Public release date: 16-Sep-2008
[ | E-mail Article ]

Contact: Andrew Klein
ank2017@med.cornell.edu
212-821-0560
New York- Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center/Weill Cornell Medical College

Ansary Symposium on Stem Cell Research at Weill Cornell Medical College

'The Status and Future of Research for Stem Cell Therapeutics: Bridging Basic and Clinical Research'

WHO:

Hosted by Weill Cornell Medical College, the Ansary Symposium on Stem Cell Research is bringing together a group of leading figures in the field, including internationally known scientists, physicians and ethicists, to discuss recent scientific advances and ethical issues in stem cell research.

WHEN:

Wednesday, September 17, 3:00-4:30 PM
- AND -
Thursday, September 18, 8:00 AM-1:30 PM

WHERE:

Uris Auditorium
Weill Cornell Medical College
1300 York Avenue (at 69th Street)

Reporters are invited to attend the two-day symposium. The first day features a lively debate about the future of human embryonic stem cell research. The second day will showcase presentations from the world's top stem cell researchers. The schedule is as follows:

>Wednesday, September 17, 3:00-4:30 PM:

Public Policy Session with Panel Forum

"The Generation and Use of Human Embryonic Stem Cells: What Is the Current Status in the United States, and Where Are We Going?"

Moderated by: Robert Bazell, chief Science and Health Correspondent, NBC News

Featuring:

Dr. Arthur Caplan, director, Center for Bioethics, University of Pennsylvania
Dr. Christopher Tollefsen, associate professor of Philosophy and Director of Graduate Studies, University of South Carolina

Thursday, September 18, 8:00 AM-1:30 PM:

Scientific Sessions

Five Renowned Scientists Present Cutting Edge Research

Dr. Shahin Rafii, co-director, of Ansary Stem Cell Institute at Weill Cornell Medical College will discuss the role of vascular tissue in supporting stem cell and organ regeneration.
Dr. Ali Brivanlou, Robert and Harriet Heilbrunn Professor at The Rockefeller University will discuss novel strategies in reprogramming mature cells into pluripotent stem cells
Dr. Kevin Eggan, assistant professor of Molecular and Cellular Biology at Harvard University will define the role of induced reprogramming of human fibroblasts into pluripotent stem cells and neuronal tissue.
Dr. Gordon Keller, director, McEwen Center for Regenerative Medicine will discuss creating cardiovascular tissue from pluripotent stem cells
Dr. Lorenz Studer, director, Laboratory of Stem Cell and Tumor Biology at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center will show data on generation of functional neuronal tissue from pluripotent stem cells.

http://www.ansarysymposium.org/

###

The Ansary Stem Cell Institute

The Ansary Stem Cell Institute, established at Weill Cornell Medical College in 2004 through the generous donation of Shahla and Hushang Ansary, brings together a premier team of scientists to focus on stem cells—the primitive, unspecialized cells with an unrivaled capacity to form all types of cells, tissues and organs in the body. The vision of the Ansary Institute is to help lead the way in 21st century medicine by employing this new field of research with tremendous potential to relieve human suffering. The Center permits the multidisciplinary collaboration and creativity of Weill Cornell's researchers, as well as helps to attract the best and brightest young researchers in the field. Scientists at the Center hope to discover the wellspring of adult stem cells in the body and ways to manipulate them to treat human illness. In particular, they hope to understand the regulation of cells that give rise to such essential components as blood vessels, insulin-producing cells in the pancreas (which are damaged in diabetics), and neurons of the brain and nervous system.

– Reporters are invited to attend the event. Photography is also welcomed. –

[ | E-mail Article ]