This Symposium with the main theme “Stem Cell Research: Opportunities and Risks” is a very special occasion as this is part of the Official Celebration for the 625th Anniversary of the University of Heidelberg, the oldest existing German speaking university, founded in 1386.

For the Department of Medicine V (Hematology, Oncology and Rheumatology) of the Medical Center of the University of Heidelberg, this also marks the 25th Anniversary of one of the world-wide first successful blood stem cell transplantations, performed in 1985 at our Division of Bone Marrow Transplantation.

The Opening Ceremony will be held at the historic Alte Aula of the University with Key Note Lectures on the role of stem cell research and biotechnology in public policy and as an integra-ting force for modern democracies. This will be followed by sessions on advances in clinical stem cell transplantation on the next day, November 19, 2010 in the Lecture Hall of the Department of Internal Medicine. The focus of the sessions on November 20, 2010 will be on future perspectives of stem cell research.