The ISCF Clinical Grade Stem Cell Banking Meeting is a by-invitation only workshop landmark workshop where issues relating to the use of human stem cell lines for therapy will be addressed by representatives of the more than 20 ISCF countries. The meeting will be held in Beijing 16-18th April 2008 and is being organized by the Chinese representatives of the International Stem Cell Forum (ISCF) as part of a programme called the ISCF International Stem Cell Banking Initiative. The workshop will include sessions on tumorigenicity, adventitious agents, use of defined growth media and supplements, donor selection and international shipment of cells. The first meeting of the International Cell Banking Initiative attracted delegates from 17 Countries and we anticipate a similar if not larger representation in Beijing. Participants to this meeting are to be nominated by the ISCF representatives of their native countries. The meeting will also include regulatory bodies from WHO, FDA and MHRA, etc in addition to inputs from NIH and the fabulously funded Californian CIRM organization. A few non-member countries and related organization and companies may also be invitation.

Running back to back with the workshop will be an open conference (“New Frontiers in Human Stem Cell Research”) on regulation and science in the stem cell area. Again participants from more than 20 countries are expected to attend this symposium. Discussion panels and lectures on stem cell biology as well as a hands-on lab training session will be offered. The goal of this cutting edge workshop is to raise awareness for important tissues that investigators should take into account in their future research in stem cell and regenerative medicine, from fundamental studies to clinical applications. This symposium is organized in three parts, including a hands-on training course for PI-level investigators (SE Asian and other international project PIs) who are currently or will be engaged in stem cell research related to clinical applications.

Click here for a brief introduction in Chinese.