Latest news with #Back
Qatar Tribune
4 days ago
- Health
- Qatar Tribune
KMC Becomes First in Qatar to Offer Stem Cell Therapy to the Public
The Korean Medical Center (KMC) has officially launched Qatar's first widely accessible stem cell therapy program, offering a groundbreaking, non-surgical treatment for early-stage joint degeneration. While stem cell therapy has previously been available only to niche groups, this marks the first time any eligible patient can undergo live stem cell therapy in the country. Led by Dr. Youngwoong Back, Head of the Spine & Joint Center at KMC, the program offers a minimally invasive alternative to joint replacement for patients suffering from cartilage defects, early-stage osteoarthritis, or ligament injuries. The treatment uses live stem cells extracted from the patient's own bone marrow, injected directly into the affected joint to halt further cartilage deterioration and relieve pain. 'One of the biggest misconceptions I see is that people wait until the pain is unbearable before they seek treatment,' said Dr. Back. 'But by then, we're often dealing with advanced, irreversible degeneration. Stem cell therapy isn't about turning back time, it's about intervening early, when the body still has the biological capacity to respond.' 'By harvesting mesenchymal stem cells from the patient's own bone marrow and reinjecting them into damaged joints, we aim to halt the inflammatory cascade that leads to cartilage erosion. These cells do not rebuild cartilage from scratch, but they create a supportive environment that promotes tissue stabilization, reduces inflammation, alleviates pain, and slows down further degeneration. It's not a miracle—it's science applied with precision and timing. For patients in the early and middle stages, this could mean the difference between preserving years of mobility and facing inevitable surgical intervention,' he added. With over 13 years of experience, Dr. Back is a Korean board-certified orthopedic surgeon affiliated with South Korea's prestigious Asan Medical Center. He is a member of the Korean Society of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine and has advanced his training in orthopedic care at the Mayo Clinic (USA) and across the UAE. At KMC, he now brings this expertise to Qatar, tailoring treatments to Qatar's growing demand for preventative and regenerative joint care. What sets KMC's stem cell therapy apart is its accessibility, precision, and scientific credibility. For the first time in Qatar, live stem cell therapy is accessible to the public. While the treatment is especially effective for individuals with early and middlestage joint degeneration, such as those diagnosed with Kellgren-Lawrence Grade 2 or 3, it is not restricted to them. This broad availability marks a major shift in how regenerative care is delivered in the country. The therapy itself is a game-changer. It is a needle-based procedure performed without general anesthesia or the need for an operating room. Bone marrow is extracted from the patient's pelvic bone, and live stem cells are reinjected into the affected joint, helping to halt cartilage breakdown. Most patients report no pain during the injection and only mild discomfort on the donor site the following morning. Backed by scientific partnerships with EHL Bio and GC Genome, Korea's leaders in regenerative research, KMC's approach ensures that global innovation meets local care. Results speak for themselves: over 90–95% of patients with early-stage joint degeneration who underwent stem cell therapy reported significant pain relief and restored mobility within weeks. For the first time, cutting-edge stem cell therapy is no longer out of reach—it's right here in Qatar, ready to change lives. 'This is not just a medical first, it's a statement of intent,' said Dr. Fatih Mehmet Gul, CEO, Korean Medical Center. 'By making stem cell therapy immediately available to the public, we're setting a new benchmark for what healthcare access should look like in Qatar and the region. For too long, regenerative treatments have been confined to niche cases. KMC changes that.' He added, "The launch of this therapy reflects our patient-centric approach above all, a commitment to meeting patient needs with meaningful access, timely intervention, and individualized care. While the science behind stem cell therapy is well established, what sets KMC apart is how we deliver it: responsibly, accessibly, and at scale. This is what modern healthcare should be, defined not just by technology, but by its relevance to the people it serves.
