The Genetics Policy Institute (GPI) will honor philanthropist A. Alfred Taubman; Michigan Governor Jennifer M. Granholm; the Canadian Stem Cell Network; Stephen and Barbara Byer and the organization they founded, ALS Worldwide; and patient-advocate Laura Jackson at its 6th annual Stem Cell Action Awards dinner, which will be held on Tuesday, October 5, at the Marriott Renaissance Center as part of the 2010 World Stem Cell Summit in Detroit, Michigan.

Here are the 2010 Stem Cell Action honorees:

A. Alfred Taubman (National Advocacy Award) - A. Alfred Taubman’s visionary leadership has resulted in the establishment of the A. Alfred Taubman Medical Research Institute at the University of Michigan, which is doing innovative stem cell research focusing on developing treatments for ALS, cancer and a host of other medical conditions. His support for Michigan Citizens for Stem Cell Research and Cures and Cure Michigan made the critical difference in ending the restrictive legislation governing stem cell research in the state.

Michigan Governor Jennifer M. Granholm (National Leadership Award) - Governor Granholm is a long-time champion of stem cell research targeting lifesaving treatments to alleviate human suffering. Since taking office, she has effectively promoted Michigan’s biotech industry, which is now one of the fastest growing biotech sectors in the nation. The Governor has specifically targeted the burgeoning field of stem cell commercialization and regenerative medicine as a job creation and growth area for the state.

Canadian Stem Cell Network (Education Award) - The Network’s extraordinary commitment to public education has made it a model for other stakeholder groups. Some of the projects include the promotion of “Stem Cell Talks” public presentations; the production of a suite of summaries on stem cells, disease and ethics; and scientific support of the web site www.stemcellschool.org.

Stephen Byer, Barbara Byer and ALS WORLDWIDE (Grassroots Advocacy Award) - Ben Byer’s ALS diagnosis in 2002 propelled his parents, Stephen and Barbara Byer, to learn about stem cell protocols and other potential treatments for him and many others. After Ben’s death in 2008, they formalized their efforts by launching ALS WORLDWIDE, a not-for-profit organization committed to scientific research interpretation, patient advocacy and care. Their work toward distinguishing legitimate clinical trials from invalid treatments has had far-reaching influence. Over 5,000 patient families have benefited from the support ALS WORLDWIDE provides.

Laura Jackson (Inspiration Award) - Paralyzed in a cheerleading accident seven years ago, Laura Jackson has become a tireless and effective advocate for stem cell research. This lovely and articulate young woman has spoken at dozens of events under the auspices of Michigan Citizens for Stem Cell Research and Cures. She is also nationally recognized as a spokesperson on the issue of cheerleading safety.

“The Genetics Policy Institute’s Stem Cell Action Awards are presented at the annual World Stem Cell Summit, which is often referred to as the ‘conference of hope.’ We recognize the dedicated individuals and organizations that positively impact the cause of stem cell research. These exemplary heroes, through their actions and inspiration, bring us hope that treatments and cures will come about sooner rather than later,” said Bernard Siegel, Executive Director of GPI.

Past honorees include Michael J. Fox, Brooke Ellison, Bob Klein, Danny Heumann, Don Reed, the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation, Hadassah, the Parkinson’s Action Network, the National Association of Biology Teachers and many other prominent individuals and organizations. The 2010 World Stem Cell Summit is presented by GPI and is co-hosted by the University of Michigan, Michigan State University, Wayne State University, the University Research Corridor and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation.

This event has garnered more than 150 sponsors, supporting organizations and media partners. It is the flagship networking conference bringing together the world stem cell community.

For information on how to register for the World Stem Cell Summit or to sponsor and attend the Stem Cell Action Awards Dinner, visit www.worldstemcellsummit.com.

The Genetics Policy Institute (GPI) supports stem cell research to develop therapeutics and cures. GPI pursues its mission by honoring leadership through the Stem Cell Action Awards, producing the World Stem Cell Summit, publishing the World Stem Cell Report, organizing educational initiatives and fostering strategic collaborations. For more information about GPI, visit www.genpol.org or call 888-238-1423

A new synthetic Petri dish coating could overcome a major challenge to the advancement of human embryonic stem cell research, say University of Michigan researchers.

Under today's regulations, current stem cell lines have limitations in yielding human therapies because the cells have been grown on animal-based substances that don't behave in predictable ways.

"These nondefined, animal-based components create issues with the FDA (the U.S. Food and Drug Administration) and hinder clinical applications," said Joerg Lahann, associate professor of chemical engineering.

Lahann and Gary Smith, co-director of the Taubman Institute’s Consortium for Stem Cell Therapies and an associate professor in obstetrics and gynecology in the U-M Health System, built a new stem cell growth matrix that is completely synthetic and doesn't contaminate the stem cells with foreign substances that could interfere with their normal function.

A paper on the research was published online this week in Nature Biotechnology.

Today's most commonly used matrices are mouse embryonic fibroblast cells and Matrigel, which is made from mouse tumors.

