The International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) 9th Annual Meeting - the largest international interdisciplinary forum dedicated to stem cell science - will return to the Metro Toronto Convention Centre (MTCC), from June 15-18, 2011. The MTCC previously hosted the meeting in 2006. The event is expected to attract over 3,500 stem cell researchers and professionals from the public, private and government sectors.

The ISSCR 9th Annual Meeting, which is co-sponsored by the McEwen Centre for Regenerative Medicine, will promote and foster the exchange of research, feature leading discoveries and serve as a catalyst for collaborative stem cell research around the world. The selection of Toronto as the host city this year coincides with a milestone anniversary; 50 years ago Drs. James Till and Ernest McCulloch, then at the Ontario Cancer Institute, published the first paper proving the existence of stem cells. Toronto is also North America's fourth-largest medical and biotech community and is among the top ten in the world.

"After a very successful meeting in 2006, we are looking forward to returning to Toronto," said Nancy Witty, Executive Director of the ISSCR. "Outstanding stem cell research is being conducted throughout Ontario and all of Canada, making Toronto a terrific location to bring together our international community of stem cell researchers."

"The return of the ISSCR Annual Meeting attests to the perfect suitability of our amenities and our world class city for an event of this caliber. We welcome this group back with great enthusiasm, with appreciation for their inspiring work and the economic benefit to our city, " said Barry Smith, President and CEO of the MTCC, noting that the Annual Meeting will result in $9.2 million in visitor spending.