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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 SfWrBxV6+Tb7qPClasL45lW3FRI/a+k8xOPw3N0iURfBT8USJ+wStPTTMus4V3ZD
 IuZKIvZ5QJvaHyOd8uZHDA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001209191-08-037784.txt : 20080618
<SEC-HEADER>0001209191-08-037784.hdr.sgml : 20080618
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20080618133110
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001209191-08-037784
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20080616
FILED AS OF DATE:		20080618
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20080618

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ATHERSYS, INC / NEW
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001368148
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	PHARMACEUTICAL PREPARATIONS [2834]
		IRS NUMBER:				204864095
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3201 CARNEGIE AVENUE
		CITY:			CLEVELAND
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			44115-2634
		BUSINESS PHONE:		216-431-9900

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3201 CARNEGIE AVENUE
		CITY:			CLEVELAND
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			44115-2634

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	BTHC VI Inc
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	20060629

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MILNE GEORGE M JR
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001179552

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-33876
		FILM NUMBER:		08905249

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		251 BALARDVALE ST.
		CITY:			WILMINGTON
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			01887
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>bcl32112_bcl1.xml
<DESCRIPTION>MAIN DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-06-16</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001368148</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ATHERSYS, INC / NEW</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ATHX</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001179552</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MILNE GEORGE M JR</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>3201 CARNEGIE AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CLEVELAND</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>OH</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>44115</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable></nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Director stock option (right to purchase)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>2.96</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-06-16</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>15000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2013-06-16</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>15000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>15000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The option vests 50%/25%/25% over three years in quarterly increments.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Laura K. Campbell, as attorney-in-fact for George Milne</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-06-18</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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