Raising Stem Cell Awareness

In honor of Stem Cell Awareness Day, San Diego State University is hosting a free symposium to educate the public about stem cell research, what stem cells are, what researchers are doing with them and what to expect from stem cell research in the future. 

“Stem Cell Awareness Day at SDSU will help to provide students and the general public with information on how stem cell research and regenerative medicine has transformed the way scientists and doctors treat human disease, both presently and in the future,” said Ralph Feuer, associate professor of biology and program director of the SDSU/CIRM Stem Cell Internship Program.

“This event will also describe how public funds from the state of California and the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine has helped to transform California into an international leader in basic and translational stem cell research,” Feuer said.

Stem Cell Awareness Day is sponsored by the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine.  Each year, organizations and individuals around the world host events celebrating the scientific advances made through stem cell research and educate the public about its potential applications.

Distinguished speakers

During the event at SDSU, Suzanne Peterson from The Scripps Institute’s Center for Regenerative Medicine will speak on the role stem cells may play in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease.

Nicholas Glembotski, an SDSU grad, who now works as a research associate for the Shiley Center for Orthopedic  Research and Education at Scripps Clinic, will speak on stem cells and  the treatment of Osteoarthritis.

Susanne Montague from The Scripps Research Institute in conjunction with the San Diego Zoo Institute for Conservation Research will speak on how stem cells may help protect endangered species of both plants and animals.

Eugene Brandon from San Diego-based ViaCyte, Inc., will speak about his on-going work using stem cells to treat diabetes.

David McGuigan from Stemedica will speak about the about an ongoing clinical trial in heart disease as well as critical issues of human application of stem cells worldwide including  the “Gold Standard/Safety Check List”  for treatment the impact of medical tourism on the stem cell industry.

Event details

The SDSU lecture, which is free and open to the public, is at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 2 in the Gold Auditorium at SDSU’s Donald P. Shiley BioScience Center. For more information call 619-594-5016 or e-mail [email protected].

About SDSU/CIRM Bridges to Stem Cell Research Program

The SDSU/CIRM Bridges to Stem Cell Research Program is a government funded program developed to encourage participation of both undergraduate and graduate students in the field of regenerative medicine.  Through this program students will obtain hands-on experience in performing techniques used in state of the art stem cell research. 

These experiences, through the host institutions (e.g. UCSD, The Salk Institute for Medical Studies or Sanford/Burnham Institute for Medical Research Institute) will encourage and prepare students from the diverse population at SDSU to enter the growing field of stem cell research.