Ottawa hosts global leaders in stem cell and regenerative medicine research

OTTAWA, Oct. 27, 2014 /CNW/ - Stem cell and regenerative medicine experts representing Canada and international research groups will come together in Ottawa to share some of the leading advances in research, clinical translation and commercialization within the field. A number of speakers, including eight past winners of Canada's most recognized stem cell prize – the Till & McCulloch Award – will be present at the Till & McCulloch Meetings (#TMM2014). The Meetings, co-hosted by the Stem Cell Network and the Centre for Commercialization of Regenerative Medicine (CCRM), will take place at the Westin Ottawa from October 27-29, 2014.

Also presenting is this year's Award winner, Dr. Michael Rudnicki, Senior Scientist and Director of the Sprott Centre for Stem Cell Research at the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, whose research in muscle regeneration, specifically in the role stem cells play in skeletal muscles' ability to regenerate and repair after injury, will be recognized on October 29 at 9:50 a.m. in the main plenary hall.

"To be chosen by your peers to receive the Till & McCulloch Award is a great honour, made finer by the fact that it will take place in my home city of Ottawa," said Dr. Rudnicki, who is also the Scientific Director of the Stem Cell Network. "Ottawa is a fantastic place to live and conduct research and we are excited to show this to our Canadian and international guests over the course of the conference."

The 2014 Meetings is also a celebration of achievement for the Stem Cell Network, which is in its final year of funding as a federal Network of Centres of Excellence. Based in Ottawa for its entire term, the Stem Cell Network engaged more than 120 researchers and 1,900 students across Canada, catalyzed 15 clinical trials and leveraged more than $87 million in advancing research from the laboratory to the clinic.

Other highlights of the Till & McCulloch Meetings include the following:

October 27 at 8:45 a.m.

Dr. John Dick, of the Princess Margaret Hospital in Toronto, will present some of his latest findings in a lecture entitled, "Stem cells in cancer: Do they matter?" Dr. Dick is a globally-recognized leader in the investigation of cancer stem cells and their role in the formation and relapse of cancer.

October 27 at 2:30 p.m.

An afternoon plenary session will focus on current research in blood disorders and how these are making for better outcomes in the clinic. The session will include a presentation by Dr. Guy Sauvageau (University of Montreal), whose breakthrough discovery of a new drug to expand the number of usable stem cells in cord blood recently made headlines around the world. Dr. Sauvageau will provide insight into this discovery.

October 28 at 1:30 p.m.

This session examines the societal impact of stem cell research, including approaches in moving research towards clinical treatments for patients and Professor Timothy Caulfield (University of Alberta) will present his research into the pressures, risks and benefits of the "culture of innovation" that drives research into greater commercial applications.

The 2014 Meetings will also feature the launch of two new animated videos in the award-winning StemCellShorts series, to be launched online and via social media (#StemCellShorts) during the conference. In addition, on October 29 at 3:00 p.m. a glimpse of the recently opened Super Cells science exhibit (www.supercells.ca), and the announcement of the winner of the annual Cells I See art contest will take place.

The Stem Cell Network and CCRM would like to acknowledge the principal sponsors of TMM2014 and thank them for their support: Title sponsor BD Biosciences; Gold sponsors STEMCELL Technologies, Beckman Coulter and the Canadian Stem Cell Foundation; and Silver sponsors Applikon Biotechnology, Cellular Dynamics, Irvine Scientific, Lonza, MACS Miltenyi Biotec, Octane, the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, PeproTech and the University of Ottawa.

About the Till & McCulloch Meetings

The Till & McCulloch Meetings began as the Stem Cell Network Annual Scientific Meeting in 2001, making it one of the world's longest running conferences in the field and Canada's premier stem cell research event. It was renamed in 2012 to honour Drs. James Till and Ernest McCulloch, who first identified stem cells and demonstrated their properties in Toronto in 1961. The Till & McCulloch Meetings provides a forum for the exchange of ideas and research among Canada's leading stem cell scientists, clinicians, bioengineers and ethicists, as well as representatives from industry, government, health and NGO sectors from around the world. The Stem Cell Network and the Centre for Commercialization of Regenerative Medicine are pleased to be co-hosting the 2014 Meetings, which will be held in Ottawa, Ontario October 27-29, 2014. http://www.tillandmcculloch.ca

About the Stem Cell Network

The Stem Cell Network, established in 2001, brings together more than 120 leading scientists, clinicians, engineers, and ethicists from universities and hospitals across Canada. The Network supports cutting-edge projects that translate research discoveries into new and better treatments for millions of patients in Canada and around the world. Hosted by the University of Ottawa, the Stem Cell Network is one of Canada's Networks of Centres of Excellence funded through Industry Canada and its three granting councils. www.stemcellnetwork.ca

About the Centre for Commercialization of Regenerative Medicine (CCRM)

CCRM, a Canadian not-for-profit organization funded by the Government of Canada's Networks of Centres of Excellence program and six academic partners, supports the development of technologies that accelerate the commercialization of stem cell- and biomaterials-based technologies and therapies. A network of academics, industry and entrepreneurs, CCRM aims to translate scientific discoveries into marketable products for patients. CCRM launched in Toronto's Discovery District on June 14, 2011. CCRM is hosted by the University of Toronto. www.ccrm.ca

SOURCE: Stem Cell Network

Lisa Willemse, Director of Communications, Stem Cell Network, 613-304-2108, [email protected]; Stacey Johnson, Director of Communications, CCRM, 647-309-1830, [email protected]