Past Events
October 19, 2012
2012 Stem Cell Educational Symposium
3rd Annual Texans for Stem Cell Research Symposium
We are proud to announce October 19, 2012 will be the date for our 3rd annual stem cell symposium at the State Capitol. Senator Kirk Watson, an ardent supporter of TSCR over the years, graciously secured the Capitol for this year’s event.
TSCR is grateful for the world renowned doctors and scientists who are taking time out of their busy schedules to give us the latest updates on their cutting edge research.
TSCR would also like to thank Keri Kimler and Megan Combs with Texas Cures and TSCR Advisory Council members, the program chairs, for their tireless efforts in putting this program together.
The purpose of the symposium is to highlight the responsible stem cell research and clinical trials currently taking place in Texas. Many of these trials are being conducted by members of our Medical Advisory Committee. These trials include heart disease, stroke, blindness and many more.
We will also give you an update on the latest developments on rules and regulations enacted by legislation (Senate Bill 7) last session and the prospects for possible stem cell legislation in the upcoming session.
(See TSCR’s public comments to the Department of State Human Services (DSHS) regarding adult autologous stem cell bank in Texas by clicking here)
So, put October 19, 2012 on your calendar and come learn the latest on the incredible strides being made in Texas that are sure to help our fellow Texans living healthier lives free of disease.
The symposium starts at 8:30am at the Capitol and ends at 5pm.
Please tell your friends and register now!
Please click for more information, scheduling, speaker list, and RSVP.
If you have any questions, feel free to call David L. Bales at 512-797-2703.
Event Speakers
Terry Clower, PhD Associate Professor, Director of Center for Economic Development and Research University of North Texas (Denton, Texas)
William K. Decker, PhD Assistant Professor Department of Pathology and Immunology Baylor College of Medicine (Houston, Texas)
Ali Denktas M.D., FACC, FSCAI Assistant Professor of Medicine, (Cardiology) The University of Texas Medical School at Houston (Houston, Texas)
Randal F. Dryer, MD Central Texas Spine Institute, LLP (Austin, Texas)
Roger Gammon, MD Medical Director of Research Interventional Cardiologist Austin Heart, PLLC (Austin, Texas)
Adrian Gee, MI Biol, PhD Professor Departments of Medicine and Pediatrics Section of Hematology-Oncology Baylor College of Medicine Director, Clinical Applications Lab Center for Cell and Gene Therapy (Austin, Texas)
Jim Henson, PhD Lecturer, Department of Government Director, Texas Politics Project Department of Government, College of Liberal Arts The University of Texas at Austin (Austin, Texas)
Jenny Hsieh, PhD Department of Molecular Biology UT Southwestern Medical School (Dallas, Texas)
Paul S. Knoepfler, PhD Associate Professor Cell Biology & Human Anatomy Genome Center, Cancer Center Institute for Regenerative Cures School of Medicine University of California, Davis (Davis, California)
Mary Pat Moyer, PhD Founder, President, CEO and Chief Science Officer, INCELL Corporation, LLC Founder, CEO and Technical Advisor, TEKSA Innovations Corp. Adjunct Professor, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (San Antonio, Texas)
Emerson Perin, MD, PhD FACC Director, Clinical Research for Cardiovascular Medicine Medical Director of the Stem Cell Center Texas Heart Institute Staff Interventional Cardiologist at St. Luke’s Episcopal Hospital Clinical Assistant Professor of Internal Medicine Baylor College of Medicine and The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (Houston, Texas)
Darwin J. Prockop, MD, PhD FACC Professor, Deptartment of Molecular and Cellular Medicine, Director, Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Texas A&M Health Science Center, College of Medicine at Scott & White (Temple, TX)
Sean I. Savitz, MD Associate Professor, Department of Neurology, Director, Stroke Program Director, UT Stroke Regenerative Medicine Program, University of Texas Medical School at Houston (Houston, Texas)
Jay W. Schneider, MD, PhD Assistant Professor, Department of Internal Medicine- Cardiology University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas (Dallas, Texas)
Doris A. Taylor, PhD, FAHA, FACC Director, Regenerative Medicine Research Texas Heart Institute at St. Luke’s Episcopal Hospital Texas Medical Center Houston, Texas
James T. Willerson, MD, FACC President and Medical Director:Texas Heart Institute, Edward Randall III Professor in Internal Medicine, The University of Texas Health Science Center (Houston, Texas)
Paul Wong, PhD Professor Science Park – Research Division Professor, Department of Molecular Carcinogenesis, Science Park-Research Division, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Smithville, TX Adjunct Professor, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, TX Adjunct Professor, Department of Microbiology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX (Smithville, TX)
Texas Capitol, Capitol Extension and Capitol Visitors Center
Parking is available in the Capitol Visitors Parking Garage at 1201 San Jacinto located between Trinity and San Jacinto Streets at 12th and 13th streets. Parking is free for the first two hours and $1.00 for each half hour thereafter (maximum daily charge: $8.00); accessible parking is available with accessible routes to the Capitol. Metered spaces are available throughout the complex.
