United States securities and exchange commission logo May 11, 2022 Ivor Macleod Chief Financial Officer ATHERSYS, INC / NEW 3201 Carnegie Avenue Cleveland, Ohio 44115-2634 Re: ATHERSYS, INC / NEW Registration Statement on Form S-3 Filed May 5, 2022 File No. 333-264724 Dear Ivor Macleod: This is to advise you that we have not reviewed and will not review your registration statement. Please refer to Rules 460 and 461 regarding requests for acceleration. We remind you that the company and its management are responsible for the accuracy and adequacy of their disclosures, notwithstanding any review, comments, action or absence of action by the staff. Please contact Michael Davis at 202-551-4385 or Celeste Murphy at 202-551-3257 with any questions. Sincerely, Division of Corporation Finance Office of Life Sciences cc: Michael J. Solecki