Exhibit 10.23

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                            THE RESEARCH WORKS, INC.
                  623 Ocean Avenue, Sea Girt, New Jersey 08750
              Telephone: (732) 682-4950 Web: www.stocksontheweb.com
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August 20, 2003

Mr. Kent T. Smith
Chief Executive Officer Cytomedix, Inc.
1523 South Bowman Road, Suite A
Little Rock, AR 72211

Dear Mr. Smith:

This letter agreement (the "Agreement") will confirm our understanding regarding
the engagement of THE RESEARCH WORKS, INC. ("RW"), a New Jersey corporation, to
provide equity research services with respect to CYTOMEDIX, INC. ("Client"), a
Delaware corporation.

Whereas RW is an independent research firm that provides research services with
respect to the securities of its clients, and whereas Client has publicly traded
securities and desires RW to provide equity research services with respect to
its common stock, in consideration of the mutual covenants herein contained and
other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are
hereby acknowledged, RW and Client hereby agree as follows:

 1.  Term. The term of this Agreement ("Term") shall commence on the date of
     your signing of this Agreement and shall continue through the one-year
     anniversary of the release of the first RW equity research report on the
     Client ("End of the Full Term"), unless either party terminates this
     Agreement, with or without cause, at an earlier date ("Early Termination
     Date") upon delivery of written notice to the other party at the address
     set forth hereinbelow.

 2.  RW Services. RW shall prepare an equity research report on Client
     ("Report") in substantially the same form as samples of RW's research
     reports presently displayed at RW's Web site (www.stocksontheweb.com).
     Client shall have no editorial control over the opinions expressed in the
     Report, and RW shall not supply a draft copy of the Report to Client.

     RW shall complete and post a copy of the finished Report at its Web site
     within two (2) months of the date of this Agreement and shall update the
     Report on its Web site on approximately a monthly basis for the remainder
     of the Term. Client may make suggestions for changes regarding the factual
     content of the Report at any time after the initial Report is posted on
     RW's Web site, but RW is under no obligation to accept such proposed
     changes, and RW retains exclusive control over the opinions expressed in
     the Report.


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     Following the initial posting of the Report on its Web site, RW shall print
     and distribute the Report at its own expense to individual and
     institutional investors whom RW believes have an interest in
     small-capitalization stocks. The date of such printing and distribution
     shall be at RW's sole discretion. RW shall also mail 100 copies of the
     Report to Client, and Client shall have permission to duplicate the Report
     at its own expense or to purchase additional original copies from RW for a
     nominal fee.

3.   Fee. In consideration of RW's services, the Client shall pay to RW a fee
     ("Fee") payable by the issuance of forty thousand (40,000) shares of
     Client's common stock to RW. The Fee is due and payable upon the date
     Client signs this Agreement. The shares shall be issued in certificate form
     for The Research Works, Inc. (623 Ocean Avenue, Sea Girt, NJ 08750; tax #
     22-3173901).

     RW acknowledges that the common shares issued pursuant to this Agreement
     (a) have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended
     (the "Act"), (b) cannot be offered or sold except pursuant to a
     registration statement under the Act or an exemption from registration
     under the Act, and (c) are being acquired for investment and not with a
     view to the distribution thereof. RW represents that it is an "accredited
     investor" as such term is defined by Rule 501(a) of Regulation D and also
     acknowledges that its officers and directors are capable of evaluating the
     merits and risks of an investment in Client's common shares.

     Should the Client terminate this Agreement prior to the End of the Full
     Term for any reason other than RW's failure to perform in accordance with
     the terms set forth in this Agreement, then no portion of the Fee shall be
     refunded to the Client.

     Should the Client terminate this Agreement prior to the End of the Full
     Term for RW's failure to perform in accordance with the terms set forth in
     this Agreement, then a percentage of the Fee shall be refunded to the
     Client; this percentage is the product of 50% times the result of the
     division of the number of days from the Early Termination Date until the
     End of the Full Term by the number of days from the commencement of the
     Term until the End of the Full Term.

     Notwithstanding the foregoing, Client shall recover the entire Fee from RW
     if Client terminates this Agreement based on RW's failure to release the
     initial Report in accordance with the time and manner mandated by Paragraph
     2.

