Research on stem cells and regenerative medicine. Covers engineered T cells, scalable manufacturing, blood-cancer research, and stem-cell training programs.
A study by researchers at the University of Oregon reveals a novel stem cell mechanism in fruit flies that may help explain how neurons form in humans. The research shows how a select group of stem cells can create progenitors that generate numerous subtypes of cells, increasing neural diversity.
Researchers from NYSCF and Columbia University have generated patient-specific beta cells using skin cells from MODY patients. These cells accurately reflect the features of maturity-onset diabetes of the young (MODY) and can be used to develop new therapies for the disease. The study's findings demonstrate a critical proof-of-principl...
Researchers at Mount Sinai have made a breakthrough in programming blood-forming stem cells, which could lead to the development of patient-specific blood products. The study uses mouse fibroblast cells and identifies a combination of four genetic factors that can generate blood vessel precursor cells with hematopoietic cells.
Researchers at the University of Edinburgh have successfully generated human liver cells in a lab setting that are equally effective as those used to assess drug safety, offering a renewable and uniform alternative.
The 2013 World Stem Cell Report will be published as a special supplement to the peer-reviewed journal Stem Cells and Development. The report delivers an orbital and unique viewpoint on regenerative medicine, featuring content from leading policy-makers, regulators, and experts.
Researchers at Mount Sinai have discovered a novel liver progenitor cell that can be differentiated from human embryonic stem cells and produce mature liver cells. This breakthrough discovery has the potential to revolutionize the treatment of liver disease, potentially overcoming the organ shortage issue.
A study published in PLOS Biology reveals that a single mutation in the JAK2 gene reduces the ability of blood stem cells to self-renew without affecting their progeny daughter cells. This finding has implications for understanding how single stem cells contribute to tumor growth in cancers suspected to have a stem cell origin.
Scientists discovered that a subset of normal breast precursor cells have dangerously short telomeres and display high DNA damage response localized at their chromosome ends. This suggests new indicators for identifying women at higher risk for breast cancer.
A $150,000 grant from Coalition Duchenne will fund a clinical trial investigating the use of cardiac stem cells to treat Duchenne muscular dystrophy patients with heart disease. The experimental therapy has shown promising results in regenerating healthy heart muscle and reducing damage caused by heart attacks.
A study published in Stem Cell Research and Therapy found that grafting fetal human stem cells into the spine improves both motor and sensory functions, as well as structural integrity, in rats with acute lumbar compression injuries. The researchers also observed long-term improvements in spinal cord segments.
FAPESP has invested $680 million in 17 Research, Innovation and Dissemination Centers (RIDCs) in São Paulo, Brazil, with a focus on various research areas. The centers aim to contribute to commercially relevant high-impact applications while disseminating knowledge through education.
A team of Caltech biologists found that microRNA-146a acts as a critical regulator and protector of blood-forming stem cells during chronic inflammation. Mice lacking miR-146a showed a decline in HSCs, while normal mice maintained their levels despite long-term inflammation.
Synthetic silicate nanoplatelets induce stem cell differentiation into bone cells, providing a potential therapeutic tool for tissue repair and regeneration. The study's findings offer new insights into the use of bioactive materials in medicine and biotechnology.
Researchers from USC Keck School of Medicine have uncovered unique cellular and molecular mechanisms behind tooth renewal in American alligators. The study found that alligator teeth are complex units of three components, including a functional tooth, replacement tooth, and dental lamina, which contain stem cells for regeneration.
Researchers used induced pluripotent stem cells to create a disease-in-a-dish model of ataxia telangiectasia, a rare genetic disorder causing neurodegeneration and immune system failure. The study identified potential new therapeutic drugs that can increase ATM protein activity and improve DNA repair.
Researchers at NYSCF's Research Institute created patient-specific bone substitutes from skin cells to repair large bone defects. The new method uses induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells, which can become any body cell type, and overcomes previous limitations of bone formation.
Stem cells use a process called nonrandom chromosome segregation to divide into different cell types, suggesting that distinct genetic information on the chromosome copies may underlie this diversification. The study used fruit fly stem cells to demonstrate this ability and sheds light on how cells develop into complex organisms.
A team of researchers at the University of Minnesota has discovered that a single gene, Mesp1, can be used to create different cell types, including heart, blood, and muscle cells, from stem cells.
