The First Arkansas Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Conference, April 17-18, 2012, Winthrop Rockefeller Institute, Morrilton, Arkansas

1217581 shajin，人类干细胞，包括成体、胚胎和诱导多能干细胞，具有革新疾病治疗的潜力。预计许多不治之症如糖尿病、癌症、老年痴呆症？S等疾病最终都可以利用干细胞治愈。由于这种巨大的潜力，全世界都在努力开发新技术，为患者带来干细胞治疗。为了建立一个全州范围的网络来促进干细胞研究，并确定该领域的关键挑战，该州的生物医学工程师一直在与医学院和国家毒理学研究中心（NCTR）的医生和临床科学家合作，组织一次全州范围的干细胞会议，该会议将于2012年4月17日至18日在阿肯色州的Petit Jean Winthrop Rockefeller研究所举行。会议旨在汇集初级和高级研究人员的独特专业知识，共同追求创造新的干细胞技术的创新理念。会议的目标是促进干细胞研究，并启动全州工程师和医生之间的合作研究。该会议将提高该州对干细胞研究的认识，并获得公众以及州和联邦政府的支持，以促进干细胞研究。这种模式如果成功，将为其他人提供一个效仿的榜样。会议将集中讨论一些高度相关的独特领域。这些领域包括干细胞治疗、组织工程、再生医学、肥胖和糖尿病的干细胞生物学、癌症干细胞、纳米技术、干细胞毒理学和监管问题。会议将为学生和年轻研究人员提供一系列学习干细胞技术的机会。在全国范围内，阿肯色州在高科技工作岗位数量上排名第41位。国家采取了许多创新的方式，让更多的人有机会接受高等教育和高级培训。阿肯色大学是该州唯一的综合性研究生研究型大学，一直致力于加强阿肯色？教育基地。这次全州范围内的干细胞会议将成为加强本州干细胞研究和教育项目的里程碑之一。会议将聚集在阿肯色州的干细胞研究人员和教育工作者，讨论合作机制并确定该领域的关键挑战。会议的成果之一将是形成一个全州范围的干细胞联盟，该联盟最终将演变成一个干细胞联盟，该联盟将在该州和全国促进干细胞研究和教育项目。会议旨在提高公众对干细胞研究的认识，并呼吁各州立法机构和联邦政府对干细胞研究进行更多投资。该领域的一些顶尖科学家将被邀请参加会议。会议将包括口头和海报演讲，涵盖干细胞工程和细胞基础治疗、组织工程和再生医学、肥胖和糖尿病的干细胞生物学、干细胞毒理学和监管问题。学生和年轻研究人员将有一系列机会与资深研究人员互动，这些研究人员将成为他们的榜样。在整个会议期间，学生将广泛接触干细胞研究。会议还将吸引优秀本科生。他们将在多学科干细胞和再生医学研究环境中获得大开眼界的经验。会议记录和会议报告将通过互联网传播。预计，干细胞研究不仅在干细胞研究领域，而且在其他领域，将对国家和民族产生重大影响，并对教育和研究事业产生巨大影响。

1217581Jin, ShaHuman stem cells, including adult, embryonic, and induced pluripotent stem cells, have the potential for revolutionizing disease treatment. It is expected that many incurable diseases such as diabetes, cancer, Alzheimer?s diseases, etc. can be eventually cured using stem cells. Because of this tremendous potential, huge efforts are being made worldwide to develop new technologies to bring stem cell therapy to patients. In attempt to build a statewide network for promoting stem cell research and identifying key challenges in the field, biomedical engineers in the state have been working with physicians and clinical scientists at the medical school and the National Center for Toxicological Research (NCTR) to organize a statewide stem cell conference, which will be held between April 17-18th, 2012 at the Petit Jean Winthrop Rockefeller Institute, Arkansas. The meeting is designed to bring the unique expertise of both junior and senior investigators together in the pursuit of innovative ideas for creating new stem cell technologies. The goal of the meeting is to foster stem cell research and initiate collaborative research between engineers and physicians across the state. The meeting will increase the awareness of stem cell research in the state and generate support from the public as well as the state and federal governments to promote stem cell research. This model, if successful, will provide an example for others to follow. The meeting will focus on a number of distinctive areas that are highly interrelated. These areas include stem cell therapy, tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, stem cell biology of obesity and diabetes, cancer stem cells, nanotechnologies, stem cell toxicology, and regulatory issues. The meeting will provide a range of opportunities for students and young investigators to learn about stem cell technologies.Nationwide, Arkansas ranks 41st in the number of high tech jobs. The State has adopted many innovative ways to allow more people access to higher education and advanced training. The University of Arkansas, the only comprehensive graduate research university in the state, has been working toward strengthening Arkansas? educational base. This statewide stem cell conference will be one of the milestones toward reinforcing stem cell research and education programs in the state. The conference will gather stem cell researchers and educators in Arkansas to discuss the mechanisms of collaboration and identify key challenges in the field. One of the outcomes of the meeting will be the formation of a statewide stem cell coalition, which will eventually evolve into a Stem Cell Consortium, which will promote stem cell research and education programs in the state and nation. The meeting aims at increasing public awareness of stem cell research and calls for more investments on stem cell research from the state legislatures and federal government. A number of top scientists in the field will be invited to the conference. The meeting will include both oral and poster presentations covering stem cell engineering and cell-based therapy, tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, stem cell biology of obesity and diabetes, and stem cell toxicology and regulatory issues. Students and young investigators will be offered a range of opportunities to interact with senior investigators who will serve as role models for them. Students will be extensively exposed to stem cell research throughout the meeting. The meeting will also attract honors undergraduate students. They will have an eye-opening experience in a multidisciplinary stem cell and regenerative medicine research environment. The meeting proceedings will be disseminated through internet and meeting reports generated from the meeting. It is expected that stem cell research will remarkably boost both education and research programs, not only in the field of stem cell research but also in other areas, which will impact both the state and the nation.