Qatar Tribune
4 days ago
- Health
- Qatar Tribune
KMC becomes first in Qatar to offer stem cell therapy to public
Tribune News Network Doha The Korean Medical Center (KMC) has officially launched Qatar's first widely accessible stem cell therapy programme, offering a groundbreaking, non-surgical treatment for early-stage joint degeneration. While stem cell therapy has previously been available only to niche groups, this marks the first time any eligible patient can undergo live stem cell therapy in the country. Led by Dr. Youngwoong Back, head of the Spine and Joint Center at KMC, the programme offers a minimally invasive alternative to joint replacement for patients suffering from cartilage defects, early-stage osteoarthritis, or ligament injuries. The treatment uses live stem cells extracted from the patient's own bone marrow, injected directly into the affected joint to halt further cartilage deterioration and relieve pain. 'One of the biggest misconceptions I see is that people wait until the pain is unbearable before they seek treatment,' said Dr. Back. 'But by then, we're often dealing with advanced, irreversible degeneration. Stem cell therapy isn't about turning back time, it's about intervening early, when the body still has the biological capacity to respond.' 'By harvesting mesenchymal stem cells from the patient's own bone marrow and reinjecting them into damaged joints, we aim to halt the inflammatory cascade that leads to cartilage cells do not rebuild cartilage from scratch, but they create a supportive environment that promotes tissue stabilisation, reduces inflammation, alleviates pain, and slows down further degeneration. It's not a miracle—it's science applied with precision and timing. For patients in the early and middle stages, this could mean the difference between preserving years of mobility and facing inevitable surgical intervention,' he added. With over 13 years of experience, Dr. Back is a Korean board-certified orthopaedic surgeon affiliated with South Korea's prestigious Asan Medical Center. He is a member of the Korean Society of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine and has advanced his training in orthopaedic care at the Mayo Clinic (USA) and across the UAE. At KMC, he now brings this expertise to Qatar, tailoring treatments to Qatar's growing demand for preventative and regenerative joint care. What sets KMC's stem cell therapy apart is its accessibility, precision, and scientific credibility. For the first time in Qatar, live stem cell therapy is accessible to the public. While the treatment is especially effective for individuals with early and middle-stage joint degeneration, such as those diagnosed with Kellgren-Lawrence Grade 2 or 3, it is not restricted to them. This broad availability marks a major shift in how regenerative care is delivered in the country. The therapy itself is a game-changer. It is a needle-based procedure performed without general anaesthesia or the need for an operating room. Bone marrow is extracted from the patient's pelvic bone, and live stem cells are reinjected into the affected joint, helping to halt cartilage breakdown. Most patients report no pain during the injection and only mild discomfort on the donor site the following morning. Backed by scientific partnerships with EHL Bio and GC Genome, Korea's leaders in regenerative research, KMC's approach ensures that global innovation meets local care. Results speak for themselves: over 90 to 95 percent of patients with early-stage joint degeneration who underwent stem cell therapy reported significant pain relief and restored mobility within weeks. For the first time, cutting-edge stem cell therapy is no longer out of reach—it's right here in Qatar, ready to change lives. 'This is not just a medical first, it's a statement of intent,' said Dr. Fatih Mehmet Gul, CEO, Korean Medical Center. 'By making stem cell therapy immediately available to the public, we're setting a new benchmark for what healthcare access should look like in Qatar and the region. For too long, regenerative treatments have been confined to niche cases. KMC changes that.'
