VCU to Hold Stem Cell Symposium

By Sathya Achia Abraham

Virginia Commonwealth University will host a symposium, “Stem Cells: The Search for Cures – Challenges and Public Policy,” on the future of stem cell research policy globally, nationally and in the commonwealth.

The event is Monday, Nov. 19, at 4 p.m. in the VCU School of Engineering Auditorium, Room 101, at 601 W. Main St. The symposium is open to the general public.

The symposium is part of the Human Embryonic Stem Cell Workshop at VCU, Nov. 18 through Nov. 21. The workshop is designed to provide researchers from across the country training in the development and propagation of the National Institutes of Health-approved human embryonic stem cell lines.

Speakers include: Bernard Siegel, executive director of the Genetics Policy Institute and a noted policy expert on stem cell research, regenerative medicine and cloning; Eve Herold, director of public policy research and education for the GPI; Don Gehring, vice president for government relations and health policy for VCU and the VCU Health System; and Josh Basile, founder of the Maryland-based nonprofit Determined2heal Foundation, who will offer a patient advocate perspective.

Following the presentations, there will be a panel discussion and question-and-answer session. Refreshments will follow.

The event is sponsored by the National Institutes of Health, Fisher Scientific, the Student Society for Stem Cell Research, Millipore-Chemicon, NikonUSA, The University of Georgia Biomedical & Health Sciences Institute, VCU Office of Research, VCU Life Sciences, VCU School of Medicine and the VCU School of Engineering.

For more information: http://www.engineering.vcu.edu/vcu-hest2007/index.html.