"The problem is that the mouse-derived cells have batch-to-batch variability, and they secrete factors that nobody really understands. Stem cells are very sensitive to their environment," Lahann said.

The unknown factors hamper researchers' attempts to pinpoint how and under what conditions stem cells differentiate—questions paramount to the development of future stem cell therapies.

The team tested six different polymer coatings and found that a water-soluble gel with the acronym PMEDSAH performed well when attached to the Petri dish even after 25 rounds of harvesting stem cells to grow new colonies.

"We have designed a fully synthetic, fully chemically defined hydrogel that has long-term stability and no batch-to-batch variability," Smith said. "Moreover, we have established that it can be used for long-term growth of human embryonic stem cells while maintaining all of their known normal functions.

"These include normal genetic makeup, lack of spontaneous differentiation and maintenance of pluripotency, which means they can still become any cell type of the human body. This is a perfect example of an interdisciplinary collaboration leading to information gained and future discovery of cures and improvements of human health."

Smith is also an associate professor in the departments of Molecular and Integrative Physiology and Urology, as well as director of the Reproductive Sciences Program. Lahann is also an associate professor in the departments of Materials Science and Engineering and Biomedical Engineering.

The paper is called "Synthetic Polymer Coatings for Long-term Growth of Human Embryonic Stem Cells."

Additional coverage:

• annarbor.com

Taubman Scholar Max Wicha has discovered that a compound derived from broccoli could help prevent or treat breast cancer by targeting cancer stem cells -- the small number of cells that fuel a tumor’s growth. MORE

Two members of the U. S. Congress visited the Taubman Institute in Ann Arbor recently to hear what U-M scientists and other Michigan leaders had to say about the progress that has been made in stem cell science since the 2008 election, when state voters approved a constitutional amendment easing restrictions on the research.

Congressman Mark Schauer of Jackson, MI, and Diana DeGette from Colorado hosted a roundtable discussion on the potential for stem cell research to provide new treatments for disease and new life sciences jobs for Michigan.

Joining Reps. Schauer and DeGette on the panel were Max Wicha, M.D., Taubman Scholar and director of the U-M Comprehensive Cancer Center; Jeff Mason, executive director of the University Research Corridor, and Joe Schwarz, M.D., former member of Congress (R-MI) and Cure Michigan Chairman.

"Congresswoman DeGette and I came to the University of Michigan to learn from leaders in the stem cell community about the promise it holds not just for medical care but also for the economic prospects of the state,” said Rep. Schauer after the panel.

“What we heard from the scientists and from the economic development experts made us believe more firmly than ever in the potential of stem cell research.

“We were greatly impressed by what is happing in the laboratories of U-M's Taubman Institute and the hope it provides for the future, in curing disease and putting people to work."

“We now are one of the international clusters for life-saving research, so we'll attract that talent, and begin to incubate the industry, to begin to commercialize life-saving cures for diseases like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s," Schauer said.

Rep. Diana DeGette, a long-time champion of stem cell research, said that stem cell legislation would be likely be reintroduced in the U.S. House sometime this session. She was a cosponsors of similar legislation that was twice vetoed by the Bush Administration.

Also taking part in the discussions at U-M were Gary Smith, Ph.D., and Sue O’Shea, Ph.D., co-directors of the Taubman Institute Consortium for Stem Cell Therapies – U-M’s core facility for stem cell research; Cynthia Wilbanks, U-M Vice President for Government Relations; Rick Brossard, Government Affairs Office for the U-M Health System; and Tony Derezinski, Ann Arbor Councilmember.

The Advisory Board of the Taubman Institute held a special session on May 13 in the New York City offices of board member, Fred Wilpon.

He had suggested the meeting so that Advisory Board members who could not attend the annual meeting in Ann Arbor could learn more about the research being supported by the Taubman Institute and have a greater opportunity to participate in its governance.

Four Taubman Scholars offered progress reports of the advances they are making in theirs laboratories, thanks to support from the Taubman Institute:

• Eva Feldman, M.D., Ph.D., is leading the first ever human clinical trial of a stem cell therapy for ALS. She has begun adapting this therapy to Alzheimer’s disease.
• Max Wicha, M.D., has launched human clinical trials of medications designed for the first time to target cancer stem cells, the culprit in the growth and spread of the disease.
• Valerie Castle, M.D., has a clinical trial under way that looks to reduce the chemotherapy resistance of deadly neuroblastoma cells.
• David Pinsky, M.D., has discovered new drugs that can increase the body’s natural levels of enzymes that may be able to protect it from the damage of stroke.

Full details on these progress reports can be found on the pages of the individual Taubman Scholars.

The Advisory Board also discussed and approved a new Strategic Plan for the Taubman Institute, based on the work of the Strategic Planning Committee. Its members included A. Alfred Taubman, Karen Davidson, Eva Feldman, Marty Fischhoff, Gayle Taubman Kalisman, Bill Parfet, Colleen Sherman, Joel Tauber and William Taubman.

The plan now goes to the Institute’s Executive Committee for final approval.