Business Wire
28-05-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Blockstream Unveils 'Future of Finance Runs on Bitcoin' Vision at Bitcoin 2025
LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Blockstream, the global leader in Bitcoin-powered financial infrastructure, has today revealed its strategic vision to support Bitcoin's next pivotal phase of growth, building on over a decade of pioneering work at the forefront of Bitcoin innovation. Blockstream CEO Adam Back launches consumer app and showcases the firm's evolving enterprise platform at Bitcoin 2025, advancing its vision that The Future of Finance Runs on Bitcoin. Unveiled in a keynote by Blockstream Co-Founder and CEO Dr. Adam Back at Bitcoin 2025 in Las Vegas and anchored by a bold new tagline, The Future of Finance Runs on Bitcoin, the vision introduces a clear framework based on three core business units—Consumer, Enterprise and Blockstream Asset Management (BAM). This framework represents a unified approach to onboarding users across the rapidly growing Bitcoin economy, from individuals to institutions. 'The past year has shown clearly that Bitcoin no longer sits on the margins of the global financial system—it is rapidly becoming the foundation,' said Dr. Back. 'Our vision is simple: The Future of Finance Runs on Bitcoin. Guided by this idea, Blockstream is working hard to build the vertically integrated platform to support that transition, from individual self-custody to enterprise-scale asset issuance and regulated investment products.' A New Era for Bitcoin-Native Finance According to crypto ETF analytics platform SoSoValue, Bitcoin has attracted over $41 billion in net ETF inflows alone since the launch of U.S. spot ETFs in early 2024, led by major institutions such as BlackRock, Fidelity, and Franklin Templeton. At the same time, New Hampshire and Arizona have become the first U.S. states to pursue Strategic Bitcoin Reserves and the number of corporate treasuries holding Bitcoin continues to climb. With a market cap of just over $2 trillion and trillions settled annually on-chain, Bitcoin's role as a legitimate financial layer is increasingly clear, hastening the need for scalable infrastructure. Blockstream has been building that infrastructure for over a decade. Founded in 2014 by Dr. Adam Back—inventor of Bitcoin's proof-of-work (PoW) mechanism—the company has focused from the outset on expanding Bitcoin's functionality without compromising its foundational principles. Blockstream Research, led by renowned cryptographer Andrew Poelstra, is a key contributor to Bitcoin Core and drives advances in applied cryptography and protocol development. On the product side, Blockstream maintains Core Lightning (CLN) for scalable payments, the Liquid Network and Blocksteam Asset Management Platform (AMP) for tokenized asset issuance and settlement, as well as self-custody tools including the open-source Jade hardware wallet. The All-New Blockstream App—Self Custody on Your Terms Headlining today's keynote was the launch of the all-new Blockstream app—a streamlined, self-custodial experience that lets users buy bitcoin and secure it immediately in their own wallet. Built on the foundation of the trusted Blockstream Green wallet, the updated app offers seamless support for managing Bitcoin and Liquid assets within a redesigned interface tailored to both new and experienced users. The Blockstream app is designed to make onboarding intuitive from day one, minimizing friction while staying true to the principles of self-custody. Users can begin simply and gradually adopt more advanced features at their own pace—including hardware signing and air-gapped transactions with the Blockstream Jade. Current Blockstream Green users will find all existing functionality preserved within the redesigned interface. With support for 31 languages, the app makes Bitcoin accessible to anyone with a smartphone, opening the door to secure, sovereign finance worldwide 'The new Blockstream app isn't just a wallet,' said Peter Bain, VP of Consumer Products at Blockstream. 