2014 ISSCR Focus Sessions
COREdinates and WiCell: Tools for Basic and Applied Stem Cell Biology
Session 1: COREdinates: Core Faculty Consortium
Stem cell core facilities test, validate and standardize new technologies. We created a network of pluripotent stem cell core facilties (Stem Cell COREdinates) to save time, prevent duplication of resources and increase sampling across institutions. Most of our member labs focus on pluripotent stem cell culture, iPSC generation, engineering, differentiation and clinical work. Our goal is to share our experiences with each other and the field as a whole. This year, six of our member labs will present talks ranging from the role that stem cell cores plays to advance science and ending with the path to develop stem cell therapeutics.
Session 2: Advancing Stem Cell Treatments: Building Better Models
This focus session will bring together academic, pharmaceutical industry, and cure advocacy researchers who work on a variety of neural and muscular disorders to discuss current research tools, iPS cell-derived models, and the fields unmet needs. ISSCR members interested in the development of stem cell disease models, including genetic reprogramming tools and screening mechanisms involved, will benefit from the opportunity to engage panelists with diverse and unique viewpoints.
The Establishment of Global Resource Networks for iPSC Research
The session will address the major issues associated with ongoing international initiatives for large scale production of collections of iPSC lines. Topics for discussion will include the scientific applications of large collections, establishment of reference lines and standards for quality control, the challenges faced in distributing iPSCs across borders, and the role of funding agencies in support and coordination of large collections. An important thematic emphasis will be on the necessity for standardization and cooperation among the groups in this field from the earliest days.
