World Renowned Experts Discuss Future Of Cartilage Regeneration

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va., Sept. 29, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Ten of the most highly-respected physicians and scientists from the fields of cartilage repair, regeneration, allograft reconstruction and research and development, as well as attendees from around the world gathered to discuss the future of cartilage regeneration at the 2014 LifeNet Health Institute of Regenerative Medicine symposium, Cartilage Regeneration: State of the Art and Future Direction. Topics included Orthopedic Biosurgery, Minced Juvenile Allograft, and State of the Art Treatment of Focal Chondral Defects.

The specialized one and a half day symposium took place September 19-20, 2014, and offered participants the opportunity to connect with highly-respected providers and scientists from the fields of cartilage repair, regeneration, and research and development.

"We were honored to host world-class faculty who shared their time and talents with us in our world-class facilities," stated Alan Smith, Vice President of Research and Development and Cellular Therapeutics at LifeNet Health. "I enjoyed the openness of the interactions between the faculty and attendees in our intimate, informal environment."

This year's symposium saw the inclusion of scientific poster presentations, point/counterpoint discussion panel, and live lab demonstrations. The Institute of Regenerative Medicine presented these sessions in its fully-equipped wet lab and dedicated lecture hall.

Speakers at the 2014 LifeNet Health symposium included:

• William Bugbee, MD - Scripps Clinic, La Jolla
• Silvia Chen, Ph.D. – Science Officer, LifeNet Health
• David Caborn, MD – University of Louisville
• Jack Farr, MD – OrthoIndy
• Andreas Gomoll, MD – Harvard University
• Elizaveta Kon, MD – Rizzoli Institute, Italy
• Andrew Levy, MD – University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey
• Jason Scopp, MD – Peninsula Orthopaedic Associates
• C. Thomas Vangsness, MD – University of Southern California
• Ken Zaslav, MD - Symposium Chairman, Advanced Orthopaedics, Virginia Commonwealth University

Natania Parris, a Project Manager with QMetrics Technologies stated, "We enjoyed the smaller atmosphere and quality of the presenters. It was also a good time for us to connect with many of the doctors who have been working with us."

During his closing comments, symposium chairman Dr. Ken Zaslav stated, "I don't think I've been to a conference with so much information and so much great debate."

Established in 2013, the symposium provides an overview on the evolution of contemporary allograft sciences and the biological wisdom that optimizes patient care. The main objective of the symposium is to inspire an interactive dialogue among clinicians, administrators, and allograft scientists to inspire and recognize the deep appreciation for the scientific method of allograft sciences.

The symposium was an International Cartilage Repair Society (ICRS) approved course, and endorsed by TERMIS, the Society for Biomaterials and The Virginia Biotechnology Association.

About the LifeNet Health Institute of Regenerative Medicine
The Institute of Regenerative Medicine is a wholly-owned subsidiary of LifeNet Health and is located in Virginia Beach, Virginia. The Institute serves as a global center of excellence for research and development focused on cellular therapies, tissue engineering, and new medical applications for allografts to maximize the gift of donation.

About LifeNet Health
LifeNet Health helps to save lives and restore health for thousands of patients each year. LifeNet Health is world's most trusted provider of transplant solutions, from organ procurement to new innovations in bio-implant technologies and cellular therapies—a leader in the field of regenerative medicine, while always honoring the donors and healthcare professionals that allow the healing process.  For more information about LifeNet Health, go to www.LifeNetHealth.org.

SOURCE LifeNet Health