'It's a gateway to the full power of Bitcoin—enabling secure savings, fast payments, and seamless management of tokenized assets, all within an intuitive interface designed for both newcomers and hardcore bitcoiners.' Blockstream Enterprise: Accelerating the Development of Bitcoin-Native Financial Infrastructure Dr. Back also used his keynote to highlight the growing importance of Blockstream Enterprise, the company's evolving platform for corporations, governments and participants across the broader financial sector. Underpinned by the Liquid Network and Blockstream AMP, the platform enables secure asset issuance, as well as treasury and balance sheet management. It also facilitates integration with custodians, exchanges and core financial systems via industry-standard FIX and REST APIs. With the first iteration of AMP already available and additional features rolling out over time, the platform builds on Liquid's momentum, which recently surpassed $3.27 billion in total value locked (TVL). In doing so, it provides a Bitcoin-native foundation for tokenization and institutional settlement focused on regulated custody, compliant off-exchange settlement, and programmable financial instruments. 'As capital markets evolve, businesses, institutions, and governments will need infrastructure that is secure, programmable and built directly on Bitcoin's rapidly growing network,' said Dr. Back. 'Blockstream Enterprise brings that infrastructure together—enabling asset issuance, management, and settlement on Liquid, Bitcoin's first and most battle-tested sidechain.' Unifying Consumer, Enterprise, and Institutional Products Today's keynote marks a strategic inflection point, aligning Blockstream's efforts across the three market segments it serves. In 2024, the company raised $210 million to accelerate development and launched Blockstream Asset Management (BAM), a dedicated division focused on institutional-grade Bitcoin investment products. The company has also deepened collaborations with regulated custodians, corporate treasuries and financial service providers to support the integration of Liquid and AMP into existing financial infrastructure. The Future of Finance Runs on Bitcoin The vision laid out by Dr. Back reflects Blockstream's conviction that Bitcoin is no longer just a $2 trillion asset class but a settlement layer, a development platform, and the most credible foundation for building the next financial system. 'The financial world is waking up to what we've known for years,' said Dr. Back. 'Bitcoin is here to stay —and it's never been easier to build on it. From first-time users to trillion-dollar institutions, our aim is to give everyone the tools to participate in this new economy, with the transparency, security and resilience that only Bitcoin can provide.' To learn more visit Booth 2121 at Bitcoin 2025 or visit Download the new Blockstream app today and take control of your Bitcoin—on your terms. Institutions, enterprises, and governments interested in building on Bitcoin with Liquid and AMP can connect with the Blockstream team directly at business@ About Blockstream Founded in 2014, Blockstream is a global leader in Bitcoin and blockchain infrastructure, with offices and team members distributed around the world. Serving as the technology provider for the Liquid Network, Blockstream offers a sidechain solution that enables secure, trustless Bitcoin swap settlements and robust smart contracts, empowering financial institutions to tokenize assets efficiently. The company's Core Lightning is a leading implementation of the open Lightning Network protocol, widely adopted for enterprise Bitcoin Lightning Network deployments. Blockstream Jade, an open-source hardware wallet, delivers advanced security for Bitcoin and Liquid assets in an easy-to-use form factor. For consumers, Blockstream app is a highly secure and user-friendly Bitcoin wallet. Disclaimer This press release contains forward-looking statements, including but not limited to statements regarding the expected launch timeline of the Blockstream Enterprise platform and time to market of Blockstream Asset Management products. Other 'forward looking statements' may, without limitation, include statements that are preceded by, followed by, or include the words 'believes,' 'expects,' 'anticipates,' 'intends,' 'plans,' 'estimates,' 'foresees,' or similar expressions, and other statements concerning anticipated future events and expectations that are not historical facts. Actual results may differ materially due to regulatory developments, competition from other hardware and technology services providers (in the case of Jade and the app) and both traditional finance and crypto native managers (in the case of BAM), market conditions and other risks. Actual results may differ materially. Blockstream undertakes no obligation to update these statements. Blockstream is not a registered investment, legal, or tax advisor. Nothing in this communication should be construed as investment advice or a solicitation to buy or sell any financial instrument.
Time of India
22-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
How high can Bitcoin go? $200,000, $500,000, $1 million—or even higher?
