ASNTR 15th anniversary meeting to be held May 1-3 in Florida

Society focuses on stem cell therapy for brain repair

Tampa, Fla. (Jan. 25, 2008) – The American Society for Neural Therapy and Repair 15th Annual Meeting will be held May 1-3, 2008 at the Sheraton Sand Key Resort in Clearwater, Florida. The deadline for submitting abstracts is February 1, 2008.

Abstracts may be submitted electronically at www.asntr.org and travel and hotel information may be found at the same Web site.

Celebrating its 15th anniversary in 2008, the ASNTR is the pre-eminent society focused on cell therapy, stem cells, gene therapy and biopharmaceuticals for neurological injury and disease. Society attendees specialize in translating pre-clinical and clinical research to the development of novel therapies. Abstracts and selected invited presentations are published in Cell Transplantation and student travel awards are offered.

“Our meeting is relatively small, which allows for interaction among attendees,” says Paul Sanberg, PhD, DSc, executive director and past president of the ASNTR. “The venue is very relaxed and best known for 35 miles of spectacular beaches and record-breaking sunshine.”

Founded in 1993, ASNTR is dedicated to the development of pioneering biological and repairative therapies to treat neurological disorders. Members include visionaries and developing scientists working in a collegial, collaborative manner.

“These collaborative relationships facilitate the rapid translation of research from the laboratory to the clinic as well as the career advancement of young investigators,” Dr. Sanberg.

ASNTR is committed to enriching the lives of students, trainees and young investigators, thereby seeding the next generation of research and clinical scientists. ASNTR meetings always highlight the work of young investigators side-by-side with established leaders in the field and a safe place to disagree in a forum where all voices can be heard.

“We are entering an interesting time,” says ASNTR president Timothy Collier, PhD. “Neuroscience’s presence is increasing, yet the funding climate requires attention for professional survival. This makes it too easy to lose touch if one does not get out of one’s community for inspiration and education. For that reason, ASNTR remains my favorite professional destination of the year, with built-in time to enjoy the sand and water.”

Travel fellowships and a short course in grantsmanship will be supported in part by NIH/NINDS, NIH/ORWH and PDF. Underrepresented minorities in science, including women and persons with disabilities, are encouraged to participate.

The deadline for conference pre-registration and hotel reservations is Apr. 3, 2008.

For more information contact Donna Morrison at dmorriso@heath.usf.edu .

*ASNTR is a society for basic and clinical neuroscientists using a variety of technologies to better understand how the nervous system functions and establish new procedures for its repair in response to trauma or neurodegenerative disease. Member scientists employ stem/neural cell transplantation, gene therapy, trophic factor and neuroprotective compound administration, and other approaches.