Stem Cells at 50: The hope, the hype, and the reality – June 14, 2011
Fifty years ago, stem cells were discovered in Toronto by James Till and Ernest McCulloch. These cells have the unique property of being able to become any type of cell in the body – nerve, blood, skin, bone. Harnessing their power raises the promise of helping the body regenerate tissues like brain, heart and spinal cords, and global investment in research is exploding.
This week, as over 3,500 stem cell scientists from around the world gather in Toronto for the ninth annual meeting of the International Society for Stem Cell Research, the SMCC held a background webinar to hear the latest on stem cells.
- How close are scientists to reaching the full potential of stem cells to grow new organs or fix damaged ones?
- How are researchers using the technology to explore other lifesaving projects, like drug development, disease modeling, and fighting cancer?
- What is stem cell tourism, and why do we need to know about it?
Panelists:
Mick Bhatia, Director and Senior Scientist, McMaster Stem Cell and Cancer Research Institute (SCC-RI) and Professor of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences at McMaster University.
Connie Eaves, Distinguished Scientist, Terry Fox Laboratory at the BC Cancer Agency and Professor of Medical Genetics, UBC
Dominique McMahon, McLaughlin-Rotman Centre for Global Health, University of Toronto
Audio recordings:
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