Members of the Advisory Board attending the meeting were: A. Alfred Taubman, Karen Davidson, Kenneth Eisenberg, Gayle Taubman Kalisman, Robert Nederlander, Joel Tauber, William Taubman, Abigail Wexner, Fred Wilpon.

On the evening before the meeting, Ellen and William Taubman hosted a reception in their beautiful Manhattan home to introduce the Taubman Institute and its scientists to the New York community.

"We cannot thank Ellen, William or Fred enough for their hospitality and generosity in hosting these special occasions," said Dr. Feldman. "It shows their commitment to public service and to the mission of the Taubman Institute."

Alzheimer’s Disease is a devastating neurodegenerative disease characterized by dementia and memory loss. It afflicts more than 5 million people in America alone, exacting a terrible toll not only on patients and their families, but on the health-care system as a whole.

The University of Michigan Program for Neurology Research & Discovery, under the direction of Eva Feldman, M.D., Ph.D., has proposed a stem cell approach to Alzheimer’s Disease, which may for the first time bring relief to those suffering from the terrible affliction. It is based on a stem cell therapy that Dr. Feldman pioneered for the treatment of ALS (also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease) and that is undergoing human clinical trials at Emory University in Atlanta.

“There are similarities between ALS and Alzheimer’s Disease that make us believe that our stem cell therapy should prove effective for both,” says Dr. Feldman. “Both diseases affect the same kind of neuron, though in different parts of the body.

“If the treatment works for ALS, we think it will also nurture and protect neurons under attack in Alzheimer’s Disease.”

The cells under siege in both diseases are cholinergic neurons. In the case of ALS, they are located in the spinal cord of patients, impairing the connections they make with muscles throughout the body.

Dr. Feldman has shown that injecting a type of stem cell called a neuronal precursor cell into animal models of ALS has decreased the progression of the disease. Neuronal precursor cells can be grown in tissue culture. They continue to divide and, under the appropriate conditions, mature into specific types of neurons.

Dr. Feldman has demonstrated that these cells, when injected into animals with ALS, are able to protect cholinergic motor neurons that otherwise would have been lost to the disease. That is the approach being tested in the human clinical trials at Emory.

In Alzheimer’s Disease, the cholinergic neurons are situated in a portion of the brain known as the basal forebrain. These neurons create a network that connects areas of the frontal lobe, which regulate personality and behavior, with areas of the temporal lobe, which regulate learning and memory. Loss of these neurons is thought to be a major cause of Alzheimer’s Disease.

Dr. Feldman’s work on Alzheimer’s Disease will begin with an animal model of disease, and if successful, progress to human clinical trials. Neuronal precursor cells will be directly injected into the cholinergic centers of the brain in animals with the disease.

Her team of researchers will then assess the animals’ behavior and the rate of disease progression and correlate these measures with the survival and connectivity of the injected stem cells.

Dr. Feldman believes that the neuronal precursor cells will protect the cholinergic neurons, allowing them to maintain important connections within the brain and slowing the disease progression.

The neuronal precursor cells that will be used in these studies have already been approved by the FDA for human use. Therefore, positive results in the human clinical trials for ALS will have a direct bearing on their use to treat Alzheimer’s Disease. Read more from Crain's Detroit Business

Leading Metro Detroit business magazine explores the groundbreaking science of Dr. Feldman and here laboratory team.

For the complete article, please click here.

For the first time in the United States, stem cells have been directly injected into the spinal cord of a patient, researchers announced January 28.

For the complete article, please click here

Nearly 250 women – and a couple of men – turned out for the fifth annual Women’s Health & Fitness Day on Jan. 23 at Ypsilanti High School. The free community event, sponsored in part by the Taubman Institute, was organized by the women students of the U-M Medical School.

The participants had their choice of 25 workshops on various health topics, including depression, hypertension, cancer basics and dieting. They could also try yoga, fitball, zumba and other fitness classes.

The keynote speaker was Florine Mark, President and Chairwoman of the Board of WW Group, Inc., who told the crowd how she turned a personal need for losing weight into personal and professional success. At one time, she owned the largest collection of Weight Watchers franchises in the world, and still runs the largest franchise.

She is generally considered one of the most successful women in American, and judging by the women who lined up after her speech, she is an inspiration and role model for many.

In her speech she said it all starts with believing in herself: “Every morning I look in the mirror, and say, ‘Florine, you are great. You can accomplish anything you set out to do.’ ”

In her case, that is a lot.

"Ms. Mark was an incredible speaker and is an inspiration to women everywhere,” said Laurel Roberts, who was Co-Director of Women’s Health & Fitness Day, along with classmate Phoebe Danziger. “We are so fortunate that she joined us to share her story. She really motivated participants to believe in themselves and take positive steps to improve their lives.

"Women's Health and Fitness Day was a great success this year,” Laurel continued. “We were delighted to see so many local women come out to the event and make a commitment to improving their health and wellbeing."

The goal of Women’s Health & Fitness Day is to change the paradigm in which women interact with doctors only when they’re sick, by putting an emphasis on preventive care, fitness and other aspects of living a long and happy life.

