombo is a pioneer of the coronary stent placement concept, and he helped define the role of intravascular ultrasound in stent placement. In addition, he was the principal investigator for a cardiac stem cell therapy trial at San Raffaele Hospital, which treated patients with chronic angina.

Okyanos Chief Medical Officer Howard T. Walpole Jr. stated, Dr. Colombo is a leading innovator in cardiology. I welcome his contribution to Okyanos Heart Institutes goal of providing patients the highest standard of safety and care possible with the Okyanos treatment.

The use of adult stem cells derived from adipose (fat) tissue to treat coronary artery disease is an important innovation in cardiovascular care, said Colombo. I am pleased to be able to collaborate with the other members of the Okyanos medical advisory council and Dr. Walpole in bringing this new treatment option to those patients whom we believe it may benefit.

Dr. Colombos research has culminated in multiple publications in some of the most prestigious cardiology journals in the U.S. and Europe. In addition, he is very active in multiple medical societies such as the American College of Cardiology, American Heart Association, and the American College of Physicians. Dr. Colombo is also on the editorial boards of major journals such as Circulation, Journal of the American College of Cardiology, and the American Journal of Cardiovascular Drugs.

We are delighted to have the accomplished Dr. Colombo actively participating in the Okyanos medical advisory council, which already includes thought leaders such as Dr. Eric Duckers, Dr. Farrell Mendelsohn, and Dr. Leslie Miller, says Okyanos CEO Matt Feshbach. Okyanos is committed to bringing together key opinion leaders in cardiology and cardiac stem cell therapy to ensure that patients suffering from chronic coronary artery disease are treated safely and effectively with their own adult stem cells.

About Okyanos Heart Istitue: (Oh key AH nos)

Based in Freeport, The Bahamas, Okyanos Heart Institutes mission is to bring a new standard of care and a better quality of life to patients with coronary artery disease using cardiac stem cell therapy. Okyanos adheres to U.S. surgical center standards and is led by Chief Medical Officer Howard T. Walpole Jr., M.D., M.B.A., F.A.C.C., F.A.C.A.I. Okyanos Treatment utilizes a unique blend of stem and regenerative cells derived from ones own adipose (fat) tissue. The cells, when placed into the heart via a minimally-invasive catheterization, stimulates the growth of new blood vessels, a process known as angiogenesis. The treatment facilitates blood flow in the heart and supports intake and use of oxygen (as demonstrated in rigorous clinical trials such as the PRECISE trial). The literary name Okyanos (Oceanos) symbolizes flow. For more information, go to http://www.okyanos.com/.

Link:
Professor Antonio Colombo Named to Okyanos Heart Institute’s Medical Advisory Council for Stem Cell Therapy