International Perinatal Stem Cell Society to Host Two Scientific Conferences in 2020

The International Perinatal Stem Cell Society is a non-profit organization founded on the principle that stem cells from perinatal tissues contain enormous, untapped potential to treat many diseases and disorders worldwide.

For many years, the Perinatal Stem Cell Society has been hosting an annual conference featuring the world’s leading perinatal stem cell researchers, specializing in Amnion, Amniotic Fluid, Cord Blood for Regenerative Medicine, Cord Tissue, and the Placenta. Its scientific programs cover all aspects of the perinatal stem cell field, with opportunities to learn from leading clinicians utilizing cellular therapies within their practices.

Below, Kyle Cetrulo, President of the International Perinatal Stem Cell Society, explains the future of perinatal stem cell science and the role that the Society’s 2020 Scientific Conferences will play in advancing this mission.

International Perinatal Stem Cell Society Congresses

For the first time ever, the International Perinatal Stem Cell Society Congress will be holding two International Congresses in 2020:

• The 6^th International Congress is being held March 5-6, 2020 in Salt Lake City, Utah.
• The 7^th International Congress is being held May 25-26, 2020 in Ostrava, Czech Republic.

The early bird registration fee for the 6^th Congress is $699 and runs until December 31, 2019 at which point the registration fee increases to $999.  The early bird registration for the 7^th Congress is also $699 and runs until March 15^th, 2020 at which point registration increases to $999 as well.

Membership for in the Perinatal Society is $99 per year.  Members receive $99 discounts off of both registrations. The bottom line is if you plan on attending either event, become a member first.

You can become a member, as well as register and view the agendas for each congress at the website,  www.perinatalstemcells.com.

The 6^th and 7^th Congresses are the most important congresses we have ever put on because the stakes for the Perinatal Industry and more importantly, the stakes for the patients that are benefiting from the current amazing access to perinatal tissue allografts and cell therapies have never been higher.

With the shifting sands of the entire perinatal tissue and stem cell industry constantly changing, the agenda for the 6^th Congress has taken longer to put together than usual.  However, I am confident that the program we have arranged will make this meeting our best meeting to date.  My goal was to create an environment for lively, real and responsible adult discussion and debate with all points of view being allowed a voice and the chance to be heard.

The reason for the uncertainty in the Perinatal Industry is that the 36 month window that the FDA granted for 361 companies to work with the agency and become “compliant” ends in November 2020. 

No one really knows that that means from a real, day to day standpoint.

Consequently, many questions remain unanswered:

• What will be FDA’s response come November 2020?
• Does the FDA have the manpower and the will to shut down all of the over 650 clinics working in the space?
• Will the FDA take into account the safety record of the perinatal tissue allografts that have been distributed and used in human therapeutic treatments in the United States with sometimes excellent results for the patients?
• How do patient populations feel about the current access to perinatal tissue allografts in the United States and what will be their reaction if this access is no longer available?
• Will there remain accessible treatment options in the United States or will patient populations need to go offshore again to completely unregistered clinics?

Perinatal Stem Cell Industry Uncertainty

FDA is very clear through the recent warning letters that they sent that they want all perinatal tissue and cell manufactures to meet with them and begin the process of INDs.  FDA has expressed its frustration with the low number of manufactures and companies that have taken the agency up on the request to meet.  This month alone, FDA sent 20 warning letters.

There is a great deal of frustration from industry as well.  The few companies that have met with the FDA have received less than ideal feedback in terms of allowance of 361 products.  Unfortunately, this has set up a necessary position of asking for forgiveness in the future rather than permission now from the FDA.

As no one really knows that is going to happen in 12 months, we have organized a session Friday afternoon March 6, 2020, dedicated to providing insight and perspective from FDA and FDA experts on what companies need to know in order to prepare for the changes coming. We are working with FDA to include an FDA representative at this session and on a panel and expect to confirm FDA’s participation in the coming days.

6^th International Perinatal Stem Cell Society Congress

In addition to the questions surrounding the field and FDA, we are also going to focus on the amazing scientific advancements made over the past year. The mission statement of the Perinatal Stem Cell Society is to advance the use of perinatal tissue and cellular products to the clinic and to provide access to patient populations in need.  It is with this mission in mind that we organized the 6^th International Congress Agenda.

The conference kicks off Wednesday March 4^th with a cocktail event at 5 PM at the Leonardo Museum where the conference takes place.  This event will allow networking and interaction with exhibitors.

Thursday we will begin with an amazing success story from a mom turned patient advocate who utilized the current access to 361 Umbilical Cord Tissue products with life changing results for her child.  We follow this uplifting story with talks from Dr. Tomazs Baran from Famicord, the largest provider of cord tissue clinical applications in Europe followed by Dr. Neil Riordan who will provide updates from his incredibly popular Panama clinic.

Next our Keynote talk will be from Dr. Joanne Kurtzberg who is perhaps the most influencial and respected person working with perinatal products in the world.  If you are unfamiliar with Dr. Kurtzberg’s work and are interested in this field, then you should 100% attend this conference.

Thursday afternoon sessions will focus on cord tissue products with talks from leading experts, Dr. Rouzbeh Taghizadeh, a Director of the Perinatal Society, Dr. Serhiy Forostyak and Dr. Josh Hare.

Rebecca Lim will begin the Exosome portion of the conference updating the audience on her Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia and by asking the question “Are We Ready for Cell-free Regenerative Medicine?”.  Dr. Tim Ganey will continue to share information on Exosomes in his talk.

Ben Noran is the inventor of a very promising encapsulation technology that keeps cells alive longer in vivo, and he will present his work on how this is possible.

To close out Thursday, we will hear a talk from IP lawyer, John  Wetherell, with the firm Pillsbury, Winthrop, Shaw and Pittman, LLP on how Intellectual Property should be used to drive decision making for companies operating in the perinatal field.

Friday, we begin the scientific program with a focus on perinatal products in the sports medicine field with talks from Dr. Dennis Lox, and Dr. Saadiq F. El-Amin. We will hear from Duncan Ross and his use of Exosome therapy in his clinic. We will also hear from Regan Archibald and how he uses perinatal products to address the pain crisis in the United States.  Ian White will give a talk on Amniosomes in Regenerative Medicine.

Following the morning session, we will hold the FDA session with a representative from FDA, Mike Druckman, a leading FDA lawyer from the firm Hogan Lovells, LLP, Barbara Krutchkoff, the Executive Director of the Institute of Regenerative and Cellular Medicine and Tim Ganey from Vivex Biologics.

To close out the conference, we will hear from Jeremy Lim from MiMedx presenting on amnion products. Sean Murphy, a Director of the Perinatal Stem Cell Society and also from the Wake Forest Institute of Regenerative Medicine will also share amnion product data.  Ramon Coronado, a Director of the Perinatal Stem Cell Society will give a talk to close out the meeting on Exosome therapy to treat cancer.

The 6^th Perinatal Society Congress is taking place at the Leonardo Museum in Salt Lake City, Utah.  This venue was almost at capacity for the 5^th Congress so I am anticipating that this event will sell out and we will have to freeze registrations once we reach capacity.  If you plan on attending the 6^th Congress I suggest that you register.

Sponsorship opportunities are also available for both the 6^th and 7^th International Congresses.

Please contact Kyle Cetrulo at kyle.cetrulo@perinatalstemcells.com with any questions regarding the congresses or the Perinatal Stem Cell Society.

I look forward to two great meetings and I hope to see you all soon.

Sincerely,

Kyle Cetrulo
President
International Perinatal Stem Cell Society
Kyle.cetrulo@perinatalstemcells.com