FUTURE OF STEM CELL RESEARCH: Therapeutic Potentials, Challenges to Commercialization, and Public Policy

Stem cell research holds the dual promise of major benefits to human health and the prospect of commercial opportunities through the provision of novel cell-based treatments.

Our distinguished speakers will provide a comprehensive view of current developments in this field from industry and academic perspectives.

Dr. Lebkowski leads the human embryonic stem cell program at Geron. She will discuss progress in the innovative applications of stem cells from the industry perspective. She will discuss the significant achievements Geron has made in preclinical stem cell research and subsequent product development.

Dr. Brazelton, a leading researcher in the area of adult stem cell at Stanford, will briefly review some novel discoveries regarding the ability of adult cells to change their fate into diverse tissue. He will then discuss challenges to commercialization from the academic perspective.

Ms. Corcoran will provide an overview of the policy and legal issues raised by Prop 71, including a discussion of relationship between the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine and the Independent Citizens Oversight Committee; conflict of interest concerns; the speculation on the intellectual property rights for the state/the grantee; and the rules related to the public meetings laws that the Committee must follow and how you can get involved to shape the policy.

Dr. Nandini Tandon of MDS Capital and Mr. Arash Davallou of the Canadian Consulate will provide an overview of the Canadian biotech market, stem cell research policies and opportunities to collaborate with Canadian partners in this field.