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Perry Joins Board Of Firm Where He Had Stem Cell Surgery

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AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Former Texas Gov. Rick Perry has joined the board of a stem cell company where he underwent experimental back surgery before running for president in 2011.

That seems a curious move since the procedure didn't calm the chronic pain that the Republican later blamed for his "oops" moment and other infamous gaffes that sunk his campaign.

Houston-based biotechnology company Celltex Therapeutics Corp. announced Thursday that Perry had joined its board effective this past May.

Perry flamed out of the 2012 presidential race and mounted a short-lived second White House run last fall.

He was the longest-serving governor in Texas history before leaving office in January 2015.

During Perry's gubernatorial tenure, the Texas Medical Board approved a rule creating guidelines for supervising stem cell use — benefiting companies like Celltex.

(© Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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