Contributors

University of Ulster

@StemCelPostgrad

Dr Diane Lees-Murdock is a Lecturer at Ulster University, UK. Her research interests are in epigenetic mechanisms with a focus on the role of nutrition in epigenetic modifications occurring during key developmental periods.

Diane is also using an iPSC model to investigate and modulate epigenetic changes in osteoarthritis, aiming to improve treatment for patients. In teaching, Diane has developed and leads the fully online PgCerti/Diploma Stem Cell Biology programme, funded by BBSRC, to train students for a career in the stem cell industry, research or related medical and legal fields.

Centre for Regenerative Medicine

Dong Liu is a PhD student in the thymus generation and regeneration group at Centre for Regenerative Medicine in Edinburgh. He works on untangling the signalling pathways regulating thymus development. Interests include emerging technologies, interplay between evolution and development, and the reporting and portrayal of science in media.

Centre for Regenerative Medicine, University of Edinburgh

I am a PhD student in Val Wilson's group, in the Centre for Regenerative Medicine, at the University of Edinburgh. I generate tools that will be used to understand how stem cells become specialized into specific cell types.

MRC Centre for Regenerative Medicine, University of Edinburgh

Dr Eliza Wolfson is a Science Communicator for the Wellcome Trust funded project 'Regenerate!' She is an early-career science communicator, freelance illustrator and postdoctoral researcher.

European Clinical Research Infrastructure Network

Elizabeth Scanlan has a PhD in molecular genetics from Trinity College Dublin. She has previously worked as a technical and marketing writer in the biotechnology industry. She is now Communication Officer at the European Clinical Research Infrastructure Network (ECRIN) and is based in Paris.

Technical University of Dresden, DFG Research Center for Regenerative Therapies

Elly Tanaka is Professor of Animal Models of Regeneration at the Technical University of Dresden, DFG Research Center for Regenerative Therapies.  She is an associate principle investigator of the Eurosystems Consortium.  Elly's group works on limb and tail regeneration in the salamander, Ambystoma mexicanum (Axolotl).  Her lab has identified the different stem cell sources for regenerating complex structure such as the limb and spinal cord.  

EuroStemCell

Centre for Regenerative Medicine

Emma Kemp was EuroStemCell's Information and Communications Manager, based at the University of Edinburgh, from 2008 to August 2014. She has a Chemistry degree and worked in scientific publishing after graduating from university. She has since gained wide-ranging experience in communications and education, working for corporate and public sector organisations. In 2008, she began working with EU-funded stem cell research projects, and handled communications for EuroSyStem and OptiStem until June 2011.

Innogen

Emma is a research fellow with Innogen and the department of Science, Technology and Innovation Studies (STIS) at the University of Edinburgh. Her current project looks at how the public, and potential patients, feel about receiving red blood cells which have been grown in the laboratory. This follows on from her PhD which was undertaken in partnership with the ESRC Innogen Centre, the Scottish Blood Transfusion Service and the Scottish Stem Cell Network.

Emma’s first degree was in Genetics, and she also has an MA in Social Research (specialising in health, the body and new medical technologies), and an MSc (Res) in Science and Technology Studies. She is also involved with outreach work, particularly in schools, and is an ambassador for StemNet.

Emma Laycock is completing a PhD in Stem Cell Biology at the UCL Cancer Institute, modelling how leukaemia develops in utero. Prior to this, she worked as a Journal Development Editor for BioMed Central, responsible for a cluster of biotechnology journals. She originally studied Biomedical Science at the University of Warwick. Her degree included an intercalated year at NIBSC and a summer placement at NUI Galway, studying whooping cough and water contaminants respectively. She tweets as @EmmaVLaycock.

Emma obtained her PhD from the Department of Cell biology at the University Medical Centre Utrecht, the Netherlands. She joined the lab of Dr. Bon-Kyoung Koo at the Centre for Stem Cell Research, University of Cambridge, in September 2013 to investigate the mechanisms behind ubiquiting-regulated Wnt receptor endocytosis during stem cell homeostasis.

The Gurdon Institute, University of Cambridge

Emma Rawlins is a group leader at the Gurdon Institute, University of Cambridge. Her lab works on lung stem cells and lung development. 

