Stem Cell Lecture at Holy Cross

WORCESTER, Mass. – There will be a lecture by Dr. Jose Cibelli, vice president for research at Advanced Cell Technologies, on Thursday, April 25, at 7:30 p.m. in Suite A of the Hogan Campus Center. His lecture, titled "Ethical and Scientific Considerations of Embryonic Stem Cell Research and Cloning," is free and open to the public. This talk is planned to be accessible even to those with little biological background.

The promise of stem cells as treatment for many dreaded diseases is immense. At the same time, it currently appears that the most useful source of such stem cells is embryos, either natural or cloned. The complexity of the ethical dilemma that results demands thoughtful consideration from everyone - from physicians to researchers, from government officials to taxpayers.

Cibelli's Worcester-based company is in the forefront both of the development of animal and human models for evaluation of stem cell behavior and for imagining alternative solutions to the ethical problems.

This event is sponsored by the Holy Cross biology department, assisted by the Center for Interdisciplinary and Special Studies, the First-Year Program, the Center for Religion, Ethics and Culture, and the Office of Community-Based Learning.