Dr. Wade McKenna and his daughter Megan (left), and Dr. Neil Riorddan (right). Photos courtesy of Riordan-McKenna Institute.
On Oct. 26 at the Mid American Regenerative and Cellular Medicine Showcase in Chicago, leading applied stem cell research scientist Neil Riordan, PhD and Orthopedic Surgeon, Dr. Wade McKenna presented talks on New Techniques for Enhancing Stem Cell Therapy Effectiveness and Orthopedic Surgical Applications For Stem Cells.
Dr. Riordan focused on historical medical uses of amniotic membrane and the properties of AlphaGEMS that include: wound healing; inflammation and pain reduction; fibrosis risk reduction; growth factor source; adhesion reduction; regeneration support and stem cell enhancement, specifically regarding the mesenchymal stem cells contained within BMAC.
Dr. McKenna discussed the latest applications of BMAC stem cells in orthopedic surgeries like anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction and how BMAC injections can virtually eliminate infection risk, reduce complications, increase graft strength, reduce post-surgical inflammation and significantly reduce recovery time. Dr. McKenna also talked about how bone marrow can now be safely and relatively painlessly harvested using his patented BioMAC catheter under local, not general anesthesia.
Dr. Riordan and Dr. McKenna are co-founders of the Riordan-McKenna Institute (RMI), which will be opening soon in Southlake, Texas. RMI will specialize in regenerative orthopedics including non-surgical stem cell therapy and stem cell-enhanced surgery using bone marrow aspirate concentrate (BMAC) and AlphaGEMS amniotic tissue product.
Other noteworthy speakers in attendance included: Paolo Macchiarini, MD-PhD, Arnold Caplan, PhD and Mark Holterman, MD-PhD. Dr. Macchiarini and Dr. Holterman are well known for their work on the first stem cell trachea transplant. Dr. Caplan discovered the mesenchymal stem cell and is commonly referred to as the “father of the mesenchymal stem cell.”
About Neil Riordan PhD
Dr. Riordan is the co-founder of the Riordan-McKenna Institute (RMI), which will be opening soon in Southlake, Texas. RMI will specialize in regenerative orthopedics including non-surgical stem cell therapy and stem cell-enhanced surgery using bone marrow aspirate concentrate (BMAC) and AlphaGEMS amniotic tissue product.
Dr. Riordan is founder and chief scientific officer of Amniotic Therapies Inc. (ATI). ATI specializes in amniotic tissue research and development. Its current product line includes AlphaGEMS and AlphaPATCH amniotic tissue-based products.
Dr. Riordan is the founder and chairman of Medistem Panama, Inc., (MPI) a leading stem cell laboratory and research facility located in the Technology Park at the prestigious City of Knowledge in Panama City, Panama. Founded in 2007, MPI stands at the forefront of applied research on adult stem cells for several chronic diseases. MPI's stem cell laboratory is ISO 9001 certified and fully licensed by the Panamanian Ministry of Health. Dr. Riordan is the founder of Stem Cell Institute (SCI) in Panama City, Panama (est. 2007).
Under the umbrella of MPI subsidiary Translational Biosciences, MPI and SCI are currently conducting five IRB-approved clinical trials in Panama for multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis using human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells, mesenchymal trophic factors and stromal vascular fraction. Additional trials for spinal cord injury, autism and cerebral palsy are slated to commence in 2014 upon IRB approval.
Dr. Riordan is an accomplished inventor; listed on more the 25 patent families, including 11 issued patents. He is credited with a number of novel discoveries in the field of cancer research since the mid-1990s when he collaborated with his father Dr. Hugh Riordan on the effects of high-dose intravenous vitamin C on cancer cells and the tumor microenvironment. This pioneering study on vitamin C's preferential toxicity to cancer cells notably led to a 1997 patent grant for the treatment of cancer with vitamin C. In 2010, Dr. Riordan received another patent for a new cellular cancer vaccine.
Dr. Riordan is also the founder of Aidan Products, which provides health care professionals with quality nutraceuticals including Stem-Kine, the only nutritional supplement that is clinically proven to increase the amount of circulating stem cells in the body for an extended period of time. Stem-Kine is currently sold in 35 countries.
Dr. Riordan earned his Bachelor of Science at Wichita State University and graduated magna cum laude. He received his Master's degree at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. Dr. Riordan completed his education by earning a Ph.D. in Health Sciences at Medical University of the Americas.
About Dr. Wade McKenna
Dr. Wade McKenna is cofounder of the Riordan-McKenna Institute. He is a leading advocate of Autologous Stem Cell Therapy and Regenerative Medicine focusing on advancing the clinical benefits in orthopedics.
Board certified in orthopedic surgery, Dr. McKenna is the chief medical officer and co-founder of Biologic Therapies, a product development and research company dedicated to the advancement of autologous adult stem cell therapy. His achievements include the recent development of the BioMac bone marrow aspiration catheter, treating world-class athletes, and developing numerous surgical and non-surgical stem cell application protocols.
After receiving his undergraduate degree and earning his medical degree at Oklahoma State University, Dr. McKenna completed his orthopedic residency at the Dallas/Ft Worth Medical Center and his trauma fellowship at Tampa General Hospital. With over 20 years in private practice, Dr. McKenna has successfully built McKenna Orthopedics in Trophy Club, Texas and North Central Texas Orthopedics & Sports Medicine in Decatur, Texas.
Dr. McKenna has a proven track record of producing positive clinical outcomes augmented by concentrated, autologous bone marrow aspirate. Dr. McKenna has applied this stem cell-enriched product to thousands of surgical and non-surgical patients. Successful applications include long bone non-unions; avascular necrosis of the femoral head; severe clavicle non-unions; cartilage regeneration; chondrogenesis and soft tissue repair of the shoulder; chronic tendonopathy; tendon ruptures; numerous applications to common, often difficult foot and ankle injuries; and wrists fractures.
More information about the Riordan-McKenna Institute can be found at rmiclinic.com. The office will be located at 801 E. Southlake Blvd. in Southlake, and can be reached by phone at 817-776-8155.