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STEM CELL BATTLES
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First, I regret very much missing the ICOC meeting in Sacramento. I was at the Roman Reed Spinal Cord Injury Research Act’s annual report, and “Meet the Scientists Day”, and also the Children’s Hospital of Orange County (CHOC)’s conference, “Stem Cell Therapies for Pediatric Diseases and Injuries: A Critical Evaluation”.A couple hours ago, Gloria and I pulled up in front of our beloved little house, feeling (well, at least one of us did) that we had been away for three years instead of three days. Gloria loves to travel; personally I prefer root canal. If there were just someway we could go from place to place like the old Star Trek show, just disappear and reappear in a shower of stars, and skip the hassle!
About four hours from now, I must give a stem cell talk in front of a group of the world’s most devastating critics, a room full of high school students…
Anyway, I cannot do justice to the events of the past three days right now.
But I absolutely must comment briefly on the CHOC conference, followed by an important P.S.
The Children’s Hospital conference made me aware, for the first time, of a truly terrifying condition, called Lysosomal Storage Disorders, (LSD’s).
If I understand correctly, all cells have a recycling system which disposes of waste products. If this system malfunctions, the waste products build up inside the cells, with devastating consequences to mind and body.
Children diagnosed with LSD’s may die before the age of two, their limbs distorted, their brains utterly damaged.
Right now, forms of adult stem cell treatments (like transplants of mesenchymal cells) are providing measurable relief, saving lives, and easing suffering.
The cost is horrendous, about $100,000 a year, and it is not a cure. If the transplant is not a good match, it will be rejected by the body.
But it is a handhold over the abyss, the only hope for parents of children with lysosomal disorders.
In time, I believe, there will be better ways to deal with these awful ailments.
But right now, the world owes a debt of gratitude to the adult stem cell scientists who are helping those families who have almost no hope at all.
This column would like to thank the primary organizer of the event, Dr. Phil Schwartz, director of the CHOC Human Neural Stem Cell Resource, CHOC Research Institute. He brought together the following top-notch scientists to speak on their areas of expertise...
PROGRAM MODERATORS:Jeanne Loring, PhD Philip Schwartz, PhD SPEAKERS:Theo Palmer, PhD Su-Chun Zhang, PhD Donald Phinney, PhD Lisa Flanagan, PhD Paul Fairchild, DPhil Jose Abdenur, MD Paul Orchard, MD Joanne Kurtzberg, MD Patricia Dickson, MD Philip Schwartz, PhD Donald Phinney, PhD Stephen Back, MD, PhD Stephen Huhn, MD
ALSO (a very big “also”) do not forget the upcoming Americans for Cures State of Stem Cell Advocacy conference, April 12-13. If you can possibly make it, you should!
Here is a brief summary, feel free to pass it along to your network…
State of Stem Cell Advocacy conference, April 12-13, UCSF, San Francisco.
Americans for Cures Foundation is proud to announce Michael J. Fox as our featured speaker at State of Stem Cell Advocacy 2008, our conference for grassroots advocates united in support of stem cell research. We want you there with us!
Advocates will hear recent progress toward cures, learn how to gain more funding for research through state and federal programs, and enhance their own outreach skills— learning from our champions, first-hand. Topics range from practical to visionary: from Stem Cells 101 to the latest advances; how to sponsor a good stem cell law (or defeat a bad one); training for a speaker network, developing messaging, and much more.
In addition to beloved actor/advocate Michael J. Fox, our confirmed speakers’ list reads like a Who’s Who of movers and shakers in the stem cell world: Robert N. Klein, the man who designed, built, and now leads California’s $3 billion stem cell program; Brock Reeve, executive director of the Harvard Stem Cell Institute; Alan Trounson, President, California Institute for Regenerative Medicine; Amy Comstock Rick, CEO, Parkinson’s Action Network and President of the Coalition for the Advancement of Medical Research; Renee Reijo-Pera, Stanford’s Director of Human Embryonic Stem Cell Research; Jay Levy, Professor in Residence, Cancer Research Institute, UCSF; Steve Allen, Communications and Strategic Analyst, Polestar, Inc.; Jeannie Fontana, research advocate and Independent Citizens Oversight Committee member, Bernard Siegel, Executive Director of Genetics Policy Institute—and still more!
For information and to register, go to: http://www.americansforcures.org/. Advocates needing financial assistance may apply for a limited number of conference scholarships.
Question: We have priced admission as low as possible ($100 for both days) so admission will not be a barrier to cash-strapped advocates. But we could use your help. Would you or your organization consider becoming a Supporting Sponsor?
“Supporting Sponsors” help two ways: one, by making a donation to help less-fortunate advocates attend, and two, by sharing our conference invitation with your membership. As a Supporting Sponsor, your name would be listed in all print and online materials; more importantly, more advocates will be trained.
Information on sponsorship? Contact Amy Daly at adaly@americansforcures.org; or Jacqueline Hantgan at jhantgan@americansforcures.org.
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