The Promise of Stem Cells – Separating Hype from Reality

Location:       The Great Hall at the Central Office of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences
(next to the Parliament)
Sofia
Date & Time: Thursday, November 30, 2006
Registration and Networking: 2:30 p.m.
DVD Presentation (in English): 3:00 p.m.
Followed by an open discussion

All are invited, free of charge.  No advance registration required.

For more information send an e-mail to mitef at mitef-bg.org.

Subscribe to the MITEF-BG newsletter if you wish to receive invitations for similar events.

Summary:

Someday, scientists believe, embryonic stem cell research will enable them to use the regenerative abilities of embryonic stem cells to heal tissue damage from these and other neurodegenerative diseases. Privately and federally funded researchers are studying the mechanisms of disease to implement clinical trials of new drugs. Other researchers hope that stem cell research will lead to advances in transgenics and xenotransplantation, allowing them to enhance production traits and disease resistance in aquaculture and animal agriculture.

Join the MIT Enterprise Forum as we take a scientific look at embryonic stem cell research and examine its influence on commercial applications in such industries as pharmacology, transgenics, biomedicine and cloning.

The Promise of Stem Cells: Separating Hype from Reality will feature noted researcher Dr. Steven L. Stice, professor and Georgia Research Alliance Eminent Scholar of Animal Reproductive Physiology, Director of UGA Regenerative Bioscience Center. Dr. Stice made history when he genetically engineered and cloned three calves from fetal cells. He also has participated in several biomed start-ups. Joining him will be Mr. David A. Dodd, former president, chief executive officer and director, Serologicals Corporation, and Dr. Michelle C. LaPlaca, associate professor, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology. Dr. LaPlaca is a pioneer in the study of traumatic brain and spinal cord injury, and tissue engineering of the injured nervous system.