Bernard Siegel - Genetics Policy Institute

Bernard Siegel is the founder and full-time executive director of the nonprofit Genetics Policy Institute (GPI) based in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. He is the creator and co-chair of the World Stem Cell Summit to take place in Madison, Wisconsin on September 21-23, 2008. He serves as the co-chair of the Governmental Affairs Committee of the International Society for Stem Cell Research.

He received his undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Miami (BA 1972, JD 1975). He is a member of the Florida Bar since 1975.

In 2002, Mr. Siegel filed the landmark case seeking a guardian for the alleged clone, "Baby Eve." The case was widely credited for exposing Clonaid , the so-called "human cloning company" as a sham.

In 2003, he traded his 30-year courtroom career to found GPI, which leads the global "pro-cures movement" in support of stem cell research. He is a recognized policy expert relating to stem cell research, regenerative medicine and cloning. Working with the world's leading stem cell researchers, Mr. Siegel played a pivotal role in protecting the research in the United Nations, which was under the threat of being banned by world treaty. He also works with grassroots activists throughout the United States, educating lawmakers and formulating effective strategies supporting research for cures.

He is a frequent lecturer, panelist and keynote speaker on the subject of stem cells and public policy and has made presentations to the United Nations, the Salk Institute, James Baker Institute of Public Policy at Rice University, New York Biotechnology Association, Diabetes Research Institute Foundation, Seoul National University, ISCF Symposium (Beijing), World Congress for Freedom of Scientific Research (Rome), Stem Cells European Business Summit (Edinburgh), World Parkinson Congress, Association of American Law Schools, American College of Trial Lawyers, and at numerous colleges and universities.

Mr. Siegel has created and chaired a series of influential events impacting the field of stem cells:

June 2004. "Human Cloning Issues in all its aspects for the United Nations" at UN headquarters, New York.
June 2004. "First International Stem Cell Action Conference" at the University of California, Berkeley, co-organized with the Stem Cell Action Network.
August 2004. "Stem Cell Awareness Day with Janet Reno" at the Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami.
October 2004. "Patients Press Conference for the United Nations" at UN headquarters, New York, co-sponsored by the Coalition for Advancement of Medical Research
June 2005. "Stem Cell Policy & Advocacy Summit: Sustaining the Mandate for Cures" in partnership with Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas.
June 2006. "Stem Cell Policy & Advocacy Summit II: Empowering the Pro-Cures Coalition" co-sponsored with the Center for Biomedical Ethics, Stanford University, Palo Alto, California.
October 2006. "Stem Cell Town Hall Meeting with Governor Jennifer Granholm" at the University of Michigan-Dearborn.
October 2007. "The Stem Cell Summit" co- sponsored with the Harvard Stem Cell Institute and Burrill Life Sciences Media Group at the Hynes Convention Center, Boston, Massachusetts.

Through GPI, Mr. Siegel has worked to expand, the Student Society for Stem Cell Research, which in a period of 5 years has grown into an education and advocacy organization having a presence in 15 countries, 35 states, 100 institutions and more than 30 active chapters at academic centers in the United States.

Mr. Siegel has appeared as a policy expert on the CBS Evening News with Dan Rather, CNN, CNN International, MSNBC, Fox and Friends, CNBC and network news shows throughout the U.S. and the world. He was profiled on National Public Radio's All Things Considered. He has been quoted in the New York Times, The Washington Post, The Boston Globe, Wired, The Scientist, New Scientist, The London Times, Le Monde, Pravda, The Peoples Daily and many other publications.

Mr. Siegel serves on the board of directors of Americans for Cures and on the advisory boards of the Sabrina Cohen Foundation for Stem Cell Research, The Brooke Ellison Project and Genomics Education Institute. He is a member of the American Society for Bioethics + Humanities.

Mr. Siegel has been recognized for his achievements. His honors include the 2005 Advocacy Award from the Stem Cell Action Network. In May 2006, he was voted one of the "dLife Top 10" individuals who made the greatest contribution to the lives of people with diabetes in 2005.

Mr. Siegel is available to give interviews and commentary on how public policy affects the field of stem cell research and to give speeches and presentations. He can be reached at 305/801-4928 or through e-mail at bernard@genpol.org.