Bitcoin has reached a new high. Experts predict further price increases. Adam Back suggests a rise to $500,000 or even $1 million. Standard Chartered forecasts $200,000 by 2025 and $500,000 by 2029. Bernstein anticipates $200,000 during this bull run. Other predictions range from $150,000 to multi-millions. Experts cite institutional investment and global capital flight as drivers. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Bitcoin (BTC) on Thursday hit an all-time high of $111,862.98, gaining 3.3% in a single day and edging close to the psychological $112,000 mark. But according to industry experts, this may just be the beginning—with some predicting BTC could reach $200,000, $500,000, or even higher in the coming Back, Blockstream CEORenowned Bitcoin developer and Blockstream CEO Adam Back believes BTC could soar to $500,000 to $1 million in this cycle. He told Decrypt that current prices are "surprisingly low" considering the post-halving environment and significant institutional involvement. "A new all-time high could quickly become much higher," he Chartered: $200,000 in 2025, $500,000 by 2029British banking giant Standard Chartered is also bullish. Geoffrey Kendrick, the bank's Global Head of Digital Assets Research, expects Bitcoin to hit $200,000 by the end of 2025, citing a shift away from U.S. assets as investors seek non-sovereign stores of value. Looking further ahead, Kendrick projects $500,000 by 2029, when former President Trump's next term is expected to $200,000 in This Bull RunInvestment firm Bernstein forecasts Bitcoin reaching $200,000 during the current bull run, driven by institutional inflows. Analysts say up to $330 billion could be invested in BTC over the next five years. "The Bitcoin genie is out of the bottle," they stated, emphasizing the irreversibility of growing institutional Hayes: $150,000 in 2025Former BitMEX CEO Arthur Hayes predicts $150,000 by the end of 2025, arguing that global capital will flee traditional assets amid aggressive central bank money printing. 'Bitcoin is the only lifeboat,' he wrote in a recent Draper: $250,000 by End of 2025Venture capitalist Tim Draper expects BTC to reach $250,000 by late 2025. He criticized companies not holding BTC as being 'irresponsible' and noted Bitcoin's increasing gravitational pull on global Fink: $700,000—EventuallyBlackRock CEO Larry Fink, whose firm launched the iShares Bitcoin Trust, suggested BTC could eventually hit $700,000, especially as sovereign wealth funds allocate even a small portion of their assets to Armstrong: Multi-Million Dollar FutureCoinbase CEO Brian Armstrong envisions Bitcoin reaching multiple millions in the long term, driven by nation-state adoption. However, he cautioned that BTC still has a long journey ahead before hitting those heights.
Business Wire
21-05-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Silfab Solar Acquires Portfolio of EnPV Technology Patents
FORT MILL, S.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Silfab Solar, the solar industry's market leader for innovative and high-performance PV modules, today announced it has acquired EnPV's technology patent portfolio. The acquisition of these assets and related intellectual property significantly expands Silfab's patent portfolio and adds to its existing pipeline of cutting-edge technologies that will help develop the next generation of U.S. made solar panels. The assets include multiple solar technology patents, as well as an associated trademark. The procurement of these patents will immediately integrate Self-Aligned Back Contact (SABC) technology -- one of the most advanced architectures for back-contact solar cells into Silfab's technology library. This proprietary method enables precise alignment and improved electrical performance in cell and module fabrication and will support continued innovation in the Silfab Elite Series, specifically in the optimization of the backsheet configuration and integrated cell architecture. 'Silfab Solar is leading the way in the integration of innovative solar cells and modules by investing in new technology specifically designed for the U.S market,' said Paolo Maccario, Silfab President and CEO. 'Acquiring these cutting-edge technology patents and intellectual property will enable us to develop the next generation of solar panels for the Silfab Elite Series and beyond, ensuring we continue to offer our customers high-quality, powerful solar modules manufactured in the U.S. while preserving and protecting strategically important European and American innovation.' As part of the agreement with EnPV, Silfab will also acquire a team of solar experts who pioneered the technology and will continue advancing the next-generation PV solutions for Silfab. In 2024, Silfab Solar secured a $5 million U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) innovation award as part of our $20 million dollar project to develop the most innovative US made, back-contact N-type cells to achieve efficiencies of 26 percent or better. About Silfab Solar Silfab Solar is the North American leader in the design, development, and manufacture of high-efficiency, premium-quality PV modules. Silfab leverages more than 40 years of solar experience and best-in-class technologies to produce the highest-rated solar modules. Silfab operates in the state of Washington and Toronto, Canada, and will soon be manufacturing solar cells and PV modules in Fort Mill, South Carolina. Each operating facility features multiple automated production lines, certified to the ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management System standard, and just-in-time manufacturing to deliver Buy American-approved PV modules specifically designed for and dedicated to the North American market.
