Update on the "Banking On Life" Conference that is sponsored by the Center for Bioethics & Culture. Congresswoman Jackie Speier of California's 12th Congressional District will be attending and giving some remarks. This is important since she is sponsoring cord blood legislation which will be introduce in Congress in the coming weeks. More...
Congresswoman Jackie Speier to Appear at May 2nd Bay Area conference, BANKING ON LIFE
San Francisco, CA – With the Obama administration recently announcing its policy change on the issue of stem cell research & regenerative medicine, the questions surrounding this issue are many. Promising to deliver some answers, perhaps the most comprehensive one-day conference with cutting edge leaders from around the world will take place in the City by the Bay on May 2, 2009.
Hosted by The Center For Bioethics and Culture Network, a noted Bay Area institution, and Cord Blood Registry, a leader in cord blood banking, this conference will focus on bringing to light the potential future uses of stem cells for treatment of disease and their impact on medical care. Congresswoman Jackie Speier is scheduled to address the conference as an advocate for banking cord blood. Other scheduled conference speakers are world leaders in their fields of umbilical cord blood stem cell research and regenerative medicine.
"This is THE place to be if you really want to gain an understanding of this issue.
This conference will be the place to ask hard questions as we also explore the progress in regenerative application with cord blood stem cells," explains Jennifer Lahl, Founder and National Director of the CBC.
"If we can fearlessly address some of the questions surrounding the issue of cord blood stem cell research and regenerative medicine, we can put aside many of the stem cell research debates! This area of research is a place where we can all agree." says Lahl.
Cutting edge leaders from around the world in the field of umbilical cord blood stem cell research and regenerative medicine will be at the Sheraton Gateway- San Francisco Airport on May 2nd to promote, inform and educate attendees on up to the minute successes and advances in cord blood research. These key voices will convene to share information that will shape the future direction of progress in cord blood banking and advances in patient treatments.
"Bottom line is we all need to better understand this issue – and do a better job of raising awareness of the progress being made in this field and bank more cord blood", concludes Lahl.
Visit www.cbc-network.org/bankingonlife/speakers.htm to see list of Conference Speakers)
For details on the Banking on Life Conference, call 510.504.5123.
For more information about The Center for Bioethics and Culture click here.
To schedule an interview about the conference, contact Wanda at 209.430.4688 or via email at Wanda@MediaAces.com.
Showing posts with label bioethics. Show all posts
Showing posts with label bioethics. Show all posts
Monday, April 27, 2009
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Banking On Life Conference (Cord Blood Stem Cell Research) May 2, 2009
The Center for Bioethics & Culture is hosting a conference that brings the major leaders, thinkers and experts in the field of cord blood stem cell research and regenerative medicine. Definitely a highly academic and engaging event! More from the event website here:
Cutting edge leaders from around the world, in the field of umbilical cord blood stem cell research and regenerative medicine, will join us to promote, inform and educate attendees on up to the minute successes and advances in cord blood research. These key voices will convene to share information that will shape the future direction of progress in cord blood banking and advances in patient treatments.