Lawyer, Graduate in health law (Faculty Bordeaux), Ph.D in Health Law (European mention, University Paul Sabatier Toulouse). She is a permanent researcher in health law and bioethics. She is the leader of a multidisciplinary team, Health innovations ‘trajectories: bioethics challenges and impact in public health, at the Inserm/Paul Sabatier University 1027 Unit. She is an Associate lecturer in bio-law and bioethics at the University of Medicine in Toulouse (Purpan). She is involved in several research projects at National, European and International level, on the topics of biobanking, innovative therapies, biomedical research involving human beings and genetic testing. She was the coordinator of the EUCelLEX project (FP7 2013-2016, Cell-based regenerative medicine new challenges for EU legislation and governance, GA 601806, https://www.eucellex.eu/).

High Mag Blog

Erin Campbell is the blogger behind HighMag Blog, which  features stunning cell biology images a few times a week. She also chooses one of her favourite pictures each month to feature in our image blog, accompanied by a description that's accessible to non-specialists.

Ewan McAndrew – Wikimedian in Residence at the University of Edinburgh since January 2016 supporting the university’s commitment to developing information literacy and digital skills. Prior to this, Ewan has worked as an English and Media teacher in the Far East (Japan, Singapore and South Korea) and in Scotland. Latterly, he has completed an Information Management degree and volunteered with the Glasgow School of Art archives on their WW1 Roll of Honour project.

Italian Multiple Sclerosis Society (AISM)

Federica Balzani is 28 years old and lives near Bologna, Italy. She has a degree in Jurisprudence and is currently doing the practical training required to qualify as a lawyer. She also collaborates with the University of Bologna. In 2012 she assisted the third European Multiple Scerlosis Platform (EMSP) Youth Congress in Barcelona as a young person with MS and in 2011 the second EMSP Congress in Brussels. She is a member of the board of Italian Multiple Sclerosis Society (AISM) in her province and a very active volunteer in her country as a member of the Young Italian Group of AISM. She is interested in music and she plays classic guitar and violin.

Centre of Human and Aerospace Physiological Sciences (CHAPS), King’s College, London, UK

Post-doctoral Researcher in Vascular Associated and Skeletal Muscle Stem Cell Biology

Fiona's research to date has focused on the biology of both embryonic and adult stem cells and their interaction with biomaterials. Specifically this has involved identifying and characterising novel stem cell populations from both human and pig, validating effective strategies for isolation of stem cell populations from primary tissue and developing a non-viral, microRNA mediated approach for the reprogramming of human somatic cells. Her current focus is the identification of growth factors and cytokines responsible for directing the fate of skeletal muscle stem cells and developing effective skeletal muscle regenerative therapies based on stem cell mobilisation or replacement. She has a PhD in Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine from the University of Liverpool. 

Laboratory of Genetics, The Salk Institute

Fred H. Gage, Ph.D., a Professor in the Laboratory of Genetics, joined The Salk Institute in 1995. He received his Ph.D. in 1976 from The Johns Hopkins University. Dr. Gage's work concentrates on the adult central nervous system and unexpected plasticity and adaptability to environmental stimulation that remains throughout the life of all mammals. In addition, he models human neurological and psychiatric disease in vitro using human stem cells. Finally his lab studies the genomic mosaicism that exists in the brain as a result of mobile elements that are active during neurogenesis.             

Prior to joining Salk, Dr. Gage was a Professor of Neuroscience at the University of California, San Diego. He is a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, a Member of the National Academy of Sciences and the Institute of Medicine, and American Philosophical Society, a foreign member of the European Molecular Biology Organization and a Member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

Dr. Gage has served as President of the Society for Neuroscience in 2002, and past President for the International Society for Stem Cell Research 2012.

University of Edinburgh

Georgina has a background in evolution and ecology and is now studying science communication and public engagement at the University of Edinburgh.  She’s been carrying out a placement with EuroStemCell as part of her programme, with work relating to the policy, social media and patient engagement dimensions of science communication.

