The UConn/UConn Health Stem Cell Research Oversight (SCRO) Committee is pleased to announce the third in a series of presentations on cutting-edge topics in the field of stem cell research. The Miller Brown Stem Cell Seminar Series has been named in memoriam of our colleague and SCRO member, Dr. Miller Brown, in honor of his more than a decade of services to the Committee and his many contributions during that time.
"The Challenge of Unregulated Stem Cell Clinics"
Unapproved stem cell interventions make the stem cell clinic industry one of the most significant challenges facing regenerative medicine today. The U.S. stem cell clinic industry—a rapidly expanding network of nearly 2,000 clinics— continues to market and deliver interventions that often operate outside established regulatory requirements. These practices can expose consumers to substantial risks while undermining public trust in legitimate stem cell research and evidence-based therapies.
Join us for a virtual discussion of how federal and state authorities have responded to this growing challenge with Paul Knoepfler, PhD, Professor in the Department of Cell Biology and Human Anatomy at the University of California, Davis, and a nationally recognized expert on stem cell research, policy, and regulation. Dr. Knoepfler will examine the FDA's efforts to regulate the industry, highlighting strategies that have been effective as well as those that have fallen short, and explore how political considerations have influenced oversight and enforcement. He will also assess the impact of state-level actions, including legislation and attorney general initiatives, and consider whether these measures have helped address the problem or inadvertently contributed to it. Finally, he will explore emerging trends and consider how the regulatory, legal, and political landscape surrounding stem cell clinics may evolve in the years ahead.
Please join us virtually Wednesday, October 21st 4:00-5:00 PM EDT for this timely discussion.
To register: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/531BBMSwQ8yblsqaP_cMEw
Paul Knoepfler is a professor at UC Davis School of Medicine, studying the interplay between stem cell and cancer programming with a particular focus on epigenetics and genomics. He also does educational outreach and research on policy matters related to cell therapy development and FDA oversight. He is the author of three popular science books, including most recently, How to Build a Dragon or Die Trying: A Satirical Look At Cutting-edge Science with his daughter, Julie.
For more information, contact: SCRO at scro@uconn.edu