Biocomplexity Workshop IV

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Biocomplexity Workshop IV
REGENERATIVE BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
Regenerative biology is the science of
understanding the mechanisms of natural
regeneration that are used in the animal world to
replace cells, tissues and complex structures and
how these mechanisms differ from those that lead
to fibrosis, or scarring. Regenerative medicine
is the application of this knowledge to enable
the regeneration of biological structures that
normally do not regenerate well. The process of
regeneration requires a source of
regeneration-competent cells, the right systemic
and local environmental signals, and the absence
of inhibitors of regeneration. There are four
basic types of regeneration in multicellular
animals Single cell regeneration, such as
neuronal axon re-growth compensatory hyperplasia
of differentiated cells, as seen in liver
regeneration regeneration by reserve adult stem
cells, characteristic of a wide variety of
tissues and organisms and regeneration via stem
cells created by dedifferentiation, a mode used
by amphibians to regenerate a wide variety of
complex structures. Fibrosis and regeneration
have been studied for over two centuries. But
only recently, with the discovery that many
non-regenerating tissues harbor
regeneration-competent cells and that some stem
cell populations appear to be developmentally
plastic, has the study of regenerative biology
and medicine been given major attention. The
intent of this workshop is to bring together
well-known experts as well as a substantial
number of younger investigators on regeneration
who are using a wide range of experimental
systems to synthesize the current state of our
knowledge on the biology of regeneration and to
assess our progress toward the establishment of a
regenerative medicine.
Sponsors Indiana University Biocomplexity
Institute at IUB, Medical Sciences at IUB, the
Center for Regenerative Biology and Medicine at
IUPUI and IUB, School of Medicine at IUPUI, and
School of Science at IUPUI University of Notre
Dame Interdisciplinary Center for the Study of
Biocomplexity
Co-organizers Mark Alber, Interdisciplinary
Center for the Study of Biocomplexity, University
of Notre Dame James A. Glazier, Biocomplexity
Institute, Indiana University, Bloomington (IUB)
Anthony L. Mescher and Anton W. Neff, IUB Center
for Regenerative Biology and Medicine David
Stocum, School of Science, IUPUI, Indianapolis
Keynote Lecturer Bruce M. Carlson, M.D.
Ph.D. TOPIC How to regenerate an organ Professor
of Cell and Developmental Biology Professor of
Biology Senior Research Scientist and Director of
Institute of Gerontology University of Michigan
Medical School
May 14-18, 2003 Indiana University, Willkie
Center, Bloomington IN
Web Site http//biocomplexity.indiana.edu