Insoo Hyun is Associate Professor of Bioethics and Philosophy at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine in Cleveland, Ohio. His research interests include ethical and policy issues in stem cell research, research ethics and informed consent, and medical decision-making. In 2005, he was awarded a Fulbright Research Award by the U.S. Department of State to study the ethical, legal, and cultural dynamics of human research cloning in South Korea. In 2006 he chaired the Subcommittee on Human Biological Materials Procurement for the International Embryonic Stem Cell Guidelines Task Force, a multinational, multidisciplinary working group for the ISSCR (International Society for Stem Cell Research). In 2007 he served as Co-Chairperson of the ISSCR Task Force on International Guidelines for the Clinical Translation of Stem Cells. He is also the past Chairperson of the ISSCR’s Ethics and Public Policy Committee. Currently, Dr. Hyun is a member of the ISSCR Working Group that is revising the ISSCR guidelines for basic and translational stem cell research. Dr. Hyun received his BA and MA in Philosophy from Stanford University and his PhD in Philosophy from Brown University. Dr. Hyun’s bioethics articles have appeared in Science, Nature, Cell Stem Cell, The Hastings Center Report, and The Kennedy Institute of Ethics Journal, among many others. His book Bioethics and the Future of Stem Cell Research was recently published by Cambridge University Press.

Tetsuya Ishii, PhD, now is a professor of Office of Health and Safety, Hokkaido University. He is a member of ISSCR, ESHRE, and AAAS. He worked as a program officer in Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST). In 2005, he completed the international program officer training program in U.S. NIH John E. Forgaty International Center. Subsequently, he worked at Center for iPS Cell Research and Application (CiRA), Kyoto University (Director, Shinya Yamanaka). In CiRA, he was in charge with clinical research application and also joined International Stem Cell Initiative. Currently, he is studying bioethics, focusing the relationship between society and biotechnology (stem cell research, gene therapy, assisted reproductive technology). His recently invited lectures include the Health Council of the Netherlands and the Netherlands Commission on Genetic Modification: Genome on demand? Exploring the implications of human genome editing (November 6, 2015) and the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, the U.S. National Academy of Medicine, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the U.K. Royal Society: International Summit on Human Gene Editing (December 3, 2015). Link to my works: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Tetsuya_Ishii Follow me on twitter: @TetsuyaIshii

Ana S. Iltis, PhD is Director of the Center for Bioethics, Health and Society and Professor of Philosophy at Wake Forest University. She also holds an appointment in the Department of Social Sciences and Health Policy at Wake Forest School of Medicine. Dr. Iltis’ work focuses primarily on the ethical conduct of human research, including research involving children, first-in-human studies, mental health research, informed consent, and risk in research decision making. She has published extensively in bioethics, serves on several National Institutes of Health data safety monitoring boards, and holds a wide range of editorial positions, including: Co-Editor of the Annals of Bioethics book series (Routledge), Senior Associate Editor of The Journal of Medicine and Philosophy (Oxford University Press), and Co-Editor of Narrative Inquiry in Bioethics (Johns Hopkins University Press). She has been invited to speak nationally and internationally on a wide range of topics in bioethics. Dr. Iltis served for three years on the Board of Directors of the American Society for Bioethics and Humanities. Prior to joining Wake Forest University, she was Associate Professor of Health Care Ethics and PhD Program Director in the Center for Health Care Ethics at Saint Louis University and held an appointment in the Department of Medicine at Washington University in St. Louis, where she taught research ethics.

Dr. Illes is Professor of Neurology and Canada Research Chair in Neuroethics at the University of British Columbia. She is Director of the National Core for Neuroethics at UBC, and faculty in the Centre for Brain Health at UBC and at the Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute. She also holds affiliate appointments in the School of Population and Public Health and the School of Journalism at UBC, and in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering at the University of Washington in Seattle, WA. USA, and is a Life Member of Clare Hall, Cambridge University. She obtained her Bachelors’ degree from Brandeis University, Masters from McGill, and doctorate from Stanford. Dr. Illes' research focuses on ethical, legal, social and policy challenges specifically at the intersection of the neurotechnology and biomedical ethics. This includes studies in the areas of stem cells and regenerative medicine, incidental findings and functional neuroimaging in basic and clinical research, addiction neuroethics, dementia, neurodevelopmental disorders, and the commercialization of cognitive neuroscience. She also leads a robust program of research and outreach devoted to improving the literacy of neuroscience and engaging stakeholders on a global scale. Dr. Illes is an internationally recognized author, lecturer, and mentor. She is a Founder and Governing Board Member of the International Neuroethics Society of which she is also now President. She is a member of the Standing Committee on Ethics for CIHR. Dr. Illes was elected to the Royal Society (Life Sciences) in 2012, to the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences in 2011, and to the American Academy for the Advancement of Science (Neuroscience) in 2013.

