Monrovia, CA -- (SBWire) -- 02/27/2012 --Glen Prestwich, Presidential Professor, Director,Therapeutic Biomaterials Center, Special Presidential Assistant for Faculty Entrepreneurism, Department of Medicinal Chemistry at University of Utah to give a Keynote Presentation on “Clinical Biomaterials for Regenerative Medicine: From Bench to Business” at GTC’s 8th Stem Cell Summit (April 19-20, 2012 in Boston, MA)

Clinical Biomaterials for Regenerative Medicine: From Bench to Business

Faculty entrepreneurism is a scholarly activity. There will be discussions on how policies have been implemented at the University of Utah that encourage faculty and student entrepreneurial activities through the Entrepreneurial Faculty Scholars and the Young Entrepreneurial Student Scholars programs. A case study for commercialization of a university technology in the area of regenerative medicine will also be discussed.

Clinical biomaterials for regenerative medicine. Injectable and biocompatible vehicles for delivery, retention, growth, and differentiation of progenitor cells are needed for cell therapy. The University of Utah has created a synthetic extracellular matrix (sECM) from hyaluronic acid (HA) that affords highly reproducible, manufacturable, approvable, and affordable biomaterials. The in situ crosslinkable sECM hydrogels can be customized for use with progenitor and mature cell populations obtained many tissues, including skin, fat, liver, heart, brain, muscle, bone, and cartilage. In addition, sECMs have been developed for rapid expansion and recovery of cells in 3-D, and for the bioprinting of engineered tissue constructs. The technology is being commercialized in three fields of use: human medical devices, cell therapy and research tools for 3-D cell culture, and veterinary wound care and adhesion prevention.

The 8th Stem Cell Summit includes two concurrent tracks including a couple joint sessions. This summit provides cutting-edge information on developments in all areas of stem cell research including the biology, medicine, applications, regulations, and the business of Stem Cells.

Recent developments in pre-clinical and clinical trials of stem cell therapy, regenerative medicine and tissue engineering, cancer stem cells, stem cell reprogramming, and regulatory policies regarding stem cell research will be addressed.

In addition, focuses on the business opportunities, challenges and potential strategies for overcoming these challenges will be addressed.

What categories of companies are currently commercially viable? How are they being funded? What kind of strategic relationships are available within the industry?

Session Topics for each track are shown below:

Track 1: Stem Cell Research & Regenerative Medicine:
-Funding Opportunities (Joint Session)
-Regulatory Guidance & Updates (Joint Session)
-Novel Advances in Stem Cell Research
-Advances in Regenerative Medicine and Tissue Engineering
-Overcoming Challenges in Clinical Development
-Bringing Research to Drug Discovery

Track 2: Stem Cell Commercialization & Partnering:
-Funding Opportunities (Joint Session)
-Regulatory Guidance & Updates (Joint Session)
-Novel Technologies in Stem Cell Research
-Partnerships & Acquisitions
-Panel Discussion: Partnerships & Acquisitions
-Commercialization: Bringing Drug to Market
-Panel Discussion: Commercialization: Bringing Drug to Market

Keynote & Featured Speakers Include:
Glen Prestwich, Presidential Professor, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Utah
Douglas W. Losordo, Vice President, Medical Director, New Therapies, Baxter
Leanna Caron, Vice President, Cell Therapy & Regenerative Medicine, Genzyme
Devyn M. Smith, Chief Operating Officer, Neusentis Research Unit, Pfizer
Sridaran Natesan, Scientific Site Head & Head, External Innovation & Partnering, Sanofi-Aventis
Brock Reeve, Executive Director, Stem Cell & Cancer Research Institute, Harvard Stem Cell Institute
Tiina Palomäki, SWP and CPWP, EMA, & Finnish Medicines Agency
Gregory Bonfiglio, Managing Partner, Proteus Venture Partners

The Stem Cell Summit will also be running concurrently with GTC’s 2nd Diabetes Summit.

For more information, please visit http://www.gtcbio.com