Bringing stem cell researchers together

This week, experts from around Australia and two international leaders in the field will meet to discuss stem cell science and just how close we are to delivering on the promise of this field. Leading scientists, doctors and industry members will share ideas and experiences in an effort to broaden understanding and accelerate progress towards the ultimate goal of new therapies.

Therapeutic Potential of Stem Cells: Prospects and Pitfalls is a symposium co-hosted by Stem Cells Australia and the Bio21 Cluster. It will be held from 16-17 May at the Melbourne Brain Centre, The University of Melbourne.

The event provides an opportunity to learn the latest about stem cell applications in sports medicine, Crohn’s disease, diabetes, heart disease, vision loss, drug discovery and cord blood banking.

Australian researchers will be joined by international guests Professor Allan Robins from ViaCyte USA, who will discuss a new way to treat type 1 diabetes using stem cells that will go into trial in 2014, and Professor Chris Mason from University College London, who will speak about the progress made in the field and hurdles to overcome as we strive to bring therapies into practice.

The program also features a free public forum on stem cells and diabetes, where members of the public can have their questions answered directly by the researchers.

The CEO of the Bio21 Cluster, Associate Professor Jan Tennent, said, “We are delighted to have been able to bring together so many leading stem cell researchers. In such a fast-paced, emerging field, it is essential that there are opportunities for knowledge and expertise to be shared between the academic, clinical, commercial and public arenas.”

For more information and registration details, visit http://bio21cluster.org.au/stem-cells-symposium/.