iCeMS led Japan Delegation at World Stem Cell Summit in Atlanta, Georgia
January 25, 2016
For the fourth year, Kyoto University's Institute for Integrated Cell Material Sciences (iCeMS) co-organized the 2015 World Stem Cell Summit, held at the Hyatt Regency in Atlanta, Georgia on December 10-12. The event, produced by Genetics Policy Institute (GPI), attracted policy makers, academics, industry leaders and patient advocates from over 40 countries. The goal of the summit is to advance cell therapies by establishing a foundation for global stakeholders to accelerate lifesaving therapies and regenerative medicine.
iCeMS Founding Director Norio Nakatsuji greeted attendees as one of the co-chairs of the event. "How to make the large-scale cell production with quality control and low cost is the key issue for the benefit of the society and the patients, so we should work in a way that combines many kinds of technologies and sectors together. This meeting is actually exactly for that kind of purpose" said Nakatsuji. "I am very glad to be the person to advance this field. We will see much advancement this year too."
A Japanese delegation represented by academic researchers and industry leaders in the biomedical and stem cell field was highly visible throughout the three-day event. At the iCeMS' led symposium titled "Open Innovation for Large Scale and Cost Effective Cell Production System Using Human ES/iPS Cell Lines," the Japanese panel highlighted 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; Kouichi Hasegawa, iCeMS; Hideaki Kagawa, Fujifilm; Jessica Chang, Ajinomoto; Koji Kuchiishi, Cyfuse Biomedical. Over 50 participants attended the session.
Professor Takashi Asada (Institute for Frontier Medical Sciences, Kyoto University) served as an organizer and moderator of the Japan symposium, as well as a poster judge for the stem cell summit. He also engaged in meetings with many individuals at iCeMS' booth to build potential business partnerships and forge academic collaborations.
Bernard Siegel, Director of GPI, was grateful for iCeMS' participation as a co-organizer at the summit. "As Japan emerged, it got its act together. They are surely one of the leaders in this field". He went on to add, "Dr. Nakatsuji has been a wonderful partner. We have a robust delegation from them, the biggest outside of the United States. We are honored to have a large presence from them."
The next World Stem Cell Summit is scheduled for December 6-8, 2016 in West Palm Beach, Florida.
Photos
From left: Alan Fernandez（GPI Associate Director）and iCeMS Founding Director Nakatsuji
Nakatsuji delivering opening remarks
Bernard Siegel（Director of GPI, third from left）and speakers of the Japan Symposium
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| Koichi Hasegawa (iCeMS), Hideaki Kagawa (Fujifilm) | ||
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| Jessica Chang (Ajinomoto), Koji Kuchiishi (Cyfuse Biomedical) | ||
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| Takashi Asada (Institute for Frontier Medical Sciences, Kyoto University) |
Nakatsuji (right) and Asada (left) having a business meeting during “Expert Luncheon”
Hasegawa (right) having a business meeting during “Expert Luncheon”
