Montréal to host Canada’s largest stem cell and regenerative medicine conference

October 30, 2019 (Ottawa, ON) – More than 500 experts in stem cell and regenerative medicine research will convene in Montréal from November 4 to 6, for the 2019 Till & McCulloch Meetings, Canada’s leading stem cell and regenerative medicine conference. This year’s record number of attendees includes world-class scientists, post-graduate students, industry experts and legal scholars who will gather to share the latest research advances and techniques in the field.

The event features keynote speaker Dr. Christine Mummery, professor and renowned researcher from Leiden University Medical Centre in the Netherlands, as well as presentations from two patients who took part in stem cell clinical trials. Also highlighted are two outstanding achievement awards: Dr. Freda Miller, Senior Scientist at The Hospital for Sick Children, will be presented with the Till & McCulloch Award for her new research discovery in tissue repair and regeneration, and Neemat Mahmud, a PhD candidate at the University of Toronto, will receive the Drew Lyall Award of Excellence in recognition of her top-ranked abstract on limb regeneration. Both awards will be presented on Tuesday, November 5.

“It’s an exciting time to be working in this field in Canada. This country is home to some of the best and brightest leaders in stem cell and regenerative medicine research and they are rapidly moving this field forward,” said Dr. Michael Rudnicki, CEO and Scientific Director, Stem Cell Network. “As a result, we are seeing more research progress into the clinical trial phase, which has the potential to improve health outcomes for all Canadians.”

“The record registration for this year’s conference is a testament to the strength and impact of the regenerative medicine community in Canada and beyond its borders,” said Dr. Michael May, President and CEO, CCRM. “It’s encouraging to see how the flavour of the conference has changed since 2012, with a significant increase in industry participating in what was originally an academic conference. Now there is meaningful representation from industry, and many of those companies didn’t exist seven years ago.”

The program boasts an exceptional scientific program examining future technologies in stem cell research and regenerative medicine, and international legal and regulatory context for clinical translation, unapproved stem cell treatments and commercialization. View the entire conference program here.

The Till & McCulloch Meetings, co-hosted by the Stem Cell Network and CCRM, also include 250 abstract presentations, workshops and exhibits from 27 sponsors, and specific programming for career development and advancement.

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About the Till & McCulloch Meetings
The Till & McCulloch Meetings are Canada’s premier stem cell research event. The conference is an annual gathering of Canada’s leading stem cell scientists, clinicians, bioengineers and ethicists, as well as representatives from industry, government, health and NGO sectors from around the world. The 2019 event is co-hosted by the Stem Cell Network and CCRM from November 4-6, in Montréal, Québec.

About the Stem Cell Network
Tomorrow’s health is here. The Stem Cell Network (SCN) is a national non-profit that supports stem cell and regenerative medicine research, training the next generation of highly qualified personnel, and delivering outreach activities across Canada. SCN’s goal is to advance science from the lab to the clinic for the benefit of Canadians. SCN has been supported by the Government of Canada since inception in 2001. This strategic funding, valued at over $100M has benefitted approximately 170 world-class research groups and 3,000 trainees and has catalyzed 19 clinical trials. stemcellnetwork.ca

About CCRM
CCRM, a Canadian not-for-profit organization funded by the Government of Canada, the Province of Ontario, and leading academic and industry partners, supports the development of regenerative medicines and associated enabling technologies, with a specific focus on cell and gene therapy. A network of researchers, leading companies, investors and entrepreneurs, CCRM aims to accelerate the translation of scientific discovery into new companies and marketable products for patients, with specialized teams, dedicated funding, and unique infrastructure. CCRM is the commercialization partner of the Ontario Institute for Regenerative Medicine and the University of Toronto’s Medicine by Design. CCRM is hosted by the University of Toronto. Visit us at ccrm.ca.

Contacts
Lisa Willemse
Director, Communications & Public Affairs, Stem Cell Network
613-402-3974
lwillemse@stemcellnetwork.ca

Stacey Johnson
Director, Communications and Marketing, CCRM
647-309-1830
stacey.johnson@ccrm.ca