Abstract
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The president of SCR Italy reported on the first year of activity. Currently, SCR Italy has 143 members including 31 honorary members from several countries worldwide (United States, Europe, and Japan). Half of the members belong to academic institutions, about 12% are researchers in other institutions, and the rest are Ph.D. students and postdocs. Most Italian members belong to several prestigious universities and to some well-reputed research centers.
The speakers' reports showed vividly that research on stem cells in Italy covers all the aspects of the field. Some speakers described researches on the basic biology of adult and embryonic stem cells. Reports evidenced that most studies are focused on mesenchymal progenitor cells, amniotic stem cells, cardiac progenitor cells, neural stem cells, and induced pluripotent stem cells. Others showed promising results in the application of stem cell-based therapies for the treatment of neuromuscular and renal diseases. Several speakers tried to address concerns on the criteria to identify and isolate pure stem cell populations.
The general assembly of SCR members agreed that in the “mission” and aims of several national and international scientific associations, including SCR Italy, there is something amiss. In detail: In every scientific society, eminent scientists have to be involved. Nevertheless, associations must rely mostly on young members who must be considered the “backbone” of association. This means that young members must be involved in the directions of several activities. For example, young researchers use a lot of social networks (such as Facebook, Twitter). A committee of young members may be involved in spreading news on science issues and provide public proper information on stem cell research and therapies. Other young members may create a group to direct Ph.D. students and postdoc researchers in searching for right places to work. Associations should organize specific meetings in a way that will help young researchers to present their data. For example, each scientific session could be introduced by a key lecture of a senior member and then as many as possible young researchers will expose their data. Often on associations' websites you find only minimal information about members. It could be of great interest if associations consider the creation on websites of specific “spaces” to insert brief report on members' research groups with interests, publications, expertise, and facilities. These reports will promote scientific exchanges, collaborations among members, and inform/attract other researchers visiting the websites. Several members pointed out that there is a gap between scientists and the public opinion. Very often researchers use a too technical language that is not easily understandable by nonscientists. On the other hand, journalists trying to simplify scientific words can modify and distort information on research results. This produces false promises and induces people to look for the “magic bullet.” Associations have to promote the publication of reports on the state of art of clinical trials and therapies in a form accessible to a broad readership including nonspecialists. All around the world there are several scientific associations that have overlapping interests. It is important to promote federation among them in order to increase scientific exchanges and to increase the scientific credit toward both public and private institutions.