For information, go to: www.umich.edu/~medfit/whfd2010 .

Michigan lawmakers should lay off trying to do an end run around what voters approved in November 2008.

For the complete editorial, please click here

One year after the Michigan voters approved a consititutional amendment lifting restrictions on embryonic stem cell research, the Detroit Free Press took a look at the progress that has been already been made in this field and the promise – as well as the issue – it holds for the future.

Much of the story revolved around the work being done on stem cell research at the Taubman Institute.

“This is a transformative time for medicine,” said Dr. Eva Feldman, the Institute’s director, in the article. She called the research “a new frontier.”
The story went on to say that stem cell research “may hold the secrets to saving lives -- and Michigan's economy.”

It pointed to the Taubman Institute’s new center for the derivation of embryonic stem cell lines as an indication of the strides Michigan has made, as well as the University of Michigan’s announcement that it would begin accepting donations of embryos for stem cell research and the imminent human clinical trial of a stem cell treatment for ALS. Feldman is the principal investigator on the trial.

Michigan has also been chosen as the host of the World Stem Cell Summit in October. Bernard Siegel, director of the Summit, told the Free Press that the state's research universities and the Taubman Institute were among the reasons his group was drawn to Detroit.

It wasn't even a tough decision, Siegel said: "We could have taken this conference to anywhere in the world … (but) this is ... the right place – no question about it.”

For the complete story, please click here

Researchers at the Taubman Institute’s Consortium for Stem Cell Therapies have received approval to begin accepting donated embryos that will be used to derive the university's first human embryonic stem cell lines. The cell lines will be used to study the causes and progression of inherited diseases, to test potential treatments and to seek cures.

The announcement was made Dec. 8 by Dr. Eva Feldman, director of U-M's A. Alfred Taubman Medical Research Institute, during a speech at the Detroit Economic Club.
The embryo-donation and cell-line derivation program is the first U-M project made possible by Proposal 2, the state constitutional amendment that eased restrictions on human embryonic stem cell research in Michigan.

Approved by voters in November 2008, the law allows Michigan researchers to derive new embryonic stem cell lines from donated embryos that would otherwise be discarded. Since the approval of Proposal 2, the university has worked to ensure that the research will comply with federal law and the Michigan Constitution, as well as extensive new regulations established last summer by the National Institutes of Health.

To ensure full compliance, the project had to be approved by U-M's Human Pluripotent Stem Cell Research Oversight Committee and the Medical School's Institutional Review Board. Both committees are composed of physicians, scientists, ethicists, attorneys and community members who evaluated whether the project would be conducted ethically, legally and to the benefit of patients. The project was approved Nov. 11.

The cell-line derivation work will be conducted by the U-M's Consortium for Stem Cell Therapies. Launched in March with funding commitments of about $2 million, the consortium involves researchers from across the U-M campus, as well as collaborators at Michigan State University and Wayne State University.

"During last year's Proposal 2 campaign, opponents of human embryonic stem cell research claimed the constitutional amendment would lead to unregulated science," said Gary Smith, co-director of the U-M consortium. "But the fact that it has taken many months to clear all the regulatory steps required to start this project demonstrates that human embryonic stem cell science is among the most highly regulated areas of research.

"At long last, University of Michigan researchers will join colleagues around the world in pursuing the full promise of embryonic stem cell research," said Smith, an associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology.

U-M scientists expect to achieve their first embryonic stem-cell-line derivation by mid-2010, Smith said. Lab space totaling 1,254 square feet has been secured for the work, and the labs have been outfitted with state-of-the-art equipment. Three new research associates have been hired for the project, and a fourth will be hired soon.

The consortium has secured all necessary approvals to begin accepting embryos that were created for reproductive purposes but are either no longer needed or are unsuitable for clinical use. In accordance with federal and state law, these gifts require the voluntary and informed consent of the donor, documented in writing.

"Because this represented the first project at the University of Michigan in which embryos were to be used for the derivation of embryonic stem cells, the committee worked exhaustively to ensure that the proposed research complies with all relevant state and federal regulations," said James Shayman, co-chair of the university's Human Pluripotent Stem Cell Research Oversight Committee.
"While this review took several months to complete, we believe that the committee, working in concert with the Medical School's Institutional Review Board, was duly diligent in this process," said Shayman, U-M's associate vice president for research, health affairs. "We believe that the proposed research meets or exceeds state and federal regulatory standards presently in place."

In addition to deriving new embryonic stem cell lines, consortium researchers will refine recently developed techniques to convert adult skin cells into induced pluripotent stem cells, known as iPS cells. These reprogrammed cells display the most scientifically valuable properties of embryonic stem cells, while enabling researchers to bypass embryos altogether.

"We will pursue all forms of stem cell research so that we can achieve scientific and medical breakthroughs, no matter where they come from," said Sean Morrison, director of the U-M's Center for Stem Cell Biology.

Early next year, the consortium will issue a call for proposals from U-M researchers seeking funding to derive new iPS cell lines, said Sue O'Shea, consortium co-director and professor of cell and developmental biology.

