Michael D. Wilburn Ph.D., CHAIRMAN ELEPHANT OPEN INVESTMENT, LTD, minister, research scientist, noted lecturer and an international investigator in Sickle Cell Disease.
A native of Longview and a veteran of the United States NAVY. Dr. Wilburn has recently been named Distinguished Alumnus at Longview High School, Southwestern Christian College’s Outstanding Alumnus in Medical Research Award, Omega Psi Phi Distinguished Man of Vision Award 1998 BOSS XI Distinguished Community Service – Health Award, 1999 Who’s Who Among International Business Professionals, to name a few of the awards and honors that Dr. Wilburn has received.
Dr. Wilburn was mentored by Dr. Jonas Salk, the scientist who discovered the cure for Polio. Dr. Linus C. Pauling, the only scientist in the world to receive two unshared Nobel Prizes, was also a mentor. Dr. Pauling recommended Dr. Michael Wilburn to Yale University.
There are approximately 250 million people worldwide, who suffer from blood diseases similar to sickle cell. Sickle Cell Anemia is a hereditary blood disease where patients inherit a gene that produces abnormal hemoglobin (red color of blood) whose ability to transport oxygen is defective.
Dr. Wilburn and his company, PSI, have developed a cure for Sickle Cell Anemia. M-15 the lead compound has taken PSI approximately 15 years to develop. Dr. Wilburn has lectured in Geneva, Switzerland, as well as London, England and Paris, France. Dr. Wilburn has studied Sickle Cell Anemia in Africa, Malaysia, Thailand and Europe.
On March 26, 1998, he appeared before the United States Congress, Subcommittee on Health and Environment Hearing on “New Developments of Medical Research”, highlighting his medicine M-15.
According to family and friends, Dr. Wilburn’s faith in God remains his strongest asset. He relates this when asked how he has been able to do the impossible with no money and armed with “only a dream to help somebody”.
What is Sickle Cell Disease?
Sickle Cell Anemia is an inherited blood disease that has a genetic defect in the hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is a protein that all red blood cells contain, and oxygen is carried by hemoglobin from the lungs to all parts of the body.
Red blood cells that contain normal hemoglobin are soft and round. Their soft texture enables them to squeeze through the body’s small blood vessels.
People with Sickle Cell Anemia, however, have a type of abnormal hemoglobin called hemoglobin S. (Normal hemoglobin is called hemoglobin A). A genetic error makes the hemoglobin molecules stick together in long, rigid rods after they release oxygen. These rods cause the red blood cells to become hard and sickle-shaped, unable to squeeze through tiny blood vessels. The misshapen cells can get stuck in the small blood, causing a blockage that deprives the body’s cells and tissues of blood and oxygen.
When this happens it’s like having mini heart attacks throughout the entire body.
Red blood cells that contain normal hemoglobin are soft and round. Their soft texture enables them to squeeze through the body’s small blood vessels.
People with Sickle Cell Anemia, however, have a type of abnormal hemoglobin called hemoglobin S. (Normal hemoglobin is called hemoglobin A). A genetic error makes the hemoglobin molecules stick together in long, rigid rods after they release oxygen. These rods cause the red blood cells to become hard and sickle-shaped, unable to squeeze through tiny blood vessels. The misshapen cells can get stuck in the small blood, causing a blockage that deprives the body’s cells and tissues of blood and oxygen.
When this happens it’s like having mini heart attacks throughout the entire body.