Date:
Thursday, May 17, 2007
Time: Noon to 1:00
Title: "From Stem Cells to the Clinic: Our plans in Edinburgh"
Speaker: Professor Ian Wilmut,
Director, Centre for Regenerative Medicine
University of Edinburgh
Ian Wilmut is the Director of the recently established Scottish Centre for
Regenerative Medicine at the University of Edinburgh. The Mission of this
rapidly expanding Centre is to develop new treatments for human disease through
innovative research with stem cells. The Centre will act as a focus within
Scotland not only for the research with stem cells, but also the clinical and
commercial opportunities that arise from the research.
Ian Wilmut was previously Head of the Department of Gene Function and
Development at the Roslin Institute where his group produced Dolly, the first
clone from an adult animal and went on to use the new methods to introduce
precise genetic change into livestock. The research of Ian’s own group continues
to be directed toward new understanding of the biology of gametes
and embryos and with exploiting that new knowledge in research, agriculture and
medicine.
The method of nuclear transfer developed at Roslin will provide entirely new
means of studying inherited human diseases such as Motor Neuron Disease, other
neurodegenerative diseases, cardiomyopathy and cancer. Other research is
concerned with molecular events at fertilization which influence both the
probability of the embryo being able to develop to term and the health
of any offspring over their lifetime. The remodeling of nuclear and chromatin
structure are brought about by the activity of unknown factors in the egg.
Errors at this early stage may lead to prenatal loss and post-natal disease.
Understanding the mechanisms that are established during early development is
therefore fundamental to improving human health and reproduction.
Where: Waisman
Center Auditorium
(located on the ground floor of the West Wing)
1500 Highland Ave.
Please note: There is no parking available
For Further Information: Contact Teresa Palumbo at 263-5837 or
palumbo@waisman.wisc.edu
