INVITED AND SPECIAL SESSIONS
Thursday, October 27
11:00 AM-1:00 PM
Concurrent Invited Sessions II (26-32)
SESSION 27 - Human Stem Cell Biology: Principles, Applications and Ethical Considerations
Hall 1
Co-Moderators: Bartha M. Knoppers, University of Montreal, Quebec, Canada; and Mary Norton, University of California, San Francisco
Human stem cell biology has generated tremendous excitement in recent years with the propagation of human embryonic stem cells (hESC), the discovery of adult stem cells harbored in diverse tissues, and the identification and characterization of genetic pathways that may regulate key stem cell (SC) decisions to renew or differentiate. There is much hope that SC may provide us with novel therapeutics for common human diseases.
The first two speakers will discuss the biological and clinical applications of SC, focusing on SC of fetal and embryonic origins. The first speaker will discuss the derivation and developmental potential of hESC and the challenges for their use. The second speaker will discuss the potential of SC to treat common and rare fetal genetic disorders. This avenue of research is gaining momentum and maybe one of the first uses for many types of SC in medicine.
In the second half of the session, the third and fourth speakers will discuss issues regarding SC policies around the world. The third speaker analyzes the ethical and legal approaches to hESC in different countries, including the recently adopted U.N. Cloning Declaration. The fourth speaker will focus on legal issues and describe the unique factors and guidelines that may regulate the patenting of SC lines.
11:00 AM Introduction. Bartha M. Knoppers and Mary Norton.
11:10 AM Human embryonic stem cells: Basic science and clinical applications. Renee A. Reijo Pera, University of California, San Francisco.
11:30 AM Fetal stem cells: Basic science and clinical applications. Allan Flake, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, PA.
11:50 AM International policy approaches to stem cell research. Rosario M. Isasi, University of Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
12:10 PM The ethical and legal issues regarding patenting of stem cell lines. Timothy Caulfield, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada.
12:30 PM Discussion.
