Stem cells and cns regeneration

May 31 - June 1, 2007 - Boston, Massachusetts, USA

• 2 days, 20 speakers, 2 Scientific Chairmen, 91 Learners, no commercial exhibitors, 8 posters presented.
• Learner type: 70% Scientists, 22% Physicians, 2% Nurses, and 7% Other. Of the total audience, 72% do research science, 11% are clinicians, 2% teach, and 15% do other work.
• Credit type: ACCME
• This symposium featured an international faculty of research leaders who presented their most current data on recent advances in stem cell research in nuerodegenerative disorders including multiple sclerosis, Huntington’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
• 98% of learners reported that the content was free from commercial bias.
• 100% of learners reported that the content was scientifically rigorous.
• 98% of learners reported that they would recommend this program to a colleague.
• Objectives of the course were to:
• Describe how endogenous (adult) stem cells can be utilized for CNS regeneration.
• Discuss the state-of-the-art for exogenous stem cell therapies.
• Appreciate that common strategies for CNS regeneration can be employed for different neurodegenerative diseases.
• Identify strategies for translating basic research into medical practice in the context of CNS regeneration.

There were 3 poster abstract awards: 1st $1,000, 2nd $750 and 3rd $500 that went to:

• Grand Prize: BioSymposia Junior Investigator Award to Poster Number P-05 titled “Neural stem cells are located in the ependymal layer and are activated by injury in the mammalian forebrain”, accepted by Darius Gleason. Co-authors are James H. Fallon, Magda Guerra, and Peter J. Bryant from the University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California. Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology. Department of Developmental and Cell Biology. This research was supported by: UCI Developmental Biology Center California Institute for Regenerative Medicine.
• Second Prize: to Poster Number P-06, titled “Defects In The Neural Stem Cell Niche In Adult Mice Deficient For DNA Double-strand Break Repair”, accepted by Jenna Gopilan. Co-authors are Janice Naegele and Stanley Lin of Wesleyan University, Middletown, Connecticut. Supported By: NIH, the McKnight Foundation, and the Mellon Foundation, and a CURE fellowship to JG.
• Third Prize: to Poster Number P-01 titled “Induction Of A9 Dopaminergic Neurons From Neural Stem Cells Improves Motor Function In An Animal Model Of Parkinson’s Disease” accepted by Fiona E. O’Keefe¹. Co-authors are Sarah A. Scott¹, Pam Tyers¹, Jeffrey W. Dalley², Romain Zufferey³, Maeve A. Caldwell^{1
  1}Cambridge Center For Brain Repair, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Cambridge, UK
  ²Behavioral and Clinical Neuroscience Institute and Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
  ³Brain and Mind Institute, Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland

This research is supported by: Marie Curie Actions - Nervous System Repair, Parkinsons Disease Society and the Royal Society

• Selected learner comments included:
• “Very educational. I also appreciate the translational aspect.”
• “The talks are tightly focused on central theme. The speakers are pioneers in their fields. The settings are comfortable.”
• “Excellent range of approaches and experimental designs aimed at addressing a common area which allowed for in-depth thinking, questioning with analysis.”
• “A great cross-section of the state of the art of the regenerative medicine field.”
• “Broad range of topics related to a single field. Quality data were presented.”
• “Speakers were informative and gave exciting talks. Program was well run and very relevant.”
• “High profile”
• Selected comments about the speakers included:
• “Good start to symposium - framing of mammalian neurogenesis.”
• “Exciting work - with broad application - exceptional presentation.”
• “Excellent synthesis of complex topic.“
• “Although I had no previous knowledge of this topic, the presenter did an excellent job of covering the material.”
• “Looks promising, but yet to be concluded.”
• “A little technical but very interesting.”
• “Relation of research to human disease perspective was insightful.”
• “Very novel and interesting ideas. Presented effectively.”
• “Excellent presentation - large amount of data - well integrated.”
• “Model presentation - clear - slides effective, not overwhelming.”
• “Very important research that needs to be publicized widely. Excellent presentation with good focus.”
• “Very logical presentation.”

Disclosure of Faculty Relationships

BioSymposia, Inc. (formerly Serono Symposia International, Inc.) adheres to guidelines of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation (ANCCCA), the Accreditation Council for Pharmaceutical Education (ACPE), and all other professional organizations as applicable, stating that programs where continuing education credits are awarded must be balanced, independent, objective, and scientifically rigorous.

As uses for pharmaceutical agents, medical devices, and other products may be presented in the program that are not necessarily the same as those indicated in approved product labeling (but which may reflect clinical experience, professional literature, other clinical sources known to the presenter, or investigational uses of products), we ask the presenter to provide participants with information about relationships with pharmaceutical or medical equipment companies that may have relevance to their lectures. This policy is not intended to exclude faculty who have relationships with such companies; it is simply intended to inform participants of any potential conflicts so that participants may form their own judgments based on full disclosure of the facts. Further, these opinions and recommendations presented during the program or materials related to the program do not imply an endorsement or recommendation on the part of BioSymposia, Inc. These presentations solely represent the independent views of the presenters/authors.

The following faculty provided information regarding significant commercial relationships and/or discussions of investigational or non-FDA approved (off-label) uses of drugs:

Hideyuki Okano, M.D., Ph.D. discloses that he will discuss the potential therapeutic uses of a non-FDA approved investigational drug, Sema3A-inhibitor.

Mahendra Rao, M.D., Ph.D. discloses she is an employee of Invitrogen Corporation.

Evan Snyder, M.D., Ph.D. discloses he is a consultant for Chemicon, Hospira and Stemedica. He also discloses he has received grant support from Cemicon and is a stockholder of RxGen and Saneron.

The following faculty indicated no significant relationship with commercial supporters and/or discussion of investigational or non-FDA approved (off-label) uses of drugs:

S. Thomas Carmichael, M.D., Ph.D.; Fiona Doetsch, Ph.D.; Howard Federoff, M.D., Ph.D.; Robin Franklin, Ph.D.; Steven Goldman, M.D., Ph.D.; Abhijit Guha, M.Sc., M.D., FRCS(C), FACS; Ole Isacson, M.D.; Harley Kornblum, M.D., Ph.D.; Arnold Kriegstein, M.D., Ph.D.; Gianvito Martino, M.D.; Mark Noble, Ph.D.; Fernando Nottebohm, Ph.D.; Neeta Roy, Ph.D.; Fraser Sim, Ph.D.; Hongjun Song, Ph.D.; Dennis Steindler, Ph.D.; Lorenz Studer, M.D..; Clive Svendsen, Ph.D.; Bruce Trapp, Ph.D.

Commercial Support and Other Disclosures

BioSymposia, Inc. (formerly Serono Symposia International, Inc.) is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. All of our programs are organized solely to promote the exchange and dissemination of scientific and medical information. No forms of promotional activities are permitted. There may be presentations discussing investigational uses of various products. These views are the responsibility of the named speakers and do not represent an endorsement or recommendation on the part of BioSymposia, Inc.

This program was supported by an unrestricted educational grant from EMD Serono, Inc. In addition, BioSymposia personnel are employees of EMD Serono, Inc. and BioSymposia, Inc. also receives other in-kind support from EMD Serono, Inc. in the form of space and administrative services.

Printer friendly version Stem Cells and CNS Regeneration Highlights