Columbia University Medical Center and NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital is one of the first medical centers in the country participating in a novel clinical trial investigating if a patient's own stem cells can treat a form of severe coronary artery disease. The Autologous Cellular Therapy CD34-Chronic Myocardial Ischemia (ACT34-CMI) trial is the first Phase II adult stem cell therapy study in the U.S. designed to investigate the efficacy, tolerability and safety of blood-derived selected CD34+ stem cells to improve symptoms and clinical outcomes in patients with chronic myocardial ischemia (CMI), a severe form of coronary artery disease.

In what could be a breakthrough in the treatment of neurological disease, a team led by physician-scientists at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center has completed the first-ever phase 1 clinical trial using gene therapy to battle Parkinson's disease.

By simply switching off one copy of a gene, Weill Cornell Medical College researchers have enabled fruit flies to live 51% longer the equivalent in human terms of extending average lifespan to the ripe old age of 113.

Taking your child to the hospital can be a confusing and emotionally taxing experience. To help parents better know what to expect and how to cope, Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital of NewYork-Presbyterian created the Family Advisory Council, comprised of family members of current and former patients and staff at the Hospital who work together to help families get all the information they need so they can care for their children with confidence. In this spirit, the Family Advisory Council offers 10 useful tips.

Current regulatory policies should be strengthened to ensure acceptable cardiovascular safety of drugs developed primarily for non-cardiovascular medical problems, according to a recent presentation made by Dr. Jeffrey Borer, an authority in cardiovascular medicine and surgery at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center in New York City.

Many Americans are aware of which foods are heart-healthy, but they often don't think about cooking for their colons. Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer diagnosed in men and women in the United States and the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths, so it is just as important to understand how to choose colon-friendly foods. Lynn Goldstein, M.S., R.D., C.D.N., from the Jay Monahan Center at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center, has assembled her key tips on the best food choices for a healthier colon.

Maurice LaBonne has been named senior vice president for facilities and real estate at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, effective July 15. Mr. LaBonne joins NewYork-Presbyterian from Hudson Medical Properties, where he served as a senior principal.

Early data from a NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia pilot study suggests that an innovative microsurgery technique helps prevent lymphedema in breast cancer patients. Results from the study have been published in the Annals of Surgical Oncology.