Hundreds of scientists, bioethicists, business entrepreneurs and research experts from around the world will congregate in Madison Sunday for the World Stem Cell Summit.
Presented by the Genetics Policy Institute and hosted by the University of Wisconsin Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Center and the WiCell Research Institute, Madison was chosen for the event because of its history of “breakthrough” stem cell exploration at the university.
“We’re coming to Madison because 10 years ago the greatest breakthrough in stem cell research happened here in Madison, Wis.,” Bernard Siegel, executive director of the Genetics Policy Institute said. “Essentially, the entire stem cell world is descending on Madison.”
Siegel is referring UW professor James Thomson, whose work led to the first successful isolation of human embryonic stem cells in 1998.
Thomson was in the news again last fall as he became one of the first scientists to convert human skin cells into embryonic cells, opening the door to a possible settlement of the political and ethical debate over the use of human embryos.
The summit will take place from Sept. 21 to 23, kicking off with “Lab on the Lake” on Sunday, which is a free day of film showings, hands-on science demonstrations and inspirational talks from stem cell research advocate Sam Schmidt.
Siegel said “Lab on the Lake” is a “painless” way for students and community members to learn about stem cell research.
He said in addition to the talks and information sessions, “Lab on the Lake” will include a job fair for students and an expert panel discussion at 4 p.m.
The panel includes Thomson, as well as UW scientists Clive Svendsen and Tim Kamp. Bioethicist Linda Hogle and Executive Director of the Wisconsin Biotechnology & Medical Device Association James Leonhart will also be on the panel.
Leonhart said he thinks the summit activities will be great opportunities for people from the community to come listen to experts explain new breakthroughs happening in the field.
“Stem cell research has proved to be one of the great places for hope for helping cure diseases,” Leonhart said. “That’s why it’s so important to us for people to understand it completely.”
Siegel said there will be six additional panel sessions dedicated to specific diseases, which will give patients and patient advocacy groups a chance to talk with researchers and doctors and get the latest information on medical breakthroughs.
The summit is open to the public, and people wanting to attend can register at the World Stem Cell Summit website. Siegel said he encourages students and members from the community to come get information about the many ways in which stem cell research affects the world.
“Not only is this the future of health care, but this is a red-hot, political-wedge issue,” said Siegel. “This is a chance for someone who’s interested in anything from bioethics to law to medicine to freedom of scientific research or their own family’s health issues to come and learn more.”
