Mayo Clinic experts are sharing their leadership and knowledge of regenerative medicine with an international audience at the World Stem Cell Summit in Miami. Every year more than 2,000 physicians, scientists, bioethicists, industry, government watchdogs and patient advocates from 44 countries convene at the World Stem Cell Summit to collaborate and focus on ways to advance emerging regenerative sciences. 

“This conference attracts some of the most preeminent minds in regenerative medicine and is representative of the field’s eco system.  It’s a chance to share our latest research and newest applications of validated regenerative procedures,” says Shane Shapiro, M.D., medical director of Mayo Clinic Center for Regenerative Medicine Therapeutic Suites at Mayo’s Jacksonville, Florida campus.

Dr. Shapiro moderated three different sessions at this year’s World Stem Cell Summit focusing on:

• The latest  validated regenerative applications to patient care
• Regulatory guidelines  and identifying safe and trusted procedures
• Legal and ethical issues in regenerative medicine

Regenerative medicine is redefining health care with a focus on the body’s ability to heal itself.  Regenerative therapies aim to restore form and function to diseased cells, tissues, or organs — and ultimately to the individual as a whole.  Mayo Clinic is a leader in bringing the promise of regenerative medicine to patients everywhere through research, clinical trials and application to patient care.

Mayo Clinic speakers share their knowledge in the following presentations:

Carmen Terzic, M.D., Ph.D., a physiatrist and chair of Mayo Clinic Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation leads research on directing stem cells toward the formation of new heart tissue — known as cardiogenesis  — to restore function lost to damaged tissue.  Dr. Terzic presented on her research in cardiogenesis and its potential is to establish cardiovascular regenerative medicine as the new standard of care for heart disease. She also spoke about stem cells and exercise

Zubin Master, Ph.D., a bioethicist for Mayo Clinic Center for Regenerative Medicine, shared his research that reveals consumers are seeing a barrage of misinformation around stem cells and regenerative medicine.  Dr. Master presented data on the demographic groups that are most likely to be seeking regenerative medicine and how they are looking for credible information to make better decisions on their care.

Quinn Peterson, Ph.D.,  a scientist in Mayo Clinic’s Islet Regeneration Program, lectured on efforts to generate engineered islets that could be used as a therapy for type 1 diabetes. Islets are clusters of cells in the pancreas that produce hormones. Dr. Peterson’s research seeks to discover whether transplantation of engineered islets may restore the body’s ability to produce insulin and regulate blood glucose in patients with type 1 diabetes.

Wenchun Qu, M.D., Ph.D., a physiatrist and pain specialist with a special interest in regenerative medicine, leads research on mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) – adult stem cells that can produce several types of cells in the musculoskeletal system such as skeletal tissue, cartilage, bone and fat.  Dr. Qu’s lecture focused on the progress of MSC therapy trials at Mayo Clinic that seek to restore form and function.

Mayo Clinic Center for Regenerative Medicine is a co-sponsor of this year’s World Stem Cell Summit.

###

Related Articles