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Mark your calendar: reserve September 21-23, 2008, for "Lab on the Lake": the World Stem Cell Summit, at Madison, Wisconsin, USA. Make your plane reservations early-- because if everyone who might be benefited by stem cell research were to come to the World Stem Cell Summit this year-- The rest of the planet would be empty! Probably not every one of Earth's seven billion inhabitants will trek to Wisconsin this September-the lines to the restrooms might be a little long-- but those who do come are guaranteed education, enlightenment, involvement, and a great time. http://www.worldstemcellsummit.com/ How can I guarantee this? Behind the Summit is Bernie Siegel, founder and executive director of the Genetics Policy Institute (GPI). Remember P.T. Barnum? The legendary promoter of Barnum and Bailey circuses, who could bring out the best in anything and everything, so that an evening's performance became "*An *Event of *Unparalleled *Magnitude*!", and a sign saying "This way to the Egress!" marked the way out-- the auditorium's back door. Substance: rock-solid stem cell advocacy credentials: as a lawyer, Bernie challenged the Raelians to produce their allegedly cloned "Baby Eve", helping defuse the mass hysteria surrounding the confusion of what is reproductive cloning (which nobody wants) and SCNT (Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer-copying cells-which may be vital in the quest for cure); an activist, he helped our champion Christopher Reeve make a video for the United Nations, to defeat the attempt to criminalize SCNT around the world. As an internationalist, Bernie can be found attending or addressing almost every world-wide stem cell gathering-and something more. A natural showman, the silver-haired Siegel makes near-incomprehensible stem cell science seem like what it is: the most important breakthrough in the world-and fun. We need this. If our endeavor is to succeed, we must appeal to all our stakeholders-and nobody does that better than Bernie. I asked him, what was the most important aspect to the "Lab on the Lake", which is the kick-off event of this year's gathering? "What is significant about GPI events is that they are serious efforts to put everything together for people. Patients can figure our how stem cells might improve their lives. Investors can understand the risks (sometimes political) and the rewards, policy-makers can get the lay of the land from leaders from around the world and researchers can figure out how their labs will get funded. Industries servicing the field can meet their customers. The whole shooting match in one place. "But the real group that needs to be empowered is the general public. If this paradigm- shifting research to bring about treatments to alleviate suffering, isn't it time to get on with it? "Lab on the Lake will deliver the goods.Top scientists speaking in plain English. Stem Cell Science celebrated- at last. A chance for students to get help with their careers, the world's largest student movement for stem cells to get motivated, the biology teachers to master the new stem cell curriculum. Its new. Never been done before! An experiment. An incredible experiment where we will give the public a chance to see a lab, meet the scientists first hand to get their questions answered, interact with students and teachers, become inspired. Build a movement to take this field to the next level!" That's Bernie-and that's why the Governor of Wisconsin, Jim Doyle, issued the following press release. Premier Researchers, Advocates and Investors Will Embark Upon Madison Sept. 21-23 MADISON - Governor Jim Doyle announced today that the World Stem Cell Summit will kick off with a free one-day public forum and festival September 21. "Lab on the Lake" will feature a career and education fair, stem cell movies and expert panels as part of the World Stem Cell Summit organized by the Genetics Policy Institute, University of Wisconsin-Madison Stem Cell & Regenerative Medicine Center and WiCell. "Stem cell research represents the promise to not only save lives, but to create economic opportunity for innovation and job growth as well. I am pleased to kick off this much anticipated gathering of world leaders with a free day of public activities that will allow residents and visitors to engage and learn more about this vastly important research field," Governor Doyle said. "Wisconsin will continue to blaze the future of stem cells, and the World Stem Cell Summit will bring together leaders from around the globe whose work represents the next frontier of hope for patients and the next generation of businesses for Wisconsin." The centerpiece of "Lab on the Lake" is a real lab experience through which participants can experience hands-on methods that scientists use to grow and study stem cells. The daylong event will also include an afternoon experts panel with scheduled guests UW-Madison stem cell scientists Dr. James Thomson, Timothy Kamp, Dr. Clive Svendsen, and Linda Hogle; stem cell talks by scientists Dr. Gabriela Cezar and Rupa Shevde; a stem cell workshop for teachers; and music on the Memorial Union Terrace. The World Stem Cell Summit, scheduled for September 22 - 23, 2008, will bring together premier researchers, advocates, investors, and other industry leaders in Madison to advance stem cell research and the promising technologies that will save lives. The World Stem Cell Summit is the preeminent gathering for the entire global stem cell community and will provide critical tools for leadership and advancements for the future of regenerative medicine. Regenerative medicine and stem cell technologies are estimated to become a $500 billion industry over the next 20 years. Since taking office, Governor Doyle has vastly expanded the state's investment in this critical field to capture 10 percent of the stem cell market by 2015. He also launched a $750 million initiative to develop stem cell research and biotechnology in Wisconsin. The centerpiece of this effort is the construction of the Institutes for Discovery in Madison, featuring public and private research facilities for interdisciplinary research and greater collaboration with industry on the UW-Madison campus. Additionally, Wisconsin's WiCell was selected as the nation's first and only National Stem Cell Bank by the National Institutes of Health in 2005. The World Stem Cell Summit comes to Wisconsin on the 10th anniversary of the breakthroughs of Dr. James Thomson and other UW-Madison researchers who became the first to successfully isolate and cultivate an embryonic stem cell line in 1998. Don Reed www.stemcellbattles.com Rayilyn Brown Board Member AZNPF Arizona Chapter National Parkinson's Foundation [log in to unmask] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn