Understanding Stem Cells: Science and Policy
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Stem cell research holds great promise for treating some of the world’s most devastating diseases, yet using embryonic stem cells for these purposes is mired in controversy. John Gearhart of Johns Hopkins University will discuss stem cells are and their potential for medical advances. Jonathan Moreno of the University of Pennsylvania will examine the scientific and ethical issues surrounding stem cells.
Dr. John Gearhart, Director of Stem Cell Biology at Johns Hopkins University, led the research team responsible for isolating and characterizing human stem cells. His groundbreaking research has helped revolutionize the treatment of diseases such as Lou Gehrig's, diabetes, stroke, and spinal cord injuries. He is a Professor in the Departments of Gynecology and Obstetrics and Physiology, and in the Division of Comparative Medicine at Johns Hopkins University, where he has been a faculty member since 1980.
Dr. Jonathan Moreno is a professor in the History and Sociology of Science at the University of Pennsylvania and a Senior Fellow at the Center for American Progress in Washington, DC. He is an elected member of the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies and serves on the Institute's Board on Health Sciences Policy. His research includes human embryonic stem cell research, biodefense, and neuroscience. He is a bioethics advisor for the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and a Faculty affiliate of the Kennedy Institute of Ethics at Georgetown University. He is a past president of the American Society for Bioethics and Humanities.
This program is presented in collaboration with the National Academies' Board on Life Sciences, which organizes and oversees studies that provide advice to government and the scientific community on the biological sciences and their impact on society.
To learn more about stem cells and download a free PDF of Understanding Stem Cells: An Overview of the Science and Issues from the National Academies and related reports, visit the Board on Life Sciences' website.
Advance ticket purchase is recommended. Contact the Koshland Science Museum at 202-334-1201 or ksm@nas.edu to purchase tickets.
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