A top priority of the U-M-led consortium is to derive new lines of human embryonic stem cells and iPS cells that carry the genes responsible for inherited diseases.

"There are very few university programs in the United States deriving disease-affected embryonic stem cell lines," O'Shea said. "Our special niche will be creating, studying and understanding normal and abnormal development of disease-affected stem cell lines – both embryonic and iPS cell lines."

Early disease targets will likely include neurological disorders such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (Lou Gehrig's disease), Huntington's and Alzheimer's.

"Stem cell research has special application to neurological diseases," said Feldman, a professor of neurology. "Providing stem cell lines containing the genes that lead to specific diseases will be an incredible boon to medical scientists.

"It will help us understand the origin and progression of many diseases, allow us to test out new medications and therapies with an efficiency we could never have dreamed of, and ultimately find treatments for disease where none now exist," Feldman said. "This is a major step forward."

Smith said the new stem cell initiative will leverage one of the U-M's core strengths: interdisciplinary collaborative research. The stem cell consortium will build on existing collaborations between researchers at the Medical School, the School of Dentistry, the Life Sciences Institute and the College of Engineering, he said.

"These stem cell lines will yield new insights into the causes and progression of inherited diseases," Smith said. "Our cross-campus partnerships will enable us to integrate novel stem cell biological findings with recent advancements in engineering and material sciences to develop new disease treatments that will benefit patients."

Embryonic stem cells are the body's master cells; they replicate endlessly and form the more than 200 cell types in the human body. Scientists hope these remarkably versatile cells—and the iPS cells that mimic them—can someday replace faulty cells or diseased tissues in failing organs. This fledgling field is known as regenerative medicine, and the new Consortium for Stem Cell Therapies positions the University of Michigan to play a leadership role in this research.

"This initiative will help move the University of Michigan to the forefront of every aspect of stem cell biology," said Doug Engel, chair of the cell and developmental biology department and chair of the consortium's scientific advisory board. "In addition to enabling important new science and clinical work, it puts us in an incredibly strong position to pursue any new federal funds that become available for embryonic stem cell research, and to recruit the brightest young scientists in the field."

To create an embryonic cell line, researchers remove a cluster of cells from a five-day-old embryo roughly the size of a period at the end of a sentence. At this stage of development, there is no tissue specialization. The embryonic stem cells are extracted from the embryos and placed in a culture dish containing nutrients that nourish them while preventing them from differentiating into specialized cell types.

The cells divide and spread over the surface of the dish. When they begin to crowd the dish, the cells are gently removed and placed into several fresh culture dishes, a process called re-plating. If the cells can be successfully re-plated many times over several months, a new embryonic stem cell line—consisting of millions of genetically identical cells—has been established.

"We have been proceeding carefully in order to consider ethical, legal and human-research issues, but we are now prepared to move forward," said Dr. Timothy Johnson, chair of the U-M Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. "Stem cell technology has exciting potential to save lives and improve health, and it is important that all avenues of research are followed to make sure that cures happen as soon as possible."

Funding for the A. Alfred Taubman Medical Research Institute Consortium for Stem Cell Therapies has been pledged by: the Taubman Institute; Executive Vice President for Medical Affairs Dr. Ora Hirsch Pescovitz; former Executive Vice President for Medical Affairs Dr. Robert Kelch; Medical School Dean Dr. James Woolliscroft; the Comprehensive Cancer Center; the Department of Pediatrics and Communicable Diseases; the Office of the Vice President for Research; the School of Dentistry; the Department of Pathology; the Department of Cell and Developmental Biology; the College of Engineering; the Life Sciences Institute; and the Department of Neurology.

 Information about donating embryos to the U-M Consortium for Stem Cell Therapies

As Michigan struggles to find its way out of economic distress, stem cell research has the potential of leading the state into a more prosperous future, in addition to being one of the most important medical breakthroughs in a generation.

That was the message of Dr. Eva Feldman, director of the A. Alfred Taubman Medical Research Institute at the Medical School, as she addressed the Detroit Economic Club meeting on Tuesday.

Feldman also announced that the new Consortium for Stem Cell Therapies at U-M would be accepting embryo donations for the first time, according to careful guidelines spelled out by government and university regulations.

Also there for the announcement and to address media were Sue O'Shea, the Crosby-Kahn Collegiate Professor of Cell and Developmental Biology and professor of cell and developmental biology, and Gary Smith, associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology, and associate professor of molecular and integrative physiology and of urology. O’Shea and Smith are co-directors of the Consortium for Stem Cell Therapies.

In addition, Feldman told the overflow crowd that a bill currently before the Legislature that would place restrictions on stem cell research is a step backward for the state and for medical science.

In November 2008, voters in the state of Michigan approved a constitutional amendment lifting restrictions on embryonic stem cell research in the state. For the first time, medical scientists in Michigan could derive embryonic stem cell lines, an important tool in finding new treatments and cures for a wide range of diseases.

Feldman described the major strides that have been made in the past year in Michigan, as a result of the vote.
“Michigan went from being one of the five states which prohibited this kind of research,” said Feldman, “to being at the very forefront of stem cell science.