NeuroStemcell

Gianni Munizza began working in 2008 as Project Manager with EU-funded stem cell research project NeuroStemcell coordinated by Elena Cattaneo at University of Milan. He has a degree in Translation and Interpretation services and has gained experience in, and passion for, science communication, audio-visual media, and performing arts management.

Vita-Salute San Raffaele University

Gianvito Martino is Director of the Division of Neuroscience, San Raffaele Hospital. He is a member of several scientific advisory boards, and has been the President of the Italian Neuroimmunology Society since 2009.  He was recently appointed honorary professor at the School of Medicine and Dentistry of the Queen Mary University of London. His medical and scientific interests range from the elucidation of the pathogenic mechanisms of central nervous system (CNS) autoimmunity to the development of gene and stem-cell based therapies for the treatment of CNS autoimmunity.  

Sapienza University, Rome

Gilberto Corbellini is Professor of History of Medicine and Professor of Bioethics at Sapienza University, Rome and Director of the Museum of the History of Medicine. 

University of Glasgow

Gillian Smith has a degree in Immunology and is currently a final year PhD student with University of Glasgow where her work concerns the transformation and maintenance of cancer stem cells. She is a keen science writer and is a regular author with University of Edinburgh science magazine EuSci. Upon completion of her PhD next year, she hopes to begin a career in science communication. 

Max Delbruck Center for Molecular Medicine

Giovanni Valenti is a PhD student in Prof. Walter Birchmeier's lab at the Max Delbruck Center for Molecular Medicine in Berlin, Germany. After earning his degree in Biotechnology at the University of Palermo, he moved in Berlin where he works on molecular pathways involved in breast cancer tumorigenesis and cancer stem cell function.

Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet

Giulia discovered the joy of brain science while studying Biomedicine at Karolinska Institutet. Giulia is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in the field of Neuroepigenetics at the Department of Neuroscience at Karolinska Institutet in the laboratory of Dr. Ola Hermanson. Although her professional background is Medical Science, she has always been very active and passionate in filmmaking, as well as in using multimedia performances and experience design to communicate science to a broader audience.

Integrated Systems Engineering S.r.l.

Giuseppe Diaferia is a senior scientist at ISE, working on stem cell biology and focussing mainly on pancreas and central nervous system development. He is participating in national and international research projects, with the aim of developing quality control assays to safely bank and distribute highly-characterized stem cell lines.

National Institute for Biological Standards and Control

UK Stem Cell Bank

Glyn Stacey has a background in microbiology and cancer research and has worked on the development of cell substrates for manufacture of biological medicines for over fifteen years. He is currently at the National Institute for Biological Standards and Control which is a part of the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency. He is Head of Division of Cell Biology and Imaging and Director for the UK Stem Cell Bank (UKSCB). The UKSCB has been a licensed clinical tissue bank since 2004. The work of his group covers safety and quality issues in cell therapy, cells used for manufacturing purposes, development of novel cell-based assays and the development of reference materials for tissue typing and diagnosis of genetic disorders. This work includes the need for scale up of preservation techniques and long term storage of DNA and cell lines of various types including human stem cell lines and cells used in bioassays and vaccine production.

Glyn has served on numerous steering groups for organisations promoting and funding regenerative medicine. He has also chaired the UK National Clinical hESC Forum and the scientific advisory board for a Public Private Partnership not-for-profit company called Stem Cells for Safer Medicine. His academic roles include member of faculty for postgraduate courses in regenerative medicine at Kings College London and University College London, and he is a visiting Professor at the University of Bedfordshire in the UK.

Lund University

The focus of my expertise is within cellular neuroscience and in particular the role of the endoplasmic reticulum. My group has established new imaging techniques and explored neuronal cellular mechanisms relevant to Alzheimer’s disease and potentially other neurodegenerative disorders. For the last two years I have worked with a team of clinical scientists to establish routines and methods for using human patient-derived cells to explore these mechanisms in a clinically relevant experimental system.

REMEDI, NUI Galway

Hakima FLICI achieved her PhD in Cellular and Molecular Aspects of Biology at Strasbourg University, France. Her research focused on the plasticity of Drosophila neural stem cell. She is currently a postdoctoral researcher at National University of Ireland in Galway. She is particularly interested to the role of chromatin modifiers in the regulation of Hydractinia echinata stem cells.

Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Beta Cell Neogenesis group

Harry Heimberg obtained his Master in Biological Sciences in 1990 and his PhD on "Early glucose metabolism and functional heterogeneity in pancreatic islet alpha- and beta cells" in 1994 at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel. Following a postdoctoral stay a the Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, USA, he became a group leader at the Diabetes Research Center and Full Professor at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel.  Since 2007 he is director of the research group Beta Cell Neogenesis (BENE) that focuses on the study of processes to generate beta cells by proliferation and/or differentiation.

Genea Biocells, Australia

Heather carried our her PhD studies at Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden and to date has carried out research on making brain cells from embryonic stem cells for over 10 years in 5 countries. She is currently working as a Senior Scientist at the Australian owned stem cell company Genea Biocells, which specialises in disease modelling from PGD derived human embryonic stem cells. Heather has been involved in science communications since her Molecular Biology degree in 2001, has worked with EuroStemCell since 2005, Stem Cells Australia since 2012 and the NSW Stem Cell Network in 2013.

ISSCR - International Society for Stem Cell Research

Heather Rooke, Ph.D., is the Scientific Director for the International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR), working closely with the society’s leadership, committees, task forces and staff to disseminate information and ideas relating to stem cell research to both the research community and the public. She directs the ISSCR’s scientific and educational initiatives, including the ISSCR websites, online educational platforms and newsletter. She oversees the ISSCR’s publishing relationships and drives the operations of the society’s open access journal Stem Cell Reports.

Dr. Rooke first joined the ISSCR as Science Editor in October 2005. She played an instrumental role in the development of the ISSCR’s “Guidelines for the Conduct of Human Embryonic Stem Cell Research” (2006), “Guidelines for the Clinical Translation of Stem Cells” (2008) and “Patient Handbook on Stem Cell Therapies” (2008). In 2010, she worked with the ISSCR’s Task Force on Unproven Stem Cell Treatments and in the development of the ISSCR’s web-resource, “A Closer Look at Stem Cell Treatments,” that communicates information on stem cell treatments to patients, their families and care-providers.

Dr. Rooke completed her Ph.D. in Molecular Medicine at the University of Auckland, New Zealand, with scholarships from the Cancer Society of New Zealand and the Matamata Leukemia Research Trust. She received her postdoctoral training as a research fellow with Dr. Stuart Orkin at Boston Children’s Hospital, MA USA, where her research interests included transcription factor control of normal and aberrant hematopoiesis. During this time, Dr. Rooke participated in work that identified a component critical for hematopoietic stem cell renewal. A fascination with stem cell research and an interest in the development of scientific forums for professional and public communication and education drew her to her position with the ISSCR. 

Heleen is a postdoctoral research fellow at the University of Cambridge in Emma Rawlins’ lab at the Wellcome Trust/CRUK Gurdon Institute. Her work focuses on basal stem cells in the adult lung.

Centre for Regenerative Medicine, University of Edinburgh

Dr Huw Jones is post-doctoral fellow in the Institute for Stem Cell Research, within the Centre for Regenerative Medicine at the University of Edinburgh. He completed a PhD thesis in developmental programming within the Institute of Metabolic Science at the University of Cambridge. The then moved to Edinburgh to focus on a population of bipotent cells termed Long-Term Axial Progenitors.

Centre for Regenerative Medicine, University of Edinburgh

Ian Chambers is a Professor of Pluripotent Stem Cell Biology at the University of Edinburgh's Centre for Regenerative Medicine. He is also a Principal Investigator in the Framework Seven project EuroSyStem.

Dr Chambers' research focuses on pluripotent embryonic stem (ES) cells. His lab’s goal is to define the molecules and mechanisms that direct ES cell self-renewal and differentiation, with a principal focus on self-renewal.

Dr. Chambers worked with the “EuroSyStem” Framework 7 project Communications Officer to optimize 3 lessons for communicating stem cell biology to secondary school pupils. These thoroughly tested, easy-to-use resources are freely available allowing scientists/teachers across Europe to engage teenage pupils directly and effectively. The modularity of these school lessons enables rapid updating to reflect new advances.

