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LONDON REGENERATIVE MEDICINE NETWORK

Thursday 26th October 2006


The next monthly meeting of the London Regenerative Medicine Network will be held in the evening of Thursday 26th October at King's College London, Guy's Hospital Campus at London Bridge, London SE1 (*****PLEASE NOTE THAT THERE IS A CHANGE OF LECTURE THEATRE TO: Lecture Theatre 2, New Hunt's House, Guy's Hospital Campus at London Bridge, London SE1*****)

The meeting will focus on three key areas, taking us from basic science, through the clinic and into the commercial marketplace.

1] A layperson's "top-down" overview of embryonic stem cells - Dr. Suparna Sanyal - BD Biosciences (Bedford, MA, USA)

2] Cell therapy in the clinic - Dr. Liz James - Blond McIndoe Centre (East Grinstead, Surrey)

3] Commercial cell and tissue therapy - Dr. Mike Leek - Intercytex plc (Manchester, UK)



SPEAKERS


DR. SUPARNA SANYAL - Senior Research Scientist, BD Biosciences (Bedford, MA, USA)

BD
Dr. Suparna Sanyal has very kindly flown over from the USA to present a layperson's "top-down" overview of embryonic stem cells - A topic which we've been asked many times to have a presentation on at a LRMN event. Suparna has enjoyed a diverse career both scientifically and geographically. After completing her Masters in Pharmacology, Suparna went on to complete a PhD in Neuroscience at the University of Toronto. Her PhD thesis focused on the development of a transgenic mouse to study dopamine receptor function (a model to study Parkinson's Disease in man). Subsequent postdoctoral experience at AstraZeneca in Boston was followed by joining BD Biosciences in 2004. Amongst Suparna's areas of responsibility is developing and optimising surfaces with extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins necessary for optimal attachment, growth and differentiation of human embryonic stem cells.

Surpana's presentation will focus on embryonic stem (ES) cells. Embryonic stem cells have an infinite capacity for self-renewal and are pluripotent (i.e. they can form all the cell types that make up the human body). A great deal of hope is associated with the potential application of human ES cells in cell therapy and regenerative medicine. Initial human ES cell derivation and culturing techniques originated predominantly from methodology developed for mouse ES (mES) cells and were cultured on mouse embryonic feeder (MEF) cells. While mouse feeder cells have proven to be a robust surface for long-term culture of hES cells, they also present a number of severe limitations especially if hES cells are to be routinely used in the clinic. For example, there are increasing concerns about xenogeneic (animal) contamination of hES cells grown on mouse feeder cells. Therefore, for many reasons, efforts have been initiated to develop feeder-free conditions for culturing hES cells.


DR. LIZ JAMES - Head of Research, Blond McIndoe Centre, East Grinstead, Sussex.

Blond McIndoe
Dr. Liz James is a pioneer in the field of regenerative medicine. In 1997, Liz moved to the Blond McIndoe Centre on the grounds of the Queen Victoria Hospital in East Grinstead. Blond McIndoe is a world leader in the advancement of research in plastic and reconstructive surgery with special emphasis on the treatment of burn injuries and facial reconstruction following cancer treatment. Here Liz was exposed to the strong tradition of innovative plastic surgery and tissue reconstruction developed by the legendary Archibald McIndoe when treating badly burned WWll aircrew. Continuing the tradition, Liz has cultivated strong links between scientists and surgeons allowing the clinical translation of laboratory studies to the patients. Liz became Head of Research in 2003, which includes overseeing the construction, operation and licensing of a good manufacturing practice (GMP) clinical production facility to allow the continuation of clinical research at the highest possible standard.

Liz's presentation will be illustrated with clinical cases including burns patients treated with sprayed skin cells; cancer patients whose facial soft tissues have been reconstructed with a combination of cultured cells and skin grafts as well as eye patients whose corneal surfaces have been repaired with cultured cells.


