Panel discussion on stem cell characterization

This panel discussion will provide insights into the challenges, trends, developments and debates surrounding the assessment of therapeutic tissue stem cell dose and quality for regenerative medicine therapies.

Adult tissue stem cells have the potential to transform medicine. As regenerative therapies, and tools for drug and disease modelling, they could help us address unmet medical needs of patients with the most serious of conditions. However, without proper characterization and quality assurance, we could be left with inaccurate and inconsistent models, and therapies that lack efficacy or are even harmful.

Identification and characterization of potentially therapeutic adult tissue stem cells remains an evolving and difficult process, discovering markers for their specific quantification, cellular health, and expansion, among other things. With new information and techniques emerging all the time, it can be challenging to discern what can best meet each therapy’s individual needs.

This panel discussion will provide insights into the challenges, trends, developments and debates surrounding the assessment of therapeutic tissue stem cell dose and quality for regenerative medicine therapies. We will explore concepts and technologies currently under evaluation for improving progress in stem cell therapies with the help of experts from industry and academia.

This webinar was recorded on 30 November 2017.

What you will learn?

  • Considerations for determining stem cell-specific dose
  • Improving cell therapy manufacture to ensure a quality stem cell treatment
  • Emerging technologies for adult tissue stem cell characterization

Who may this interest?

  • Students, trainees, and investigators working in the multidisciplinary fields of stem cell biology, cellular therapeutics, and gene therapy
  • Company executives with an interest in stem cell therapy and gene therapy commercialization
  • Stem cell therapeutics and regenerative medicine investors

Panelists


James L. Sherley
Director, Asymmetrex, LLCJames L. Sherley, M.D., Ph.D. is the founder and director of U.S. biotech start-up Asymmetrex, LLC.  Asymmetrex develops and markets technologies for advancing stem cell medicine.  Dr. Sherley is a graduate of Harvard College, with a B.A. degree in biology, and the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, earning joint M.D. and Ph.D. degrees.  Prior to founding Asymmetrex, he held academic research appointments at the Fox Chase Cancer Center, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Boston Biomedical Research Institute.  Dr. Sherley’s professional awards include Pew Biomedical Research Scholar, Ellison Medical Foundation Senior Scholar in Aging Research, and NIH Director’s Pioneer Award

Glyn Stacey
Executive Director, International Stem Cell Banking Initiative

Glyn has a background in microbiology and cancer research and in recent years has worked in the development of cells and cell lines for manufacture of biological medicines and cell therapy. He has authored numerous books and articles on best practice in cell culture and has contributed to regulatory guidance documents in the cell therapy area.

Rouzbeh R. Taghizadeh
Co-Founder & Chief Scientific Officer, AuxoCell

Dr. Rouzbeh R. Taghizadeh has dedicated more than 15 years to bringing stem cell-based therapies to clinical practice. His expertise in adult stem cells, primarily human hematopoietic and mesenchymal stem cells–the regenerative cells involved in successful bone marrow and umbilical cord blood transplantations–uniquely positions him to approach science and business with the same keen powers of insight that have consistently reaped success surmounting scientific and medical barriers in the field. He earned his Ph.D. in Stem Cell Bioengineering in 2006 from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and cofounded AuxoCell Laboratories, Inc. as Chief Scientific Officer in 2008 after completing his post-doctoral training from MIT and the Boston Biomedical Research Institute.