Toronto, ON - A week doesn't go by without news on the latest of breakthroughs or controversies surrounding stem cells and regenerative medicine, but what does this all mean for the public?
Some of the world's leading experts in regenerative medicine - the study of how the human body can be induced to heal itself - will assemble to answer questions at a free public forum on Wednesday, June 13 at 7 p.m. at the MaRS Building, 101 College St.
"As researchers, we spend so much time in laboratories, engrossed in our work, that we don't often get the chance to share all the significant advances," says Professor Molly Shoichet, Chemical Engineering & Applied Chemistry, and organizer of the event. "This event is a great opportunity to let the public know about the exciting progress in regenerative medicine. We really would encourage everyone to come out to ask questions as it's so important to stay informed about potentially life-saving innovations."
The forum will be chaired by award-winning science writer Stephen Strauss. Featured speakers include:
- Dr. Robert Lanza, vice president of research & scientific development at Advanced Cell Technology, who has used cells from the early embryo to grow new tissues and organs for therapeutic use. He has published extensively in the area of stem cells and regenerative medicine, and has authored and/or edited 19 books.
- Professor Derek van der Kooy, Medical Genetics and Microbiology, University of Toronto, whose work examines mobilizing stem cells to promote repair. Van der Kooy's lab produced the first report of stem cells in the adult mammalian eye.
- Professor Michael Sefton, Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, whose work promotes healing with only the use biomaterials. Sefton is one of the pioneers in tissue engineering and encapsulated cell therapy for the treatment of diabetes.
- Professor Tony Atala, Director of the Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine, who focuses on growing new human cells, tissues and organs (including kidney, blood vessels, cartilage, muscle, bladder, pancreas, and others) to repair or replace tissues or organs damaged by age, cancer, trauma, or abnormal development.
- Professor Tim Caulfield, Research Director of the Health Law Institute at the University of Alberta, who examines biotechnology, ethics and the law; and the legal implications of health care reform in Canada. Caulfield serves on a number of national boards and committees, such as Genome Canada's Science Advisory Committee and the Institute of Genetics Ethical, Legal and Social Issues Committee, Canadian Institutes of Health Research.
The public forum is part of a larger conference being held in Toronto, June 13 -16, presented by the Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine International Society (TERMIS) and Pittsburgh Tissue Engineering Institute (PTEI). For more information please visit
http://www.regenerate-online.com/
CONTACT:
Karen Kelly
Strategic Communications
416-978-5949 (direct)
416-978-0100 (media line)
k.kelly@utoronto.ca
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