Dr. Amit Prasad is a tenured associate professor of sociology and the director of South Asian Studies Program at the University of Missouri-Columbia. His research focuses on transnational features of medical technology innovations and healthcare. In particular, he investigates how technical aspects of innovations are entangled with socio-cultural and economic factors in different nations. His broader goal has been to highlight the role of transnational flows of knowledge, artifacts, and people in medical innovations, which, as he shows in his published work, are often hidden as such because of commonly accepted understanding of the process of invention and national cultures. His book, Imperial Technoscience: Transnational Histories of MRI in the United States, Britain, and India (MIT Press, 2014), for example, argues that if we move beyond accepted divides such as that between west/non-west, invention/innovation/diffusion, culture/science, etc. a very vibrant, albeit hierarchical, transnational history of medical innovation, development, and diffusion comes to light. He has also published articles on the shift in visual culture of medicine with the emergence of technologies such as MRI. Presently, drawing on an ethnographic study of a stem cell clinic in Delhi, India, interviews of policy makers, analysis of patients’ blogs and videos, and newspaper reports, he is writing a book that is tentatively titled Miracle or Science: Hope and Healing in an Embryonic Stem Cell Therapy Clinic.

Dr. Paul Knoepfler (@pknoepfler) is a biomedical scientist, science writer, advocate, and cancer survivor. Knoepfler is an Associate Professor at UC Davis School of Medicine in the Department of Cell Biology and Human Anatomy. At UC Davis he is also a faculty member of the Genome Center, the Comprehensive Cancer Center, the Institute for Regenerative Cures (aka UC Davis Stem Cell Center), and the Institute for Pediatric Regenerative Medicine. He received his BA in English Literature from Reed College and PhD from UCSD School of Medicine in Molecular Pathology. His research interests are primarily focused on the epigenomics of cancer and stem cells with a particular interest in pediatric brain tumors and normal brain growth. Dr. Knoepfler also conducts research and is a vocal advocate on evidence-based medicine in the areas of stem cell treatments and human genetic modification including CRISPR. He is the author of two books. His first book, Stem Cells: An Insider’s Guide, is the top book on stem cells on Amazon. He just published his second book, focused on human genetic modification, GMO Sapiens: The Life Changing Science of Designer Babies. He blogs regularly at the Niche (www.ipscell.com) and was named the top American stem cell advocate in 2013 as well as one of the 50 most influential people in the stem cell field in the world.

Dr. Kalina Kamenova is an Assistant Professor at the Bachelor of Arts and Science Program at Trent University in Peterborough, Ontario, where she teaches science communication, science and technology studies, and biomedical ethics. Her research interests are broadly interdisciplinary, spanning communication and cultural studies, social and political thought, deliberative democracy and participatory governance, bioethics, science policy, science and technology studies, and the emerging technologies in biomedicine. She received her PhD in Social and Political Thought in 2012 from York University in Toronto with a dissertation titled “The Public Communication and Biopolitics of Human Embryonic Stem Cell Research in the United States and the European Union.” Dr. Kamenova also holds Master’s degrees in Comparative Literature and Ethnic and Pluralism Studies (University of Toronto), Gender Studies (Central European University), and Cultural Studies and Philosophy (Sofia University). From 2012 to 2013, she served as the Inaugural Research Director of the newly established Center for Public Involvement at the University of Alberta and was appointed as an Adjunct Professor at the Faculty of Extension. From 2013 to 2015, Dr. Kamenova was a Research Associate at the University of Alberta’s Health Law Institute and contributed to the Institute’s wide research portfolio in the areas of health law, science policy, and ethical, legal and social issues related to new and emerging biomedical technologies such as stem cell research, human cloning, assisted reproductive technologies, human enhancement, genomics, predictive genetic testing, and precision medicine. She has also taught courses in sociology of scientific controversies at York University and scientific and technical writing at the University of Ontario Institute of Technology. Dr. Kamenova has published on diverse topics such as media representations of translational stem cell research, predictive genetic testing and gene patents, research ethics and stem cell policy, stem cell tourism, public deliberation, and the ethics of human enhancement in high-impact journals such as Science Translational Medicine, Genetics in Medicine, The American Journal of Bioethics, AJOB Neuroscience, Stem Cell Reviews and Reports, Stem Cell Reports, and EMBO Reports. Google Scholar Profile - https://scholar.google.ca/citations?user=cpzImeoAAAAJ&hl=en

