A new cell therapy lab opened at the Houston Methodist Hospital in the Texas Medical Center in late February as part of the hospital's outpatient center at 6445 Main St., Houston.

Called the Ann Kimball & John W. Johnson Center for Cellular Therapeutics, the new 5,000-square-foot lab space will be used for research and development, according to a March 29 press release. Cellular therapy is a newer form of treatment to combat a range of diseases, including heart disease, cancer and various neurological disorders.

“Many diseases have limited or ineffective therapies, so there is a tremendous need and opportunity to bring transformative and restorative new treatments to patients through cell therapy,” said Stanley Appel, director of the center, in a statement.

The center was funded with a gift from philanthropists Ann Kimball and John Johnson, after whom the center is named. 713-208-0639. www.houstonmethodist.org