OBI, Stephenson Cancer Center Announce Partnership To Research New Cancer Treatment

Our Blood Institute announced they are assisting the Stephenson Cancer Center by using patients' own cells to undergo cell therapy.

They are a part of the Oklahoma City Innovation District and are involved in helping local cancer patients.

The blood Institute is helping Stephenson cancer center patients through cell therapy using the patient's own cells.

John Armitage the President And CEO OBI Sid they hope in the future they will have cell treatments for cancer similar to the way there are red blood cell treatments available now.

"Where most people are familiar with blood donations for decades.. This is cutting edge new science," said Armitage.

Using a patient's own biology to treat their cancer.

"Now we are working to take your white blood cells your immune cells and we are working in the lab to reprogram those."

Our blood institute is one of a handful of blood institutes working on this development.

"Our piece is to make sure that curative drug gets processed correctly and is as strong of a cure as it can possibly be," said Armitage.

Right now, they are working with patients at Stephenson Cancer Center.

"We collect the cells; the cells are then sent off to the lab that works its magic and then brought back to Stephenson and given to the patient," said Armitage.

Eventually the goal is to streamline these cures. "It looks like this journey is very similar to what we all take for granted now which is blood products," said Armitage.

Using a patients cells transformed to a vaccine to help other patients. "Your biology may be the key that unlocks the specialized cure for a patient out there," said Armitage.

The blood institute believes they are on the cutting edge of the next frontier of modern medicine.

"The Oklahoma standard taken into cell therapy where our work hopefully unlocks care quicker through these cutting-edge therapies hopefully for someone in Mississippi," said Armitage.

Dr. Armitage said he believes it will be 3-5 years until the first cancer drug of this kind will be available to the public. It may be decades until they are widely available.

"Where most people are familiar with blood donations... this is cutting edge new science," OBI president and CEO John Armitage said. "Now we are working to take your white blood cells, your immune cells, and we are working in the lab to reprogram those."

Our Blood Institute is one of a handful of blood institutes working on this development.

"Our piece is to make sure that curative drug gets processed correctly and is as strong of a cure as it can possibly be," Armitage said. "We collect the cells, the cells are then sent off to the lab that works its magic, and then brought back to Stephenson and given to the patient."

Armitage said eventually, the goal is to streamline these cures. OBI also said they believe they are on the cutting-edge of the next frontier of modern medicine.

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To learn more about the innovation district visit, click here.