FORM 4 Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

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(Print or Type Responses)

1. Name and Address of Reporting Person * Van Bokkelen Gil   2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol ATHERSYS, INC / NEW [ATHX] 5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable) __X__ Director _____ 10% Owner __X__ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below) Chmn & Chief Executive Officer (Last) (First) (Middle) 3201 CARNEGIE AVENUE 3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year) 06/18/2013 (Street) CLEVELAND, OH 44115 4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year) 6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing(Check Applicable Line) _X_ Form filed by One Reporting Person ___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person (City) (State) (Zip) Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned

1.Title of Security (Instr. 3) 2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 3. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5) 5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 3 and 4) 6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4) Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price Common Stock (1) 06/18/2013   A   695,040 (2) A $ 0 934,526 D

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Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
(e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)

1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3)

2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security

3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)

3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)

4. Transaction Code (Instr. 8)

5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4, and 5)

6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (Month/Day/Year)

7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities (Instr. 3 and 4)

8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5)

9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4)

10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)

11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)

Code

V

(A)

(D)

Date Exercisable

Expiration Date

Title

Amount or Number of Shares

Employee stock option (right to purchase)

$ 1.71

06/18/2013

A

185,000

(3)

06/18/2023

Common Stock

185,000

$ 0

185,000

D

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address	Relationships
	Director	10% Owner	Officer	Other
Van Bokkelen Gil 3201 CARNEGIE AVENUE CLEVELAND, OH 44115	X		Chmn & Chief Executive Officer

Signatures

/s/ Laura K. Campbell, as attorney-in-fact for Gil Van Bokkelen		06/20/2013
**Signature of Reporting Person		Date

Explanation of Responses:

*	If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).
**	Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
(1)	In 2005, in connection with a restructuring of internal programs and to retain and motivate executives, Athersys entered into incentive agreements that provided the executives financial participation in the event of certain merger or acquisition or asset sale transactions. The agreements were established prior to the common stock being publicly traded, had precluded the granting of routine equity awards to officers, and provided a bonus based on a fixed percentage of a transaction. In April 2013, the Board approved arrangements whereby the officers agreed to terminate their incentive agreements in return for one-time grants of restricted stock units for their past service and performance, and for the ability to receive routine annual grants of equity-based awards to better align management incentives with corporate objectives. In June 2013, the RSUs were granted to the officers in exchange for the termination of their incentive agreements.
(2)	Award of restricted stock units related to the termination of 2005 incentive agreements, each of which represents a contingent right to receive one share of Athersys, Inc. common stock per unit after vesting. The restricted stock units vest ratably on a quarterly basis over a three-year period.
(3)	Award of a routine, annual stock-based award. The option vests ratably on a quarterly basis over a four-year period.

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