CHOP Expert Invited to Speak at International Cellular Therapy Conference at The Vatican

Created by the Stem for Life Foundation, STOQ and the Vatican's Pontifical Council for Culture, this exclusive international event will gather the world's leading cell therapy scientists, physicians, patients, ethicists and leaders of faith, government and philanthropy to discuss the latest cellular therapy breakthroughs and hope for the future. Moderated by renowned journalists and broadcasted around the world, the 2016 event will have a unique focus on pediatric cancers and rare genetic diseases, as well as diseases that occur with aging.

Dr. Rheingold will present on immunotherapy programs to treat pediatric cancer patients and how these efforts are likely to continue to provide hope for families around the world whose children are facing these challenges. Joining Dr. Rheingold will be CHOP Cancer Center patient, Nicholas Wilkins and his family.  Nicholas was enrolled in a clinical trial at CHOP where he received experimental immunotherapy treatment.  He and his family will share their story at the Conference.

"Whether immunotherapies for cancer or stem cell treatments for rare diseases, there are now over 30,000 cell therapy trials in development noted on the clinicaltrials.gov website," said Dr. Robin Smith, President of The Stem For Life Foundation. "The Third International Conference on the Progress of Regenerative Medicine and Its Cultural Impact will rally the world around a powerful idea ─ that the cells of our bodies hold the potential to vanquish disease, reduce global suffering and inspire hope for people around the world living with illness."

About The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia: The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia was founded in 1855 as the nation's first pediatric hospital. Through its long-standing commitment to providing exceptional patient care, training new generations of pediatric healthcare professionals and pioneering major research initiatives, Children's Hospital has fostered many discoveries that have benefited children worldwide. Its pediatric research program is among the largest in the country. In addition, its unique family-centered care and public service programs have brought the 535-bed hospital recognition as a leading advocate for children and adolescents. For more information, visit http://www.chop.edu.

The Stem For Life Foundation (SFLF) is the educational and advocacy subsidiary of The Cura Foundation and is devoted to fostering global awareness of the potential for regenerative medicine to treat and cure a range of deadly diseases and debilitating medical conditions, as opposed to merely treating their symptoms. The Foundation stands at the forefront of a fundamental shift away from traditional drug treatment in favor of amplifying the body's natural repair mechanisms to vanquish disease. For more information on The Stem For Life Foundation, please visit http://www.stemforlife.org.  To follow the Vatican event on Twitter, please join the conversation @StemForLife or via the hashtag #UNITETOCURE

The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
Natalie Virgilio
Phone: 267-426-6246
Email: [email protected]

Stem For Life 
Linda Burns, Allison+Partners
Phone: +1-646-428-0606
Email: [email protected]

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160427/360555

SOURCE The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

Related Links

http://www.chop.edu