Madison will host the World Stem Cell Summit on Sept. 22-23, bringing together premier researchers, advocates, investors, and other industry leaders to advance stem cell research.
Hosted by WiCell and the University of Wisconsin Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Center, the World Stem Cell Summit is the preeminent gathering for the global stem cell community and will provide critical tools for leadership and advancements for the future of regenerative medicine.
Regenerative medicine and stem cell technologies are estimated to become a $500 billion industry over the next 20 years.
"Embryonic stem cell research holds the potential to cure some of the world's oldest and deadliest diseases - from Parkinson's to Alzheimer's to multiple sclerosis," Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle said today. "Stem cell research represents the promise to not only save lives, but to create economic opportunity for innovation and job growth as well. We are at the ground floor of a vastly important field of life science discovery. Wisconsin will continue to blaze the future of stem cells, and the World Stem Cell Summit represents the next frontier of hope for patients and the next generation of businesses for Wisconsin."
The World Stem Cell Summit comes to Wisconsin on the 10th anniversary of the breakthroughs of Dr. James Thomson and other University of Wisconsin researchers who became the first to successfully isolate and cultivate an embryonic stem cell line in 1998.

Health care insurers Humana Inc. and Wellpoint Inc. issued lower profit warnings this week, sending their stocks tumbling.
Louisville, Ky.-based Humana warned this morning that it now expects first-quarter earnings of 44 cents to 46 cents per share, down from prior guidance of 80 to 85 cents per share. Humana also downgraded its full-year profit forecast to $4 to $4.25 per share from its previous outlook of $5.35 to $5.55 per share.
Humana attributed the revision to higher-than-expected claims in its stand-alone prescription drug plan (PDP).
In a conference call with analysts and the media this morning, Humana president and chief executive officer Michael McCallister said, "We detected higher-than-expected (prescription drug) claims."
James Murray, chief operating officer of Humana, said the company's lower customer co-pays resulted in the firm absorbing $160 million in additional prescription drug costs.
McCallister and Murray predicted the incorrect actuarial assumptions will be corrected for 2009.
Humana's stock fell $12.68 (26 percent) to $34.20 on the news today.
Humana's announcement came one day after Wellpoint's stock fell by more than 28 percent Tuesday. Indianapolis-based Wellpoint, which operates Wisconsin Blue Cross & Blue Shield, cut its full-year earnings forecast to a range of $5.76 to $6.01 per share from its previous forecast of $6.41 a share.
WellPoint attributed its lower profits to several factors, including medical costs, lower fully insured enrollments and an overall weak economy.
"We are making these revisions to our prior earnings guidance due to higher than expected medical costs, lower than expected fully insured enrollment and, to a lesser extent, the changing economic environment in which we are operating," said Angela Braly, president and chief executive officer of WellPoint. "While we are disappointed with having to revise our 2008 outlook, we are still expecting growth this year, with record levels of membership, revenue and earnings per share. We are taking actions and making investments in our business to further improve our performance during the balance of this year and beyond."

Wixon, Inc., a national food ingredients company in St. Francis, will break ground Monday, March 17, on a new culinary center to create and test food specialties, a meat pilot plant to develop new meat products and demonstration area.
The ground-breaking ceremony is scheduled for 11 a.m. at the Wixon headquarters, 1390 E. Bolivar Ave.
The 4,200-square-foot culinary center and meat pilot plant, to be called the Wixon Innovation Center for Culinary & Protein, will add to Wixon's food research and development capabilities for itself and its customers. The $2 million addition will also provide an area for Wixon to showcase products it creates for visiting customers.
The culinary center will be equipped with professional Viking appliances, griddles, charbroilers, Sub-Zero refrigeration units, and a high-end presentation and conference area, complete with digital audio-visual equipment.
Wixon vice president of research and development Mariano Gascon said the company plans to hire additional staff for the center.
The architectural firm for this project is Mayer Helminiak Architects of Mequon, and the general contractor is Catalyst Construction of Milwaukee.
Peter Gottsacker, Wixon president, said the new culinary center and meat pilot plant "are more than just an extension of our facilities. They represent a blending of innovation, our passion for service and another major step forward for our company to be able to do the important research and testing for our customers that can save them countless hours of time as well as tremendous expense."
In conjunction with the new center, Wixon recently added corporate chef Judson McLester, who will be in charge of much of the product testing, evaluating and product formulations.
Wixon is one of the nation's leading producers of food ingredients, including custom-ground spices, blended seasonings, sweet and savory flavors, and a variety of finished food products.

Sojourner Truth House has named Angela Mancuso as the agency's new executive director.
Mancuso fills a position previously held by Kathie Stolpman, who retired in February after serving in the post since 1984.
"Since joining Sojourner Truth House, Angela's leadership and commitment to breaking the cycle of domestic violence has not wavered," said Douglas Leonhardt S.J., president of Sojourner Truth House's board of directors. "We are confident that Angela will continue to uphold the mission and vision of Sojourner Truth House, and promote domestic respect in the Milwaukee community.”
Sojourner Truth House operates a 37-bed shelter, which has provided safety and support services to thousands of women and children during its 28-year history. Other programs include a 24-hour Domestic Violence Hotline, Domestic Abuse Victim Advocates in the Milwaukee District Attorney's Office, Belle Resource Center for Women and Children, and Batterers Anonymous-Beyond Abuse, for men and women seeking alternatives to their abusive behavior.
Sojourner Truth House served more than 24,000 people in 2007. 
Mancuso's tenure at Sojourner Truth House began in 2001 as director of development and public relations, which also included supervision of the community education department. In August 2006, she assumed the role of associate director which formally identified her expanded duties to include administration, finance, fundraising, community education, public relations and the four core programs of Sojourner Truth House.
"The board's decision to offer the job of executive director to Angela makes me very happy," Stolpman said. "I have the utmost confidence in her leadership ability and I know she fully embraces the mission of Sojourner Truth House."
For more information, visit www.sojournertruthhouse.org or call (414) 643-1777. To seek help from an abusive situation, call the 24-hour Domestic Violence Hotline at (414) 933-2722.

Kenosha County Executive Allan Kehl said he will resign, effective March 31. The announcement came four weeks after he was indicted for allegedly accepting $15,000 to $20,000 in illegal cash payments from Kenosha businessman Dennis Troha. Read more in SBT's daily roundup of headlines from newspapers across the state at www.biztimes.com.

Many of the top players in Milwaukee's commercial real estate market will be among the panelists leading discussions at the upcoming Commercial Real Estate Roundtable Forum. Read more about the lineup in the latest edition of the BizTimes Real Estate Weekly.

Political grandstanding aside, the decision by the United States Bowling Congress to leave the Milwaukee area was an internal strategic decision and was not made for economic reasons, according to Jim Paetsch, author of today's Milwaukee Biz Blog.

The BizTimes Stock Index partook in the strongest one-day stock market rally in five years Tuesday, gaining 7.55 points to close at 150.54, and local stocks posted more gains in early morning trading today. The largest local advancers this morning were Badger Meter Inc. (up $1.33 to $54.85), Rockwell Automation Inc. (up $1.28 to $54.80) and Brady Corp. (up $1.01 to $32.72). The largest local decliners this morning were MGIC Investment Corp. (down 89 cents to $14.11) and Bucyrus International Inc. (down 71 cents to $109.82). The BizTimes Stock Index was created by Small Business Times and is monitored by North Shore Bank. The index, which measures the stock values of publicly held companies based in southeastern Wisconsin, is updated daily and can be viewed at www.biztimes.com.