Levy- Jurgen Transdisciplinary Exploratory (LJTE)

A collaborative mission among Global NICHE Corp USA & GNC Japan

The Levy – Jurgen Transdisciplinary Exploratory (/lait/) has been named after two eminent physician – scientists who have contributed immensely to scientific research, developing novel research applications as well as healthcare solutions and also to NCRM, a collaborating research institute of GN Corporation Japan in its academic and research accomplishments.

Prof Gary A. Levy, is a hepatologist and immunologist affiliated with University of Toronto, who spear headed the establishment of one of the top multi organ transplant institutes in North America, at the University Health Network, University of Toronto. Dr Levy with funding from the Canadian Institute of Health Research (CIHR) established the Training program in regenerative medicine, which has led to the generation of new scientists devoted to the fields of Stem Cell Biology, Immunology and Engineering Science. As part of this program, he established a multidisciplinary course in Regenerative Medicine which is approved for credit in all Canadian Academic Institutions and Internationally. His basic research studies have led to insights into the mechanisms of tolerance induction and biomarkers which hopefully will allow transplantation to proceed without the need for long term immunosuppression. Dr. Levy has received numerous awards including a Lifetime achievement award from the Canadian Society of Transplantation; a distinguished service award from International Liver Transplantation and recently was appointed to the Order of Canada.

Prof Jurgen Hescheler is a pioneer in stem cell research and his hanging drop method of embryonic stem cell culture,published in 1991 became a trend setter in regenerative medicine after the successful differentiation of those cells to cardiomyocytes. Heading the neurophysiology department of Cologne University, he founded the German Society for Stem Cell Research (GSZ) and serves as the coordinator of various European Consortia such as FunGenES, CRYSTAL, ESNATS, DETECTIVE and the BMBF consortium. He is also one of the founding members of the International stem cell academy and heads it’s scientific committee. Prof. Hescheler has been honoured with several awards including the Bundesminister für Jugend, Familie, Frauen und Gesundheit Award (1992), the Hildegard Doerenkamp Gerhard Zbinden Foundation Award (1992), the Dorothy Hegarty Award (1999) and an Honorary Doctorate of the Tongji Medical Faculty of the Huazhong University in Wuhan (China) (2009).

They both have been academic collaborators to NCRM and GNC, Japan; Prof Hescheler since 2006 who co-founded the Journal of Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine now PubMed indexed and Prof Levy since 2008, who mentored NCRM to become a partner to TPRM and guided the research team with several co-authored publications including the recent paper on ADE after covid-vaccination, published in Vaccine. Together they graced the XII NCRM NICHE & Fujio Cup Quiz in 2017 in Tokyo and played a key role in establishing the Edogawa NICHE Prize.

This initiative named after them will work towards globally propagating the findings of our collaborative research and accomplished solutions which are at different stages of progress from bench to bedside, to contribute to health and welfare of the society.