Parking is available in the Capitol Visitors Parking Garage at 1201 San Jacinto located between Trinity and San Jacinto Streets at 12th and 13th streets. We recommend you allow 15-20 minutes for parking, walk and securtiy check.
The Capitol Extension, located on the north side of the Capitol, is a four-level underground structure which was completed in 1993. It was built to provide the Capitol with much-needed additional space without detracting from its appearance and historical importance. It is connected to the Capitol by three pedestrian tunnels. The symposium will begin at 8:30 AM in the Capitol Extension Auditorium (E1.004).
Extension Floor (E1) Map (Link to Map)
The Capitol Extension Auditorium (E1.004) is directly across the hall from the cafeteria. You must enter the Capitol from North, South, East, or West entrance. After you get through security take the central hall to the Seal Court. Auditorium is across from the cafeteria E1.004
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Special Thank you to Senator Kirk Watson For his unwavering support of our education efforts in Texas. Senator Watson sponsored our use of The Texas Capitol Extension auditorium for this historic event.
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The 3rd Annual Event was organized to coincide with Stem Cell Awareness Day 2012
May 4, 2012
Collaborating for Cures Educational Program
What
"Collaborating for Cures" - Emerging Translational Research in the Stroke and TBI Care Continuum
When
Friday May 4, 2012
1:00 - 5:00 PM | Reception 5:00 - 6:30 PM
Where
Shoal Crossing Event Center
8611 North Mopac Expressway
Austin, TX 78759
Regulatory and Policy Considerations for Adult-Derived Stem Cells
Stanley Wang, MD, JD, MPH
Advances in Neuroimaging & Brain Injury
Erin D. Bigler Ph.D.
Traumatic Brain Injury Rehabilitation and Quality of Life
James S. Misko, Psy.D.
Imaging Biomarkers in Acute Stroke: The Key to Therapeutic Advances
Steven Warach, MD, PhD
Why Do Clinical Trials in TBI Keep Failing? And What Can We Do about It?
Alex B. Valadka, MD, FAANS, FACS
Tom Caven, MD, Program Moderator
April 26, 2012
Learn for Life, DFW Area
We are very pleased to announce our DFW symposium, Learn for Life! Please Join us April 26th!
This Learn for Life Educational Event will be held in Euless for stem cell scientists, physicians, investors, entrepreneurs, elected officials, and you!
Seminar 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Entertainment 5:30 PM – 8:00 PM
The Conference Center At Texas Star
1400 Texas Star Pkwy, Euless, TX 76040
Singin’ for Cures:
The Transactivators
Welcoming Remarks:
Featured Speakers:
Dr. Terry Clower, University of North Texas
Dr. Sean Morrison, UT Southwestern
Dr. Eric Olson, UT Southwestern
Dr. Jay Schneider, UT Southwestern
November 4, 2011
Symposium at Texas A&M Campus
Our distinguished scientists continue to provide excellent forums for education and this is an event you simply should not miss!
