Spotlight

Stem Cells Experts Feature At Biowales 2010

Stem Cell technology is one of the topics in this year’s BioWales

Nobel Prize for Medicine recipient Professor Sir Martin Evans was the first scientist to identify embryonic stem cells, which can be adapted for a wide variety of medical purposes. His discoveries are now being applied in virtually all areas of biomedicine - from basic research to the development of new therapies. Sir Martin of Cardiff University and CEO of Cell Therapy Ltd, has been described by The Independent as one of ‘ten Britons who have

shaped our world, and he appeared at BioWales in 2008.

 

Anthony Davies completes the line-up for the Stem Cells session of the conference, as Vice President of Product Development at Geron, a role he has held since 2006, directing the company's product development activities for cell therapies in both the oncology and regenerative medicine departments.

 

Event project manager Dr. Sharon Thomas said: "The presence of these high profile Stem Cell experts Dr. Stephen Minger Prof. Evans and Anthony Davies gives a great deal of international prestige to BioWales and enhances our reputation as one of the UK's foremost bioscience events. Their area of  expertise is a key theme for this year, and of particular relevance to Wales."

 

BioWales 2010 will feature:                                                       

- a conference programme

- a BioPartnering event with pre-arranged, one-to-one brokerage meetings to discuss potential  collaboration projects and new technologies

-  an exhibition and networking opportunity to share ideas and build profile

 

Themes featuring at BioWales 2010 are:

• stem cells
• translational research
• point of care diagnostics
• cancer genetics                                                            
• Futurewatch - a regular annual feature that highlights the next big thing in life sciences                                                                

 

New for 2010 is a series of workshops built into the programme. These cover the topics of FP7 R&D funding from the EU; finance; and opportunities in Wales, where 330 companies employ over 15,000 people and contribute more than £1.3bn to the Welsh economy, programme at the Vale Hotel & Resort, with a session that focuses on the latest academic and industrial R&D programmes and developments before an international, commercial and academic audience of 400 delegates.

 

Stephen Minger, Head of Research and Development for Cell Technologies at GE Healthcare describes Stem Cell technology as “the landmark development for 21st century medicine”, offering advances in drug research and development and the potential for regeneration of a number of different tissues and organs susceptible to age related degenerative conditions and traumatic injury. Dr. Minger’s presentation at BioWales charts the therapeutic and scientific potential of stem cells back to bone marrow transplantation in the 1960s. He says: “In the not-too-distant future, it may be possible to repair heart tissue damaged by myocardial infarction, to replace neuronal cells lost in Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases, to transplant new insulin producing cells for diabetics and myelinating cells for individuals afflicted with multiple sclerosis, and to replace bone and cartilage lost through aging and inflammatory disease.

“In addition, drug researchers are hoping to revolutionize drug discovery and investigation using the potential of specific subtypes of human cells to enhance the understanding of disease at a cellular level. This, combined with the emerging field of Regenerative Medicine will fundamentally alter research as well as clinical medicine and significantly influence our perceptions of aging, health and disease, with a myriad of consequences for society at large.”