Scientists at the University of Edinburgh made a fundamental discovery about how embryonic stem cells renew and increase in number. Reducing the levels of protein Oct 4 enables pluripotent stem cells to self-renew more efficiently.
Researchers found that amniotic fluid stem cells can communicate with mature heart cells through channels in the membrane, forming functional gap junction connections. However, these cells do not differentiate into cardiac tissue under these conditions.
Scientists have created a model cell system that allows them to investigate normal brain development and identify specific disruptions in biological signals contributing to neurodevelopmental disorders. The new model uses human embryonic stem cells to produce cortical interneurons, which control electrical firing in brain circuits.
Researchers at Carnegie Institution find that adult mice ovaries lack germ-line stem cells for egg production, debunking previous claims of continuous follicle turnover and resupply by adult stem cells. The study uses lineage-tracing technique to show primordial follicles are highly stable, with no detectable stem cell activity.
Research published in BioMed Central's Stem Cell Research & Therapy found that injecting human stem cells into mice with tumors slowed down tumor growth. The study suggests that stem cells may restrict oxygen and nutrient delivery to the tumor, limiting cell division.
A UCSB researcher has identified a protein molecule that helps maintain adult stem cells in fruit flies, revealing insights into regenerative medicine. The study found that this protein, castor, plays a critical role in specifying brain cell types during embryonic development and maintaining follicle stem cells throughout life.
Researchers at Case Western Reserve University developed a new material system that permits 3D patterning to regulate stem cell behavior, offering promise for studying influences on cell fate decisions. The technique enables local control over cell proliferation and differentiation, potentially allowing the engineering of complex tissues.
Researchers have discovered that hematopoietic stem cells can perceive signals from the body during emergencies and produce specialized white blood cells, such as macrophages. This discovery could lead to new strategies for protecting patients undergoing bone marrow transplants from infections.
Researchers found that high levels of cytokine TGFβ cause neural stem cells to become dormant, leading to reduced neurogenesis in aging and irradiation. Targeted therapies targeting TGFβ may improve cognitive function in elderly individuals.
Researchers at the University of East Anglia have identified a population of stem cells capable of generating new appetite-regulating neurons in the brains of young and adult rodents. This discovery could lead to a permanent intervention for obesity, potentially offering a solution that lasts beyond dieting.
For the first time, researchers have isolated adult stem cells from human intestinal tissue, providing a much-needed resource for scientists to study human stem cell biology. The isolated stem cells can be used to explore new treatments for inflammatory bowel disease and chemotherapy side effects.
New York Stem Cell Foundation researchers have developed a quantitative protocol to consistently harvest early-reprogrammed cells, resulting in standardized iPS cell lines. This method enables the derivation of 228 individual iPS cell lines, which can be compared to one another for use in drug screens and cell therapies.
Researchers at the New York Stem Cell Foundation have developed a 3D stem cell culture technique to study Alzheimer's disease. This technique enables the creation of neuron aggregates that can be used to model and study diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.
Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania have found that a stem cell's environment influences its differentiation into various cell types, with 'grip' playing a crucial role. The study suggests that three-dimensional matrices impact mechanotransduction, guiding stem cell fate and differentiation.
Researchers at Mount Sinai Hospital are collaborating with the New York Stem Cell Foundation to use stem cells to gain a better understanding of Alzheimer's disease. The project aims to identify causes and cures for the common form of AD, using reprogrammed skin cells into brain cells.
Researchers found that environmental enrichment, including running and exposure to novel objects, improved neurobehavioral function in mice after transplanting adipose-derived stem cells. Exercise-induced fibroblast growth factor 2 enhanced brain repair by promoting angiogenesis, neurogenesis, and astrocytic activation.
Researchers have successfully rejuvenated the blood of mice by reprogramming their stem cells, reversing epigenetic changes that occur with age. This breakthrough could potentially lead to new treatments for diseases such as leukemia, where cancer often originates in older, damaged bone marrow.
Stem cells from amniotic fluid have been shown to repair gut damage and improve survival rates in rodents with intestinal damage. The study found that these cells work by releasing growth factors that reduce inflammation and trigger the formation of new tissues.