Jaime Imitola, MD is a Harvard-educated neuroimmunologist and stem cell scientist. He is the director of the Neural Stem Cell Laboratory and Assistant Professor of Neurology and Neuroscience, Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. In addition, Dr. Imitola is a board-certified neurologist with subspecialization in Multiple Sclerosis, caring for patients with Progressive MS and searching for a cure at the Wexner Medical Center and The James Cancer Hospital. He trained in neuroimmunology, neural stem cell (NSC) biology and brain tumors at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Center for Neurologic Diseases and was Junior Faculty at Harvard Medical School and the Harvard Stem Cell Institute. His research is focused on NSC biology and neuroinflammation with a particular emphasis on understanding the molecular mechanisms involved in the crosstalk between the immune system and NSC genomic programs. He has contributed to the understanding of the molecular mechanisms of migration of endogenous NSCs during injury, the mechanisms of loss of self-renewal and differentiation of NSC in inflammation during MS. He is widely published an he is an author or coauthor of more than 60 peer-reviewed publications and book chapters about neural stem cell biology in high impact journals like Nature genetics, Human Molecular Genetics, American Journal of Medical Genetics, PNAS, Annals of Neurology, Brain, Nature Immunology, Immunity and JAMA neurology. He has received funding from NIH and the MS society. As Clinician-Scientist his goal is to bridge the contact with his patients in the MS clinic with a rigorous patient-oriented program of laboratory research. The ultimate goal is to translate this knowledge and expertise to future clinical trials in regenerative medicine with patient derived inducible pluripotent stem cells for MS and other neurodegenerative diseases. .

Dr. Gerard Flaherty hails from the small town of Athenry in the west of Ireland. He graduated from the National University of Ireland, Galway, in 2000 with a first class honours degree and gold medals in each of the 8 final year subjects. As an undergraduate, Gerard gained an intercalated BSc degree in Anatomy and received numerous international academic distinctions, including the Duke Elder Prizer in Ophthalmology from the Royal College of Ophthalmology (UK), and the Annual Undergraduate Prize of the Faculty of Radiology (UK). He gained Membership of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland in 2002 and Fellowship in 2011. He holds a Diploma in Travel Medicine from the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons (Glasgow). He has completed 3 Masters degrees, including a Masters in International and Travel Health (Sheffield) and Masters in Medical Education (Dundee). His doctoral thesis from NUI Galway was based on his original research in travel medicine. He is a Fellow, examiner, former board member and education convenor of the Faculty of Travel Medicine at the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow. He was also the recipient of the Cameron Lockie Prize for Travel Medicine in the UK. He is Immediate Past President and current Research Officer of the Travel Medicine Society of Ireland, he was Chair of the Northern European Conference on Travel Medicine (NECTM) 2012 scientific committee which the Travel Medicine Society of Ireland hosted in Dublin, and Vice-Chair of the NECTM 2014 scientific committee in Norway. He also serves on the international scientific committee for the 2015 NECTM and 2016 RCISTM conferences in London and South Africa, respectively. He was elected to the Executive Board of the International Society of Travel Medicine in 2014. He is also a member of the Asia Pacific Travel Health Society. He holds an Adjunct Professorship in Travel Medicine and International Health with the International Medical University in Malaysia. Gerard’s research interests in travel medicine include high altitude medicine, space flight participation, travellers with pre-existing medical conditions, medical tourism, and education in travel health. He has 12 years of clinical experience in travel medicine. Gerard’s current academic position as Senior Lecturer in Clinical Medicine and Medical Education at NUI Galway, former Director of Clinical Studies and current Director of International Affairs for the School of Medicine gives him responsibility for design, delivery and assessment of many components of the undergraduate curriculum, including the special study module programme. He is also a Past Chair of the Curriculum Review Committee and sits on numerous committees at school and university levels, including the examination appeals committee. He received a President’s Award from NUI Galway for Teaching Excellence in 2008. He has been awarded Fellowship of the Academy of Medical Educators (UK). He has over 100 publications and research presentations to date, including a textbook, and 3 textbook chapters. He serves on the editorial board of the journals Travel Medicine and Infectious Disease, International Journal of Travel Medicine and Global Health, and the Brazilian Journal of Medicine and Human Health. Gerard has worked with a local Irish charity for many years as a volunteer expedition physician on fundraising high altitude treks to Nepal and Kenya. He was instrumental in establishing the National Institute for Preventive Cardiology on whose Advisory Council he serves. In addition to acting as Founder and Programme Director for the Masters in Preventive Cardiology programme at NUI Galway, Gerard is responsible for the medical management of participants enrolled on the Croí MyAction preventive cardiology programme. In his leisure time Gerard travels, golfs, walks in forests, climbs mountains, and bird-watches. He is currently enjoying a Diploma course in Avian Studies, having been awarded Certificates in Ornithology and in Bird Behaviour. He is fluent in English and Gaelic, and speaks French and German poorly!