Karolinska Institute and Beckman Research Institute at City of Hope Join as Co-Organizers of World Stem Cell Summit, West Palm Beach, Florida, Dec. 3-5, 2012

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla., April 9, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Beckman Research Institute at City of Hope and the Karolinska Institute (Stockholm, Sweden) are now co-organizers of the 8th annual World Stem Cell Summit taking place at the Palm Beach County Convention Center, December 3-5, 2012.

The World Stem Cell Summit, produced by the Genetics Policy Institute (GPI), is the largest interdisciplinary, networking meeting of stem cell stakeholders, uniting the diverse regenerative medicine community. With the overarching purpose of fostering biomedical research, funding and investments targeting cures, the Summit is a critically important conference charting the future of this burgeoning field.

The Summit program provides the research, translational, commercial, regulatory, economic and societal context for understanding how all of the pieces of the stem cell puzzle fit together. The agenda features more than 170 speakers and 50 hours of in-depth presentations. Supported by 220 sponsors, exhibitors, endorsing organizations and media partners, the Summit is a three-day showcase of innovation, insight and inspiration.

Karl-Henrik Grinnemo, MD, PhD, Group Leader in Regenerative Cardiology of the Karolinska Institute; Richard Jove, PhD, Director of the Beckman Research Institute, and Arlene Chiu, PhD, Office of Research Initiatives of the Beckman Research Institute were named, by their respective institutions, as co-chairs of the Summit.

"We are delighted to participate, for the second consecutive year, as a co-organizer of the World Stem Cell Summit. City of Hope is committed to advancing stem cell research and translational medicine to save lives," said Richard Jove. "As a nationally prominent cancer, diabetes and stem cell research and treatment center, we also serve as an international resource for other institutions developing and manufacturing stem cell-based therapies through our on-site, state-of-the-art Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) facilities. Recently, Beckman Research Institute at City of Hope established a formal collaboration with the Karolinska Institute, named the International Translational Regenerative Medicine Center (ITRC) that will provide a global infrastructure to bring together researchers and GMP resources to accelerate and lead translational research and discoveries to clinical practice for improved patient outcomes. The Summit will serve as a superb showcase for ITRC, as well as a tremendous opportunity for academicians, researchers and clinicians from around the world to exchange knowledge and ideas in this promising new field of medicine."

Karl-Henrik Grinnemo of the Karolinska Institute stated, "It is critical to share information and synergies with global communities. We take great pride in joining City of Hope in the International Translational Regenerative Medicine Center (ITRC) that will accelerate the delivery of effective treatments and cures. The annual World Stem Cell Summit is the leading translational stem cell meeting and serves as the choice venue for forging collaborations with global leaders across multiple disciplines. ITRC is one such collaboration."

Bernard Siegel, founder of the Summit and executive director of GPI said, "We are excited to bring preeminent research centers, the Beckman Research Institute at City of Hope and Karolinska Institute on board in leadership roles of the 8th World Stem Cell Summit. We look forward to learning more about their important collaboration. Their support marks another milestone for our conference, which continues to serve as the window to the world of the future of medicine."

The 2012 8th Summit is co-organized by the Genetics Policy Institute, the Beckman Research Institute at the City of Hope, Karolinska Institute, and several other prominent institutions including Interdisciplinary Stem Cell Institute (ISCI) of the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine and the Diabetes Research Institute.

For more information about attending the World Stem Cell Summit, contact Alan Fernandez at (650) 847-1640 or email [email protected]. For information about the summit, visit: www.worldstemcellsummit.com.

About Genetics Policy Institute (GPI): GPI is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit foundation with the mission to promote and defend stem cell research and its application in medicine to develop therapeutics and cures for many otherwise intractable diseases and disorders. GPI pursues this mission through production of its flagship annual World Stem Cell Summit, publication of the World Stem Cell Report, the Stem Cell Action Awards, special projects, speaking engagements, teaching initiatives and strategic collaborations. Visit www.genpol.org for more information.

SOURCE Genetics Policy Institute