Dr. Chambers' EuroStemCell Resources:

Discover Stem Cells

Stem Cell Treatments and Ethics: Discussion Lesson

CSI: Cell Science Investigators

Cerebral Palsy Alliance

Associate Professor Iona Novak is the Head of Research at Cerebral Palsy Alliance, University of Notre Dame Australia. Iona is a Fulbright Scholar establishing “Xcellerate” - an American-Australian Cerebral Palsy Stem Cell Research Consortium that pools collective efforts to find a cure. Driven by an internal belief that research and healthcare has the potential to change lives, Iona has pursued projects and roles with the greatest possible impact on children and families, including, leadership of the Australian Cerebral Palsy Register. 

Stem Cell Network North Rhine Westphalia

Ira Herrmann is the coordinator of Germany's unique network for stem cell research located in the State of North Rhine-Westphalia. Trained as a biologist and communication specialist she worked for several years with biotech start-up companies in the field of marketing and international cooperations.

Laboratory of Molecular Neurobiology, Karolinska Institutet

Dr. Isabel Martín is a postdoctoral researcher in the Laboratory of Molecular Neurobiology at Karolinska Institutet, working in the group of Professor Ernest Arenas. She is currently developing methods to model Parkinson Disease in vitro using neural stem cells derived from Parkinson Disease patient's induced pluripotent stem cells, iPS cells. 

Instituto de Biologia Molecular y Celular del Cancer (IBMCC) of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC)

Isidro Sánchez-García is a Senior Staff Scientist at the Instituto de Biologia Molecular y Celular del Cancer (IBMCC) of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC). He learnt and practiced medicine before completing his PhD at the University of Salamanca. Isidro was a postdoctoral fellow for five years at the Medical Research Council’s Laboratory of Molecular Biology in Cambridge (UK) before appointment to his current position in 1997.

Isidro’s research interest is in the study of cancer development and its relationship with stem cells, with a view to improving our understanding of the pathogenesis and treatment of cancer. This work has allowed the establishment of a pioneer relationship between stem cells and cancer. These novel scientific achievements and ideas have crystallized into the first European patent granted in the field of Cancer Stem Cells (EP1449920). This work was funded by the International Carreras Foundation.

Isidro's research group hopes its investigations will result not only in new concepts in cancer biology and development, but will also provide the basis for the development of both a new strategy in cancer therapy and new methods for assessing treatment efficacy.

Observatorio de Bioética y Derecho de la Universitat de Barcelona

• Doctora en Derecho y Máster en Bioética y Derecho por la Universitat de Barcelona.
• Prof. Asoc. Dept. Salud Pública, Universitat de Barcelona
• Investigadora del Observatori de Bioètica i Dret, UB (GRC "Bioètica, Dret i Societat" 2009 SGR 580) y miembro de la Cátedra UNESCO de Bioética de la Universitat de Barcelona
• Miembro de la Comissió de Bioètica de la Universitat de Barcelona
• Miembro del Comitè d'Ètica d'Investigació Clínica de l'Hospital Clínic de Barcelona
• Miembro del Comité Científico de la Revista de Bioética y Derecho

Barbaric research group

Ivana Barbaric completed her DPhil at the University of Oxford in 2006. She then joined Professor Peter Andrews’ group at the University of Sheffield to study the mechanisms that underlie human pluripotent stem cell fate. In 2013, Ivana was awarded a Wellcome Trust discipline hopping fellowship to engineer controlled microenvironments in order to understand mechanical and chemical cues influencing stem cell fate. She was appointed to a Group Leader position at the Centre for Stem Cell Biology, University of Sheffield in 2014. Her research is focused on investigating the causes and consequences of genetic changes in human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs), and studying how signals from the stem cells microenvironment affect their fate decisions and patterning. Her group is also developing protocols for production of differentiated cells from hPSCs for uses in regenerative medicine.

Centre for Stem Cell Biology, University of Sheffield

James is a PhD student in the laboratory of Prof Peter Andrews in Sheffield, UK.  The group's research focuses on improving our understanding of human embryonic stem cells and how they behave.

