The race to be the 'cell therapy nation'

• 

• Friday 22 March 2013
• 8.00pm to 9.15pm
• Lecturers: Prof Chris Mason

Fierce competition to be the ‘cell therapy nation' is underway. Multidisciplinary teams clad in lab coats, theatre greens and pinstripe suits, sponsored by public and private funding, working on non-level playing fields are locked in combat. Winning is everything since the consequences will impact every family for many generations.

Stem cells have been hailed as the universal panacea with claims of ‘miracle cures' emanating from across the world. Countries with multimillion, and even multibillion, pound budgets are clamouring to be world-leaders to reap the likely substantial healthcare and economic benefits. 20th century medicine had three therapeutic pillars - small molecule drugs, biologics and medical devices - which mainly manage and control symptoms. This discourse will focus on stem cell-based therapies and the much broader technology of prescribing living cells to produce transformative treatments that ideally cure, or at the very least, are life-changing.

Today, the 4th and final therapeutic pillar of healthcare, cell therapy, is emerging as a global industry likely to equal (or exceed) the economic successes of big pharma, biotech and medical device companies. There are approximately 500 cell therapy companies with combined annual revenues currently in excess of a billion pounds spread across Asia, Europe and North America. A million patients have received cell-based therapies and over a 1,000 clinical trials are underway, however, the number of FDA/EMA approved products is still less than 20 - only a tiny fraction of the anticipated potential. Stem cells are great science, however, their legacy will be substantial health and wealth benefits. This discourse will discuss the promise, progress, pitfalls and politics of cell therapy and the intense global competition to be the premier ‘cell therapy nation'.

Tickets: Free to Members, Faraday and Fellows, £10 Associates and £15 guests

If you haven't been before, you should bear in mind that FEDs are by tradition formal occasions, and while evening dress is not obligatory, it is customary. Smart dress is acceptable.

Make a night of it! Come for a cocktail or something delicious, modern and British to eat in the bar. The bar and café at the Ri has the perfect atmosphere for a night out.