September 15-20th saw almost 85
0 scientists and exhibitors from around the world descend on the Minneapolis Hyatt for the 2007 Transplantation Society Joint Conference. This was the first-ever combined meeting of the three sections of the Transplantation Society – the Cell Transplant Society (CTS), the International Pancreas and Islet Transplant Association (IPITA), and the International Xenotransplantation Association (IXA).
The meeting was organised and presided over by joint conference president Dr. Berhard Hering and facilitated unprecedented cross-pollination of ideas between the society sections.
Presentations were given on new developments and progress made in human organ, cell and tissue transplantation; progress reports on the use of xenotransplantation, where animal cells, tissues or organs are transplanted into humans; and advances in stem cell initiatives, amongst others.
The highlight of the conference for those with an interest in diabetes, was the Diabetes Research & Wellness Foundation (DRWF) Symposium on Islet Replacement, featuring an excellent overview of the major advances towards producing readily available, safe, effective islets for transplantation.
The Spring Point Project, an initiative founded by Dr. Hering and supported by DRWF, was highlighted as a key to making porcine donor animals available in the near future to facilitate clinical applicability of all the advances made to date in the pre-clinical setting.
The Diabetes Research & Wellness Foundation international network of charities was one of the lead sponsors for this impressive event.
If you require further information about research supported by DRWF, please email: research@drwf.org.uk or call 023 92 636135.