Global Research Leaders To Speak At UK's National Stem Cell Conference

Main Category: Stem Cell Research
Article Date: 20 Nov 2008 - 1:00 PST

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Professor Robert Nerem and Dr Joseph Vacanti, world leading researchers in tissue engineering and organ transplantation respectively, have been confirmed to deliver keynote talks at the UK National Stem Cell Network (UKNSCN) Annual Conference in Oxford, 6-8 April 2009. They will join the already announced Professor.Janet Rossant, a leading developmental and stem cell biologist, as the conference keynote speakers.

Registration for the 2009 UKNSCN Annual Conference, taking place in the Oxford Examination Schools, is now open. Places can be reserved at: http://www.uknscn.org/meetings/meetings09.html. The Conference is the UK's only national stem cell research conference. It uniquely encompasses all aspects and strands of stem cell research - including adult and embryonic stem cells, induced pluripotent stem cells, tissue engineering and social issues.

Prof Nerem has been a world leader and pioneer of tissue engineering for over 25 years. From his early research investigating fluid dynamics in the heart and blood stream, he is now a prominent figure at Georgia Tech, focussing his efforts on bringing together and integrating engineering, computing and bioscience.

Dr Vacanti is a scientist-surgeon from Harvard Medical School, whose research has lead to some of the most promising engineered solutions to the shortage or organs for transplantation. The Vacanti lab has led the development of the use biodegradable structures seeded with stem cells in transplantation. The cells join with the recipient's own cells to regenerate the required tissue and the structure degrades away safely. Dr Vacanti is not only advancing this work in the lab but has a number of clinical trials underway.

Prof Nerem will deliver his talk on 7 April and Dr Vacanti on 8 April.

Lord Naren Patel, Chair of the UKNSCN Steering Committee, said: "Prof Nerem and Dr Vacanti have both made a huge impact on this field. This will be a unique opportunity to hear two of the world's leading experts in using stem cells in tissue engineering speaking in the UK. With two tissue engineers joining Janet Rossant, a leading developmental biologist, on the programme with the best UK stem cell science the UKNSCN 2009 Annual Conference will be a showcase of the entire spectrum of stem cell research."

The UK National Stem Cell Network acts as a network of the existing regional stem cell networks in the UK, to bring coordination and coherence to a range of national and regional activities in the field of stem cell research.

http://www.uknscn.org

2009 will be the second UKNSCN Annual Conference. The inaugural conference attracted 350 delegates to Edinburgh in April 2008. Given the limited places and expected increase in overseas participation, early registration is recommended.

The UKNSCN secretariat receives financial support from four of the UK Research Councils:

- Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC)
- Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC)
- Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)
- Medical Research Council (MRC)

The Network represents the UK stem cell research community and is run through an independent Steering Committee. Initially, the secretariat is operated by BBSRC on behalf of all the Government sponsors of stem cell research, including the Research Councils, the Department of Health and the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills.

UK National Stem Cell Network