SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 15 /PRNewswire/ -- The Stem Cell meeting is an international event that will bring together for the first time in one place the world’s leading scientists in embryonic and adult stem cell research with politicians, ethicists, theologians, patient advocates, industry and the media to explore the challenge and promise of stem cell research and the compelling potential of future therapies. The two-day meeting will address the most pressing issues facing what many consider to be the future of medicine. It is the first-ever event of its caliber to be open to the public.
“San Francisco is the very center of the stem cell world with the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) located here,” said G. Steven Burrill, CEO of Burrill & Company, the meeting’s organizer. “As such this event offers the unique opportunity to personally interact with the CIRM leaders of this newly created state agency that will, when fully operational, be responsible for helping chart the future direction of stem cell research.”
The conference will feature sessions that explore the issues surrounding stem cell research from every angle. Topics will include: the future of regenerative medicine, religious perspective on embryonic stem cell research, funding for young companies, a world-wide overview of stem cell treatments today, and global strategies for supporting research.
On Monday morning Robert Klein, Chairman of the Independent Citizen’s Oversight Committee (ICOC) will deliver a welcome address to be followed by panel sessions focusing on key aspects of Stem Cell research and the host of issues surrounding this new frontier of science.
Over 30 session speakers will share their experience, insights and predictions about stem cell research and its future and includes:
* Dr Arnold Kriegstein, PhD, Director, San Francisco Stem Cell Institute * Christopher Scott, PhD, Stanford Center for Biomedical Ethics * Zach W. Hall, President and Chief Scientific Officer, California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) * Lisa Fullam, Assistant Professor of Moral Theology, Jesuit School of Theology * Lord Naren Patel, Chairman, United Kingdom Stem Cell Steering Committee * Bernard Siegel, Founder & Executive Director, Genetics Policy Institute
The Stem Cell meeting is organized by Burrill & Company, a San Francisco- based global leader in life sciences with principal activities in Venture Capital, Merchant Banking and Media. It will take place March 12-14, 2005 at the Palace Hotel in San Francisco. For more information or to register, please go to http://www.thestemcellmeeting.com/ .
The Stem Cell Meeting sponsors include: Alexandria Real Estate, Dorsey & Whitney, Heller Ehrman, Foley Lardner, Geron Corporation, Reed Smith, Invitrogen Corporation, ViaCell Inc., Cytori Therapeutics Inc., Johnson & Johnson, WiCell, The British Consulate, and Scottish Development.
About Burrill & Company
Burrill & Company is a San Francisco-based global leader in life sciences with principal activities in Venture Capital, Merchant Banking and Media. The Burrill family of venture capital funds has over $625 million under management. Its Life Science Media Group focuses on the organization and hosting of life sciences conferences worldwide and the publication of a wide range of industry reports and newsletters. The flagship is Burrill’s annual book on the “State of the Industry,” which has been an important part of the biotech industry’s view of itself over the last 20 years. The 20th Edition is Biotech 2006-Life Sciences: A Changing Prescription. The Media Group’s monthly and quarterly reports and publications provide a totally up-to-date resource for the latest insight, intelligence and information regarding the biotech industry. Full details may be found at: http://www.burrillandco.com/ .
Burrill & Company
CONTACT: Peter Winter, Director of Communications of Burrill & Company,+1-415-591-5474, or pwinter@b-c.com; or media, Carolyn Wang of WeisscommPartners, +1-415-946-1065, or carolyn@weisscommpartners.com, for Burrill &Company