Dr. Theresa Fossum, Director of the Texas Institute for Preclinical Sciences, and Dr. Darwin Prockop, Director of the Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine, are organizing a mini-symposium on the exciting science and progress that we and others are making in developing new therapies with adult stem cells and the proteins they produce.
This symposium will be informative to a broad audience and perhaps even foster further interactions and progress. The seminar will be held at the TIPS building in College station beginning at 9:15 am on Friday, November 4. Be sure to RSVP before October 24th.
Our team will be there and we hope you will join us!
November 1, 2011
Stem Cell Therapy in the Treatment of Patients with Ischemic Heart Failure
Scientific advancements in the stem cell field can lead to new treatments and therapies for diseases and medical disorders for which we have few or no effective medications or treatment options. The emerging field of regenerative medicine capitalizes on unparalleled collaboration among leading scientists, requires innovative technologies and holds the potential to benefit society through improved health care, disease prevention and treatment.
The technologies, processes and equipment necessary to develop these new treatment options are of great scientific, technical and commercial interest and many companies are investing in this promising science and innovation across Texas today.
The Austin Forum on Science, Technology and Society and Texans for Stem Cell Research will co-host this event and are honored to present Emerson Perin, MD, PhD. Dr. Perin is the Director of Clinical Research for Cardiovascular Medicine and the Medical Director of the Stem Cell Center at the Texas Heart Institute at St. Luke’s Episcopal Hospital, as well as the Staff Interventional Cardiologist at St. Luke’s Episcopal Hospital. He is also Clinical Assistant Professor of Internal Medicine both at Baylor College of Medicine and The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston.
Dr. Perin has provided innovative cardiovascular care for 20 years, focusing on minimally invasive interventional approaches to therapy. For more than 10 years, his major research interest has been the study of adult stem cells for the treatment of acute myocardial infarction, chronic heart failure, and peripheral vascular disease. Dr. Perin was the first investigator in the United States to receive approval from the Food and Drug Administration to inject stem cells directly into the hearts of patients suffering from heart failure.
PLEASE RSVP TO:
Faith Singer-Villalobos
Communications Coordinator
Texas Advanced Computing Center (TACC)
The University of Texas at Austin
Email: info@austinforum.org
Parking Information for AT&T Conference Center
More information about Dr. Perin's work:
Texas Heart Establishes Research Center
Video: Learn about the Procedure and Stem Cell Studies at Texas Heart
October 5, 2011
World Stem Cell Awareness Day
Stem Cell Awareness Day brings together the organizations and individuals around the world who are working every day to ensure that we realize the benefits of what is one of the most promising fields of science in our time.
This year, Texans for Stem Cell Research will proudly unite the local communities across Texas for a day of celebration and hope; joining stem cell groups around the world for this annual celebration. We hope you will join us and Stand up for Stem Cells on October 5th, 2011.
The unique properties of stem cells give the scientific and patient communities alike great confidence that stem cell research will be the foundation of countless medical therapies and cures.
For the millions of people around the world who suffer from incurable diseases and injury, Stem Cell Awareness Day is a day to celebrate the scientific advances made to-date and be hopeful of what is yet to come.
Certain types of stem cells are already used to treat life-threatening diseases such as leukemia, and lymphoma. Scientists believe that stem cells can one day deliver therapies and cures for many incurable diseases, genetic conditions, and injuries including cancer, spinal cord injury, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), heart disease, diabetes, and arthritis.
Beyond treating disease, stem cell research also holds promise for developing powerful environmental toxicity tests, drug screening, and diagnostics.
Stem cell therapies also offer an opportunity to restore quality of life for patients and their families, while saving billions of dollars we spend on lost productivity and medical care.
Your business can participate on World Stem Cell Awareness Day and Stand up for Stem Cells by pledging Give 5% on Wednesday, October 5th.
Please see attached Business Participation Agreement for details
Conact us by September 25, 2011 at our Contact Form or at Give5@txstemcell.org
September 30, 2011
Annual Stem Cell Research Educational Symposium
Time: 8:00 AM – 5:30 PM - Location: AT&T Executive Education and Conference Center at the University of Texas, Austin.
