SPEAKERS

KEYNOTE - HUGH ILYINE

Mr. Hugh Ilyine is a director of Stem Cell Sciences plc, and acts in the capacity of Vice President and Chief Operating Officer with the company, responsible for global operations. Mr. Ilyine is a member of the Advisory Board of the Scottish Stem Cell Network and the UK National Stem Cell Network Steering Committee. www.stemcellsciences.com

The challenge to rapidly convert stem cell discoveries into suitable ‘commercial ready’ products and services remains a critical issue for stem cell companies, as they juggle their near term and long term investments in the field against irregular early income streams. Various business models have been tried, from broad based approaches to single focus therapeutic plays. There are no clear answers as to which ones are best to ensure short and long term survivability.

Applications of stem cell therapies into a significant disease area can create strong anticipatory market valuations, but the lengthy time to market and requirements for ancillary technology developments outside the perimeter of the company, often result in limited appetite of risk capital providers towards investing in stem cell companies. At the same time, the critical need for a continuous stream of new IP and improvements to IP means companies must not only invest in significant internal R&D but also forge collaborations with centres of academic research excellence. Managing the R&D to demanding milestones may not prove feasible, but is demanded by investors.

How then to go about building the right sets of people to creating successful stem cell companies? To become a true global enterprise in the stem cell field remains an exciting if challenging task, faced today by all the pioneering companies.

PROF. PETE COFFEY

Pete Coffey is Professor of Cellular Therapy and Visual Sciences at the Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London. Prof. Coffey has many years of experience in cellular therapies as applied to retinal transplantation and was the principal author and co-author of two landmark papers demonstrating that grafting immortalized human cells can prevent visual loss. He previously spent 14 years as a professor at the University of Sheffield, where he established a new laboratory for retinal transplantation. www.ucl.ac.uk/ioo/pdf/PI/Professor%20Pete%20Coffey.pdf

Age related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of blindness in people over 60. AMD results in central visual loss making it impossible to appreciate fine detail. AMD is associated with defects of the retinal support cells – the retinal pigment epithelial cells (RPE). The photoreceptors in the retina depend for their survival on the normal functioning of these cells, and so failure of these cells leads to progressive loss of vision. There is currently no treatment which prevents the development of AMD. The aim is to produce a cell replacement therapy from human embryonic stem cells which are effective in replacing dysfunctional RPE and photoreceptors found in AMD which will stabalise and restore vision in the vast majority of patients.

DR. JONATHAN HILL

Dr. Jonathan Hill is a Consultant Cardiologist at King’s College Hospital and Clinical Senior Lecturer at King’s College. His special interests include; interventional cardiology, stem cell biology and myocardial (heart muscle) regeneration and is the principal investigator (PI) in a multi-centre stem cell trial for patients with myocardial infarction. Dr. Hill’s other interests include the integration of new imaging modalities into interventional cardiology such as CT coronary angiography and cardiac MRI.

Dr. Hill has a distinguished career including formal training at Cambridge University (MA) with clinical training at Edinburgh University (MB ChB). He then undertook general professional training at St Thomas’, St Bartholomew’s and Royal Brompton hospitals before commencing specialist cardiology training at London Chest and St Bartholomew’s Hospitals. From 1999-2003, he held a prestigious ‘Bench to Bedside Fellowship’ at the National Institutes for Health (USA) with a translational research programme focussed on stem and progenitor cell biology relating to cardiovascular disease. www.kcl.ac.uk/depsta/medicine/divisions/cardio

There is rapid growth in the use of MRI for molecular and cellular imaging. Tracking transplanted stem and progenitor cells using MRI can offer biologic insight into homing and engraftment mechanisms in both animal models and patients. This presentation will focus on the area of trafficking and homing of stem cells in vivo to repair the cardiovascular system. Including how to track the destiny of cells after therapeutic intravascular or intramyocardial delivery. Loads of great pictures!

This meeting is free of charge to everyone through the generous financial support of THERMO FISHER SCIENTIFIC. 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 Wolfson Centre for Age-Related Diseases, KCL.

AGENDA:

18.00 – Registration + networking over tea and coffee

18.30 – Introduction – Chris Mason (UCL) – Co-organiser – LRMN

18.35 – ‘The Stem Cell Industry – Challenges and keys to success’ – Hugh Ilyine – Stem Cell Sciences plc

19.00 – Q+A Session

19.05 – ‘Stemming vision loss through the use of human embryonic stem cells’ – Prof. Pete Coffey – Institute of Ophthalmology, UCL

19.30 – Q+A Session

19.35 – ‘Tracking and surveillance of stem and progenitor cells for myocardial repair’ – Dr. Jonathan Hill – King’s College Hospital

20.00 – Q+A Session

20.05 – Closing remarks – Stephen Minger (KCL) – Co-organiser – LRMN

20.15 – 22.00 – Networking reception – enjoy a glass of wine or two in the Wolfson Centre for Age-Related Diseases, KCL

Registration required:

Yes

Free:

Yes