Adult Stem Cells from Adipose Tissue Could Save Lives

Newswise — National and international scientists, including those from the University of Virginia Health System, will announce findings from a significant number of studies showing that adult stem cells from adipose tissue (fat) could eventually be used to treat injured or damaged tissues. They will present their research findings at the Omni Hotel in Charlottesville, Virginia, September 10-13, during the third annual International Fat Applied Technology Society conference, The Role of Adipose Tissue in Regenerative Medicine: Opportunities for Clinical Therapy. Reporters are invited to attend and a press room will be open to meet their needs.

In total, 47 research abstracts will be presented from both academia and the private sector. Findings suggest that adipose-derived stem cells can be used to repair or regenerate new blood vessels, cardiac muscle, nerves, bones and other tissue, potentially helping heart attack victims, patients with brain and spinal cord injuries and people with osteoporosis. The work to be presented reflects a growing number of researchers who believe that adipose tissue (fat) will be a practical and appealing source of stem cells for regenerative therapies of the future.

"Five years ago we were seen as mavericks," says Dr. Adam Katz, plastic surgeon at the University of Virginia Health System, co-founder and president of the International Fat Applied Technology Society, and conference coordinator. "Now there is a sense of validation and growing enthusiasm from an increasing number of international researchers who view adipose tissue as a potentially valuable source of therapeutic cells."

The international group of scientists and physicians at this conference will address a range of topics devoted to developing new therapies using adipose stem cells. They will be representing UVa Health System, Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Boston University, University of Pittsburgh, Indiana University, UCLA and Cytori Therapeutics. Internationally, they hail from Japan, Germany, France, Korea, Italy, the Netherlands and Spain.

The conference is being sponsored by Olympus Corporation, Cytori Therapeutics, Inc., Baxter, The University of Pittsburgh, Sound Surgical Technologies, Vet-Stem, The Pittsburgh Tissue Engineering Initiative, Artecel Inc., Toucan Capital Corp and the UVa Health System.

The International Fat Applied Technology Society is the world's only interdisciplinary adipose tissue society. IFATS uniquely brings together different disciplines within the field in order to share knowledge, influence policy and exchange new ideas. Scientists and industry are working toward productive collaborations to develop new technology derived from and directed toward adipose tissue. For more information, visit http://www.ifats.org.