Some of the world experts are:
Dr. Colin McGuckin
After finishing his PhD (DPhil) on leukaemia research in 1991 (Biomedical Sciences Research Centre, University of Ulster – a 5* RAE department), Colin completed a postdoctoral position at St George’s Hospital Medical School Dept of Haematology. There he worked on Chronic Anaemia’s & Stem Cell Disorders. In 1996 he became Senior Lecturer in Biomedical Sciences at Kingston University, and ‘Reader’ in 2001. In 1999, he founded and became Director of the Stem Cell Therapy Laboratory specialising in Stem Cell Research, Tissue Engineering and regenerative medicine. His research collaborates internationally and with industry. Colin is also a freelance journalist working with TV, radio and print media and believes in promoting medical and scientific research understanding to the public. He is a UK Millennium Fellow & Media Fellow promoting science and medicine to the public. In 2005 he was appointed the first Professor of Regenerative Medicine at the University of Newcastle upon Tyne, UK, leading a clinical research programme to take adult stem cells through to patients. We strongly believe in international cooperation and collaboration
Banking Umbilical Cord Blood: The Future of Regenerative Medicine
Abstract: It is 20 years since the first successful cord blood stem cell transplant, and this field of regenerative medicine, is moving forwards at an incredible pace, as more and more countries realise the potential of the stem cells which are present in umbilical cord blood at birth. World expert, Prof Colin McGuckin, will present his own work and progress to date in this exciting sphere. His team have been successful in discovering a unique group of cells from cord blood called ‘cord-blood-derived embryonic-like stem cells’ or CBEs which can give rise to any tissue type of the body. They combine qualities of the embryonic and the adult stem cell, whilst bypassing the ethical or technical limitations of these two types of stem cells. In his laboratory they use a microgravity technology originally developed for NASA, to grow cells in 3-dimensional free-floating conditions, greatly increasing the number of cells which can be produced, and they have successfully grown liver cells from CBEs
Dr. David T. Harris
Dr. Harris is a graduate of Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina where he obtained Bachelor of Science degrees (cum laude) in Biology, Mathematics and Psychology in 1978. He earned a Masters of Medical Sciences (summa cum laude) from Bowman Gray Medical School in 1980 and his Doctorate in Microbiology and Immunology (magna cum laude) from Bowman Gray Medical School in 1982. From 1982-1985 Dr. Harris was a Postdoctorate Fellow at the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research in Lausanne, Switzerland. In 1985 he joined the faculty at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill as a Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Medicine. In 1989 Dr. Harris joined the faculty at the University of Arizona in Tucson as an Associate Professor in the Department of Microbiology & Immunology. In 1996 Dr. Harris was promoted to Professor of Immunology. Dr. Harris established the first cord blood bank in the USA in 1992. He currently serves as Director of the Cord Blood Stem Cell Bank, is a member of the Arizona Cancer Center, a member of the Children’s Research Center, a member of the Arizona Arthritis Center, and Head of the Gene Therapy Group. Dr. Harris’s research interests include stem cells and regenerative medicine, cancer research/stem cell transplantation and gene therapy. He has published more than 300 articles (papers, book chapters and abstracts), given more than 100 talks on stem cells over the past 7 years, and has served as a consultant to the governments of China, Hong Kong, Singapore and South Korea. Dr. Harris has also founded 3 companies while at the University of Arizona; Cord Blood Registry, Inc.; ImmuneRegen BioSciences, Inc.; and QuReGen, Inc.
Cord Blood Cells and Regenerative Medicine: Clinical Applications
Abstract: The use of stem cells from umbilical cord blood has grown significantly over the last 10 years. More than 12,000 cord blood transplants have now been performed worldwide for a variety of cancers, blood disorders, and genetic diseases. However, recent discoveries in regenerative medicine suggest that stem cells, like those found in newborn cord blood, can differentiate into bone, brain, nerve, skin, or other cell types. While these areas of research are in their infancy, the value and power of stem cells and the potential they possess for medical treatment and cures is creating a new paradigm for the future.
The objective of this presentation is to provide updated information regarding clinical experience with umbilical cord blood banking and transplantation and a summary of expert opinion concerning the current and potential future applications of cord blood stem cells.
Other speakers here and register here.
Visit the Facebook Event page here.
Cutting edge leaders from around the world, in the field of umbilical cord blood stem cell research and regenerative medicine, will join us to promote, inform and educate attendees on up to the minute successes and advances in cord blood research. These key voices will convene to share information that will shape the future direction of progress in cord blood banking and advances in patient treatments.