September 30, 2011
6th Annual Fundraiser - Singin' For Cures
When
6:30 PM to 10:30 PM CDT, Friday September 30, 2011
Where
Historic Saengerrunde (next to Scholz Garten) 1607 San Jacinto Boulevard Austin, TX 78701
Proceeds will benefit Spinal Cord Injury & Stroke Stem Cell Research initiatives in Texas.
Malford Milligan Band of Storyville fame will be our special musical guest!
September 10, 2011
1st Annual Sporting Challenge & Texas Tailgate for Treatments
We had a great time with this awesome fundraiser. Professional instruction provided by Tony Rivera, the 2006 National Sporting Clays Champion and 2-time Texas State Champion.
And great live music by TSCR's House Band, "The Regenerative Blues Band".
Special thanks to the Johnny Madrid family for hosting such a great time at a beautiful property!
August 16, 2011
Learn for Life at Lance Armstrong Foundation
Great event at the Lance Armstrong Livestrong Foundation, 2201 E. Sixth Street Austin, Texas 78702.
Speakers:
Dr. Roger Gammon, Austin Heart.
Eddy Davis, Golf professional and cancer survivor.
May 13, 2011
Science in the Pub
Time: 5:30 PM - Location: Cactus Café, 2247 Guadalupe Street Austin, TX 78712
Science in the Pub is a happy hour for the science-loving community. Their goal is to bring together fans of science from all walks of life, be they professional scientists or amateur admirers, for a bit of socializing and entertainment. Texans for Stem Cell Research will join them Friday May 19th for an evening dedicated to our favorite topic, Stem Cell Research. Surprise guests are sure to be there with the TSCR team. Don't Miss Out!
April 19, 2011
Learn for Life at Antone's Home of the Blues
Time: 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM
Location: Antone's
Speakers:
Dr. Sean Savitz, UT Medical School at Houston
Dr. Jay Schneider, UT Southwestern
Click to RSVP Here
October 30, 2010
KXAN Coverage of 2010 Educational Symposium
Push on for Austin stem cell center
Effort would speed up research process
Updated: Thursday, 28 Oct 2010, 11:10 PM CDT
Published : Thursday, 28 Oct 2010, 7:46 PM CDT
AUSTIN (KXAN) - At Austin Heart Hospital, research physicians are conducting a stem cell study on heart attack patients that is showing promising results.
The study is still in its second phase, so it's too early to be sure how things will turn out, but Dr. Roger Gammon is very excited.
"It takes people who've had a recent heart attack within the last seven days," Gammon said, "and you actually give them an intravenous infusion. The stem cells find their way to the damaged area and graft there and basically start becoming heart cells and doing some anti-inflammatory reactions that help reduce the amount of scar formation and damage that was done.
"It's so interesting because it's so easy to do. We do it in the clinic a few days later. All the smoke is cleared from the heart attack; the patient is thoroughly screened about safety and then they get this intravenous infusion for 30 minutes and we sit there and watch them. They're just sitting there reading a magazine and then go home later that day. The cells in some 'Star Wars' thing travel through your lungs and get to your heart and then they set up shop there."
Granted, it's still too early to jump for joy, but Gammon is already hopping with hope.
"We don't know who got placebo and who got cells," he said, "but we've seen people that had a major heart attack and a month later, you can't tell they've had a heart attack. It's really remarkable."
It's not just heart attack patients, either. Back in 2000, Dr. James Willerson of the Texas Heart Institute at the University of Texas Health Science Center led a group of researchers who got permission to conduct a study on heart failure patients in Brazil.
"Some 70 percent of whom would be dead three years later," Willerson told a stem cell symposium in Austin this week, "and all of whom couldn't walk from here to the wall without getting very short of breath, and most of whom could not put their head down flat to sleep because they can't breathe."
The research team injected the patients' own adult stem cells from their bone marrow directly into their hearts.
"Within two months, the patients we treated had significantly better blood flow to their heart and better contraction of their heart," Willerson said, 'and some who couldn't walk from here to this wall were jogging on the beach in Rio."
