WAUKESHA – To intelligently debate the value of stem cells in medical research requires some understanding of the science. Maya Sieber-Blum, a professor in cell biology, neurobiology, and anatomy at the Medical College of Wisconsin, will address the topic at the University of Wisconsin-Waukesha on Wednesday, April 4, at noon in Northview Hall, Room 133. Admission is free and the public welcome.

She will speak on “Stem Cells!” as part of the campus’s Visions & Expressions series. UW-Waukesha is located at 1500 N. University Dr., Waukesha.

Sieber-Blum will explain exactly what stem cells are, where they have been found to exist, and what work she is doing with them. She leads a research team studying hair follicles as a ready source of stem cells that are commonly available, easily accessible, and highly compatible (not rejected).  Her team is investigating how the cells can be used to treat patients suffering from spinal cord injury. In the future, the hair-follicle-derived stem cells may also be useful for treating a variety of other medical problems, she says, such as Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, Hirschsprung’s disease, stroke, peripheral neuropathies, and ALS, as well as possibly some heart, bone, and neural regeneration.

Sieber-Blum completed her Ph.D. at the Biocenter of the University of Basel, Switzerland, and did post-doctoral work at Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD.

The presentation is sponsored by the campus Lectures & Fine Arts Committee.

UW-Waukesha has the largest enrollment among the 13 freshman-sophomore University of Wisconsin Colleges campuses. For information about programs, admission, or financial aid, contact the Student Services office at (262) 521-5200 or visit the Web at www.waukesha.uwc.edu.

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