Focus on Innovation:
LifeNet Health Expands Global Reach Through Partnership with Rizzoli Institute
 Somewhere in Italy, there's a man who is preparing for a total joint revision as his artificial hip is beginning to wear down…and another young person with degenerative disease is awaiting a spinal fusion to provide much-needed pain relief. These patients will be among the first in Italy to benefit from the advanced technology offered by LifeNet Health.
The general manager of the Rizzoli Orthopaedic Institute, Dr. Giovanni Baldi (right), signs partnership agreement with Rony Thomas, President and CEO of LifeNet Health (left).
On March 11, 2011, LifeNet Health signed an agreement with The Rizzoli Institute in Bologna, Italy. The Rizzoli Musculoskeletal Tissue Bank is one of the premier centers in Europe for orthopedics and it is the premiere center for orthopedic oncology. "We are very fortunate to work with the Rizzoli Institute," says Frederic Peycelon, Vice President of International Markets for LifeNet Health. "Together, we will provide Italian patients with tissue that is not currently available in their country, and we will collaborate on new products to benefit patients around the world."
The partnership enables new tissues to be distributed in Italy and in countries of the European Union with the Rizzoli Bank performing mandatory quality controls to ensure suitability according to Italian and European regulations. Most important will be the extensive collaboration in national and international joint research projects aimed to improve the treatment of diseases of the musculoskeletal system.
LifeNet Health and the Rizzoli Institute will collaborate on efforts to develop products and technology that will further benefit patients around the world. The partners jointly applied for a European Community Grant for development of a specific implant combined with cell treatment, which is pending the second round of approval. Through the partnership with the Rizzoli Institute, LifeNet Health will also be able to obtain product feedback from Italian customers.
"LifeNet Health is committed to expanding our global reach and partnering with prestigious organizations such as the Rizzoli Institute," says Peycelon. "It's an honor to attract high-caliber, well-known centers, and to partner with them in a way that will continue our efforts to improve patient health around the world."
The Rizzoli Musculoskeletal Tissue Bank, referral center for the Emilia-Romagna Region, has been active since 1962--the first in Italy. It supplies 50% of all musculoskeletal tissue used in Italy, allowing more than 5,000 operations per year on deformities like scoliosis, for oncologic or traumatized patients, for maxillofacial, neurosurgery and odonto-stomatology. It guarantees quality and safety of the distributed tissues, contributes to set and diffuse standards and guidelines, and participates in innovative technological projects for tissues regeneration. Since 2006 a Cell Factory has been active for the production of engineered tissues, the sole in Italy authorized for the entire productive cycle, from the laboratory to quality control.
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