KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FL. (December 5th, 2013) – The Center for the Advancement of Science in Space (CASIS) Board of Directors member Dr. Lee Hood will moderate a panel, “The New Frontier – Stem Cell Development in Microgravity,” at the World Stem Cell Summit in San Diego, CA on December 6 from 9-11am PST. In addition to Dr. Hood, CASIS-funded stem cell investigators Drs. Mary Kearns-Jonker of Loma Linda University and Roland Kaunas of Texas A&M University will provide insight into their research proposals destined for the International Space Station (ISS). CASIS manages research aboard the ISS U.S. National Laboratory.
Dr. Hood is one of the most influential voices in systems medicine. He is president and co-founder of the Institute for Systems Biology and a 2013 National Medal of Science recipient. Dr. Hood will also be joined by Dr. Clifford Folmes from the Mayo Clinic, who served as a CASIS subject matter expert in the field of stem cell biology.
The World Stem Cell Summit is a premier event for the stem cell community held annually. Scientists, researchers, policymakers, governmental agencies and advocacy groups attend this event to discuss new research, challenges and opportunities and to recognize achievement in the field of stem cell biology. The medical implications that can be derived from stem cell research are numerous. Stem cells have the potential to radically alter human healing and medical treatment. Tissue regeneration/engineering, advanced drug screening, cell programming and cell replacement therapy can all be actualized via breakthroughs in stem cell research.
In October, CASIS announced awarded funding of seven non-embryonic stem cell research proposals from its Request for Proposals entitled “The Impact of Microgravity on Fundamental Stem Cell Properties” to conduct advanced experimentation on the ISS. In support of the World Stem Cell Summit, CASIS has arranged for some of our most distinguished representatives to discuss the importance of stem cell research, and advocate the importance of utilizing microgravity and the advanced platforms onboard the National Lab to enable new discoveries, accelerate breakthroughs, and improve life on Earth.
Background on CASIS-funded investigators on the panel:
Dr. Mary Kearns-Jonker of Loma Linda University will study the aging of neonatal and adult cardiac stem cells in microgravity with the ultimate goal of improving cardiac cell therapy.
Dr. Roland Kaunas is a part of a team of researchers at Texas A&M University that are developing a system for co-culturing and analyzing stem cells mixed with bone tumor cells in microgravity. This system will allow for the identification of potential molecular targets for drugs specific to certain types of cancer.
“The World Stem Cell Summit provides CASIS an incredible forum to discuss the benefits of microgravity research to many of regenerative medicine’s finest minds,” said CASIS Board of Director, Dr. Lee Hood. “Additionally, the inclusion of Drs. Folmes, Kearns-Jonker and Kaunas to discuss the potential opportunities that might come through their research could provide a baseline for additional stem cell inquiries intent on benefitting humankind.”
For additional information on the World Stem Cell Summit, visit: www.worldstemcellsummit.com
To join the live stream webcast of this event, visit: http://worldstemcellsummit.com/watch-2013-world-stem-cell-summit-live
