Listen to Matt Galloway of CBC’s Metro Morning” and his conversation this morning with Dr. James Till (who discovered stem cells with his close colleague Dr. Ernest McCulloch) and Dr. Alan Bernstein (Chair of the Board of Directors for the Canadian Stem Cell Foundation).

They talk about the discovery, and how stem cell transplants are saving lives today.

A great listen.

“Canada founded the entire field of stem-cell science. We have done much of the heavy lifting for decades: discovering neural stem cells, skin stem cells and cancer stem cells. If hockey is Canada’s game, stem-cell science is Canada’s science. Not knowing about Dr. Till and Dr. McCulloch is not knowing about Maurice Richard and Wayne Gretzky.”

Dr. Bernstein goes on to explain that, not only do we have extraordinary talent and have achieved tangible results, we have made our accomplishments as a nation despite very modest funding. Here’s how he puts it:

“What’s even more remarkable is that Canada does such groundbreaking research on a dime. The “all in” investment in stem-cell research in Canada – public, private and charitable funding – is about $75-million. This support is provided by Canadians through taxes, donations to health charities and the generosity of community leaders – individuals such as Robert and Cheryl McEwen of Toronto and the late Harley Hotchkiss of Calgary. But we still seriously lag behind California, which, with roughly the same population as Canada, has committed $3-billion over 10 years for stem-cell research.”

You can read the entire article here.

Alan Bernstein is chair of the board of directors of the Canadian Stem Cell Foundation. He was founding president of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and former head of the Global HIV Vaccine Enterprise in New York, and is incoming president of the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research.

Samaritan Magazine, that covers the good deeds of individuals, charities and businesses, has profiled the Foundation and the Renew the World Gala.

“Fifty years after Dr. James Till and the late Ernest McCulloch discovered stem cells at the Ontario Cancer Institute, the research division of the Princess Margaret Hospital, comes the launch of The Canadian Stem Cell Foundation.”

The Gala brings together 50 of Canada’s top scientists, including Dr. Till, as well as 50 celebrities who are lending their voice to the support of stem cell science.

They will be joined by leading Canadian philanthropists, leaders, researchers, and business people. This special evening will celebrate Canada’s extraordinary 50 year legacy as a leader in the field of stem cell science, and begin to prepare Canada for the 50 years to come.

You can read the entire article here.

This one-time event will take place on Wednesday, March 7th and mark the 50th anniversary of the discovery of stem cells by two Canadian scientists, Drs. James Till and Ernest McCulloch. The Gala will also officially launch the Canadian Stem Cell Foundation.

Below is the recent full page ad that ran in the Globe and Mail about the Gala. And keep your eyes open this coming Saturday when the Gala will be promoted again in the Globe on the back cover of the Focus Section.

We would like to thank the many organizations who are generously supporting the Renew the World Gala. Your commitment and leadership are building great momentum for what will be a truly extraordinary event.

To find out more about the Gala, visit www.renewtheworld.ca.

We have lost a great Canadian and the Foundation has lost a friend.

Mr. Milton Wong passed away on December 31^st of pancreatic cancer at the age of 72. Milton was a dear friend and trusted advisor to me personally and to the Canadian Stem Cell Foundation as a member of our President’s Advisory Council.

He was also one of the Founding Directors of the Stem Cell Network and was one of the earliest champions and inspirations for establishing the Canadian Stem Cell Foundation.  He will be deeply missed.

As a business leader and philanthropist, Milton was creative, a big thinker, and an inspiration to so many.  More importantly he cared for people, had time for people, and touched everyone and anyone that he met.  His legacy lives on in his family, his many close friends, and the important “ideas” and “organizations” that he brought to life with his energy and compassion.

You can read more about Milton, his leadership, and his many contributions to Canada here.