     Should RW terminate this Agreement prior to the End of the Full Term, then
     a percentage of the Fee shall be refunded to the Client; this percentage
     shall be the product of 50% times the result of the division of the number
     of days from the Early Termination Date until the End of the Full Term by
     the number of days from the commencement of the Term until the End of the
     Full Term.


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     Notwithstanding the foregoing, RW shall refund the entire Fee to Client if
     RW terminates this Agreement prior to the release of the initial Report for
     any reason other than Client's failure to perform in accordance with the
     terms set forth in this Agreement.

4.   Client's Representations and Covenants. Client represents and covenants
     that:

     (a) it will not use the Report in connection with any offering without the
     prior written consent of RW;

     (b) it and its principals will keep confidential their knowledge of the
     pending release of the Report;

     (c) it will distribute the Report only in its entirety and in conformity
     with all securities laws;

     (d) it will cease any distribution of the Report when facts or management's
     expectations are materially different from those presented or estimated in
     such Report;

     (e) it has received a copy of RW's brochure and Part II of RW's ADV
     application, both of which are available for viewing at RW's web site
     (www.stocksontheweb.com); and

     (f) it will indemnify and hold RW and its officers, employees and
     independent contractors harmless from and against any loss, damage,
     liability, or expense (including reasonable attorneys' fees and other costs
     of litigation, regardless of outcome) arising out of or in connection with
     (i) any breach of the representations and covenants made by Client in this
     Paragraph 4, (ii) false or misleading information provided to RW by Client,
     or (iii) claims relating to the purchase and/or sale of Clients' securities
     arising from RW's relationship with Client (other than claims resulting
     from RW's failure to comply with federal or state securities laws
     applicable to RW). Such indemnifications shall continue for a period of
     five (5) years beyond the end of the Term.

5    Arbitration. Any dispute between RW and Client, either during or after the
     Term, shall be subject to binding arbitration before a three-arbitrator
     panel in accordance with the rules of the American Arbitration Association.
     Prior to the selection of the arbitrators of the binding arbitration, the
     parties shall first attempt non-binding mediation before a mediator
     selected by said Association. Each party shall bear its own costs relating
     to such mediation, including attorney's fees and expenses. In the event the
     parties are unable to resolve the dispute through mediation and the
     arbitrators reach a decision in favor of one of the parties then the other
     party shall be responsible for all costs of the first party relating to the
     arbitration, including attorney's fees and expenses, subject however to the
     discretion of the arbitrators to reallocate these costs if cause is so
     found by the arbitrators. Unless another location is mutually agreed upon
     by both parties, the mediation and arbitration are to take place in the
     State of New Jersey.


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6.   Notices. Notices to RW are to be delivered to William J. Ritger at the
     address in this letterhead. Notices to the Client are to be delivered to
     the individual to whom this letter is directed, at the inside address of
     this letter. The parties to this Agreement may change these addresses by
     giving written notice.

7.   Impaired provision. If any provision of this Agreement is held invalid,
     illegal or unenforceable in any respect (an "Impaired Provision"),

     (a) such Impaired Provision shall be interpreted in such a manner as to
     preserve, to the maximum extent possible, the intent of the parties,

     (b) the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions
     shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby, and

     (c) such decision shall not affect the validity, legality or enforceability
     of such Impaired Provision under other circumstances. The parties agree to
     negotiate in good faith and agree upon a provision to substitute for the
     Impaired Provision in the circumstances in which the Impaired Provision is
     invalid, illegal or unenforceable.

8.   Entire agreement. This Agreement sets forth the entire understanding of the
     parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and shall not be
     modified, except by a written document signed by the parties.

9.   Paragraph headings. The paragraph headings used in this Agreement are
     included solely for convenience and shall not affect or be used in
     connection with the interpretation of this Agreement.

10.  Governing law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in
     accordance with the laws of the State of New Jersey without regard to the
     principles of conflict of laws.

           (The remainder of this page is left blank intentionally.)


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Please confirm your agreement with the foregoing by signing and returning one
copy of this letter to the undersigned whereupon this letter shall become a
binding Agreement. The offer to enter into this Agreement shall expire 14 days
from the date of this letter.

Very truly yours,

THE RESEARCH WORKS, INC.

By:    ____________________________
       William J. Ritger
       President

AGREED TO AS OF THE DATE BELOW:

CYTOMEDIX, INC.


By:
       Kent T. Smith
       Chief Executive Officer


Date: