Bayer Hemophilia Awards Program (BHAP) Recipients

Harvard Stem Cell Institute Affiliated Faculty member Juan Melero-Martin, PhD, at Boston Children’s Hospital is one of the 2014 grant recipients of the Bayer Hemophilia Awards Program (BHAP), a unique initiative dedicated to supporting innovative research and educational initiatives that benefit people with hemophilia. This year, Bayer Healthcare awarded more than $2 million in funding to 14 recipients in 5 countries.
Melero-Martin received a BHAP Early Career Investigator Award for his project on bioengineering vascular networks for Factor VIII delivery with iPSC-derived cells from hemophilic patients. His laboratory is interested in the biology and therapeutic potential of human Endothelial Colony-Forming Cells (ECFCs), as well as in understanding mechanisms of vascular network formation using human stem and progenitor cells.
“I’m truly honored to have received this Bayer’s 2014 BHAP award,” he said. “Bayer’s commitment and support will allow us to move our basic research towards the development of a novel technology for coagulation factor VIII delivery in patients with severe hemophilia A.”
Like all award winners, Melero-Martin’s investigation meets the aim of BHAP research funding, which is to advance treatment and discover methods to alleviate disease burden.
“BHAP, now in its twelfth year, continues to attract high-quality applicants who are committed to answering important scientific and medical questions. Through our support of their research, this year’s winners will contribute to a better understanding of hemophilia and bleeding disorders and ways to improve treatment and optimize patient outcomes,” said Prasad Mathew, MD, Vice President, Global Medical Affairs Hematology, Bayer HealthCare.
BHAP awardees are selected by a global panel comprising distinguished clinicians, researchers, and caregivers in the hemophilia field. This year’s award recipients were announced at the World Federation of Hemophilia (WFH) 2014 World Congress in Melbourne, Australia.
Learn more about BHAP and the other 2014 award winners. 
This article was posted on Harvard Stem Cell Science.