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 man, and while he slept took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh; and the rib which the Lord God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man". Genesis 2.1 The evidence that stem cells can multiply indefinitely in cultures and transform into different tissues has raised hopes that their use could be curative. Tissue regeneration using different stem cells in the experimental laboratory has advanced enormously. However, the application of progenitor cells in clinical trials has been limited almost exclusively to cardiovascular diseases. This has been possible because the classical dogma denying cardiac regenerative capacity of heart muscle has been overcome. Furthermore, there is an increasing amount of data indicating that it is possible to encourage the regenerative capacity of the myocardium by stimulating resident stem cells or transplanting extracardiac progenitors able to transform into functioning cardiocytes. Finally the results of clinical trials based on these findings are extremely promising. These advances have awakened increasing interest among those working on the study of cardiovascular diseases and in the care of patients suffering from this pathology. This First International Symposium on Stem Cell Therapy for Cardiovascular Diseases has been designed to stimulate an exhaustive discussion about the fact and fantasy of this new field. With this aim, clinical and basic scientists will discuss, from the stage or from the audience, the latest advances in experimental and clinical cardiovascular stem cell research. Moreover, this new therapeutic mode will be put into perspective with a view to making a realistic assessment of its future. Finally, there will be a debate on the implantation of regenerative medicine within the Spanish Health Service. Everyone who has contributed to the design of this program believes that there should be an active and continuous forum for debate on the cardiovascular application of stem cell therapy. Therefore, we intend to contribute to this through the annual celebration of this event. For the same reason, we have created a virtual platform to maintain an active discussion on this topic until the next year (www.terapiacelularcardiaca.com). We hope to fulfil the expectations of all those who have agreed to come to Valladolid and take part in the meeting. We look forward to sharing this day with you. The Organization Committee
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