DR. MIKE LEEK - Commercial Director + Vice President, Intercytex plc, Manchester.

intercytex_logo
Dr. Mike Leek is another true pioneer in the field of regenerative medicine with over 16 years of experience in commercial woundcare and cell therapy. Prior to helping found Intercytex, Mike was with Smith & Nephew running the tissue repair programme, identifying and developing products for the woundcare and orthopaedic markets including a joint venture with Advanced Tissue Sciences (now Advanced BioHealing, La Jolla, San Diego, USA) in the development of Dermagraft. Dermagraft is one of only a handful of FDA approved cell therapy woundcare product.

Intercytex plc is an emerging healthcare company developing and commercialising cell therapy products. It is using its proprietary expertise in cell therapy to develop products that harness the innate ability of human cells to regenerate and repair the human body. To date, the company has four regenerative medicine products in development, including a chronic wound repair product (ICX-PRO) in Phase III clinical trials. The other three are all either in Phase I or II. Intercytex commenced operations in 2000 and currently employs over 70 staff. In addition to its head office in Cambridge, it has a GMP clinical production facility plus research and development laboratories in Manchester plus research laboratories in Boston, USA.

Mike plans to focus on the commercial aspects of bringing regenerative medicine products successfully to market and will use as an illustration ICX-PRO - their leading chronic wound repair product.



DETAILS

This October's meeting is free of charge to everyone through the generous financial support of BD Biosciences. The LRMN also continues to enjoy financial underpinning from both GlaxoSmithKline and the Guy's, King's & St Thomas' Annual Fund, plus invaluable support from the Advanced Centre for Biochemical Engineering, UCL and the the Wolfson Centre for Age-Related Diseases, KCL.


PLEASE NOTE THAT DUE TO LECTURE THEATRE SEATING CAPACITY + CATERING ARRANGEMENTS, IF YOU WISH TO ATTEND THIS EVENT YOU MUST REPLY AS REQUESTED, OTHERWISE UNFORTUNATELY YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO GAIN ADMISSION. Seat allocation is on a first come first served basis. If you wish to attend, all that is required, is to email the Secretary - secretary@regenmednetwork.com and type "Please add me to the guest list - Thank you" or something similar!!!

To reserve a place, please just email the Network Secretary, Dr. Louise Mason: louise.mason@regenmednetwork.com



AGENDA


18.00 - Registration over tea and coffee

18.30 - Welcome - Dr. Stephen Minger (KCL) - Co-organiser of the Network

18.35 - "Human embryonic stem cells - The next step" - Dr. Suparna Sanyal - BD Biosciences (Bedford, MA, USA)

18.55 - Q+A Session

19.05 - "Clinical application and survival of cultured epithelial cells" - Dr. Liz James - Blond McIndoe Centre, East Grinstead, Sussex.

19.25 - Q+A Session

19.35 - "Commercial regenerative medicine - The Intercytex way!" - Dr. Mike Leek - Intercytex plc, Manchester.

19.55 - Q+A Session

20.05 - Closing remarks - Dr. Chris Mason (UCL) - Co-organiser of the Network

20.10 - 22.00 - Networking reception - enjoy a glass of wine or two in the Wolfson Centre for Age-Related Diseases, KCL



Please only request a place if you can definitely make the meeting. Replies must go to: Network Secretary, Dr. Louise Mason: louise.mason@regenmednetwork.com


*****PLEASE NOTE THAT THERE IS A CHANGE FROM OUR REGULAR LECTURE THEATRE TO: Lecture Theatre 2, New Hunt's House, Guy's Hospital Campus at London Bridge, London SE1*****

Map pdf link: http://www.guysandstthomas.nhs.uk/resources/PDF/G/Guys_map_col_april_05.pdf


We look forward to seeing everyone on Thursday 26th October!

Stephen Minger + Chris Mason
Co-founders + Co-organisers, London Regenerative Medicine Network.

www.regenmednetwork.com
www.lrmn.com

OCTOBER MEETING SPONSOR


BD




NETWORK PRINCIPLE SPONSORS


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Guy's, King's and St Thomas' Annual Fund



London Regenerative Medicine Network

"Bringing the regenerative medicine, stem cell and tissue engineering community together..."