3rd International Conference on
Stem Cells Research and Therapy

Dr. de la Garza Rodea is a highly regarded Medical Affairs professional with over 15 years of expertise in stem cell biology and tissue regeneration, specializing in musculoskeletal health and wound healing. She holds an MD from the National Autonomous University of Mexico and a PhD from Leiden University Medical Center, where she researched mesenchymal stem cells. Following a clinical fellowship at UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital, she transitioned to the industry, contributing to translational research at Genea Biocells and Biosplice Therapeutics. Currently, as the Medical Affairs Director at BrainXell Therapeutics Inc., she oversees cell therapy programs and cultivates collaborations with clinicians and patient advocacy groups, while also serving as Vice Chair of the Emerging Executives program for Women in Bio's Southern California chapter.

Translational Research

Prof. Aurel Popa-Wagner's research focuses on the cellular and molecular mechanisms of aging and their implications for brain diseases, particularly systemic vascular disorders like stroke. His group has a long-standing interest in the molecular dynamics of brain remodeling in aged rats. Recently, Prof. Popa-Wagner has expanded his research to include systemic aging, aiming to model gene regulatory networks that facilitate regenerative processes following brain injuries in older animals. He is also exploring cellular therapies for stroke, utilizing bone marrow-derived mesenchymal and mononuclear cells

Prof. Popa-Wagner's group aims to uncover the cellular and molecular processes associated with aging and their relevance to brain diseases. Their investigations into brain plasticity in response to various stimuli, particularly after stroke, have yielded several significant findings: 1. Older animals retain some capacity for brain plasticity-related cytogenetic changes post-injury; however, the expression of key genes and proteins associated with brain plasticity is often diminished and temporally altered. 2. A critical factor limiting axonal growth after stroke in aged animals is the early formation of a scar in the affected area. 3. Granulocyte-Colony Stimulating Factor has been shown to reduce mortality and enhance neurogenesis in aged animals recovering from stroke. 4. Post-stroke aged animals exhibit exacerbated vascular wall reactivity

Prof. Milton Ka Hong Leong, originally from Hong Kong, pursued his education at McGill University, earning an Honours degree in Biochemistry before completing his medical training and specializing in Obstetrics and Gynecology. After a fellowship in London, he joined McGill’s faculty and led the High-Risk Obstetric Unit. In 1979, he returned to Hong Kong to co-found the IVF Centre at the Hong Kong Sanatorium and Hospital, becoming a pioneer in infertility treatments and delivering the region’s first IVF baby in 1985. With over two decades of research, teaching, and publication in assisted reproductive techniques, he remains actively involved in reproductive medicine societies and serves as an Adjunct Professor at McGill University, focusing on a holistic approach to patient care.

Prof. Leong’s primary research interest lies in developing optimal treatment strategies for infertility, emphasizing a patient-centered and holistic methodology.

Dr. Silber attended medical school at the University of Michigan and completed his postgraduate training at Stanford University and the University of Michigan. From 1967 to 1969, he provided medical care to Indigenous populations in Alaska through the U.S. Public Health Service. Following this, he taught at the University of Melbourne Medical School in Australia and later at the University of California Medical School in San Francisco. Dr. Silber is a scientific collaborator at MIT in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and a full professor at the University of Amsterdam, as well as at the Kato Clinic in Tokyo. He practices primarily at St. Luke’s Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri. Dr. Silber attributes much of his surgical skill to the training he received from an uneducated but exceptionally talented janitor, Jimmy Crudup, who worked in the animal lab at the University of Michigan

Dr. Silber's current research focuses on: • Advances in Infertility Treatments: He explores innovative approaches in the field of infertility. • Ovarian Freezing: He investigates techniques for freezing ovarian tissue to preserve fertility, particularly for cancer patients. • Fertility Preservation: His work aims to enhance options for preserving fertility in individuals facing medical challenges. Through his research, Dr. Silber seeks to improve reproductive outcomes and provide patients with viable options for fertility preservation.

Dr. Ariel Weissman graduated from the Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical School in 1988. He completed his residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at Kaplan Medical Center in Rehovot in 1994, where he continued for two years as a senior physician in the IVF unit. Dr. Weissman then pursued a two-year research and clinical fellowship with Prof. Bob Casper at the Division of Reproductive Sciences, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Toronto, Canada. His research focused on the transplantation of human ovarian tissue in immunodeficient mice. Upon returning to Israel in 1998, Dr. Weissman joined the IVF unit at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wolfson Medical Center, and is currently a Senior Lecturer at Tel Aviv University Sackler Faculty of Medicine. He co-authored the "Textbook of Assisted Techniques: Laboratory and Clinical Perspectives" with David Gardner, Colin Howles, and Zeev Shoham, which is regarded as a key resource in the field of assisted reproductive technology (ART).

Dr. Weissman's primary research interest is in the transplantation of human ovarian tissue in immunodeficient mice, exploring its implications for fertility preservation and reproductive medicine.