The Tribune

Okyanos Heart Institute’s chief science officer will address the International Stem Cell Society (STEMSO) Global Conference that will be held in Freeport on February 19-22.

Dr Leslie Miller, a specialist in adult stem cell therapy for heart failure, will speak about adipose-derived stem and regenerative cells to treat cardiovascular disease.

The conference, entitled ‘Bridging the Gap: Research to Point of Care’, brings together medical scientists, clinicians, ethicists, regulatory experts and investors to discuss progress in the field of research and clinical protocols.

“In this session, I will share a summary of the latest clinical findings in adipose-derived regenerative cells (ADRCs) for cardiovascular disease,” said Dr Miller.

“Bone marrow as a source of stem cells has been studied in clinical trials for many years now, and we can now share what we have learned about fat cells as a source, and how they compare and contrast. This will be important information as we carefully maneuver into treatment of patients outside of clinical trials.”

Dr Miller is a cardiologist and specialist in the field of heart failure and transplantation. He has served as an investigator in more than 80 clinical trials, including the use of stem cells derived from fat tissue to treat heart disease.

Dr Miller is formerly the director of the University of South Florida (USF) Heart Institute, and professor of cardiovascular sciences at the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine.

He previously served as the director of the cardiac programmes at Georgetown University School of Medicine, Georgetown University Hospital and Washington Hospital Centre.

Prior to that, he was a professor and director of the cardiovascular division at the University of Minnesota. He has received numerous teaching awards from both fellows and residents, including teacher of the year in internal medicine and the Proctor Harvey Chair.

“We are proud to host this conference in The Bahamas,” said Douglas Hammond, president of STEMSO, “with the agenda consisting of many of the foremost authorities in the world on stem cell therapy and healthcare regulations and ethics. We are sure to have a productive and informative conference.”

Other prominent speakers will include minister of health, Dr Perry Gomez. He Gomez is known globally for his work on HIV/AIDS research, being the founder and director of the National HIV Programme of the Bahamas.