Interview with Bernard Siegel.

Bernard Siegel is the Founder and full-time Executive Director of the nonprofit Regenerative Medicine Foundation (FL, USA). He is the Founder and the Co-chair of the World Stem Cell Summit series of global conferences and Editor-in-Chief of the World Stem Cell Report. He received his undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Miami (BA, 1972; JD, 1975) and has been a member of the Florida Bar since 1975. As a recognized policy expert relating to stem cell research, regenerative medicine and cloning, Bernard works with the world's leading stem cell researchers and advocates. He is also a frequent panelist and keynote speaker on the subject of stem cells, public policy and the societal implications of longevity.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration should solidify the legal basis for its authority over reproductive cloning.

The promise and potential of stem cell research is apparent. However, ethical questions still linger. There is as yet no consensus in the U.S. Congress on how to address the issue of reproductive cloning and media confusion of this and the quite separate issue of therapeutic cloning inhibits therapeutic advance. This paper outlines the need for the FDA to undertake a deliberate process, with input from all stakeholders, to authoritatively establish its jurisdiction over human reproductive cloning so as to foster the life-saving potential of therapeutic cloning.

The implementation of novel collaborative structures for the identification and resolution of barriers to pluripotent stem cell translation.

Increased global connectivity has catalyzed technological development in almost all industries, in part through the facilitation of novel collaborative structures. Notably, open innovation and crowd-sourcing-of expertise and/or funding-has tremendous potential to increase the efficiency with which biomedical ecosystems interact to deliver safe, efficacious and affordable therapies to patients. Consequently, such practices offer tremendous potential in advancing development of cellular therapies. In this vein, the CASMI Translational Stem Cell Consortium (CTSCC) was formed to unite global thought-leaders, producing academically rigorous and commercially practicable solutions to a range of challenges in pluripotent stem cell translation. Critically, the CTSCC research agenda is defined through continuous consultation with its international funding and research partners. Herein, initial findings for all research focus areas are presented to inform global product development strategies, and to stimulate continued industry interaction around biomanufacturing, strategic partnerships, standards, regulation and intellectual property and clinical adoption.

The World Stem Cell Summit. Interview with Bernard Siegel.

Regenerative Medicine talks to Bernard Siegel, Executive Director of the Genetics Policy Institute (GPI) and founder of the annual World Stem Cell Summit. Bernard Siegel, JD, is the Founder and full-time Executive Director of the nonprofit Genetics Policy Institute (GPI), based in Wellington, FL, USA. He is the creator and co-chair of the World Stem Cell Summit series of global conferences and Editor-in-Chief of the World Stem Cell Report, which he also founded. He traded his 30-year courtroom career to found GPI, which leads the global 'Pro-Cures Movement' and Stem Cell Action Coalition. As a recognized policy expert on to stem cell research, regenerative medicine and cloning, Mr Siegel works with the world's leading stem cell researchers and advocates. Mr Siegel serves on the board of directors of the Coalition for Advancement of Medical Research (CAMR) and Americans for Cures Foundation. He also serves on the executive committee of the Alliance for Regenerative Medicine (ARM). He is a past co-chair of the Governmental Affairs Committee of the International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR).

Organization profile: genetics policy institute.

Genetics Policy Institute (GPI) is a nonprofit, public interest organization recognized as a leading promoter and defender of stem cell research and other cutting-edge medical research targeting cures. Since GPI's inception in 2003, its mission has focused on establishing a positive policy, regulatory and societal framework to enable research to flourish, under the highest ethical and medical standards. We seek to accelerate the discovery and development of lifesaving cures, therapies, diagnostics and research technologies, with an overarching goal to alleviate human suffering from chronic afflictions.

It's about change...regenerative medicine in the Obama era.

During his campaign, US President-elect Obama pledged to use an executive order to overturn federal-funding limits on research into human embryos that are created during fertility treatments imposed by President Bush. Robert Klein, Chairman of the Governing Board of California's stem cell funding agency, Governor Jim Doyle, and Bernard Siegel, Executive Director of the Genetics Policy Institute, discuss the implications of the new administration for regenerative medicine research in the USA.