Director of the Wellcome Trust Centre for Stem Cell Research, University of Cambridge, England.

Professor Smith has expertise in the field of mouse developmental biology and has pioneered key advances in the field of Embryonic Stem Cell research. As co-ordinator of EuroStemCell, Prof. Smith will act as overall leader for the project, will chair the meetings of the Board of Directors and the Project Steering Committee, and be responsible for all communication with the Commission on contractual Matters.

Email: ags39@csrc.cam.ac.uk

Chief of Section of Neurobiology, Lund Stem Cell Centre, Lund University, Sweden.

Prof. Björklund has pioneered research into stem cell transplantation therapy for Parkinson's disease. As deputy co-ordinator, Prof Bjorklund will assist Prof. Smith in the co-ordination of EuroStemCell and take specific responsibility for Technology Evaluation and Exploitation.

Email: anders.bjorklund@med.lu.se

Head of Developmental Immunology Group, Institute for Stem Cell Research, University of Edinburgh, Scotland.

Dr Blackburn has expertise in thymic epithelial stem cells and recently identified a population of progenitor cells, within the mouse embryonic thymus, which is sufficient to generate a functional thymus in vivo. As Training Director, Dr Blackburn will manage a comprehensive Training and Outreach Programme that aims to promote the efficient exchange of intellectual and methodological expertise between participating Institutions, and to ensure the wider dissemination of knowledge to other stem cell scientists, clinicians and the public.

Email: c.blackburn@ed.ac.uk

Department of Pharmacological Sciences and Center of Excellence on Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Milano, Italy.

Prof. Cattaneo has expertise in studying the biology of stem and progenitor cells derived from the developing brain, and the underlying mechanisms of Huntington's disease. As the Networking Director, Prof.Catteneo will be responsible for organizing the Annual Scientific Meetings of the EuroStemCell Consortium.

Email: elena.cattaneo@unimi.it

Dr Allsopp directs the company research into Embryonic Stem (ES) cell biology and the development of ES-based discovery technologies. He is an experienced neurobiologist and has published a number of high-profile articles in the field. Stem Cell Sciences Ltd (SCS) is a biotechnology company specializing in the application of ES cells in human health care.

Email:tim.allsopp@stemcellsciences.com

Key Publications:

Chief of the Laboratory of Molecular Biology in the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.

Dr. McKay received his BSc and PhD degrees from the University of Edinburgh. Previous to his current appointment, he held positions at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, NY and Oxford University.  He has made contributions to the field of molecular neurobiology and particularly to the identification and analysis of stem cells in the developing and adult nervous systems.  His group is now focused on developing new technologies to define the lineage of stem cells in the central nervous system and to control the development of dopamine neurons.

The work of his group at the NIH has led the interest in the therapeutic use of embryonic stem cells in neurodegenerative diseases.  In addition to his research work, Dr. McKay is the Director of the NIH-Human Stem Cell Facility and involved in other collaborative international efforts to promote understanding of stem cells.

Email: mckay@codon.nih.gov

Director of the JDRF Center for Beta Cell Therapy in Diabetes.

Professor of Molecular and Cellular Pathology, and Director of the Diabetes Research Centre (DRC) at the Free University, Brussels (VUB)

Email: daniel.pipeleers@vub.ac.be

Director CNS Drug Therapy Research & Development Medtronic Neurological.