SUNNYVALE, Calif. and SPRINGFIELD, Mass., Oct. 17, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Amarantus BioSciences, Inc. (OTCQB: AMBS), a biotechnology company developing new treatments for brain-related disorders including Parkinson's disease and Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI) centered on its unique proprietary anti-apoptotic therapeutic protein known as MANF, today announced a Translational Research Grant award from the University of Massachusetts' Pioneer Valley Life Sciences Institute's Center of Excellence in Apoptosis Research (CEAR). The Institute is a joint research venture of Baystate Medical Center and the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Investigators will exploit publicly available genomics databases to identify potentially new therapeutic targets for MANF-based therapeutics, and then validate those hypotheses in cell-based laboratory research. This program could lead to the identification and patenting of therapeutic indications for MANF beyond what has already been reported.

"The literature on MANF has grown extensively during the past few years, and there appears to be a solid rationale for investigating the potential use of MANF in areas other than Parkinson's disease," said Dr. Lawrence M. Schwartz, Isenberg Professor of Integrative Sciences at the University of Massachusetts and current Amarantus Scientific Advisor who will serve as the Principle Investigator on the project. "Our study compliments the work of other labs around the world that are focusing on MANF. Our relationship with Amarantus will be critical to ensure that we can translate this basic science into clinical research in a number of different therapeutic indications."

"This grant will enable Amarantus to explore the full breadth of the MANF opportunity," said Gerald E. Commissiong, President & CEO of Amarantus. "As our development program for Parkinson's progresses towards the critical milestone of identifying the best delivery target(s) for MANF, identifying additional disease targets for MANF therapy could significantly increase the value of our intellectual property portfolio and make Amarantus more attractive to potential partners."