“This work has incredible potential for both curing disease and rejuvenating an ailing economy.”
Feldman explained how stem cells have the unique ability to reproduce themselves indefinitely and to develop into any tissue type in the human body. For this reason, they offer unprecedented applications in the fields of regenerative medicine, tissue engineering, drug testing and other technologies that scientists have not even dreamed of yet.

Stem cell research also offers unique opportunities for economic growth in the life science sector, which has demonstrated remarkable vitality while the rest of the Michigan economy has languished in recession.

Citing a recent study by Wayne State University, Feldman explained that stem cell research has the potential to create nearly 4,000 new jobs, add $80 million per year to the state’s payrolls, while saving Michigan $80 million per year in health care costs.
The university long has been a leader in medical research. The school received more money in recent stimulus grants from the NIH than any other university in the country — $99.7 million. Nearly $7 million was earmarked for stem cell research.

A. Alfred Taubman, founder and chair of the Taubman Institute, introduced Feldman. He, too, cited the promise of stem cell research in the economic realm.

“I’m convinced it is one of our best opportunities to attract investments, create jobs and emerge from this recession with a revitalized economy.”

Taubman and Feldman touched upon legislation that has been introduced in the Legislature that would once again restrict stem cell research.

Taubman said if the legislation succeeds, it would place huge roadblocks in the way of progress.

“Michigan will once again be seen as a state unfriendly to science. The jobs, the talent and the cures will go elsewhere.

“We can’t let that happen.”

Additional coverage

• Associated Press
• The Detroit News
• Detroit Free Press
• WWJ-AM/Great Lakes IT Report
• U-M Record Update
• annarbor.com
• Michigan Daily
• WJR-AM
• WUOM

For three days next October will be the center of all things stem cell, and the Taubman Institute will play a leading role.

Gov. Jennifer M. Granholm announced that the 2010 World Stem Cell Summit will be held in Detroit, co-hosted by the three schools that comprise the University Research Corridor: the University of Michigan, Michigan State University and Wayne State University.

At the University of Michigan, the Taubman Institute, the Life Sciences Institute and the Office of the Vice President for Research will be actively involved in helping to plan the event.

The conference will take place Oct. 4-6, 2010, at the Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center.

"We have been working to grow Michigan's life sciences sector as part of our strategy to diversify the state's economy and create jobs," Granholm said. "The World Stem Cell Summit is one of the most important life sciences conferences in the world. The selection of Detroit to host the 2010 summit is positive recognition and support of our efforts here in Michigan in this emerging economic sector."

The summit will attract more than 1,200 of the most influential stem cell stakeholders from more than 30 countries representing the fields of science, business, policy, law, ethics and advocacy. There will be more than 150 internationally renowned speakers, producing a unique international network designed to foster collaborations, economic development, technology transfer, commercialization, private investment and philanthropy. It is estimated that it will pump more than $1 million into the local economy.

The event will be organized by the non-profit Genetics Policy Institute. In addition to the three University Research Corridor partner universities, the event will be co-hosted by the Michigan Economic Development Corp.

Covered at the summit will be all areas of stem cell science, disease models, drug discovery, tissue engineering, bioreactors and nanotechnology. There will be progress reports on treatment for cancer, diabetes, spinal cord injury, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, ALS, neurological disorders and cardiovascular disease. Panels will discuss commercialization, funding, economic development, regulatory agency perspectives, law and ethics.

"Stem cell research and discovery are of tremendous importance not only to scientists, patients and families, but also to transforming our state's economy," said University of Michigan President Mary Sue Coleman. "The University of Michigan is excited to welcome the 2010 World Stem Cell Summit to Michigan."

“Think about how far we’ve come in this state,” said A. Alfred Taubman. “A year ago we couldn’t do the research. Next year, we will be the center of stem cell science.”

Renowned bioethicist and health care authority, Ezekiel Emanuel, M.D., Ph.D., envisions a dramatic change in the relationship between physicians and their patients as medicine evolves in the future.

He described this new approach in the keynote address of a New Era in Medicine Symposium on October 16, sponsored by the Taubman Institute and the Michigan Institute for Clinical and Health Research (MICHR) at the University of Michigan.

Dr. Emanuel, the head of the Bioethics Department at The Clinical Center of the NIH, sees a day when the nation’s health system shifts its emphasis from “high tech” to “high touch” medicine. This means focusing on primary care, increased accessibility to services, preventive medicine and other ways to treat patients’ conditions before they escalate to the point where hospitalization or costly procedures are necessary.

These innovations are currently being tested in a number of locations and in a number of forms. The result, says Dr. Emanuel, is better health care for patients and greater savings for the system as a whole.

“Dr. Emanuel did a fantastic job looking into the future of medicine and finding a better health care system – and one we can afford,” says A. Alfred Taubman, founder and chair of the Taubman Institute. “It was a provocative and illuminating presentation, which can help inform the public debate as we go forward.”

