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UKNSCN review report published: download below
The review report, which will contribute to deciding the future of the UKNSCN, has now been delivered to the Network's sponsors by the independent consultants People Science and Policy Ltd.
This report was due to be presented to the research community by the consultants at the open Community Meeting originally scheduled for 20 January 2009 at RIBA in London. However, the meeting was cancelled by the sponsors of the Network due to low take-up of places by members of the community. The consultants therefore presented their report to the sponsors of the Network and the Chairman of the UKNSCN Lord Patel at a closed meeting on 20 January at the MRC in London. Lord Patel accepted the recommendations in the review report and the Network's sponsoring Research Councils are now preparing to implement those recommendations. They will outline their plans at the UKNSCN's annual scientific conference in Oxford on 6-8 April
UK National Stem Cell Network Launched
The UK National Stem Cell Network (UKNSCN) was formally launched on 18 April 2007 by the Government’s Minister for Science and Innovation Mr Malcolm Wicks. Speaking at the launch event held at Lancaster House in London, the Minister described the requirement for a national body to improve the coordination of stem cell research and the dissemination of research results, in addition to providing a focal point for communication with overseas researchers, the media and the general public. He also congratulated the new National Network on the integral role it played recently in attracting the International Society for Stem Cell Research’s annual science conference for 2009 to London’s ExCel Centre, the first time the world’s premier stem cell research conference will be held in Europe. London can expect to host up to 7000 delegates from around the world in July 2009 when the conference takes place.
The proceedings were chaired by Lord Naren Patel of Dunkeld, chairman of the UKNSCN’s first Steering Committee. Mr Wicks’s speech was followed by four short presentations from the main regional stem cell networks in the UK, who expressed their support for the UKNSCN’s aims and activities at the national level, before going on to describe some of the initiatives they have implemented at a regional level:
East of England Stem Cell Network (EESCN) – Jeanette Walker, ERBI
Scottish Stem Cell Network (SSCN) – Marc Turner, SNBTS
Northeast England Stem Cell Institute (NESCI) – Michael Whitaker, Newcastle
London Regenerative Medicine Network (LRMN) – Chris Mason, UCL
The formal proceedings closed with a science presentation from Dr Julie Daniels of the Moorfields Eye Hospital in London, which described the successful application of limbal stem cell therapy in the regeneration of corneas after eye injury.
