As the British parliament prepares to debate a change in the law to allow stem cells from human embryos to be used in research, Imperial College researchers will gather at a Symposium in December to discuss the science behind stem cells, and examine their potential to provide new treatments for a host of diseases.
Journalists are invited to attend the Symposium Stem Cells and Development at the First Anniversary meeting of the Imperial College Tissue Engineering Centre at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, on Wednesday 6 December.
Acknowledged world leaders in stem cell science will describe their research in this controversial and revolutionary area, providing journalists with a comprehensive background to the science of stem cells and a guide to the future directions of tissue engineering research.
Speakers from across the College and from other institutes include:
Professor Lord Robert Winston, Professor of Fertility Studies, Imperial College, on embryonic development
Professor Sir Magdi Yacoub, BHF Professor of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Imperial College, on tissue engineering heart valves
Professor Ara Darzi, Professor of Minimal Access Surgery, Imperial College, on microinvasive surgery
Professor Austin Smith, University of Edinburgh, on stem cells
Professor Brigid Hogan, Vanderbilt University, USA, on molecular approaches to lung development
Professor Geoff Raisman, National Institute of Medical Research (UK), on neural regeneration
Mr Tony Taylor, Head of the Gene Therapy, Genetics and Cloning Unit, Department of Health, on the Donaldson Committee report
Julia Polak, Professor of Endocrine Pathology at Imperial College and director of the Imperial College Tissue Engineering Centre at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital said: The potential use of stem cells to repair failing body parts could lead to revolutionary developments in regenerative medicine. Parliament is currently discussing the possibility of allowing sci
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Contact: Tom Miller
t.miller@ic.ac.uk
44-0-20-7594-6704
Imperial College London
27-Nov-2000