Listen to this articleWe caught up with stem cell biotech entrepreneur James L. Sherley to talk with him about his company’s, Asymmetrex’s, first time presenting and exhibiting in an annual meeting of the International Society of Stem Cell Research (June 21-26 Virtual).
James L. Sherley, M.D., Ph.D., is the founder and current President and CEO of stem cell biotechnology company Asymmetrex, LLC, headquartered in Boston, MA in the USA. Here is our recent interview with James:
Q: James, your company Asymmetrex has been in the stem cell science and medicine commercial space since you founded it in 2013. No ISSCR meetings until now?
A: Yes, I suppose that might seem surprising, but, yep, that’s the case. Back in my principal investigator days, I did attend several of the earliest ISSCR annual meetings with my research lab groups.
Q: So, why not the same with Asymmetrex?
A: Well for one thing, it costs a lot more to participate as a company than as individual academic investigators. So, Asymmetrex participating has needed to make good business sense as well; and it didn’t until now. I also had a philosophical break with the ISSCR leadership over their promotion of human embryonic stem cell research. That’s still a problem for me personally; but recently Asymmetrex has grown to involve more people in the executive suite, who we will be announcing soon. I actually don’t know how they feel about these matters that trouble me. Mainly, I decided that this was the year for Asymmetrex to participate, because I think we have something of great value to share with the ISSCR community that will accelerate progress in research and medicine with adult tissue stem cells. Something I’ve been working toward for many years now.
Recommended: Q: Okay, so what is the “great value” you will be sharing.
A: Kinetic stem cell counting. Or as we now call it at Asymmetrex, KSC counting.
Q: What’s the value of this KSC counting to ISSCR participants?
A: Well, you may recall from your past interviews with Asymmetrex that what we now call KSC counting is the first technology that allows accurate determination of the number of tissue stem cells in any sample. Many of the participants in the coming ISSCR virtual Annual Meeting will work with tissue stem cells, like blood hematopoietic stem cells and other stem cells derived from tissues like liver, fat tissue, and umbilical cord blood and tissue. Whether they are conducting research, trying to manufacture stem cells and stem cell products, or treating patients with them, having a means to quantify them specifically will improve the quality of whatever they are doing with them.
Q: Asymmetrex signed up to be an exhibitor, but you were also approved to present an abstract. Will the abstract presentation differ from the information in your display exhibit?
A: Yes, they differ in some respects, but are, of course, complementary. Our exhibit display will show attendees the value that KSC counting can be for their work with tissue stem cells. The abstract presentation gives some of the nuts and bolts about how the technology works and provides scientific references. Both have the aim of increasing awareness in the stem cell research and medicine communities that not only is specific quantification of tissue stem cells essential for greater progress, but now it is also available from Asymmetrex.
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Q: What are you main goals for Asymmetrex’s participation in this event.
A: That graduate students, post-docs, and research technicians will learn about the benefits of KSC counting for their work, visit our free site, and begin the spread of specific quantification of tissue stem cells into becoming a general practice in stem cell science and stem cell medicine.
Q: Good luck with sparking such interest!
A: Thank you!
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