News and Opinions

The World Stem Cell Summit and the power of collaboration

May 23, 2017 | News & Opinions, Science

Twelve years ago my nonprofit organization founded an annual conference that evolved into the World Stem Cell Summit. Over time, this event has brought together thousands of thought leaders and stakeholders from around the globe. All came with a shared passion, to expand their knowledge, forge collaborations, and ultimately deliver cures.

We recently announced that our 13th World Stem Cell Summit will take place in Miami, Florida, January 22-26, 2018. For the first time, we are co-locating the event with the field’s premier industry partnering event, Phacilitate Leaders Forum, Cell & Gene Therapy World and Immunotherapy World.

This universal conclave for stakeholders has never before been seen. It’s intelligently designed as the super ecosystem event, trans-disciplinary and created to break down silos. We are creating a special experience for attendees to network and collect opportunities, delivering the ultimate venue to forge collaborations.

“For the first time, we are co-locating the World Stem Cell Summit with the field’s premier industry partnering event, Phacilitate Leaders Forum, Cell & Gene Therapy World and Immunotherapy World.”

The provocative guru, Nassim Nicholas Taleb, in his book Antifragile, described the power of collaboration thusly: ” Collaboration has explosive upside, what in mathematically called a superadditive function, i.e., one plus one equals more than two, and one plus one plus one equals much, much more than three. That is pure nonlinearity with explosive benefits…. Crucially, this is an argument for unpredictability and Black Swan effects; since you cannot forecast collaborations and cannot direct them, you cannot see where the world is going. All you can do is create an environment that facilitates these collaborations, and lay the foundation for prosperity.”

“The public does not view these potentially curative technologies as a “public health” issue, but as a personal health issue. Impacting their own wellbeing and the wellbeing of friends and loved ones”

Collaboration today remains as important as it was 12 years ago, when we started the World Stem Cell Summit. Along these years I have been describing public support for stem cells and regenerative medicine as a great consumer movement. The public does not view these potentially curative technologies as a “public health” issue, but as a personal health issue. Impacting their own wellbeing and the wellbeing of friends and loved ones. It’s personal.

Stem cells, regenerative medicine, and advanced therapies represent the very future of medicine and the potential for a salvation- relief from sickness and suffering, longer healthier lives plus an array of unpredictable societal benefits impacting all life.

Such an important cause mandates superadditive collaboration of the highest kind; one that lays the foundation for prosperity, and cures. It will be in Miami, January 22-26, under the lights and swaying palm fronds. We’ll hope to see you there.

Visit the 2018 World Stem Cell Summit Website

 

Bernard Siegel is the Founder and Executive director of the Regenerative Medicine Foundation and the World Stem Cell Summit. As a recognized policy expert on stem cell research, regenerative medicine and cloning, Mr. Siegel is a frequent panelist and keynote speaker on the subject of stem cells, public policy, patient advocacy and the societal implications of longevity. He has spoken at the United Nations, the Salk Institute, the German National Academy of Science (The Leopoldina), and others. He has lectured at more than 40 colleges and universities around the globe.