Wayne County Welcomes the 2010 World Stem Cell Summit

I am proud to welcome the World Stem Cell Summit to Wayne County. From October 4 through 6, the Summit will bring life science leaders from around the world to the Marriott Hotel in the Renaissance Center to network, learn, and advance the cause of new life saving technologies. The 2010 Summit will attract more than 1,200 attendees from 30 nations, 60 exhibitors, and more than 200 endorsing organizations and media partners from around the world. As home to world-class researchers and facilities, enthusiastic public support, commitment from public officials, and private philanthropic support, our region is an ideal host for the 2010 World Stem Cell Summit. 

Wayne County is committed to expanding our region’s life science business core. Our collaboration with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, Ann Arbor SPARK, a private foundation, the New Economy Initiative, and Plymouth Township led to the creation of the Michigan Life Science and Innovation Center (MLSIC) in Plymouth Township.  

We are delighted to be co-sponsors of the World Stem Cell Summit with Michigan Center for Regenerative Medicine (MCRM). Established in early 2010 and housed within Michigan Life Sciences and Innovation Center, the Center for Regenerative Medicine recruits established regenerative medicine companies to locate in Wayne County and use their facilities. Their strategy is to offer the enabling technology for regenerative medicine research and development, and to make that technology available to local, national and global markets.  The draw for these companies is the access to State-of-the-Art facilities in MCRM that they do not have to build the technology themselves. Along with MCRM’s cell production experience, particularly in the arena of regulatory and clinical trials, the Center’s capacity translates into cost savings (estimated at $1-2 million per company) and rapid startup and faster product development times for the companies that locate there.

Additionally, our superb University Research Corridor – the alliance between Wayne State University, University of Michigan, and Michigan State University – has positioned us to be a major hub for stem cell advancement. Detroit holds particular promise, housing both Wayne State University and the Stem Cell Commercialization Center located at TechTown. Together, these entities attract researchers and stem cell-based businesses from around the world.

Please join me in welcoming some of the best minds in the world to Wayne County this October.