Some of the world experts are:
Dr. Colin McGuckin
After finishing his PhD (DPhil) on leukaemia research in 1991 (Biomedical Sciences Research Centre, University of Ulster – a 5* RAE department), Colin completed a postdoctoral position at St George’s Hospital Medical School Dept of Haematology. There he worked on Chronic Anaemia’s & Stem Cell Disorders. In 1996 he became Senior Lecturer in Biomedical Sciences at Kingston University, and ‘Reader’ in 2001. In 1999, he founded and became Director of the Stem Cell Therapy Laboratory specialising in Stem Cell Research, Tissue Engineering and regenerative medicine. His research collaborates internationally and with industry. Colin is also a freelance journalist working with TV, radio and print media and believes in promoting medical and scientific research understanding to the public. He is a UK Millennium Fellow & Media Fellow promoting science and medicine to the public. In 2005 he was appointed the first Professor of Regenerative Medicine at the University of Newcastle upon Tyne, UK, leading a clinical research programme to take adult stem cells through to patients. We strongly believe in international cooperation and collaboration
Banking Umbilical Cord Blood: The Future of Regenerative Medicine
Abstract: It is 20 years since the first successful cord blood stem cell transplant, and this field of regenerative medicine, is moving forwards at an incredible pace, as more and more countries realise the potential of the stem cells which are present in umbilical cord blood at birth. World expert, Prof Colin McGuckin, will present his own work and progress to date in this exciting sphere. His team have been successful in discovering a unique group of cells from cord blood called ‘cord-blood-derived embryonic-like stem cells’ or CBEs which can give rise to any tissue type of the body. They combine qualities of the embryonic and the adult stem cell, whilst bypassing the ethical or technical limitations of these two types of stem cells. In his laboratory they use a microgravity technology originally developed for NASA, to grow cells in 3-dimensional free-floating conditions, greatly increasing the number of cells which can be produced, and they have successfully grown liver cells from CBEs
Dr. David T. Harris
Dr. Harris is a graduate of Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina where he obtained Bachelor of Science degrees (cum laude) in Biology, Mathematics and Psychology in 1978. He earned a Masters of Medical Sciences (summa cum laude) from Bowman Gray Medical School in 1980 and his Doctorate in Microbiology and Immunology (magna cum laude) from Bowman Gray Medical School in 1982. From 1982-1985 Dr. Harris was a Postdoctorate Fellow at the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research in Lausanne, Switzerland. In 1985 he joined the faculty at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill as a Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Medicine. In 1989 Dr. Harris joined the faculty at the University of Arizona in Tucson as an Associate Professor in the Department of Microbiology & Immunology. In 1996 Dr. Harris was promoted to Professor of Immunology. Dr. Harris established the first cord blood bank in the USA in 1992. He currently serves as Director of the Cord Blood Stem Cell Bank, is a member of the Arizona Cancer Center, a member of the Children’s Research Center, a member of the Arizona Arthritis Center, and Head of the Gene Therapy Group. Dr. Harris’s research interests include stem cells and regenerative medicine, cancer research/stem cell transplantation and gene therapy. He has published more than 300 articles (papers, book chapters and abstracts), given more than 100 talks on stem cells over the past 7 years, and has served as a consultant to the governments of China, Hong Kong, Singapore and South Korea. Dr. Harris has also founded 3 companies while at the University of Arizona; Cord Blood Registry, Inc.; ImmuneRegen BioSciences, Inc.; and QuReGen, Inc.
Cord Blood Cells and Regenerative Medicine: Clinical Applications
Abstract: The use of stem cells from umbilical cord blood has grown significantly over the last 10 years. More than 12,000 cord blood transplants have now been performed worldwide for a variety of cancers, blood disorders, and genetic diseases. However, recent discoveries in regenerative medicine suggest that stem cells, like those found in newborn cord blood, can differentiate into bone, brain, nerve, skin, or other cell types. While these areas of research are in their infancy, the value and power of stem cells and the potential they possess for medical treatment and cures is creating a new paradigm for the future.
The objective of this presentation is to provide updated information regarding clinical experience with umbilical cord blood banking and transplantation and a summary of expert opinion concerning the current and potential future applications of cord blood stem cells.
Other speakers here and register here.
