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Inova Fairfax Hospital Neurosurgeon to Assist in the Development of Synthetic Blood

January 21, 2008
Joseph Watson, MD, Named Member of Scientific Advisory Board for Synthetic Blood International, Inc.

Falls Church, VA— Joseph Watson, MD, neurosurgeon, Inova Fairfax Hospital, has been named one of six new members of the Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) of Synthetic Blood International, Inc. The company is working to develop a therapeutic oxygen carrier and blood substitute called Oxycyte ™.
    “To be part of this project is an incredibly exciting opportunity,” said Dr. Watson. “The role of the SAB is to look at the potential of synthetic blood and how it can best benefit patients. We’ll need to discover which patients would be most appropriate to receive a blood substitute, and to discover if it can replace actual blood in transfusions.”
    Dr. Watson is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) fellowship-trained pituitary surgeon with 20 years experience in brain protection research and has headed brain protection laboratories at the NIH and at the University of California, Davis. In addition, he is the Founder and President of the Pituitary Adenoma Research Foundation.
    “We are delighted to attract a talented group of physicians to assist in guiding us forward at this critical juncture in Oxycyte’s development,” said Robert Larsen, interim president and 
CEO, Synthetic Blood International. “As previously announced, we are working toward initiating a Phase IIb clinical trial in traumatic brain injury, as well as initiating animal testing in sickle cell disease, spinal cord injury and stroke in the first half of 2008.”
    To learn more about Synthetic Blood International, please visit www.sybd.com. For more information about  Inova Fairfax Hospital’s Neuroscience program, please click here.

    Inova Health System is a not-for-profit health care system based in Northern Virginia that consists of hospitals and other health services, including emergency and urgent care centers, home care, nursing homes, mental health and blood donor services, and wellness classes. Governed by a voluntary board of community members, Inova’s mission is to improve the health of the diverse community it serves through excellence in patient care, education and research. Inova provides a healthy environment for its patients, families, visitors, staff and physicians by prohibiting tobacco use on its campuses.