James Price
President & CEO
Canadian Stem Cell Foundation

(Photo by Jon Sinal)

“It was one of those Sundays, where one scientist was spelling off the other, checking the lab mice in a project that was all about using radiation for cancer treatment. So imagine their surprise when the two scientists realized what was really happening to those mice. They were growing stem cells. The year was 1960. The scientists were right here in Canada. Today, the story of James Till and Ernest McCulloch, two of Canada’s most accomplished and least heralded scientists.”

Click here to listen to the full interview that Anna Maria Tremonti conducted with Dr. James Till and Joe Sornberger, author of “Dreams & Due Diligence”.

Host of "The Current", Anna Maria Tremonti

This coming Tuesday (December 6th), tune in to CBC’s The Current as Anna Maria Tremonti sits down for a candid conversation with Dr. Jim Till and Joe Sornberger.

Together, they will share their thoughts about the new book, Dreams & Due Diligence, that has been written by Joe Sornberger and published by UofT Press.

The Current is a meeting place of perspectives, ideas and voices, with a fresh take on issues that affect Canadians today. The program brings new insight to stories that Canadians are talking about now, and uncovers stories they’ll be talking about next week and next year.

Take the time to listen in on their candid and thoughtful conversation about Canada’s 50 year stem cell legacy, the impact it has had, and what the future holds.

The program will air Tuesday, December 6th between 8:30-9:30 am and will be re-broadcast that evening. You will also be able to download the podcast from The Current’swebsite.

Today, Dr. Michael Rudnicki of the Sprott Centre for Stem Cell Research and Dr. Peter Zandstra who is a Canada Research Chair in Stem Cell Bioengineering were featured in the Globe and Mail for their roles in charting the future of regenerative medicine.

Dr. Michael Rudnicki in his regenerative medicine lab at the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute's Sprott Centre for Stem Cell Research. Photo Dwayne Brown/Ottawa Hospital

In describing his work related to the growth and repair of normal muscles, Dr. Rudnicki says, “What we’re doing is harnessing the stem cells that remain in our body to behave as if they’re in a young individual. We want to stimulate the intrinsic repair processes that are already there, but have become quite dormant as we age.”

Stem cells are already used in therapies such as bone-marrow transplants and cartilage repair, though many future opportunities have been identified where stem cells can be used.

Dr. Zandstra sums up the commitment and focus of Canada’s stem cells nicely: “What we all hope is that there will be new curative treatments for debilitating diseases.”

You can read the full article here.

Inspired by this landmark research, the array of creative interpretations featured in the exhibit explore the intersection of art and science as part of the project initiated by the Ontario Science Centre and developed in collaboration with the Stem Cell Network.

The exhibit is behind held at the Textile Museum of Canada from December 3, 2011 to January 22, 2012.

You’re invited to the Opening Reception on Friday December 9th from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm at the Textile Museum. Come celebrate with us! Find out more here.

The event was initiated by Liberal MP Kirsty Duncan who represents Etobicoke North. Earlier this year Kirsty Duncan stood in the House of Commons to urge Canada Post to issue a stamp honouring Till and McCulloch for their landmark discovery.

According to the Montreal Gazette, the “celebratory appearance on Parliament Hill this week and a new book paying tribute to James Till’s achievements as a global pioneer in stem-cell science could help position the renowned medical researcher for an honour that eluded his fellow Canadian collaborator, the late Ernest McCulloch: a Nobel Prize.”

“The Parliament Hill tribute, the new book, the push to win him Nobel recognition — Till appreciates it all, he said in an interview on Monday, ‘but it’s not for such awards and prizes that either of us got into science. We got into it to do things, and we were lucky enough to accomplish that.’

“Till acknowledged that ‘it would be an honour’ if the Nobel committee eventually recognized the Canadian discovery with its prestigious award. But other top science awards have already been won, he said, ‘and we have a legacy of academic descendants that I’m very proud of’ — scores of leading researchers around the world, all searching for cures or unravelling fresh mysteries of the human body by building on Till and McCulloch’s seminal discovery from a half-century ago.”

Read the full coverage here.