The ISS National Lab Board of Directors Member, Dr. Lee Hood, to Moderate Stem Cell in Microgravity Panel at World Stem Cell Summit
The Center for the Advancement of Science in Space Board of Directors member Dr. Lee Hood will moderate a panel, “The New Frontier – Stem Cell Development in MicrogravityThe condition of perceived weightlessness created when an object is in free fall, for example when an object is in orbital motion. Microgravity alters many observable phenomena within the physical and life sciences, allowing scientists to study things in ways not possible on Earth. The International Space Station provides access to a persistent microgravity environment.,” at the World Stem Cell Summit in San Diego, CA on December 6 from 9–11am PST. In addition to Dr. Hood, the ISSInternational Space Station National Lab-funded stem cell investigators Drs. Mary Kearns-Jonker of Loma Linda University and Roland Kaunas of Texas A&M will provide insight into their research proposals destined for the International Space Station (ISS). the ISS National Lab manages research aboard the ISS U.S. National Laboratory.
Dr. Hood is one of the most influential voices in systems medicine. He is president and co-founder of the Institute for Systems Biology and a 2013 National Medal of Science recipient. Dr. Hood will also be joined by Dr. Clifford Folmes from the Mayo Clinic, who served as a the ISS National Lab subject matter expert in the field of stem cell biology.
The World Stem Cell Summit is a premier event for the stem cell community held annually. Scientists, researchers, policymakers, governmental agencies and advocacy groups attend this event to discuss new research, challenges and opportunities and to recognize achievement in the field of stem cell biology. The medical implications that can be derived from stem cell research are numerous. Stem cells have the potential to radically alter human healing and medical treatment. Tissue regeneration/engineering, advanced drug screening, cell programming and cell replacement therapy can all be actualized via breakthroughs in stem cell research.
In October, the ISS National Lab announced awarded funding of seven non-embryonic stem cell research proposals from its Request for Proposals entitled “The Impact of Microgravity on Fundamental Stem Cell Properties” to conduct advanced experimentation on the ISS. In support of the World Stem Cell Summit, the ISS National Lab has arranged for some of our most distinguished representatives to discuss the importance of stem cell research, and advocate the importance of utilizing microgravity and the advanced platforms onboard the National Lab to enable new discoveries, accelerate breakthroughs, and improve life on Earth.
Background on the ISS National Lab-funded investigators on the panel:
Dr. Mary Kearns-Jonker of Loma Linda University will study the aging of neonatal and adult cardiac stem cells in microgravity with the ultimate goal of improving cardiac cell therapy.
Dr. Roland Kaunas is a part of a team of researchers at Texas A&M University that are developing a system for co-culturing and analyzing stem cells mixed with bone tumor cells in microgravity. This system will allow for the identification of potential molecular targets for drugs specific to certain types of cancer.
“The World Stem Cell Summit provides the ISS National Lab an incredible forum to discuss the benefits of microgravity research to many of regenerative medicine’s finest minds,” said the ISS National Lab Board of Director, Dr. Lee Hood. “Additionally, the inclusion of Drs. Folmes, Kearns-Jonker and Kanaus to discuss the potential opportunities that might come through their research could provide a baseline for additional stem cell inquiries intent on benefitting humankind.”
For additional information on the World Stem Cell Summit, visit: www.worldstemcellsummit.com
# # #
About the ISS National Lab: The Center for the Advancement of Science in Space (the ISS National Lab) was selected by NASANational Aeronautics and Space Administration in July 2011 to maximize use of the International Space Station (ISS) U.S. National Laboratory through 2020. the ISS National Lab is dedicated to supporting and accelerating innovations and new discoveries that will enhance the health and wellbeing of people and our planet. For more information, visit issnationallab.org.
About the ISS National Laboratory: In 2005, Congress designated the U.S. portion of the International Space Station as the nation’s newest national laboratory to maximize its use for improving life on Earth, promoting collaboration among diverse users and advancing STEM education. This unique laboratory environment is available for use by other U.S. government agencies and by academic and private institutions, providing access to the permanent microgravity setting, vantage point in low earth orbit(Abbreviation: LEO) The orbit around the Earth that extends up to an altitude of 2,000 km (1,200 miles) from Earth’s surface. The International Space Station’s orbit is in LEO, at an altitude of approximately 250 miles. and varied environments of space.
# # #