Stem Cell Forum (01-07-2011)

The AQA Community Forum - Stem Cells: Hope, Hype & Progress - A new conversation on stem cells and spinal cord injury was held Friday 1st July with an audience of over 80 people.

Stephanie Williams (CEO, Spinal Cord Injury Network) and Peter Trethewey (CEO, AQA) welcomed the audience to the forum and described the challenge of the times:

• Touted as an advance with revolutionary possibilities for people with a range of disabilities and diseases the application of Stem Cells shows much promise.
• Stem Cell science has captured the public's imagination and as a result community expectations can run high
• Progress is being made as we know more about the spinal cord & stem cells than ever before
• Information is more easily accessible than ever before
• For people directly impacted by disease or impairment there are often strong emotional drivers
• Some clinics and companies overseas are offering a range of stem cell treatments for spinal cord injury and many other conditions, an opportunity a growing number of Australians are taking up

In this environment how do we empower ourselves to develop and maintain a sceptical or questioning mind to decide what is in our best interest in any course of action we take.

Professor Andrew Elefanty (Monash University), presented information about stem cells and research into their application in a range of human illnesses and impairments including spinal cord injury.

The forum then explored the real human issues of illness and disability that impact on individuals, family & friends and play a role in people deciding what's in their best interests.

Dr. Megan Munsie (Stem Cells Australia) spoke about the importance of open dialogue with people who were thinking of, or who had sought, experimental treatment overseas and introduced a handbook developed to assist people consider the potential risks and benefits and evaluate their options when considering overseas travel for experimental treatment.

AQA Community Forums aim to discuss issues that are important to people with Spinal Cord Injury, their friends and family, presented in such a way that most people can get something useful or interesting for themselves.

See below some links to various resources arising from the forum:

• www.stemcellcentre.edu.au/For_the_Public/Patient/Handbook.aspx
• Watch the videos of the Brisbane forum at www.spinalnetwork.org.au
• www.stemcellcentre.edu.au