Texas Medical Center, the largest concentration of medical research, educational and healthcare organizations in the world, announces the first Houston Stem Cell Summit to highlight the latest stem cell research and commercialization efforts

PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 31, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The New York Stem Cell Summit announced today that, in conjunction with several Houston-based medical institutions, it is launching the first Houston Stem Cell Summit to be held on Friday and Saturday, October 26 and October 27, 2012.

(Logo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120831/NY66463LOGO )

"Since the mid-1990s," said organizer Robin Young, "the group of researchers, medical schools and hospitals at the Texas Medical Center has led the world in clinical research for the therapeutic use of stem and progenitor cells for heart disease, orthopedics, dental surgery, and ophthalmic, as well as fostering new business models for commercialization of these cellular technologies."

The Houston Stem Cell Summit will bring together, for the first time; the many and varied stem cell research and commercialization activities in Texas with the leading global researchers and entrepreneurs. Participating Texas institutions include: Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Heart Institute, Texas A&M, Rice University and MD Anderson.

About the Summit

The Houston Stem Cell Summit will be held over two days, Friday and Saturday, October 26 and October 27 at The Houstonian Hotel in Houston, Texas. In addition to highlighting the latest therapeutic research regarding the use of adult stem and progenitor cell therapies, the Summit will also provide a forum for entrepreneurs to discuss their latest efforts to commercialize stem cell therapies, and to debate and discuss FDA and other legal and regulatory issues impacting stem cell research and commercialization.

In total, the organizers expect to have more than 35 speakers, 300 attendees and a dozen of the leading commercial stem cell companies presenting over the two-day Summit.

Rick Perry Keynote Speaker

The Summit's keynote speaker is Governor Rick Perry, who himself has been treated with stem cell therapies. In addition to Governor Perry, the Summit will feature a patient panel, two in-depth debates regarding FDA and Texas Medical Board policies and a review and forecast of the current state of stem cell commercialization efforts.

Other featured speakers include:

• James T. Willerson, M.D., President and Medical Director-Texas Heart Institute
• J. Richard Steadman, M.D., The Steadman Clinic
• Michael T. Thorsnes, JD, Executive Board Member, Parkinson's Association of San Diego, Inc.
• Silviu Itescu, MBBS (Hons) FRACP, FACP, FACR, CEO, Mesoblast Limited
• C. Randal Mills, Ph.D., President and CEO, Osiris Therapeutics, Inc.
• David G. Eller, Chairman and CEO, Celltex Therapeutics Corp.
• Stanley Jones, M.D., Founder/Medical Director Spinecare USA and Medical Director, Celltex Therapeutics Corp.
• David S. Smith, JD, Attorney at Law, Pepper Hamilton
• Christopher J. Centeno, M.D., Practicing Physician and Founder Centeno Schultz Clinic
• Mary Pat Moyer, Ph.D., founder, President, CEO & CSO, INCELL Corporation LLC
• Andrew S. Ittleman, Esq, CAMS, Attorney at Law, Fuerst Ittleman PL
• Robin R. Young, CFA, CEO, RRY Publications LLC, Founder New York Stem Cell Summit

Who Should Attend

The Houston Stem Cell Summit is designed for physicians; biotech researchers; pharmaceutical and biotech analysts; hospital, business development and senior biotechnology marketing executives, as well as venture capital investors and all members of the Texas Medical Center community.

Registration

Online registration opened this week at www.stemcellsummit.com and will remain open until October 25. For attendees who go online and register before September 15, 2012, the cost is discounted by 35%. For members of the Texas Medical Center in Houston, the cost is discounted by more than 50%. 

As part of the Houston Stem Cell Summit, Robin Young, organizer of the Houston Summit and founder of the annual New York Stem Cell Summit, is releasing the popular Adult Stem Cell Fact Book to all interested physicians, researchers, patients, and entrepreneurs. The Adult Stem Cell Fact Book is available at no charge on the Houston Stem Cell Summit web site.

About Adult Stem Cells

Approximately 1 million patients have been treated with their own stem cells since the mid-1980s in the United States.

Harvesting stem cells from adult patients and then re-injecting them into the same patient (autologous stem cell use) has been a routine therapy in U.S. medicine for decades. More recently, as stem cell research has developed, the precise method of harvesting, processing and then re-injecting into patients has changed and improved.

At the Houston Stem Cell Summit, attendees will learn the purpose of autologous and allogeneic stem cell and progenitor therapies in medicine. They'll learn of the history of autologous stem cell therapies in the United States, the number of companies that are supplying equipment to facilitate autologous stem cell therapies throughout the United States, the latest in clinical research and the size of the commercial market. Attendees will come away with a clear and comprehensive view of the future of these therapies and the use of adult stem cells in the United States.

About the Houston Stem Cell Summit Organizers

RRY Publications LLC, the organizer for the Houston Stem Cell Summit, founded the New York Stem Cell Summit in 2006. The Summit has become the premier gathering of researchers, companies and venture firms interested in the rapidly growing stem cell industry. Robin Young, the host of the Houston and New York Stem Cell Summits, is a world renowned medical technology analyst who has authored several books on regenerative medicine as well as thousands of research reports. He is quoted in such national media outlets as CBS News, the New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Time Magazine and CNBC. 

For more information please visit www.stemcellsummit.com. 

CONTACT: Suzanne Kirchner, +1-501-251-1797, [email protected]

SOURCE Stem Cell Summit