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STEM CELL BATTLES
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Hi, Folks!
What could be more delightful than attending a conference full of friends, people who share our belief in the need for research, and the shining hope of cure?
Amazingly, there are not one, not two, but three colossal conferences coming up—depending on which coast you are on, you really should attend at least one!
First, Americans for Cures, the SOSCA convention for advocates:
Americans for Cures Foundation announces Michael J. Fox as keynote speaker at State of Stem Cell Advocacy 2008, the leading conference for grassroots advocates who support stem cell research PALO ALTO, Calif. (Business Wire EON/PRWEB ) February 28, 2008 -- Americans for Cures Foundation (www.americansforcures.org) announces Michael J. Fox as a featured speaker at State of Stem Cell Advocacy 2008, this year’s leading conference for grassroots advocates supporting stem cell research. The conference will be held on April 12-13 at UCSF Mission Bay. Americans for Cures Foundation welcomes new and experienced advocates of all diseases and conditions to learn approaches that can further their advocacy for the facts and promise of stem cell research.The conference’s featured speaker is Michael J. Fox, the actor and noted Parkinson’s disease and stem cell research advocate. Mr. Fox joins other confirmed speakers including Robert N. Klein, Chair, California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM); Amy Comstock Rick, CEO, Parkinson's Action Network and President, Coalition for Advancement of Medical Research; and Bernard Siegel, founder and Executive Director of Genetics Policy Institute. “Our founding charter was to support the implementation of Proposition 71,” said Constance McKee and Amy Daly, Co-Executive Directors of Americans for Cures Foundation (A4CF). “Now we are reaching out nationally to Americans who are hungry for the facts, not the hype, about stem cell science. If we speak out together for cures, we can accelerate the pace at which hope becomes the reality of therapy.” Don C. Reed, sponsor of the Roman Reed Spinal Cord Injury Act (California, 1999) and a Board member of A4CF, said, “We are honored to have Michael J. Fox participate in this conference. The courage and determination with which he faces the challenges of living with Parkinson’s disease are an inspiration to millions.” Registration for the event is open at www.americansforcures.org. Advocates needing financial assistance may apply for a limited number of conference scholarships. For more information, including details on sponsorship opportunities for State of Stem Cell Advocacy 2008, email inform@americansforcures.org . Post Comment:
Second, Dr. Ann Kiessling’s one day meeting in Georgia, BARRIERS TO CURE, bringing together scientists attempting to isolate the obstacles in the way of curing paralysis: (That idea, by the way, is too good to miss—every medical malady should have a conference on barriers to cure, and produce a document the world could share—so we could learn commonalities of various conditions, and work together more efficiently.
BARRIERS TO CURE? Paralysis to be Challenged, March 29th, 2008
Imagine six of the world’s best scientists, locked in a room, ready to take on the world’s most devastating and incurable condition: spinal cord injury paralysis.
Exaggeration? Well, yes. The doors will not be locked at the Paul D. Coverdell Center at the University of Georgia.
Paralysis has been called incurable since the days of the Pharaohs, when a pictogram on the wall of an Egyptian tomb grimly noted: “Of paralyzed soldiers, deny them water, let them die - there is nothing that can be done.” Until today, that was the world’s opinion.
“Spinal Cord Injury: What Are The Barriers to Cure?”, a one-day workshop, a unique example of scientific cooperation: working together, isolating obstacles to paralysis.
And the scientists?
Naomi Kleitman, expert neuroscientist, director of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, at the National Institutes of Health;
Wise Young, Professor and Chair, Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Rutgers University, and co-inventor of the only FDA-approved treatment for spinal cord injury: Methylprednisolone;
Steven L. Stice, GRA Eminent Scholar, University of Georgia, one of the most creative minds in science, who recently proposed a way to use embryonic stem cells to help in the fight against terrorism;
Jose Cibelli, Professor at Michigan State University, pioneering leader in “translational research”, turning theories into therapies;
Ann Kiessling, Associate Professor of Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Director of The Bedford Stem Cell Research Foundation, and author of the only textbook on human embryonic stem cell science, Human Embryonic Stem Cells.
And an invited panel of more experts with equally impressive credentials, such as:
Scott Whittemore, Professor and Vice Chairman for Research, Department of Neurological Surgery, Kentucky Spinal Cord Injury Research Center, University of Louisville;
Christopher Shields, Professor and Chair of Neurosurgery, Kentucky Spinal Cord Injury Research Center, University of Louisville;
Ravi Bellamkonda, Professor, Wallace H. Coulter Dept. of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology;
Peter Gorman, Associate Professor of Neurology, Director, Spinal Cord Injury Service, Kernan Hospital, University of Maryland Medical Center.
The result will be a “facts and needs” position paper, to bring together what must be done to alleviate the devastating condition of spinal cord injury paralysis.
Hosted by the UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA, in cooperation with THE SHEPHERD CENTER, the event will take place MARCH 29TH, at Paul D. Coverdell Center, 500 D.W. Brooks Drive, Room 175, Athens, GA 30602 on March 29, 2008, 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM.
On Friday, March 28th, Mrs. Alana Shepherd is hosting a special tour of the new SHEPHERD CENTER for media and workshop speakers from 4-6 PM including a light supper. RSVP required.
For more information, email: info@bedfordresearch.org Register online at: http://www.bedfordresearch.org/spinalworkshop Registration fee is $35.00 per person.
For additional press information, contact: Allison Kiessling at 781-718-7894, or Loch Jones at 310-480-1234
And number three—for still more magic—how about this?
Working 2 Walk 2008 Registration Now Open April 13-15, 2008 at the Kellogg Conference Hotel, Washington DC Important Working 2 Walk Deadlines are fast approaching. Don't be disappointed! March 13: Deadline to book lodging at the Kellogg Conference Hotel at our preferred rate. Reservations made after this date may not be available or have a higher rate. March 15: Last day to guarantee your preferred shirt size via Registration March 15: Last day to submit a Registration Grant Application March 15: Last day to submit your Bridges 2 Hope story for inclusion in the print edition March 28: Last day to register and guarantee your space (registrations after this date on a space available basis only) Follow the links on your left to learn more about our speakers, schedule and other details. If you haven't yet made hotel reservations, don't delay as space is filling up fast. Working 2 Walk is a unique opportunity that you won't want to miss. “I want to thank you once again for inviting me. It was such an exciting day. It meant so much to me to meet so many advocates for SCI research and to hear everyone's story. I certainly feel a heightened drive to work on chronic SCI. I told my students after the event that I think every young researcher should attend this event.” Dr. Juanita J. Anders, PhD, USUHS
Folks, working together, we are making it happen. In big ways and small, all across the country, change is happening. Step by step, we are approaching cure.
Thank you so much for all you do.
Don Reed |