1st Annual Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Symposium

Brigid Hogan

George Barth Geller Professor of Research in Molecular Biology
Chair, Department of Cell Biology
Director, Duke Stem Cell Program
Duke University

11:45 - 12:45

Stem and progenitor cells in lung homeostasis, repair and fibrosis

Our goal is to understand how stem cells maintain the adult lung and repair it after injury. Recent studies will be presented relating to the role of basal stem cells in the airways and Type 2 cells in the alveoli, and the role of the notch signaling pathway.

John Gearhart
James W. Effron University Professor

Director, Institute for Regenerative Medicine

University of Pennsylvania

4:00 - 5:00

Instructing Our Cells to Change Identity

Directing cell identity conversions (transdifferentiation, cellular reprogramming) by the over-expression of key transcription factors is becoming a powerful tool in revealing complex interactions among genes that control cell fate decisions. These conversions may provide a strategy for obtaining patient-derived cell populations of specific cell types for therapeutic purposes. Ultimately this strategy could facilitate the development of safe and effective endogenous conversions as a therapeutic option. Focus will be on the conversion of fibroblasts, keratinocytes and astrocytes following the transient overexpression of three transcription factors to neurons with properties of dopaminergic neurons and attempts to convert fibroblasts to cardiomyocytes (or their progenitors) through direct reprogramming.