For the first time this year, the annual Symposium was a joint venture of the Taubman Institute and MICHR, two U-M Medical School organizations dedicated to accelerating the pace by which medical treatments are developed from basic and clinical research.  

They chose the theme, a New Era in Medicine, to examine the rapid changes taking place both in health care provision and medical research.
Leading U-M medical scientists also spoke:

• Kenneth J. Pienta, M.D., director of MICHR, explained how the organization trains and educates U-M medical scientists in clinical and translational research.
• Taubman Scholar David Pinksy, M.D., shared his research on preventing and limiting the damage of strokes.
• James Dowling, M.D., Ph.D., described his work on childhood muscle diseases.

Dr. Feldman used the occasion to announce that Dr. Dowling had been named the Taubman Institute’s first Emerging Scholar. This new program seeks to support clinician researchers at an early stage in their professional careers.

“We recognize that there are many pressures that are causing a growing number of physicians leaving residencies to abandon a career in research,” says Dr. Feldman. “We are in danger of losing some of the most promising medical scientists in the next generation.

“This program will encourage them to continue their work in the laboratory.”

• View a slideshow of the Symposium
  

One of Ann Arbor’s favorite events is set for October 4, 2009

Last year’s Big House Big Heart run drew more than 7,000 people to the streets of Ann Arbor, where they raised nearly $250,000 for worthy charities. This year, it expects 10,000 people to do even more to support U-M’s Program for Neurology Research & Discovery and other worthy causes.

The Big House Big Heart run is the only charitable event that gets to use the U-M Stadium. Participants can run a 10K or 5K course or join a 1 mile Fun Run. Everyone finishes by running through the tunnel that leads to the football field and onto the 50 yard where they can watch themselves cross the finish line on the Jumbotron.

“Seeing all those running bursting into the Big House, their arms raised in victory, is a sight to behold,” says Eva Feldman, Director of the Program for Neurology Research & Discovery.

“But it’s even more thrilling to know that all these people are running to find a cure for ALS and to support other worthwhile charities.” 

A portion of all entrance fees go to three U-M beneficiaries: ALS Research at the Program for Neurology Research and Discovery, the Cardiovascular Center and the Mott Children’s Hospital.

In addition, participants can raise money for a charity of their choosing.

This year, A. Alfred Taubman, Founder and Chair of the Taubman Institute, will join U-M President Mary Sue Coleman, in kicking off the race. He will also receive the Phil Bowen Award, given each year to the individual who does the most to raise public consciousness about ALS.

Stem cell research has the potential of transforming what we know about human biology and how we treat a host of human diseases.

The University of Michigan is at the forefront of this new technology, all made possible by the passage of a constitution amendment in November lifting restrictions on the research.

You can see the amazing progress being made in stem cell research in a new video, produced by Michigan Television as part of its “Out of the Blue” series.

This revealing look at stem cell research will be shown two more times this week on the Big Ten Network, a cable channel that broadcasts features and sports from the universities that comprise the conference.

You can also watch the video here.

It features Eva Feldman, M.D., Ph.D., the director of the Taubman Institute, who explains her efforts to develop and test stem cell therapies for a wide variety of disorders including ALS, diabetes and Alzheimer’s Disease. Eva takes us inside her lab to show us the research that she and her team are conducting to take what they have learned about stem cell biology and turn it into new treatments and cures.

It also tells the poignant story of one of her patients, a University of Michigan professor who has developed ALS. The segment drives home the critical nature of this research – the hope it offers to those suffering from disease.

It shows that the road to a cure for these diseases may be long. But it’s no longer a question of whether we will get there, but when.

ALS Day at Comerica Park

Seventy years ago this summer, Lou Gehrig gave one of the most famous farewell speeches in American sports history. “I am the luckiest man on the face earth,” he told the fans at Yankee Stadium.

The Iron Horse, who had played in 2,130 consecutive games, was knocked out of the New York lineup by ALS – the same terrible disease that the Program for Neurology Research & Discovery struggles to understand every day in its laboratories.

Throughout the season, Major League Baseball is honoring the memory of Lou Gehrig and the fight against ALS at ballparks around the country.

On Sunday afternoon, August 9, the Detroit Tigers held a special ALS Day, to raise public awareness about the disease and to encourage people to participate in the Big House Big Heart Run/Walk on October 4. This annual Ann Arbor event raises money for ALS research at U-M and other worthwhile causes.

Dr. Eva Feldman, Director of the Program for Neurology Research & Discovery, told 42,000 Detroit Tigers fans about the ongoing battle to find a cure for ALS, the terrible disease that knocked Lou Gehrig out of the Yankee lineup 70 years ago.

A. Alfred Taubman, Chair of the Taubman Institute, joined event organizer Mike Highfield in urging the crowd to fight the disease by signing up for the Big House Big Heart Run on Sunday, October 4.

Ten thousand people are expected to take part in the event. They will make their way through the streets of Ann Arbor and into the tunnel leading onto the U-M Stadium football field, where they will watch themselves on the Jumbotron as the finish the race on the 50 yard line.

