Kyoto University iCeMS co-organizes World Stem Cell Summit, drawing 1,200 from 41 countries

December 10, 2012

The Institute for Integrated Cell-Material Sciences (iCeMS) contributed to the World Stem Cell Summit taking place December 3-5 at West Palm Beach in Florida. Institute Director Norio Nakatsuji gave his opening remarks and lecture at the plenary. The iCeMS also endorsed the event through lectures, booth exhibitions, poster presentations and judging, and symposium planning along with five other organizations including the Karolinska Institutet (Sweden).

"Kyoto University represents the pinnacle of research in Japan and we are proud to have iCeMS join in the Summit as an organizer," said GPI executive director Bernard Siegel when interviewed his reasons on selecting iCeMS as the co-organizer of the event. He added, "The iCeMS is considered one of the most visionary research institutes in the world, integrating technologies that have a strong likelihood to lead to breakthroughs in medicine."

Many renowned lecturers appeared in the iCeMS Symposium, to which Mr. Siegel remarked, "With Dr. Yamanaka winning the Nobel Prize, the scientific community is transfixed on Japan. What will come next from Japan's strong commitment to this research? We believe that the International Symposium focused on Japan's research and industrial progress would serve as a model for other countries. The Symposium was considered a most valued component." The list of speakers included researchers from national universities and research centers focusing on stem cell research for drug development and regenerative medicine.

Prof. Nakatsuji addressed the plenary two years in a row, this year presenting results of his NEDO business project "Evaluation Basis technology development to promote practical applications of Human Stem Cells". When asked about roadblocks as well as promises to the future of stem cell science post session, Prof. Nakatsuji stressed, "as a stem cell biologist, I realize that cells are unstable by nature. For that very reason, I am striving to develop technologies that allow for the consistent mass-production of quality-controlled pluripotent stem cells so that they become widely available to as many patients as possible."

The iCeMS booth targeting industry leaders showcased stem cell technologies that are both practical and generated within iCeMS. Booth visitors, consisting mostly of industry leaders, utilized the space for forging relationships and potential partnerships.

Over 100 presenters at the poster session exchanged views with visitors and poster judges, one of which included an iCeMS researcher Ganesh Namshibahyam from the Sugiyama lab. Prof. Asada appeared as one of the four judges in the poster award evaluation committee.

Individuals and organizations that have made invaluable contributions to the advancement of stem cell research were awarded at the "Stem Cell Action Award" gala. Of the five honorees included the media integrity award, honoring news programs that raised public awareness of issues surrounding regenerative medicine, and the public outreach and education award, commending grassroots advocacy groups that effectively addressed the meaning and potential of stem cell research to the public.

The conference has annually drawn around 1,000 researchers, industry leaders, lawmakers, regulators, patient advocates, legal experts, investors, and philanthropists from around 30 countries. The meeting held for the 8th time this year attracted 1,200 participants from 41 countries--the highest turnout since the event was first held in 2005. 150 seminars reported the current situation and challenges to fight cancer, HIV/AIDS, heart disease, spinal injury, ALS, Parkinson's disease, and optical disease. Topics of the seminars include: "research", "application and regulation", "industrialization", "public advocacy and safety". The next summit is to be held December 4-6, 2013 in San Diego, California.

Photos


Venue: Palm Beach County Convention Center, Florida
 

Group meeting of representatives from the summit chair GPI and Co-organizing institution Miller School of Medicine Interdisciplinary Stem Cell Research Center at the University of Miami, Diabetes Research Center (Florida, U.S.), City of Hope Hospital Beckman Research Center, Karolinska Institutet (Sweden), International Center for Applied Regenerative Medicine, Kyoto U iCeMS
 

Prof. Nakatsuji giving opening remarks at the plenary (right)
 

Harvard Extenal LinkProf. Daley addressing his key note plenary
 

Prof. Nakatsuji and Prof. Daley (left) exchanging views on iCeMS' latest news
 

Prof. Nakatsuji being interviewed at the"expert luncheon" where lecturers and participants can freely interact
 

Special Prof. Asada having a business meeting with overseas industry leaders at the iCeMS booth
 

iCeMS staff Mie Samura (left) orienting a participant to the iCeMS at the booth
 

GPI executive director Siegel giving an overview of the iCeMS symposium and its speakers (far right)
 

From top left: Industry, Government, and Academia Symposium flyer, Prof. Nakatsuji, Institute Prof. Asada, Kyoto U Research Center for Regenerative medicine Extenal LinkProf. Yasuhiko Tabata, Senior Lecturer at Keio U School of MedicineExtenal LinkKazuto Akamatsu, From bottom left: NIBIO Stem Cell Regulation Project Leader Extenal LinkKenji Kawabata , Extenal LinkReproCELL Inc. CEO Chikafumi Yokoyama, principal investigator of Extenal LinkSumitomo Bakelite Co. Ltd. S-BIO business research division Tomita Masatestu, Extenal LinkJenetein Co. technical marketing manager Harumi Ginya, Extenal LinkTakara Bio Inc. executive officer Masanari Kitagawa
 

Research associate Namshibahyam chatting with participants at the poster session (right)
 

Prof. Nakatsuji responding to the chairman during a plenary discussion (third from left)
 

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