DETROIT — While the fields of science and politics often clash on their views of stem cell research, leaders from both groups are gathering this week in hopes of bridging the gap between them.

Nearly 1,200 researchers, lawmakers, businessmen and patient advocates from 20 countries are attending the 2010 World Stem Cell Summit at the Marriott Hotel in the Detroit Renaissance Center. The three-day event kicked off yesterday with speeches from University President Mary Sue Coleman, Michigan State University President Lou Anna K. Simon, Wayne State Interim President Allan Gilmour, Democratic Gov. Jennifer Granholm, Sen. Carl Levin (D–Mich.) and several leading researchers at the University.

Bernard Siegel, founder of the World Stem Cell Summit and director of the Genetics Policy Institute — a Florida-based organization that calls itself “the voice of the stem cell community” — said one of the main goals of the summit is to increase understanding between scientists and citizens who find it a “big challenge” to comprehend scientific presentations.

“We know that our scientific colleagues speak in tongues,” Siegel said to summit attendees. “It’s hard to understand what they’re saying for someone who might not be well versed in stem cell biology.”

Granholm began her keynote address by acknowledging that not many politicians speak before groups of scientists. However, she informed the audience composed of several hundred researchers that she identifies with their endeavors.

“I just want you know that I’m a scientist too — a political scientist — and my lab is one of the laboratories of democracy,” said Granhom, who received a Stem Cell Summit Action National Leadership Award for promoting stem cell research as a way to create jobs in Michigan.

Granholm said she is thrilled that the state is hosting the sixth annual summit — held for the first time in Michigan — in conjunction with the University Research Corridor, which is a research partnership between the University of Michigan, MSU and Wayne State.

She said that “it takes a lot of chemistry” for the universities to work together to not only sponsor an important conference like this, but also collaborate on research projects.

In her speech, Granholm highlighted University of Michigan researchers’ recent success in creating the state’s first embryonic stem cell line that will be used to study human development. Granholm said she hopes the achievement will boost Michigan’s economy by attracting commercialization and researchers to the state.

While it’s estimated that the summit itself will generate $1 million for the state’s economy, Granholm said the stem cell research market is expected to grow from about $100 million nationally in 2010 to about $8 billion in 2016.

“We’re hungry in Michigan, and we want a get a piece of that 8 billion,” she said.

In an interview with The Michigan Daily at the summit, University President Mary Sue Coleman — who spoke about the University Research Corridor in her speech — said the field of stem cell research is “extremely important” to the state and the University will play a vital role in making new research discoveries.

“I think we have a unique contribution to make … and I’m just very impressed with what’s going on in all areas,” Coleman said. “There are so many levels of work that are important that are occurring now, and I just feel privileged to be part of it.”

However, Coleman, who has a background in biochemistry, said the public should not expect miraculous cures any time soon.

“In all research like this, people are anxious because the diseases are so terrible,” she said.