May 12, 2006
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM Farkas Auditorium
New York University School of Medicine, 540 First Ave., NY

Stem cell research has the potential to revolutionize medical care. Since stem cells can develop into any differentiated cell type, stem cells instill hope in patients suffering from diseases like diabetes, spinal cord injury or Parkinson's disease, where cell replenishment may provide a cure. Despite all their promise, our knowledge of how stem cells maintain the potential for self-renewal and how they can be directed into a particular differentiation path is limited. This year's Skirball symposium celebrates the inauguration of the Kimmel Center for Stem Cell Biology, which aims to contribute to this important field. The speakers in the symposium will focus on a variety of stem cell types found in plants and animals. They will discuss the unique aspects of stem cells that allow them to give rise to all the cells in the body and even to the cells of the next generation. We will hear about more specialized stem or progenitor cells present in organ systems that can replenish cells in the nervous system and the blood. Finally, we will explore cancer stem cells as being key in understanding tumor maintenance and metastasis, and their resistance to current chemotherapeutic modalities. As our symposium will show, fulfillment of the promise of stem cells for patient treatment will come from the study of model systems and the application of these findings to human health.

Preliminary Program

Speakers

Program (PDF)

Directions

The 2006 Skirball Institute Eighth Annual Symposium is organized by Ruth Lehmann & Dan Littman.

Direct all inquiries to Ralph Maldari.