An institute led by the University of Tennessee Health Science Center is gaining international reach, thanks to a new partnership with a worldwide interdisciplinary network.
The Tennessee Institute of Regenerative Medicine (TennIRM) has combined forces with the Regenerative Medicine Foundation (RMF) in an informal partnership to promote their common interest in stem cell therapeutics and regenerative medicine.
TennIRM was recently invited to become a member of The Regenerative Medicine Foundation, a comprehensive global network uniting the world’s leading researchers; medical centers; universities; labs; businesses; funders; policymakers; experts in law, regulation and ethics; medical philanthropies; and patient organizations. Membership in the non-profit foundation afforded UTHSC and TennIRM the opportunity to present at the foundation’s annual event, the World Stem Cell Summit, in June.
The summit, now in its 16th year, is the most inclusive and expansive interdisciplinary, networking, and partnering meeting in the stem cell science and regenerative medicine field. It has been an educational and networking focal point for scientists, business leaders, regulators, policymakers, patient advocates, economic development officers, experts in law and ethics, and visionaries from around the world since 2003. The summit provides multiple forums to discuss the impacts of current research and future opportunities that promise to accelerate the translation of cell-based therapeutics for patients.
UTHSC Vice Chancellor for Research Steve Goodman, PhD, moderated a featured session on the “Hot Topics and Future Trends” track at the virtual event. The session introduced to the RMF community the cutting-edge work in 3D bioprinting of stem cell-derived tissues being done by TennIRM’s research groups, and an introduction to the entity that will be handling its clinical trials, the Clinical Trials Network of Tennessee (CTN2). The hour-long presentation titled, “Discover Tennessee! Stem Cell Therapeutics and Regenerative Medicine: from Basic Research to Clinical Trials. The Tennessee Institute of Regenerative Medicine and CTN2 Story,” also afforded CTN2 the opportunity to solicit study proposals and inquiries for stem cell and regenerative medicine trials from sponsors and investigators in the RMF community.
Joining Dr. Goodman as presenters were three UTHSC representatives:
- Gabor Tigyi, MD, PhD, executive director, TennIRM, and Harriett Van Vleet Chair in Oncology Research; Harriet Van Vleet Endowed Professor
- James Kang, PhD, chief scientist, TennIRM and professor, UTHSC College of Graduate Health Sciences
- Phil Cestaro, executive director and treasurer of CTN2 and associate vice chancellor for Research and Business Development
“It is a pleasure for TennIRM and CTN2 to join forces with RMF toward our common goal of improving the health of the global community based on stem cell therapeutics and regenerative medicine,” Dr. Goodman said. “These will be major drivers of the practice of medicine and economic development for the remainder of the 21st Century and beyond.”
In addition to contributing this featured session, TennIRM also supported the event as a Gold Sponsor.
RMF is supporting a major event TennIRM recruited to Memphis this year, the 8th Annual International Experimental Biology and Medicine Conference. RMF has become the latest sponsor of the 2021 meeting, which this year is focused on regenerative medicine. The conference, slated for October 8-10, is an annual event of the Society of Experimental Biology and Medicine. Bringing thought leaders from around the globe to present as keynote and plenary speakers, the event is recognized as a premier international scientific meeting. The society selected Memphis as the first stateside location of its 8-year-old conference in recognition of TennIRM’s potential as a hub of biomedical innovation in the regenerative medicine field.
RMF is sponsoring the conference’s poster sessions, which will take place Friday evening, October 8. The foundation is also lending its clout in the form of increased exposure for the event among members of the regenerative medicine community at large.
“The World Stem Cell Summit was honored to showcase the Tennessee Institute for Regenerative Medicine and Clinical Trials Network of Tennessee, at the 16th World Stem Cell Summit,” said Bernard Siegel, JD, executive director of RMF and founder of the World Stem Cell Summit. “Now, the Regenerative Medicine Foundation is proud to add its support to the 8th International Experimental Biology and Medicine Conference in Memphis. Tennessee has clearly emerged as a model ‘go to’ hub for clinical trials, supply chain logistics and cellular medicine and tissue engineering research. A true national platform for all the curative technologies.”