George M. Martin, Zach Hall, Helen Blau, Diana Jacobs Kalman, Cal Harley, Richard Sprott and Yerem Yeghiazarians

Celebrating California's Contribution to Stem Cell Research, AFAR Hosts Scientific
Symposium in San Francisco

On October 18th, more than 70 scientists, biotechnology and foundation representatives
convened at AFAR's premier event, Stem Cells and Aging: Celebrating the Promise, held in San
Francisco.

Leading California-based scientists discussed the state of stem cell research, its relevance
in understanding the basic mechanisms of aging and its regenerative applications for heart
disease, cognitive repair and cell renewal in aged tissue. Speakers included:
Drs. Helen Blau, Thomas Rando and Theodore Palmer from Stanford University School of
Medicine, Yerem Yeghiazarians from the University of California, San Francisco and
Cal Harley from Geron. The symposium was moderated by AFAR's scientific director,
Dr. George M. Martin.

AFAR's Great Expectations dinner followed with guest speakers, Dr. Zach Hall, president of the
California Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Dr. Irving Weissman, director of the
Stanford Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine and Dr. Richard Sprott,
executive director of The Ellison Medical Foundation.

The program is part of AFAR's geographic expansion efforts to open a California-based affiliate.

Symposium moderator, Dr. George M. Martin
Photo credit John D. Furber

Dr. Thomas Rando of Stanford University School of Medicine and the Palo Alto Veterans' Affairs Medical Center
Photo credit John D. Furber

Mr. Mark Collins, executive director of the Glenn Foundation for Medical Research, Dr. Richard Sprott, executive director of The Ellison Medical Foundation, and Ms. Diana Jacobs Kalman, chair, AFAR Board of Directors

Drs. David Kang, 2003 AFAR Research Grant recipient, and Eddie Koo, 1995 Beeson Scholar, both of the University of California, San Diego

Dr. Zach Hall, president of the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine

Dr. Irving Weissman, director of the Stanford Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine
Photo credit John D. Furber