MEDIA ADVISORY PROMINENT NEUROSCIENTISTS DISCUSS THE POTENTIAL OF STEM CELLS TO ADVANCE TREATMENT OF SPINAL CORD INJURIES – Spinal Cord Injury Patients Share Their Experiences –

WHO: Speakers include:

• Os Steward, Ph.D. – Chair and Director of the Reeve-Irvine Research Center for Spinal Cord Injury at the University  of California, Irvine (UCI); Patient Advocate Board Member of the ICOC

• Hans Keirstead, Ph.D. – Assistant Professor at Reeve-Irvine Research Center for Spinal Cord Injury at UCI

• Roman Reed – Patient advocate (spinal cord injured)

• Don Reed – Father of Roman Reed; sponsor, California’s Roman Reed Spinal Cord Injury Research Act of 1999

• Ann Ruth – Patient advocate (spinal cord injured)

WHAT: The California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) is hosting an educational event during the Independent Citizens’ Oversight Committee (ICOC) meeting to raise awareness about spinal cord injury and the promise of stem cell and other related research to improve treatments and potentially provide cures.

At the start of each ICOC meeting, the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine spotlights a specific medical condition that could benefit from stem cell research and the treatment options currently available to patients. The spotlight on spinal cord injury is presented in partnership with the Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation, California for Cures, the Miami Project to Cure Paralysis and Research for Cure.

WHEN: Tuesday, July 12: 8 to 9 A.M.

WHERE: UCI University Club, Library
               University of California, Irvine
               801 East Peltason Drive
               Irvine, CA 92697

WHY: Raising awareness is part of CIRM’s mission to advance stem cell research toward identifying therapies and potential cures that address chronic disease and injuries, including juvenile diabetes, as well as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease, among others.

INTERVIEW OPPORTUNITIES:

  • Dr. Hans Keirstead who is well-known for his research in rehabilitating paraplegic mice with stem cells
  •  Roman Reed and Ann Ruth, advocates who live with spinal cord injury
  • Other Spinal Cord Injury patient advocates who will attend the event.
Media Contacts: Nicole Pagano
  ((415) 396-9100