Science + Science Writing: The Wild West of stem cell therapy
Twenty years ago, in November 1998, human embryonic stem (ES) cells were introduced to the world. Derived in a nondescript laboratory at the University of Wisconsin, the master cells of human development sparked immediate hope for an inexhaustible supply of cells for therapy to potentially treat conditions such as Parkinson’s, diabetes, heart disease, spinal cord injury, and other disorders. ES cells are now widely used in research and for industrial applications such as drug screening. Their use in the clinic has lagged, but as of late 2017 at least 18 clinical trials in six countries have been launched to test the therapeutic efficacy of ES cells. In the meantime, the advent of induced pluripotent stem cells, where skin and other adult cells are genetically reprogrammed to behave like stem cells, coupled with a dearth of regulation, has enabled unproven treatments to come to market, in some cases with tragic consequences. This session will explore the Wild West landscape of stem cell therapy and how to separate legitimate science from snake oil.
Social media hashtag: #WildWestStemCells
- Time:
- Sunday, October 14th, 10:05 am to 11:05 amAdd to Calendar
- Location:
- Lisner Auditorium
- Speaker(s):
- Paul KnoepflerProfessor, Department of Cell Biology & Human Anatomy, Genome Center, Comprehensive Cancer Center & Institute for Regenerative Cures, University of California Davis School of Medicine
- Peter MarksDirector, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, U.S. Food and Drug Administration
- Moderator(s):
- Marilynn MarchioneChief medical writer, The Associated Press
- Terry DevittDirector of research communications, University of Wisconsin-Madison
- Organizer(s):
- Terry DevittDirector of research communications, University of Wisconsin-Madison
- Marilynn MarchioneChief medical writer, The Associated Press
