Press Invitation: The science of stem cells - December Symposium at Imperial CollegeNovember 29, 2000PRESS INVITATION 28 November 2000 As the British parliament prepares to debate a change in the law to allow stem cells from human embryos to be used in research, Imperial College researchers will gather at a Symposium in December to discuss the science behind stem cells, and examine their potential to provide new treatments for a host of diseases. Journalists are invited to attend the Symposium ‘Stem Cells and Development’ at the First Anniversary meeting of the Imperial College Tissue Engineering Centre at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, on Wednesday 6 December. Acknowledged world leaders in stem cell science will describe their research in this controversial and revolutionary area, providing journalists with a comprehensive background to the science of stem cells and a guide to the future directions of tissue engineering research. Speakers from across the College and from other institutes include: Professor Lord Robert Winston, Professor of Fertility Studies, Imperial College, on embryonic development Professor Sir Magdi Yacoub, BHF Professor of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Imperial College, on tissue engineering heart valves Professor Ara Darzi, Professor of Minimal Access Surgery, Imperial College, on microinvasive surgery Professor Austin Smith, University of Edinburgh, on stem cells Professor Brigid Hogan, Vanderbilt University, USA, on molecular approaches to lung development Professor Geoff Raisman, National Institute of Medical Research (UK), on neural regeneration Mr Tony Taylor, Head of the Gene Therapy, Genetics and Cloning Unit, Department of Health, on the Donaldson Committee report Julia Polak, Professor of Endocrine Pathology at Imperial College and director of the Imperial College Tissue Engineering Centre at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital said: “The potential use of stem cells to repair failing body parts could lead to revolutionary developments in regenerative medicine. Parliament is currently discussing the possibility of allowing scientists to derive human embryonic stem cells and specific cell lineages, e.g. bone, heart or brain. If this research is successful, it could open up huge new avenues for reparative medicine. The Symposium will address these points.” The Symposium will also celebrate the first anniversary of the Tissue Engineering Centre, a period during which Imperial researchers have scored a number of notable firsts in the tissue engineering field. Earlier this year a team announced that they had successfully derived human liver cells from stem cells in the blood. Their preliminary research, published in Nature (20 July 2000) showed that other organs such as the brain and kidneys could also be regenerated using stem cells taken from the adult body. In October, researchers at the Centre reported that they had successfully grown human bone cells outside the body by combining them with the glass ceramic, Bioglass(R), which was discovered by Professor Larry Hench, Centre co-director, and Department of Materials, Imperial College. For further information contact: Professor Julia Polak Imperial College Tissue Engineering Centre Tel: +44 (0)20 8237 2670 Email: j.polak@ic.ac.uk Tom Miller Imperial College Press Office Tel: +44 (0)20 7594 6704 Mob: +44 (0)7803 886248 Fax: +44 (0)20 7594 6700 Email: t.miller@ic.ac.uk MEDIA NOTE: The Symposium takes place between 9am and 5.30pm on Wednesday 6 December in the Gleeson Lecture Theatre, Lower Ground Floor, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, 369 Fulham Road, London, SW10 Please confirm your attendance with Tom Miller, details above. -ends- Imperial College, University of London |
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| Related Stem Cells Current Events and Stem Cells News Articles New discovery about the formation of new brain cells The generation of new nerve cells in the brain is regulated by a peptide known as C3a, which directly affects the stem cells' maturation into nerve cells and is also important for the migration of new nerve cells through the brain tissue, reveals new research from the Sahlgrenska Academy published in the journal Stem Cells. Umbilical cord blood stem cell transplant may help lung, heart disorders Two separate studies published in the current issue of Cell Transplantation (18:8), - now freely available on-line have shown that transplanted human-derived umbilical cord blood (UCB) stem cells transplanted in an animal model had positive therapeutic effects on specific lung and heart disorders the animal models. Gene mismatch influences success of bone marrow transplants A commonly inherited gene deletion can increase the likelihood of immune complications following bone marrow transplantation, an international team of researchers reports in the November 22 advance online issue of Nature Genetics. New research shows versatility of amniotic fluid stem cells For the first time, scientists have demonstrated that stem cells found in amniotic fluid meet an important test of potential to become specialized cell types, which suggests they may be useful for treating a wider array of diseases and conditions than scientists originally thought. First reconstitution of an epidermis from human embryonic stem cells Stem cell research is making great strides. This is yet again illustrated by a study carried out by the I-STEM* Institute (I-STEM/ Inserm UEVE U861/AFM), published in the Lancet on 21 November 2009. The I-STEM team, directed by Marc Peschanski has just succeeded in recreating a whole epidermis from human embryonic stem cells. Bone Implant Offers Hope for Skull Deformities A synthetic bone matrix offers hope for babies born with craniosynostosis, a condition that causes the plates in the skull to fuse too soon. Your Own Stem Cells Can Treat Heart Disease The largest national stem cell study for heart disease showed the first evidence that transplanting a potent form of adult stem cells into the heart muscle of subjects with severe angina results in less pain and an improved ability to walk. The transplant subjects also experienced fewer deaths than those who didn't receive stem cells. Is hepatic differentiation of embryonic stem cells induced by valproic acid and cytokines? Embryonic stem (ES) cells, known for their capacity to proliferate indefinitely and differentiate into almost all types of cells including hepatocytes, have raised the hope of cellular replacement therapy for liver failure. Paradoxical protein might prevent cancer One difficulty with fighting cancer cells is that they are similar in many respects to the body's stem cells. By focusing on the differences, researchers at Karolinska Institutet have found a new way of tackling colon cancer. The study is presented in the prestigious journal Cell. U of M researchers find 2 units of umbilical cord blood reduce risk of leukemia recurrence A new study from the Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota shows that patients who have acute leukemia and are transplanted with two units of umbilical cord blood (UCB) have significantly reduced risk of the disease returning. More Stem Cells Current Events and Stem Cells News Articles |
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