Co-organizers of Largest Interdisciplinary Stem Cell Meeting Include: Genetics Policy Institute, California Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Mayo Clinic, The Scripps Research Institute and Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute
SAN DIEGO – Genetics Policy Institute (GPI) announced today that the 9th annual World Stem Cell Summit is scheduled for December 4-6, 2013, at the Manchester Grand Hyatt.
Genetics Policy Institute (GPI), California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM), Mayo Clinic, The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) and Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute (Sanford-Burnham) have joined to organize the largest and most comprehensive multi-track interdisciplinary stem cell conference aimed at uniting the global stem cell community and accelerating cures. Additional international organizers will be named in the coming weeks.
Bernard Siegel (GPI), Dr. Jeanne Loring (TSRI), Dr. Andre Terzic (Mayo Clinic), Dr. Evan Snyder (Sanford-Burnham) and Dr. Alan Trounson (CIRM) will serve as co-chairs of the Summit.
The Summit features pre-eminent researchers, industry leaders, clinicians, hospital administrators, regulators, advocates, philanthropists, economic development officers, media representatives and experts in law and insurance. More than 170 experts will discuss the latest scientific discoveries, business models, translational issues, legal and regulatory solutions and best practices.
The event is expected to attract more than 1,200 attendees from 40 nations, and 200 sponsors, media partners and endorsing organizations. The Summit provides an exhibition hall, country pavilions, specialized symposiums, networking receptions, the GPI Stem Cell Action Awards Dinner and a “Conversations with Experts Networking Luncheon” and more.
Bernard Siegel, Founder of the Summit and executive director of the Genetics Policy Institute said, “With stem cells we stand at the threshold of a new way to practice medicine and treat disease. The mission-driven World Stem Cell Summit presents 21st century breakthrough science, provides partnering opportunities and fosters public appreciation for this exciting and burgeoning field. We are delighted to return to California for our 9th Summit where we will showcase San Diego as a global hub for these emerging technologies.”
Dr. Alan Trounson, President of CIRM, California’s state stem cell agency, stated, “CIRM’s continuing priority is to develop therapies and find cures and that requires bringing all the key stakeholders together. Joining us in San Diego at the World Stem Cell Summit will be leaders in academia, the business and investment communities from around the globe. The Summit will again serve as a powerful forum to forge valuable partnerships between California researchers and companies and collaborators around the world.”
Jonathan Thomas, Chairman of the Governing Board of CIRM, stated, “We are so pleased that the World Stem Cell Summit is returning to California. We recognize that the Summit is a unique event that provides context to the entire stem cell community. Recognizing California’s leadership role in investing in innovation and building out a global framework for stem cell therapies, the Summit is a valuable platform to advance CIRM’s mission, seeking cures and alleviating human suffering.”
Dr. Andre Terzic, Center for Regenerative Medicine, Mayo Clinic, stated, “Mayo Clinic has declared regenerative medicine a strategic priority. Through an integrated multidisciplinary approach, Mayo Clinic is developing innovative techniques to treat major acquired and congenital diseases – such as heart disease, diabetes, degenerative joint conditions, neurological disorders, wounds and injuries. An important event, the Summit is the single forum providing a global context for the emerging field of regenerative medicine .It serves as a facilitator for collaborations between institutions, government and industry. All of us at Mayo Clinic are proud to join our national and international colleagues in co-organizing the 2013 Summit.” Dr. Terzic is the Michael S. and Mary Sue Shannon Family Director for the Center for Regenerative Medicine and the Marriott Family Professor of Cardiovascular Research at Mayo Clinic.
Dr. Jeanne Loring, Director of the Center for Regenerative Medicine at The Scripps Research Institute, said, “Scripps is dedicated to fostering interdisciplinary programs and collaborations. We believe that the World Stem Cell Summit is the critical global meeting that drives these goals and it will provide the best audience for our researchers from our campuses in La Jolla, California, and Jupiter, Florida, to showcase their accomplishments.”
Dr. Evan Snyder, Director, Stem Cells and Regenerative Biology Program, at Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute, stated, “We’re looking forward to the valuable information-sharing opportunities and discussions that only occur when stem cell researchers, patient advocates, and representatives of many other stakeholder groups converge at the World Stem Cell Summit. Occasions like these help us advance our research on the basic biology of stem cells and spur the development of new, and more personalized, medical applications for this science.”
For more information about sponsoring or attending the World Stem Cell Summit, contact Alan Fernandez at (650) 847-1640 or email Alan@genpol.org. Stay informed and in touch: Twitter @WSCSummit, Facebook and LinkedIn
About Genetics Policy Institute (GPI): GPI is a 501c3 nonprofit foundation with the mission to promote and defend stem cell research and its application in medicine to develop therapeutics and cures for many otherwise intractable diseases and disorders. GPI pursues this mission through production of its flagship annual World Stem Cell Summit, publication of the World Stem Cell Report, special projects, speaking engagements, teaching initiatives and strategic collaborations. For more information, visit www.genpol.org .
About California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM): CIRM was established in November 2004 with the passage of Proposition 71, the California Stem Cell Research and Cures Act. The statewide ballot measure, which provided $3 billion in funding for stem cell research at California universities and research institutions, was overwhelmingly approved by voters, and called for the establishment of an entity to make grants and provide loans for stem cell research, research facilities, and other vital research.
About Mayo Clinic: Mayo Clinic is a nonprofit worldwide leader in medical care, research and education for people from all walks of life. Doctors from every medical specialty work together to care for patients, joined by common systems and a philosophy of “the needs of the patient come first.” Efforts within the Center for Regenerative Medicine, which builds on Mayo Clinic’s extensive research resources and clinical practice, span the full spectrum of discovery science, translation and clinical application. Using regenerative medicine strategies, physicians and scientists are creating new therapies that will lead to innovative and definitive solutions for patients. For more information, visit MayoClinic.org or http://mayoresearch.mayo.edu/regenerative-medicine/.
About The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI): The Scripps Research Institute is one of the world’s largest independent, not-for-profit organizations focusing on research in the biomedical sciences. TSRI is internationally recognized for its contributions to science and health, including its role in laying the foundation for new treatments for cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, hemophilia, and other diseases. An institution that evolved from the Scripps Metabolic Clinic founded by philanthropist Ellen Browning Scripps in 1924, the institute now employs about 3,000 people on its campuses in La Jolla, CA, and Jupiter, FL, where its renowned scientists—including three Nobel laureates—work toward their next discoveries. The institute’s graduate program, which awards PhD degrees in biology and chemistry, ranks among the top ten of its kind in the nation. For more information, see www.scripps.edu.
About Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute: Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute is dedicated to discovering the fundamental molecular causes of disease and devising the innovative therapies of tomorrow. Sanford-Burnham takes a collaborative approach to medical research with major programs in cancer, neurodegeneration, diabetes, and infectious, inflammatory, and childhood diseases. The Institute is recognized for its National Cancer Institute-designated Cancer Center and expertise in drug discovery technologies. Sanford-Burnham is a nonprofit, independent institute that employs 1,200 scientists and staff in San Diego (La Jolla), California and Orlando (Lake Nona), Florida. For more information, visit us at sanfordburnham.org.
Contacts:
Genetics Policy Institute
Alan Fernandez, Associate Director, 888-238-1423