Penn Experts to Present at the International Society for Stem Cell Research Annual Meeting

PHILADELPHIA – Researchers from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine will be presenting at the annual meeting of the International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISCCR) as well as participating in a Workshop and an Evening Public Symposium on Stem Cell Biology.

The 6th annual meeting of the ISSCR will be held from June 11-14, 2008 in Philadelphia, PA. The Penn Institute for Regenerative Medicine, the School of Medicine Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, and the ISSCR are hosting the free Workshop and Evening Public Symposium on June 10, just prior to the scientific meeting.

Highlights of Penn scientific presentations:

• Mayumi Ito
  Department of Dermatology
  The role of the Wnt protein in hair follicle differentiation after wounding or UV-B irradiation
• M. Celeste Simon
  HHMI, Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute
  The interplay of oxygen availability, embryonic development, and stem cell function
• Eric J. Brown
  Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute
  The interplay between premature aging, tissue regeneration, and the tumor suppressor p53
• Monica Teta
  Department of Dermatology
  The role of micro RNAs in hair follicle stem cells

Workshop in Stem Cell Biology: June 10
Marriott Philadelphia Downtown
Main Tower: Grand Ballroom
Salon E, 5th Floor

• Delve into the latest advances and fundamental basics of stem cell biology and regenerative medicine
• Learn to apply the language and basics of stem cell science in the classroom
• Gain expert insights into the political and ethical issues surrounding stem cell science
• Hear from the leading voices in stem cell research

1:00-1:05	Welcome	Jonathan A. Epstein, MD Co-Director, Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Pennsylvania
1:05-1:30	Introduction to Stem Cell Biology I	Douglas A. Melton, PhD Co-Director, Harvard Stem Cell Institute
1:30-1:55	Introduction to Stem Cell Biology II	Nadia Rosenthal, PhD Head, Monterotondo Outstation European Molecular Biology Laboratory
1:55-2:20	Stem Cells for Neurological Disorders	John Gearhart, PhD Director, Institute for Cell Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
2:20-2:45	Stem Cells for Heart Disease	Jonathan Epstein, MD Co-Director, Institute for Regenerative Medicine,  University of Pennsylvania
2:45-3:00	Break
3:00-3:25	Cancer Stem Cells	M. Celeste Simon, PhD Howard Hughes Medical Institute and University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
3:25-3:50	Stem Cells of the Blood and Bone Marrow	Stephen G. Emerson, MD, PhD President,  Haverford College
3:50-4:15	Many Ways to Generate Stem Cells	George Q. Daley, MD, PhD ISSCR President Children’s Hospital Boston and Harvard Medical School
4:15-4:40	Legal and Ethical Considerations	Jonathan D. Moreno, PhD Professor, Medical Ethics and History and Sociology of Science University of Pennsylvania
4:40-5:00	Wrap-up and Questions

Evening Public Symposium
June 10, 2008
6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. 
Marriott Philadelphia Downtown
Main Tower: Grand Ballroom
Salons A-F, 5th Floor

The Evening Public Symposium is for anyone interested in stem cells, public policy and biomedical research. Scientific and advocacy leaders will comment on the ethical debates and concerns associated with the latest stem cell research.  The evening will feature the following panelists:

John Gearhart, PhD, Director, Institute for Cell Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Stephen G. Emerson, MD, PhD, President, Haverford College
Jonathan D. Moreno, PhD, Professor, Medical Ethics and History and Sociology of Science, University of Pennsylvania
Marie McCullough, Medical Reporter, The Philadelphia Inquirer
Amy Comstock Rick, President, Coalition for the Advancement of Medical Research, CEO, Parkinson’s Action Network

Editors Note:
For scientific presentations: Contact Karen Kreeger for more information.

Public events on June 10: Open to anyone interested in stem cells, public policy, and biomedical research. Space is limited for the workshop. Priority will be given to attendees who have pre-registered. For more information and to register for these events, please visit: http://www.isscr.org/meetings/pub_symp.htm

###

PENN Medicine is a $3.5 billion enterprise dedicated to the related missions of medical education, biomedical research, and excellence in patient care. PENN Medicine consists of the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine (founded in 1765 as the nation's first medical school) and the University of Pennsylvania Health System.

Penn's School of Medicine is currently ranked #4 in the nation in U.S.News & World Report's survey of top research-oriented medical schools; and, according to most recent data from the National Institutes of Health, received over $379 million in NIH research funds in the 2006 fiscal year. Supporting 1,400 fulltime faculty and 700 students, the School of Medicine is recognized worldwide for its superior education and training of the next generation of physician-scientists and leaders of academic medicine.

The University of Pennsylvania Health System includes three hospitals — its flagship hospital, the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, rated one of the nation’s “Honor Roll” hospitals by U.S.News & World Report; Pennsylvania Hospital, the nation's first hospital; and Penn Presbyterian Medical Center — a faculty practice plan; a primary-care provider network; two multispecialty satellite facilities; and home care and hospice.