Taubman, along with U-M President Mary Sue Coleman, will kick off the race. He will also receive the Phil Bowen Award, given each year to the individual who does the most to raise public consciousness about ALS.

• See the video on ALS Day at Comerica Park here.
  

The Taubman Institute Lecture will feature Anders Sima, M.D., Ph.D., professor of pathology, neurology and neurosurgery, Wayne State University. Sima will present "Is C-peptide the Missing Link to Successful Treatment of the Complications of Type 1 Diabetes?" at 9 a.m., Friday, July 17, in the Biomedical Science Research Building auditorium. This lecture is sponsored by the A. Alfred Taubman Medical Research Institute. Full Article(pdf)

Approximately 35 scientists, regulatory experts and economic development officials convened on June 4 in the first statewide stem cell research meeting since the passage of Proposal 2 in the November election, which lifted restrictions on this crucial new field of inquiry.

The session, hosted by the A. Alfred Taubman Medical Research Institute, was a chance for scientists and other life science professionals to learn about each other's work and to brainstorm ways to work more closely together. Full Article

A Consortium is being formed at the University of Michigan’s Taubman Institute to create embryonic stem cell lines to aid in the quest for new treatments and cures for human disease.

The A. Alfred Taubman Medical Research Institute Consortium for Stem Cell Therapies is the first major embryonic stem cell research program launched in Michigan since the Nov. 4 passage of a state constitutional amendment allowing scientists to create new stem cell lines using surplus embryos from fertility clinics.

The launch of the center, combined with the recent state law change and President Obama's executive order loosening restrictions on federal funding for embryonic stem cell research, is expected to transform stem cell research at the University of Michigan. Full Article

The first year of the Taubman Institute ended with a flurry of activity. Much of it revolved around the burgeoning field of embryonic stem cell research, and the promise it holds for providing new treatments and cures for a wide variety of diseases.

In October, the Institute held its first Symposium and Advisory Board meeting, at which time its founder and chair, A. Alfred Taubman, gave it a very generous birthday gift: $22 million.

On November 4, Michigan voters approved a state constitution amendment lifting many of the restrictions on embryonic stem cell research. It was a major step forward for doctors and researchers. It allows Michigan to join the other 45 states that allow this exciting, new field of medical inquiry.

In the run-up to the election, the Taubman Institute joined many others at the University of Michigan in an effort to educate the public about stem cell research, so that voters could make an informed decision on this crucial issue. Full Article

The Taubman Institute devoted its first annual Symposium on October 7 to the subject of embryonic stem cell research. The theme was “New Frontiers in Stem Cell Therapies,” and a near-capacity crowd turned out to hear keynote speaker James F. Battey, Jr., M.D., Ph.D, vice chair of the NIH Stem Cell Task Force, talk about both the challenges ahead as this new technology becomes incorporated into research experiments and clinical trials and the great opportunities it provides for medical discovery. In addition, three Taubman Scholars shared the progress they are making in stem cell research with the aid of Institute funding. Full Article

In between speakers, members of the audience could view a Poster Session, in the halls of the Biomedical Science Research Building, in which nearly 30 entrants demonstrated some of the best stem cell research being performed by U-M scientists. The winners, among other prizes, will get to explain their findings over lunch to Alfred Taubman.

• View video of Taubman Symposium

As one of the chief advocates of biomedical research in Michigan, A. Alfred Taubman will be a frequent guest on WWJ-TV (Channel 62 in Metro Detroit) this coming weekend.

He will be featured in the CBS affiliate’s upcoming special, "Rx for Michigan,” which examines the potential of the life sciences to stimulate economic growth in the state of Michigan.

Hosted by WWJ-TV’s Editorial Director Carol Cain, the show will premiere during prime time on Saturday, February 7 at 9 p.m. Full Article

The Taubman Institute’s Advisory Board met for the first time on October 7. Comprised of leaders from business, science and the community, its responsibilities include nurturing the mission of the organization, monitorings its progress and charting its future.

The members heard from Robert P. Kelch, M.D., U-M’s executive vice president for medical affairs, as he shared his vision for the Hospital System. Taubman Scholars updated them on their latest research. And the Advisory Board discussed the Institute’s programs, including the new Taubman Institute-Israel Initiative, which seeks to build collaborations between U-M medical scientists and their colleagues in Israel.

They also considered the idea of establishing Junior Scholar grants for up-and-coming U-M scientists who show great promise.

To cap off the first year of the Institute, founder Alfred Taubman announced that he was bequeathing an additional $22 million in funding to further its quest for medical discovery. It will be added to a similar figure donated last year to establish the endowment.

It brings Taubman’s total gifts to the University of Michigan to more than $80 million. That speaks volumes to his commitment to the University, medical research and the people of this state. Full Article.

Nearly 30 U-M scientists entered the poster session competition held in conjunction with the first A. Alfred Taubman Medical Research Institute Symposium on October 7. Like the Symposium, the poster session focused on stem-cell research, and it received a steady flow of viewers throughout the day.

The winners received cash prizes, as well as a chance to discuss their research with Taubman Institute founder and chair A. Alfred Taubman. Full Article