September 11, 2001 Dinner:

Irvin Weissman on Stem Cell Research

DINNER LOCATION: Kabul Afghan Cuisine, 135 El Camino Real, San Carlos

SUBJECT: Stem cells represent an intensely exciting and controversial area of medical research. The primordial cells from which all others develop, stem cells have the potential to repair or repopulate diseased or damaged organs that normally do not regenerate themselves. Neurodegenerative disorders, paralysis and type I diabetes are among the many promising avenues of stem cell research. However, the potential medical uses of stem cells are complicated by the fact that they come from human embryos. The recent announcement by President Bush that he would limit federal funding of stem cell research has only added to the controversy.

Stem cell pioneer Irving Weissman, the Karel and Avice Beekhuis Professor of Cancer Biology at Stanford University and co-founder of StemCells, Inc. of Palo Alto, will discuss his work, and will help us separate fact from fiction in this controversial area of research. Weissman's lab at Stanford was the first to isolate stem cells from any tissue in any species. His main research focus is the purification, biology, transplantation, and evolution of stem cells.

DINNER MENU:

Appetizers
Six "family style" entrees: Eggplant, pumpkin, cauliflower, spinach, chicken-kabob, and lamb-kabob.

SCHEDULE:

6 pm to 7 pm Happy Hour (no host bar)
7 pm to 8 pm Dinner
8 pm to 9 pm Speaker

COST: $20.00 per person and $15.00 for students
**THIS IS A DEAL: NCSWA is subsidizing a portion of the costs to keep the price low.

TO RESERVE SPACE: Send a check for $20 ($15 for students), made out to NCSWA, by Friday, September 7th, to:

Bob Sanders
1512 Holly St.
Berkeley, CA 94703

DIRECTIONS TO KABUL AFGHAN CUISINE:

135 El Camino Real, San Carlos. 650-594-2840

From 101, take Holly Street West, and make a right on El Camino Real. The restaurant is on the right side of the street. Parking is free and plentiful. The restaurant is also within walking distance of the San Carlos CalTrain station.

CARPOOLING:

For those interested in carpooling to the dinner in San Carlos, Karen Street again will play transportation matchmaker, matching up those of you wanting a ride with those
who are driving.

Contact her at kmstreet1@home.com. She will mail out information as she receives it. It would be especially helpful if those offering rides can do so before September 4, so people needing rides can meet the deadline for sending in their money