Cambridge University Centre for Brain Repair

James Fawcett is Chairman of the Cambridge University Centre for Brain Repair. His main interest is the repair of CNS damage, particularly the spinal cord. He has worked on modification of the extracellular matrix to relieve the inhibition of axon regeneration by glial scar tissue, and on the role of proteoglycans in perineuronal nets in the restriction of plasticity in the adult nervous system. He also works on the design of protocols for clinical trials in spinal cord injury.

Centre for Stem Cell Biology, University of Sheffield

Jim is a PhD student in the laboratory of Prof Peter Andrews in Sheffield, UK.  His work is funded by Yorkshire Cancer Research and focusses on modelling cancer initiating events using human pluripotent stem cells.

James Mittra is an interdisciplinary social scientist with broad research and teaching interests in life science policy and innovation, with a specific focus on the R&D organisation, regulation, and governance of advanced technologies and therapies. Recently, he has begun to critically explore the concept of value (economic and non-economic aspects) in health-related innovation; particularly in the context of interdisciplinary and translational research where the distinction between public and commercial, and relationship between laboratory and clinic, has become blurred. He has developed these ideas in his first book, The New Health Bioeconomy, which was published in 2016. James is currently a Senior Lecturer in the Science, Technology and Innovation Studies Subject Area at the University of Edinburgh, which is part of the School of Social and Political Science. From, January 2018, he will serve a 3 year term as Head of Science, Technology and Innovation Studies.

MRC Centre for Regenerative Medicine, University of Edinburgh

James is a PhD student in the lab of Dr Keisuke Kaji. The group focusses on the biology of reprogramming.

MRC Centre for Regenerative Medicine, University of Edinburgh

Jamie is a PhD student recently started at the MRC Centre for Regenerative Medicine, in Edinburgh, Scotland. Currently working on the development of red blood cells, which are suitable for  transfusion, using induced pluripotent cells. He has experience in stem cell biology both from current PhD work and from his  undergraduate degree in genetics from the University of Glasgow.

REMEDI, NUI Galway

Jamie Reilly is  a postgraduate student in NUI Galway studying for his PhD in regenerative medicine. Having been diagnosed as autistic at 3 years of age his future looked bleak as he was non-verbal and assessed with having an IQ which put him in the then mentally handicapped range. He started to talk when he was 5 and finally entered mainstream education at age 11. He did well in the leaving cert, with an A1 in English and Biology. He obtained his primary degree in genetics in Trinity College Dublin in 2011, followed by a Masters in Biotechnology from Queens University Belfast in 2012.

Following a PhD in cancer cell biology, Jan Barfoot worked as science communicator at the Institute of Cell Biology, University of Edinburgh, developing and delivering hands-on biotechnology/bioethical workshops and events. Following a secondment as project manager for the RCUK-funded outreach programme 'Researchers in Residence', Jan developed an undergraduate course in Science Communication and edited an educational booklet for teachers 'Stem cells: Science and Ethics'. Jan worked at the MRC Centre for Regenerative Medicine (University of Edinburgh) as public engagement manager for OptiStem (FP7-funded stem cell research consortium) before taking up the role of Communication and Engagement Manager within EuroStemCell. Jan is currently a lecturer on the University of Edinburgh's MSc in Science Communication and Public Engagement.

Janne Rothmar Herrmann is Associate Professor of Biolaw at the Faculty of Law, University of Copenhagen. Her PhD thesis from 2008 includes a chapter on the regulation of stem cell research. She is editor and co-author of International Encyclopedia of Law’s volume on Medical Law Denmark. Research interests include reproductive rights, abortion and assisted reproduction.

Wellcome Trust Centre for Stem Cell Research, University of Cambridge

Dr Nichols’ main interest is in development of the pluripotent cells of the early mammalian embryo and in how these cells can be captured and propagated in vitro.  ES cell derivation is an inefficient and poorly understood process that varies enormously, depending upon the protocol and the genetic makeup of the embryo.  We have developed a novel, defined system that improves the efficiency of ES cell derivation and expands the pluripotent population in cultured rodent embryos.

