We are living longer and cases of Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and other age-related diseases are on the rise. Stem cell interventions have been viewed as a critical tool in the kit of addressing these debilitating illnesses. For years, scientists involved with stem cell research faced difficult political headwinds given the historical reliance on using human embryos. Despite this, California voters put in a 10-year bond program to fund stem cell research. Fortunately, scientists have now found ways to use a patient’s own stem cells rather than rely on the use of embryonic stem cells, largely diffusing the political constraints.

 

Join noted scientists Dr. Brian Kennedy, director of the Centre for Healthy Ageing, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine at National University Singapore, and Dr. Xianmin Zeng, professor at the Buck Institute for Research on Aging, as well as former State Senator Art Torres, for a discussion on the state of stem cell research and therapy, including issues surrounding clinical trials, and efforts to increase research support in order to accelerate the development of treatments for a variety of diseases.