PREMSTEM
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2020
- HeadquartersBarcelona, Spain
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What PREMSTEM does
PREMSTEM (legal name: "The brain injury in the premature born infant: stem cell regeneration research network") is a European Union Horizon 2020-funded research consortium launched in 2020 and operated by 15 research partners across 8 countries (Australia, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland). The project is developing a regenerative stem cell therapy using human mesenchymal stem cells (H-MSCs) sourced from donated umbilical cord tissue, with the goal of repairing brain damage caused by premature birth — a condition termed encephalopathy of prematurity (EOP) that can lead to lifelong disabilities including cerebral palsy. The €9M programme (grant agreement No 874721) runs 72 months through end-2025 and is coordinated by Professor Pierre Gressens at Inserm (Paris), with RMIT University/RMIT Europe (Barcelona) as the website owner and Chiesi Farmaceutici as the industrial partner.
The consortium's research stack combines in vitro work, large animal translational models (sheep and rat), gold nanoparticle biodistribution tracking, Iconeus ultrafast ultrasound imaging, and stem cell preconditioning techniques (hypoxic, creatine) intended to enhance therapeutic effect. Alongside the core therapy pipeline, PREMSTEM runs a parallel stakeholder engagement and dissemination programme — including a Patient/Consumer Advisory Board, 10 co-creation workshops with 42 participants, 10+ peer-reviewed publications in 2024, multilingual educational resources (videos, fact sheets), and the 2025 illustrated story "Growing Together." The project culminates in the PREMSTEM Conference 2025 (Barcelona, 13–15 May 2025) as its final scientific showcase before the grant closes.
PREMSTEM is not a commercial entity. It generates no product revenue; its operating budget is the Horizon 2020 grant, with minor conference-related fees (€50–€300). Customer segments are scientific and medical — neonatologists, pediatricians, neonatology researchers, policy makers, and parent/patient associations — none of which pay for the underlying therapy, which remains preclinical. GTM motion is community-led, relying on scientific publications, conferences, social media, and stakeholder co-creation. The project is scheduled to end on 31 December 2025, with final reporting to the European Commission due by end of February 2026.
PREMSTEM firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- PREMSTEM
- Legal name
- PREMSTEM (The brain injury in the premature born infant: stem cell regeneration research network)
- Website
- https://premstem.eu
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2020
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
PREMSTEM industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Regenerative Medicine Research
- NAICS
- Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714)
- SIC
- Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Prenatal, Newborn & Reproductive Diagnostics (NIPT, IVF/PGT, newborn screening) (HLAAALAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Genetic, Cytogenetic & Prenatal Screening IVD (HLAHAAAI)
Keywords
Where PREMSTEM is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Barcelona
- HQ country
- Spain
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices10 records
Markets served
PREMSTEM business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- EU Horizon 2020 Research Funding: The project is funded by the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme with €9M in grant funding under agreement No 874721. This is a non-dilutive research grant, not commercial revenue.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels9 records
PREMSTEM product offering
Product offeringCore offering
PREMSTEM is a €9M European Union Horizon 2020-funded research consortium developing a regenerative stem cell therapy using human mesenchymal stem cells (H-MSCs) derived from donated umbilical cord tissue to repair brain damage caused by premature birth (encephalopathy of prematurity). The project conducts preclinical research using large animal models, biodistribution studies, and stem cell preconditioning experiments to prepare for future clinical trials. It also produces multilingual educational resources, fact sheets, and an illustrated story for families and clinicians.
Product overview
PREMSTEM is a €9M European Union Horizon 2020-funded research consortium (grant agreement No 874721) developing a regenerative stem cell therapy using human mesenchymal stem cells (H-MSCs) from donated umbilical cord tissue to treat brain injury in premature infants (encephalopathy of prematurity). The consortium consists of 15 research partners across 8 countries and operates from 2020 through 2025. Alongside the core therapeutic research, PREMSTEM produces educational resources including videos, fact sheets, and illustrated stories, and conducts stakeholder engagement through co-creation workshops. The project culminates in a final conference to disseminate findings and prepare for future clinical trials.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Human Mesenchymal Stem Cell (H-MSC) Therapy for Preterm Brain Injury A regenerative stem cell therapy under development using human mesenchymal stem cells (H-MSCs) derived from donated umbilical cord tissue to repair brain damage caused by premature birth, also known as encephalopathy of prematurity (EOP). Targeted at neonatologists, pediatricians, and clinicians treating preterm infants.