Visit the Facebook Event page here.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
President Obama's Executive Order Is Not Hope And Change But Smoke And Mirrors
Press release from the Center of Bioethics & Culture:
President Obama's executive order permitting funding of embryonic stem cell research is not hope and change but smoke and mirrors
Today President Obama fulfilled another campaign promise and overturned the Bush policy which restricted federal funding on destructive embryonic stem cell research. Surrounded by those who had long rejected the Bush policy as “anti-science”, the President stated his order would lift that restriction and allow the U.S. to lead the world in scientific discovery, which he hoped would possibly, someday, maybe not in our lifetime, lead to cures for sick people.
Sadly, advances in adult stem cell research, including umbilical cord blood stem cells along with new advances in iPSC research remained unmentioned in the President's speech today. And given even in today's news, the story of the little girls who's blindness was treated using her own cord blood stem cells, this executive order continues to obscure the facts and realities of where the real cures and promise are happening now.
Jennifer Lahl, national director of the Center for Bioethics and Culture Network said, “The President missed a huge opportunity today, to send a message to the world, that he really is serious about changing the politics in Washington . While he acknowledged the ethical and moral difference dividing people in these stem cell debates, he could have pointed to the mounting evidence that embryonic stem cell research has not only moral problems but is not necessary if we are serious about cures and treatments for sick patients.”
The Center for Bioethics and Culture Network rejects the President's decision and will continue in our efforts toward advancing ethical research which provides cures for people but never at the demise of early human life.
President Obama's executive order permitting funding of embryonic stem cell research is not hope and change but smoke and mirrors
Today President Obama fulfilled another campaign promise and overturned the Bush policy which restricted federal funding on destructive embryonic stem cell research. Surrounded by those who had long rejected the Bush policy as “anti-science”, the President stated his order would lift that restriction and allow the U.S. to lead the world in scientific discovery, which he hoped would possibly, someday, maybe not in our lifetime, lead to cures for sick people.
Sadly, advances in adult stem cell research, including umbilical cord blood stem cells along with new advances in iPSC research remained unmentioned in the President's speech today. And given even in today's news, the story of the little girls who's blindness was treated using her own cord blood stem cells, this executive order continues to obscure the facts and realities of where the real cures and promise are happening now.
Jennifer Lahl, national director of the Center for Bioethics and Culture Network said, “The President missed a huge opportunity today, to send a message to the world, that he really is serious about changing the politics in Washington . While he acknowledged the ethical and moral difference dividing people in these stem cell debates, he could have pointed to the mounting evidence that embryonic stem cell research has not only moral problems but is not necessary if we are serious about cures and treatments for sick patients.”
The Center for Bioethics and Culture Network rejects the President's decision and will continue in our efforts toward advancing ethical research which provides cures for people but never at the demise of early human life.
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
"Trading on the Female Body: Exploitation of Women for Eggs"
Christine set up this TechTalk at Google for Jennifer Lahl, Founder and National Director of the Center for Bioethics & Culture and Founding Director with Hands Off Our Ovaries, an international campaign raising awareness of the dangers of egg harvesting.
ABSTRACT
One quick Google search on "egg donation" will demonstrate how prevalent the ads are to "make dreams come true" or "help create a miracle".
Women on Ivy League campuses across America and poor women from around the world are being heavily recruited to "donate" their eggs to fertility clinics and now for cloning research.
Sadly, egg donation has less to do with altruism and more to do with the exploitation of women--particularly young women and often poor women who are usually facing large debts or just trying to make ends meet. Egg donation puts women's health and safety at risk. Newer trends in fertility medicine are moving away from current practices which are harmful to infertile women but neglect the nameless, faceless egg donor women.
People of all political and religious stripes have organized all around the world to call attention to the risks of egg donation practices.
ABSTRACT
One quick Google search on "egg donation" will demonstrate how prevalent the ads are to "make dreams come true" or "help create a miracle".
Women on Ivy League campuses across America and poor women from around the world are being heavily recruited to "donate" their eggs to fertility clinics and now for cloning research.
Sadly, egg donation has less to do with altruism and more to do with the exploitation of women--particularly young women and often poor women who are usually facing large debts or just trying to make ends meet. Egg donation puts women's health and safety at risk. Newer trends in fertility medicine are moving away from current practices which are harmful to infertile women but neglect the nameless, faceless egg donor women.
