Norio Nakatsuji, iCeMS Headline Japan Delegation at 2013 World Stem Cell Summit in San Diego, California
December 21, 2013
For the second straight year, Kyoto University's Institute for Integrated Cell Material Sciences (iCeMS) was a co-organizer of the 2013 World Stem Cell Summit, held at the Manchestor Grand Hyatt in San Diego on December 4-6. The event, first produced by Genetics Policy Institute (GPI) founder and executive director Bernard Siegel and his staff in 2008, annually draws around 1,300 researchers, patient advocates, industry leaders, policy makers and ethicists in the stem cell field, from over 40 countries, in an effort to shape the future landscape of regenerative medicine.
An iCeMS' led delegation from Japan, made up of academic researchers and industry leaders, was highly visible throughout the three-day event. Notably, in a symposium titled "Stem Cell Open Innovation in Japan: Industry-Academia collaboration on Stem Cell Large-Scale Production and Quality Control," the Japanese panel showcased recent key scientific findings as well as new products and technologies being developed to further advance the stem cell field. The speakers included: Norio Nakatsuji, iCeMS founding director; Chikafumi Yokoyama, ReproCeLL, Inc.; Masanari Kitagawa, Takara Bio Inc.; Masaaki Takahashi, Genetein Co., Ltd.; and Masao Fukushima, Sumitomo Bakelite Co., Ltd. Over a hundred summit goers attended the session, which was broadcasted live on the web to thousands of viewers from around the world.
Teruo Okano, vice president and professor at Tokyo Women's Medical University and chairman of the board of directors for the Japanese Society for Regenerative Medicine (JSRM), delivered a talk during the first plenary panel and presented a case of stem cell-based treatment.
Also present at the event were iCeMS researchers Ken-ichiro Kamei and Kouichi Hasegawa who discussed their research with others during the poster session, and Professor Mitinori Saitou who gave a talk about clinical implications of stem cells. Jun Takahashi from Kyoto University's Center for iPS Cell Research and Application (CiRA) was a speaker at a session focusing on Parkinson's disease.
iCeMS professor Takashi Asada served as a poster judge and also engaged in meetings with many individuals at iCeMS' booth to build potential business partnerships and forge academic collaborations.
Siegel was grateful for iCeMS' participation as a co-organizer at the summit. "My organization has an appreciation to iCeMS and Dr. Nakatsuji. We are honored to have Japan here as the largest delegate outside of the US." He went on to add, "iCeMS is a pillar, and by organizing the WSCS, it puts Japan's leadership front and center."
Mahendra Rao, director of the NIH Center for Regenerative Medicine echoed Siegal's comments, stating that iCeMS presence at the WSCS was a good thing and that similar activities from Japan would let the stem cell community know about what is happening there.
An awards gala dinner, held on December 5, honored distinguished stem cell action awardees such as publishing giant Mary Ann Liebert and philanthropist Denny Sanford, who has donated over 850 million US dollars to health care and medical research.
World Premier International Research Center Initiative (WPI) Program Director Toshio Kuroki, who was also attending the meeting, was introduced and took a bow at the start of the evening.
Stephen Minger -- GE Healthcare global head of research and development for cell technologies and long time friend of Nakatsuji-- said, "This meeting is unique in the sense that it brings together a lot of people that wouldn't normally be able to meet each other. It's my fourth or so time to attend and I enjoy it. They [organizers] have done a great job of bringing advocates closer to scientists, which is important for driving science."
"It has been a privilege to work side by side with GPI to organize the 2013 World Stem Cell Summit," said Nakatsuji. "I felt that our delegation had the opportunity to show how much progress we have made over the past year in the field of stem cell research. Moving forward, I hope Japan will play a pivotal role in advancing the regenerative medicine field."
The next World Stem Cell Summit is scheduled for December 3-5, 2014 at the Marriott Rivercenter in San Antonio, Texas.
Photos
Manchestor Grand Hyatt, San Diego, venue for the summit
Norio Nakatsuji (third from left) and Takashi Asada (far right) having a business meeting in the iCeMS and Nissan Chemical Company's booths
Group meeting of representatives from the summit chair GPI and co-organizing institutions: The Scripps Research Institute, California Institute for Regenerative Medicine, and Kyoto U iCeMS
Professor Nakatsuji delivering opening remarks
Tokyo Women's Medical University vice president and professor and chairman of the board of directors for the Japanese Society for Regenerative Medicine (JSRM), Teruo Okano, delivering his speech during the morning session on the first day
Nakatsuji (left) being interviewed by GPI
iCeMS Associate Professor Shintaro Sengoku exchanging views with a participant during the "expert luncheon"
Masao Fukushima (left) and Takashi Asada (third from left) having a meeting with industry leaders in front of the iCeMS' booth
Members of the Japan panel special session, "Stem Cell Open Innovation in Japan: Industry-Academia collaboration on Stem Cell Large-Scale Production and Quality Control," from left: Norio Nakatsuji, iCeMS; Chikafumi Yokoyama, ReproCeLL, Inc.; Masanari Kitagawa, Takara Bio Inc.; Masaaki Takahashi, Genetein Co., Ltd.; and Masao Fukushima, Sumitomo Bakelite Co., Ltd.
Jun Takahashi of CiRA delivering a talk during a session focused on Parkinson's disease
iCeMS Professor Mitinori Saitou (second from left) participating as part of a panel to discuss clinical implications of stem cells
iCeMS Assistant Professor Ken-ichiro Kamei (right) explaining his poster to a participant during the poster session