- PREMSTEM Educational Resources Multilingual educational materials including videos, fact sheets, and illustrated stories about preterm birth, brain injury, stem cells, and neonatal care, designed for families, caregivers, and health professionals.
- PREMSTEM Conference 2025 A three-day international scientific conference held in Barcelona from 13-15 May 2025 to present research findings on neonatal brain repair and the outcomes of the five-year PREMSTEM research project.
- Growing Together – A Shared Journey from the NICU to Now An illustrated story created by the PREMSTEM consortium and Patient/Consumer Advisory Board in collaboration with professional illustrators, depicting the experiences of families affected by preterm birth.
Quantifiable outcome
- Recovery of brain's white matter observed following stem cell treatment in long-term infection model
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use PREMSTEM
Customer profileSegments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
PREMSTEM technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
PREMSTEM partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
15 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Punk DesignminorBarcelona-based design firm facilitating co-creation workshops using LEGO SERIOUS PLAY and human-centered design methodologies.
- RMIT UniversitycoreLead institution with RMIT Europe managing the project website and coordination. RMIT University researchers (Bobbi Fleiss) investigate inflammation's role in preterm infant brain injury and strategies for repair.
- InsermcoreProject coordinator Professor Pierre Gressens leads the NeuroDiderot-Gressens lab in Paris. Coordinates overall scientific direction and research activities.
- Chiesi FarmaceuticicoreItalian pharmaceutical company providing industrial partner expertise in drug development and regulatory affairs. Team includes Nicola Pelizzi, Fabrizio Facchinetti involved in clinical trial planning.
- University of GothenburgcoreLed by Henrik Hagberg, conducting research on perinatal brain injury, mitochondrial biology, and germinal matrix hemorrhage models.
- Universitätsklinikum EssencoreResearch on cellular and molecular mechanisms of neonatal white matter injury, led by Ivo Bendix and Ursula Felderhoff-Müser.
- UMC Utrecht (University Medical Center Utrecht)coreLed by Manon Benders and Caroline de Theije, studying stem cell effects on different brain cell types and running PASSIoN trial for perinatal stroke.
- Maastricht UniversitycoreLed by Tim Wolfs and Daan Ophelders, conducting large animal model studies and biodistribution research on stem cell therapy.
- RadboudumccoreLed by Renate van der Molen and Cora Nijboer, immunology research on stem cell effects on T cells and large animal model coordination.
- Monash UniversitycoreLed by Atul Malhotra, senior neonatologist conducting stem cell trials including placental stem cells for chronic lung disease and cord blood-derived cells in premature infants.
- European Foundation for the Care of Newborn Infants (EFCNI)coreLeads dissemination and exploitation strategy, coordinates patient/consumer advisory board, and provides parent/patient perspectives. Led by Luc Zimmermann and Aisling Walsh.
- Cerebral Palsy Alliance (CPA)coreAustralian advocacy organization led by Megan Finch-Edmondson, building capacity for stem cell research for cerebral palsy and coordinating consumer engagement.
- IconeuscoreFrench health tech company providing ultrafast ultrasound technology for high-resolution imaging of cerebro-vascular alterations in small animal models.
- CNR Institute of Neuroscience (Italy)coreLed by Claudia Verderio, researching extracellular vesicles from glial cells in brain health and disease.
- Hudson Institute of Medical ResearchcoreLed by Tamara Yawno-Fegan, investigating neurodevelopment in large animal models and placental stem cell neuroprotective actions.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
PREMSTEM competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Stemedica Cell Technologies: Clinical-stage company developing allogeneic stem cell therapies including mesenchymal stem cells for neurological and inflammatory conditions. Comparable modality and target indications to PREMSTEM.
- BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics: Clinical-stage company developing autologous MSC-based therapies (NurOwn) for neurodegenerative diseases including ALS. Comparable cell therapy modality applied to neurological injury, though autologous rather than allogeneic.
- Celularity: Cell therapy company leveraging placental and umbilical cord-derived cells, including programs in regenerative medicine. Comparable to PREMSTEM in using perinatal tissue-derived cellular products.
Direct peers
- Pluristem Therapeutics: Cell therapy company using placenta-derived mesenchymal-like adherent stromal cells, with programs in regenerative medicine. Comparable to PREMSTEM in sourcing stem cells from perinatal tissues for therapeutic applications.
- Athersys: Clinical-stage company developing MultiStem cell therapy for neurological conditions including stroke and traumatic brain injury. Comparable to PREMSTEM in using adult-derived stem cells for brain injury indications.
- Mesoblast: Commercial-stage cell therapy company developing remestemcel-L, an allogeneic mesenchymal stem cell therapy, including for pediatric inflammatory conditions. Directly comparable to PREMSTEM in using MSC-based regenerative approaches for serious medical indications.
- Medipost: Korean biotech commercializing Cartistem and Neurostem, both allogeneic umbilical cord blood-derived mesenchymal stem cell products. Closely comparable to PREMSTEM in using umbilical cord-derived MSCs for neurological and regenerative indications.
Others
- ReBORN Consortium: EU-funded regenerative medicine research project on brain injury in neonates (separate from PREMSTEM). Comparable as a peer research consortium addressing the same clinical problem with different therapeutic approaches.
- Cerebral Palsy Alliance: Australian advocacy and research funding organization (PREMSTEM partner) focused on cerebral palsy prevention and treatment, including stem cell research. Comparable as a stakeholder and funding ecosystem player in the same disease area.
Broad incumbents
- Chiesi Farmaceutici: Specialty pharmaceutical company with established neonatology franchise (e.g., Curosurf for respiratory distress syndrome) and PREMSTEM's industrial partner. Comparable as a commercial vehicle that could eventually take a PREMSTEM-derived therapy to market.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
PREMSTEM social profiles
Digital presencePREMSTEM financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
PREMSTEM leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
PREMSTEM funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
PREMSTEM M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about PREMSTEM
What does PREMSTEM do?
PREMSTEM is a €9M European Union Horizon 2020-funded research consortium developing a regenerative stem cell therapy using human mesenchymal stem cells (H-MSCs) derived from donated umbilical cord tissue to repair brain damage caused by premature birth (encephalopathy of prematurity). The project conducts preclinical research using large animal models, biodistribution studies, and stem cell preconditioning experiments to prepare for future clinical trials. It also produces multilingual educational resources, fact sheets, and an illustrated story for families and clinicians.
Is PREMSTEM a public or private company?
PREMSTEM is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was PREMSTEM founded?
PREMSTEM was founded in 2020. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is PREMSTEM based?
PREMSTEM is headquartered in Barcelona, Spain, in the Europe region.
How does PREMSTEM make money?
One revenue line is on record: EU Horizon 2020 Research Funding.
Who are PREMSTEM's main competitors?
Emerging players on record are Stemedica Cell Technologies, BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics and Celularity. Direct peers are Pluristem Therapeutics, Athersys, Mesoblast and Medipost. Others are ReBORN Consortium and Cerebral Palsy Alliance. Chiesi Farmaceutici is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does PREMSTEM have an API?
No public API is recorded for PREMSTEM.
What industry is PREMSTEM in?
PREMSTEM's product category is Regenerative Medicine Research. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAAALAJ, Prenatal, Newborn & Reproductive Diagnostics (NIPT, IVF/PGT, newborn screening), with a secondary code of HLAHAAAI, Genetic, Cytogenetic & Prenatal Screening IVD. Its NAICS code is 541714 and its SIC code is 8731.