Symposium- Advances in Stem Cell Transplantation

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DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): In 1992, The University of California San Diego initiated this annual international research symposium in San Diego. Since 1998, the program [now jointly sponsored by the University of Heidelberg], alternated locations so that it is held every other year in Germany. The 2003 program is scheduled in San Diego, CA, where participants receive CME credit. This meeting flourishes because it is based on the exchange of innovative ideas shared among scientists and clinicians from academia and the biomedical/industrial community. Stem cell technology has evolved, with hematopoietic cell transplantation becoming standard therapy for various malignant and hereditary diseases. In the past, most successful transplants were conducted in patients under the age of 55 years. Current advances have significantly broadened the safety of these procedures, so that non-myeloablative transplants can be performed with relative safety in patients up to 75 years of age. Recognizing the importance of the immune system in controlling malignant disease, major advances continue to be reported in immunotherapy. Hematopoietic stem cell therapy provides a platform on which to demonstrate its efficacy. Non myeloablative transplants may permit innovative approaches to stem cell transplantation including tandem autologous transplantation to achieve cytoreduction followed by non-myeloablative allogeneic transplants to achieve the immunotherapeutic effect of the allogeneic cells. An exciting development in the field of stem cell biology has been the observation that hematopoietic stem cells may be capable of trans-differentiation into other tissue types. Reports of hematopoietic stem cells differentiating into hepatocytes, myocytes, neurons, and epithelial and endothelial cells have stimulated intense interest internationally. These findings suggest that hematopoietic stem cells may be important tools for the treatment of a variety of disease conditions by aiding in the repopulating of damaged tissues. Given the current national debate on stem cell research and clinical applications, the potential role of hematopoietic stem cells in regenerative medicine has profound importance. Advances in supportive care, including the diagnosis and treatment of fungal disease and graft vs. host disease, contribute greatly to the increasingly successful outcomes of stem cell transplantation. These issues and others form the major focus on the 11th International Stem Cell Transplantation symposium to be held in May 2003.