People of all political and religious stripes have organized all around the world to call attention to the risks of egg donation practices.
Friday, July 11, 2008
"Berkeley Women Speak Out On Egg Donation!"
I serve on the board of the Center for Bioethics & Culture. Through this position I have come to learn about the atrocities of the egg donation business and how it damages the reproductive capabilities of thousands of unsuspecting women. Check out the video and read Jennifer Lahl and Josephine Quintavalle's article, "Unscrambling the Human Egg Donation Debate"
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Joining The Center for Bioethics & Culture's Board of Directors
As I mentioned before, one of the benefits of my downtime has been meeting good people (yes, i'm from chicago and not the south). One of them was Jennifer Lahl, Founder & National Director of The Center for Bioethics & Culture. I've read her articles at AlwaysOn over the past couple years, but we had a chance to meet up about a month ago. She was passionate about her work, energetic and a good-hearted person. So when she asked if I was interested in joining their board of directors, it was something that I really looked forward to researching and deliberating on. It didn't take long for me to accept Jennifer's gracious invitation. I'm looking forward to serving on their board. Very cool and exciting topics and issues that I will learn about in the coming years.
I know most of the readers of this blog primarily visit for my tech related posts, and deal with my political slants but I hope you will check out The Center for Bioethic & Culture's website or their blog, "the Human Future." More about the CBC:
CBC is about shedding light on the bioethics issues within our culture that most profoundly affect our humanity -- especially among the most vulnerable. We are increasingly aware that to accomplish this we need to challenge those who influence our culture to advance a morally responsible science that respects the inherent value of humanity and that celebrates its beauty and complexity.
The CBC Challenges:
- Science and medicine do not always apply a human-life-affirming set of standards to their work.
- The public at large is generally blind to the long-term risks of this lack of moral anchor in biotechnical fields.
- The strong trend in science and medicine is toward the utilitarian commoditization of life which undermines the dignity of all human life.
- Not all scientific progress is truly human progress.
Scientific progress is too often presented as truly human progress, without question. Clearly this is no longer the case as it once was; CBC seeks to define truly human progress.
The CBC Mission:
The CBC exists to collaborate in providing resources and a public forum to: educate our culture about the impact of biotechnologies, engage in dialogue about what it means to be human, and to challenge those who influence our culture to use science that is grounded in moral responsibility.
Advancing a culture where biotechnology truly serves a human future.
Also a great post from their blog here...
"Dr. Shinya Yamanaka on Embryos and Little Girls"
Dr. Yamanaka said this, “When I saw the embryo, I suddenly realized there was such a small difference between it and my daughters.”
I know most of the readers of this blog primarily visit for my tech related posts, and deal with my political slants but I hope you will check out The Center for Bioethic & Culture's website or their blog, "the Human Future." More about the CBC:
CBC is about shedding light on the bioethics issues within our culture that most profoundly affect our humanity -- especially among the most vulnerable. We are increasingly aware that to accomplish this we need to challenge those who influence our culture to advance a morally responsible science that respects the inherent value of humanity and that celebrates its beauty and complexity.
The CBC Challenges:
- Science and medicine do not always apply a human-life-affirming set of standards to their work.
- The public at large is generally blind to the long-term risks of this lack of moral anchor in biotechnical fields.
- The strong trend in science and medicine is toward the utilitarian commoditization of life which undermines the dignity of all human life.
- Not all scientific progress is truly human progress.
Scientific progress is too often presented as truly human progress, without question. Clearly this is no longer the case as it once was; CBC seeks to define truly human progress.
The CBC Mission:
The CBC exists to collaborate in providing resources and a public forum to: educate our culture about the impact of biotechnologies, engage in dialogue about what it means to be human, and to challenge those who influence our culture to use science that is grounded in moral responsibility.
Advancing a culture where biotechnology truly serves a human future.
Also a great post from their blog here...
"Dr. Shinya Yamanaka on Embryos and Little Girls"
Dr. Yamanaka said this, “When I saw the embryo, I suddenly realized there was such a small difference between it and my daughters.”
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