Jessica Schreiter is a medical doctor, working in a bone marrow transplantation unit in Hamburg, Germany. Her research focuses on hematopoietic development of pluripotent stem cells.

Uppsala University

Johan Olerud was educated at Uppsala University Sweden and received his Ph.D in 2009 at the Department of Medical Cell Biology, Uppsala. His work has been focused on how to improve graft survival in pre-clinical models. Currently Johan works on the islet isolation program at Akademiska University Hospital, Uppsala Sweden. 

Danish Stem Cell Center

Johanne Keiding, Research Coordinator at the Danish Stem Cell Center (DanStem). She has a background in art history and literature studies, but has worked within research support and science communication for the past 15 years.

Director, Innogen Institute (www.innogen.ac.uk)  

Joyce Tait, Director of the Innogen Institute, University of Edinburgh, has an interdisciplinary background in natural and social sciences, covering agrochemical, pharmaceutical and life science industry sectors, including: strategic planning for innovation; governance, risk management, regulation and standards; and stakeholder attitudes and influences. Relevant life science areas include GM and synthetic biology, genetic databases, pharmaceuticals, regenerative medicine, stratified and translational medicine. Current appointments include: Member, UK Higher Education Funding Bodies Interdisciplinary Research Advisory Panel; UK Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) Synthetic Biology Leadership Council (and Chair of its Governance Subgroup); Scientific Advisory Board, John Innes Centre; and Governing Board of the Industrial Biotechnology Innovation Centre, University of Strathclyde.

Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), Barcelona

COMMHere

Biologist, MSc. in History of Science, and science communicator, Juan has worked creating communication strategies in digital environments for public and private initiatives at national and European levels. He has been press officer at the Centre for Genomic Regulation in Barcelona and is now the project manager of COMMHere and leads CRG's work as a partner in EuroStemCell.

Julia Turan triturated, pipetted, imaged, and analyzed, during her undergrad years studying neurobiology. Since then, she has shifted into the world of science communications, hoping to promote a language of science legible to all. Julia completed an MSc in Science Communication and Public Engagement at the University of Edinburgh.

Follow this link to subscribe to her weekly newsletter of five worthwhile science stories: http://tinyletter.com/juliaturan. Or follow her @JuliaTuran.

Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research

Dr Julie Sheridan gained her PhD in 2007 at the Institute for Stem Cell Research at the University of Edinburgh, before moving to the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research in Melbourne. As a post-doctoral fellow in the Stem Cells and Cancer Division, she continues to study the activity and regulation of epithelial stem and progenitor cells.

Lithuanian Bioethics Committee

Jurate is currently a specialist of the Lithuanian Bioethics Committee as well as a fellow in the Advanced Certificate Program in Research Ethics for Central and Eastern Europe (sponsored by Union Graduate College Bioethics Program (Schenectady, New York) in partnership with the Department of Medical History and Ethics of Vilnius University). From July 2009 through March 2011 she worked as a junior research fellow at the Medical Faculty of Vilnius University. Her academic interests include medical law and bioethics. 

Regenerative Medicine Institute (REMEDI), National University of Ireland Galway

Dr Karen Duffy is the Facility Manager at REMEDI’s GMP facility, actively working to ensure operational and regulatory compliance of the facility’s activities. Karen holds a Ph.D. in Microbiology, Diploma in Quality Management and has just concluded a Masters in Business Administration (MBA). Karen has a background in both basic and industrial research, having been involved in projects such as: the development of a diagnostic assay to detect prions in bovine blood, development of a molecular detection assay for detection of food pathogens, the development of a novel diagnostic device and assay for detection of Streptococcus pyogenes. Karen is also involved in the EU seventh framework programme funded project Purstem (www.purstem.eu), the aim of which is to establish standard methods and tools for the production of large amounts of mesenchymal stem cells.

Dr. Karen Jent is a sociologist of science and technology and a former postdoctoral researcher at the Reproductive Sociology Research Group, University of Cambridge. She is the lead producer of Dish Life: The Game, an immersive digital mobile game about everyday life in the stem cell laboratory.