It is this kind of thing that has the medical community thrilled with the prospects of health care in all sorts of areas. Bone marrow derived stem cells are also being used to fuse spines to heal and protect damaged sections of spinal cord. At the University of Texas, doctoral candidate Daria Neidre is studying possibilities of using stem cells from fat tissue for the same purpose. That's important because human beings carry ten times as many stem cells in their fat tissue than in their bone marrow.
The list of possibilities is a long one.
"Almost every disease you can think of," said Dr. Darwin Prockop from the Institute for Regenerative Medicine at the Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine at Scott & White in Temple. "Arthritis, intestinal diseases, heart disease, stroke, Alzheimer's, multiple sclerosis."
Prockop, a pioneer in the stem cell field, was recruited to Texas from Tulane University, drawn by funding to establish the institute, funding that included money from the "Governor's Emerging Technology Fund."
That's where the dark clouds begin to form. With the state facing a $10 billion to $21 billion budget shortfall, depending on whom you talk to, the money bags will be squeezed hard in the coming legislative session.
At that same stem cell symposium, conducted at UT's Thompson Conference Center Wednesday, State Sen. Kirk Watson told assembled doctors, researchers and educators that things would be tough.
"I'm never going to say never on something like this, particularly something this important," the Austin Democrat said. "But as we go in, most of what is going to be focused on is how it is that we maintain what we already have."
The senator is pushing for reforms in the way the state budget is drawn up that he said will limit the damage, reforms that he said do not include a state personal income tax, an idea he believes has no chance of passage. Still, he doubts there will be significant new help for stem cell research in 2011.
That in no way discourages David Bale, the Austinite who founded Texans for Stem Cell Research three years ago. It is that organization that sponsored this week's symposium, and Bale is pushing for a new central Stem Cell Therapy Center here in Austin by 2014, using public and private money.
"I lost my daddy, Larry Bales, the old proprietor of Scholz Beer Garden, when he was 53 years old, of heart disease and diabetes 17 years ago," Bales said. "I've worked in and around the Capitol my whole life, and about four years ago I read the tea leaves and I didn't think anybody was really getting after stem cell research the way it needed to be. To make things move faster, these doctors
need more funding, and so our goal is to get these like minds in the same room, let the universities and the private donors and the foundations see that there's a revolution in the air. If we can all get on the same page, there's a chance we might be able to make this happen."
The research efforts supported by TSCR do not use stem cells from aborted embryos, a practice that continues to generate considerable controversy. Instead, discarded embryonic cells from fertilization clinics are used, with the informed consent of the donors, along with adult stem cells.
http://www.kxan.com/dpp/health/push-on-for-austin-stem-cell-center
October 27, 2010
TSCR Learn and Live Educational Symposium
This year we proudly add to the program a short, afternoon seminar at the University of Texas, featuring our Medical Advisory Committee. This committee consists of leading doctors in Texas currently conducting cutting edge clinical trials with this incredible research. They will update us on their latest research and answer questions on the future of stem cell clinical trials in Texas.
Additional details available from the invitations at right.
TSCR Learn and Live Annual Educational Series
Annual Symposium
Wednesday, October 27th. 1:00PM -5:00PM
The University of Texas at Austin
Thompson Conference Center
2405 Robert Dedman Dr
Open To Public
Learn More & Register (free) Online
TSCR Singin' for Cures 5th Celebration
Featuring Live Music from Malford Milligan and Boogaloo.
Special guest speaker: Robin L. Smith, MD, MBA
Zilker Park Clubhouse, October 27th, 5:30pm
Suggested Donation $40
TSCR Swingin' for Cures 5th Annual Golf Tournament
Thursday, October 28th @ Balcones Country Club Spicewood
12:30pm Shotgun Start
Sponsors
Thank you to all our current sponsors!
