UK-Japan Stem Cell Workshop Held at iCeMS: Building a Better Environment for Application
Day 2 attendees of the workshop (Kyoto U iCeMS Main Building Second Floor Lounge)
March 8, 2013
The British Consulate-General and Dr. Shintaro Sengoku held a workshop -- as part of his state-funded project* -- at Kyoto University iCeMS on March 7th and 8th in collaboration with iCeMS and non-profit organization Kyoto SMI to discuss various issues toward the medical application of human embryonic stem (ES) and induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells. About 50 attended from universities, industry, and government in the UK, Japan, China, Taiwan and South Korea over the course of the two-day event. Scientists and specialists from iCeMS, the Center for iPS Cell Research and Application (CiRA), and the Institute for Frontier Medical Sciences took the podium to represent Kyoto University.
Experts in the field debated on the progress of research, intellectual property and commercialization, and regulations of stem cells. The session "Stem Cell Research: Ethics and Communication" was made open to the press, eyeing that the public's understanding of and engagement in such issues is crucial for future discourse.
"There were very few opportunities in Japan for those supporting and leading stem cell research and technology to proactively engage in international and cross-organizational discussion" said iCeMS Assoc. Prof. Sengoku, when asked about the objective of this gathering. "The cooperation on an ethical, regulatory, and innovative level seen in the U.K. is extremely resourceful. We want to continue making such efforts by working with international and regional stakeholders, so that these opportunities for debate become permanently established across Japan."
*The Japanese Cabinet Office and the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS)'s Funding Program for Next Generation World-Leading Researchers (NEXT Program): "Integrative innovation management research, human resources development, and support for commercialization in the stem cell science and technology sphere"
Program
Day 1 (March 7th, 2013)
| Speakers | Titles |
|---|---|
| Mr Ed Thomson, Science & Innovation Consul, British Consulate-General, Osaka | Opening remarks |
| Session 1: Updates on Stem Cell Research [Moderator: Dr Shintaro Sengoku, WPI-iCeMS, Kyoto University] | |
| Dr Rob Buckle, Director of Science Programmes, Medical Research Council (MRC) | Overview of UK stem cell and regenerative medicine |
| Dr Kazuhiro Aiba, Institute for Integrated Cell-Material Sciences (WPI-iCeMS), Kyoto University | Clinical-grade cardiomyocytes derived from human pluripotent stem cells |
| Dr Shin Kaneko, Center for iPS Cell Research and Application (CiRA), Kyoto University | Generation of rejuvenated antigen-specific T cells by reprogramming to pluripotency and redifferentiation |
| Dr Masayo Takahashi, Laboratory for Retinal Regeneration, Center for Developmental Biology (CDB), RIKEN | Application of iPS cells for retinal diseases |
| Session 2: Stem Cell Research: IP and Commercialisation [Moderator: Prof Takashi Asada, WPI-iCeMS, Kyoto University] | |
| Mr Atsushi Onodera, Legal Affairs & IP, Center for iPS Cell Research and Application (CiRA), Kyoto University | Our mission and approach through IPR for disseminating iPSC technology, for contributing society |
| Dr Chikafumi Yokoyama, President & CEO, ReproCELL, Inc. | |
| Dr Koichi Sumikura, Director of Research, 2nd Theory-Oriented Research Group, National Institute of Science and Technology Policy (NISTEP), Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT); Associate Professor, National Graduate Institute of Policy Studies (GRIPS) | Issues on patentability of stem cells |
| Dr Shintaro Sengoku, Institute for Integrated Cell-Material Sciences (WPI-iCeMS), Kyoto University | Global competencies from regional stem cell research: a bibliometric approach for investigating and forecasting research trends |
| Prof Hong-Nerng Ho, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University | The stem cell intellectual property and commercialisation in Taiwan |
| Prof Chris Mason, Stem Cell & Regenerative Medicine Bioprocessing Unit, Advanced Centre for Biochemical Engineering, University College London | Establishing a multibillion-dollar cell therapy industry requires a simple A,B,C approach - Academics, Businesspeople & Clinicians working together to integrate discovery research, clinical translation and commercialization into a seamless process |
Day 2 (March 8th, 2013)
| Speakers | Titles |
|---|---|
| Session 3: Stem Cell Research: Regulation [Moderator: Dr Sarah Chan, University of Manchester] | |
| Mr Douglas Sipp, Science Policy and Ethics Studies Unit, Center for Developmental Biology (CDB), RIKEN | Access paths for developmental-stage stem cell products |
| Prof Takashi Aoi, Center for iPS Cell Research and Application (CiRA), Kyoto University | Development of iPSC-based cell therapy in Japan |
| Dr Rob Buckle, Director of Science Programmes, Medical Research Council (MRC) | UK regulation of human pluripotent stem cell research -- this will encompass the UK Code of Practice, its rationale and implementation |
| Prof Masayuki Yamato, Institute of Advanced Biomedical Engineering and Science, TWIns, Tokyo Women's Medical University | Need of the legal framework for the use of human tissue |
| Dr Akifumi Matsuyama, Department of Somatic Stem Cell Therapy and Health Policy, Foundation for Biomedical Research and Innovation (FBRI) | Regulatory Frameworks of Regenerative Medicine in Japan |
| Dr Glyn Stacey, Division of Cell Biology and Imaging The UK Stem Cell Bank | Preparing human pluripotent stem cells for cell therapy |
| Session 4: Stem Cell Research: Ethics and Communication [open to media] [Moderator: Mr Douglas Sipp, RIKEN CDB] | |
| Dr Sarah Chan, Institute for Science, Ethics and Innovation(iSEI), The University of Manchester | Emerging Issues in Stem Cell Ethics |
| Prof Kazuto Kato, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University | |
| Prof Soojung Kim, Department of Medical Humanities & Social Sciences, School of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea | Ethical Issues Related to Stem Cell Research & Treatment in Korea |
| Prof Clare Blackburn, Tissue Stem Cell Biology, MRC Centre for Regenerative Medicine, University of Edinburgh | Communication and engagement with stem cell research: the EuroStemCell model |
| Mr Douglas Sipp, Science Policy and Ethics Studies Unit, Center for Developmental Biology (CDB), RIKEN | Dual markets for stem cell interventions in Japan |
| Prof Margaret Sleeboom-Faulkner, Centre for Bionetworking, University of Sussex | Translocal Stem Cell Experimentation: Why 'the unethical' is 'acceptable' |
| Session 5: Summary Discussion [Moderator: Dr Rob Buckle, Medical Research Council (MRC)] | |
| Discussion | |
| Dr Shintaro Sengoku, Institute for Integrated Cell-Material Sciences (WPI-iCeMS), Kyoto University | Closing remarks |
Photos
Left: Consul of British Consulate-General Ed Thomson (Science and Innovation Section) giving the opening remark, Right: Assoc. Prof. Sengoku giving the closing remark
During the workshop