Fourth Annual International Conference On Cell Therapy For Cardiovascular Diseases

Main Category: Conferences
Also Included In: Cardiovascular / Cardiology
Article Date: 01 Dec 2007 - 1:00 PDT

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Top Scientists Meet for Global Conference On Stem Cell Therapy for Cardiovascular Diseases

Scientific Meeting on Ground-breaking Advances, Pioneering Innovations In Cell-Based Therapeutic Approaches to Cardiovascular Diseases

WHAT: The Cardiovascular Research Foundation (CRF) brings experts to New York City from around the world for the Fourth Annual International Conference on Cell Therapy for Cardiovascular Diseases. Dedicated to new advances in this emerging field, the three-day session will feature an in-depth review of cell-based therapies for myocardial repair and regeneration, angiogenesis and cutting-edge research findings. Highlights include:

* Clinical Focus: Full-day programs for the discussion of heart attacks (ST elevation myocardial infarction, or STEMI) and congestive heart failure (CHF). Each will cover strategies using cell-based therapies to address the chronic ventricular dysfunction underlying these conditions.

* Special Sessions on:
---- Cardiac Tissue Engineering, including exciting work in constructing blood vessels and 'cell sheets' of myocardial tissue
---- Angiogenesis, including the use of stem cells derived from bone marrow, adipose, and other sources to synthesize functioning myocardium in patients with heart and peripheral vascular disease

* Late Breaking Clinical Trials:
---- Results from two major trials (TOPCARE, REPAIR-AMI) of bone-marrow- or blood-derived progenitor cells for acute myocardial infarction will be reviewed by Dr. Andreas M. Zeiher
---- Intravenous allogeneic mesenchymal stem cells for acute myocardial infarction will be presented by Dr. Joshua M. Hare
---- MAGIC 5: combined approach using granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF), erythropoietin mobilization, and intracoronary cell infusion in patients with heart attack, presented in detail here by Dr. Hyo-Soo Kim
---- Bone marrow-derived stem cells for patients with chronic limb ischemia, presented by Dr. Brian Annex
---- Transplantation of bone marrow stem cells for persistent, refractory angina, presented and discussed by Drs. Douglas Losordo and Jorge Tuma
---- CausMic: A randomized, controlled study of myoblasts in patients with heart failure, first reported at AHA 2007, presented in detail here by Dr. Nabil Dib
---- Stem cells in patients with heart failure on left ventricular assist devices, presented by Dr. Eric A. Rose

* Next-Generation Heart Muscle Cells: Advances in skeletal, myocardial, embryonic, and bone marrow derived techniques

* A Preview of First-in-Human Studies Planned for the Coming Year
---- MARVEL: the largest randomized placebo-controlled study of skeletal myoblasts in patients with heart failure, presented by Dr. Warren Sherman
---- PRIMO-AMI; a novel bone-marrow derived cell and injection technique in patients with heart attack, presented by Dr. Marc Penn.

WHO: Hundreds of the world's leading cell therapy experts will meet to discuss the latest advances in this area.

Warren Sherman, M.D., Conference Director, is Director of Cardiac Cell-Based Endovascular Therapies at the Center for Interventional Vascular Therapy at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital and Columbia University Medical Center. Dr. Sherman is a renowned clinical investigator in the field of myocardial regeneration who pioneered a technique for injecting stem cells into the heart. In Rotterdam in May 2001, he performed the first catheter-based injection of stem cells into the heart of a patient with congestive heart failure due to a previous heart attack. At Columbia University Medical Center, researchers led by Dr. Sherman are using the patient's own myoblasts -- progenitor cells found in muscle -- to repair and replace injured cardiac tissue in a process called myogenesis. Dr. Sherman collaborates in studies to improve the outcomes of cell implantation with colleagues at Columbia University Medical Center, all of whom will be presenting their research at the conference.

WHEN: January 16 - 18, 2008

WHERE: Columbia University, Alfred Lerner Hall, 2920 Broadway (at 115th St.), New York, NY

The conference program can be found here (pdf)

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Article adapted by Medical News Today from original press release.
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About CRF:

The Cardiovascular Research Foundation (CRF) in New York City is an independent, non-profit academic institution dedicated to improving the survival and quality of life of patients with cardiovascular disease through research and education. For more than 15 years, CRF has played a major role in realizing dramatic improvements in the lives of patients by establishing the safe use of new technologies and therapies in the subspecialty of interventional cardiology and endovascular medicine. CRF is affiliated with Columbia University Medical Center. For more information, please visit http://www.crf.org/.

About CUMC:

Columbia University Medical Center provides international leadership in pre-clinical and clinical research, in medical and health sciences education, and in patient care. The medical center trains future leaders and includes the dedicated work of many physicians, scientists, public health professionals, nurses, and dentists at the College of Physicians & Surgeons, the Mailman School of Public Health, the School of Nursing, the College of Dental Medicine, the biomedical departments of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, and allied research centers and institutions. http://www.cumc.columbia.edu/

Source:
Claire Laporte
Cardiovascular Research Foundation