- Neostem
- StemCyte
- Jack Allen's Kitchen
- Main Street Homes
- Shoal Creek Saloon
- Sweet Leaf Tea
- Clear Blue Ink Printing
- Mesa Ranch Grill
- MTEX, LLC
- 10 Miles West Design
- Chef's Catering
- Austin Heart, PA
- Celling Technologies, PA
- SpineSmith
- UT Co-op
- InstyPrints
- Cybertex
- The Longley Group
For Sponsorship Information Please Contact David L. Bales here
May 6, 2010
Learn and Live in Arlington
Texans for Stem Cell Research and Piccolo Mondo invite you for a night of cocktails and a great cause.
May 20, 5:30 - 7:30.
Raffle for Rangers tickets, Nolan Ryan baseball, and much more! Speakers Representatives Rick Hardcastle and Paula Pierson, and Dr. Bernard L. Weinstein, Ph. D.
May 1, 2010
Latest News from TSCR
We welcomed the following members to our Medical Advisory Committee (MAC):
Dr. Roger Gammon - Austin Heart
Dr. Darwin Prockop - Texas A&M Institute of Regenerative Medicine
Dr. Sean Savitz - University of Texas Health Science Center
Dr. Ali Denktas - University of Texas Health Science Center
Dr. William Decker – MD Anderson, Houston,Texas
Mary Voolitich – University of Texas Health Science Center, RN
We are waiting for responses from Dr. Tim Henry of the Minneapolis Heart Institute and Dr. William Brinkley, Baylor College of Medicine - Star Program.
All of these doctors are currently conducting stem cell clinical trials in the United States.These MAC members will offer us recommendations, guidance and advice on all issues regarding stem cell research and therapy.
We are elated these leading stem cell doctors have agreed to serve!
We also had a wonderful educational event at Jack Allen’s Kitchen in Austin featuring Dr. Roger Gammon. He gave our audience an up to date report on stem cell clinical trials he’s conducting at Austin Heart. His group is currently conducting 44 stem cell trials right here in Austin.
State representatives Rick Hardcastle,Valinda Bolton and Harvey Hilderbran also attended highlighting the continued bi-partisan support this issue and our organization enjoys.
We are currently looking for sponsors for our upcoming educational series:
“Live and Learn –Stem Cell Research in Texas”
TSCR is in the process of finalizing dates and sponsorship levels for events in Austin in late March and May. We expect to have a large event as well in Houston.These events will feature doctors currently conducting clinical trials and also local policymakers. Our audiences for past event usually consist of at least 50 people.
Feel free to contact Shay McBurney, Director of Development at 512 468 9780 for more information.
Where there’s a cell there’s a way!
April 22, 2010
Learn and Live event # 2, Corpus Christi coming soon!
Next TSCR Event - April 22nd, 2010!
Learn and Live: Stem Cell Research in Texas Educational Series heads to Corpus Christi -Thursday,April 22.
Our second event in this series will be at the Texas Surf Museum from 5:30 - 8 P.M. Sponsored by Harley Davidson C.C. and catered by Water Street!
Come learn more about the incredible strides being made at stem cell clinical trials, right here in Texas!
We look forward to seeing at this informative and fun event.Tell your friends! Any questions, feel free to call Shay McBurney at 512 468 9780.
March 29, 2010
Embrace the Cause, Win the Challenge
Embrace the Cause - Win the Challenge
We challenge you to help us reach our goal of educating Texans on the medical and economic benefits of stem cell research.
Raise the most money by April 26th and receive a $100 Gift Card to the restaurant of your choice.
- Donations must be received by midnight April 26th
- Please make checks payable to TSCR
- Credit Card donations can be made at www.txstemcell.org
- We will accommodate if there is more than one winner
February 24, 2010
Texans for Stem Cell Research & Jack Allen's Kitchen
Great educational event at Jack Allen's Kitchen. Over 60 people attended and listened to up to date information by Dr. Roger Gammon of Austin Heart and the fascinating work he's conducting in his stem cell clinical trials right here in Austin! Thanks again to speakers Representatives Valinda Bolton, Rick Hardcastle and Harvey Hilderbran.
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Our goal is a first-class stem cell research facility in Texas.
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