Researchers at UCLA and Caltech have successfully monitored the change in genetically modified immune cells, showing a promising treatment for melanoma. A new group of non-engineered T cells arose with a similar tumor-killing effect that lasted even longer than the engineered cells.
A team of researchers has discovered multipotent stem cells in deer antlers, which can differentiate into multiple cell types and have the potential to treat various injuries in veterinary medicine. The study highlights a novel source of stem cells for use in regenerative therapies.
Researchers at IUPUI have successfully differentiated human induced pluripotent stem cells into retinal cells using chemical methods, eliminating the need for animal products. This breakthrough could lead to new treatments for retinal diseases and expand the clinical use of regenerative human cells.
Johns Hopkins researchers have discovered that mesenchymal stem cells derived from human adipose tissue can seek out and destroy glioblastoma cancer cells in the brain. This innovative approach may provide a new tool for accessing difficult-to-reach areas of the brain where cancer cells proliferate.
Researchers have found that a signaling molecule called SDF-1 helps stem cells survive in the low-oxygen environment of bone marrow by activating autophagy, a survival pathway. However, with age or disease, SDF-1's role shifts, reducing stem cell survival and increasing the likelihood of fat cell formation.
A novel stem cell niche for the ovarian surface epithelium has been identified, where ovarian carcinoma preferentially originates. This discovery provides a new guide for scientists to look for stem cell niches and sources of cancer in other transitional zones.
Adult stem cells have been identified that can migrate to the intestine and produce intestinal cells, suggesting their potential to treat inflammatory bowel disease. The cells were found to express high levels of a receptor involved in tissue repair and wound closure.
Scientists have developed a web-like scaffold coated with long-sugar molecules that enhances stem-cell cultures and encourages the formation of neuronal cell types. The results, published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry, are promising for treating diseases such as Alzheimer's and diabetes.
OHSU scientists have made a breakthrough by growing human liver stem cells in culture, demonstrating their therapeutic potential. The study's findings suggest that these cells can be infinitely expanded and converted into functional liver cells, offering new hope for treating chronic liver diseases.
Scientists found that distinct niches exist in bone marrow to nurture different types of blood stem cells, which could improve the success of stem cell transplants and chemotherapy. The discovery suggests that targeting specific support cells may be therapeutic for treating certain cancers.
Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center have discovered an osteoblastic niche in the bone marrow that nurtures early lymphoid progenitors, specialized blood-forming cells responsible for producing T cells and B cells. This finding may lead to improved safety and effectiveness of bone-marrow transplants and treatments for illnesse...
Researchers used a 'homing' signal to activate stem cells in heart failure patients, improving symptoms and heart function. The study found that 50% of patients showed positive effects one year after treatment, indicating potential for this therapy to widely treat heart failure patients.
Researchers developed an artificial brain system that enables robots to learn and understand new sentences containing a new grammatical structure. This technology has the potential to contribute to understanding linguistic malfunctions in Parkinson's disease and improve robots' ability to acquire language knowledge.
Researchers at Queen's University Belfast are developing a novel approach to repair damaged blood vessels in the retina using adult stem cells. This innovative therapy has the potential to prevent and/or reverse diabetic retinopathy, reducing the risk of vision loss.
Researchers compared ASCs and BMSCs from an elderly male donor to treat myocardial infarction in a rat model, finding that ASCs preserved more cardiac function. The study suggests age and health status of cell donors may impact the efficacy of stem cells in treating myocardial infarction.
Researchers at Penn Vet have identified a new pathway for stimulating bone growth using the protein Jagged-1. This discovery has the potential to treat bone fractures and improve outcomes for patients with rare metabolic conditions like Alagille syndrome.
Scientists have identified a natural trigger that enables stem cells to develop into different cell types in the body, including liver and brain cells. The discovery of protein Tcf15 could help improve techniques for turning stem cells into other cell types in the laboratory.
Scientists describe key details about the structure of transcription factor Oct4, crucial for cellular reprogramming. The study's findings may pave the way for medical applications in regenerative medicine and drug discovery.
Researchers have successfully printed human embryonic stem cells using a novel valve-based technique, enabling the creation of three-dimensional tissues and structures. The breakthrough could speed up drug testing and pave the way for transplantable organs without donation.
Researchers at Duke University Medical Center have found that epidermal growth factor speeds the recovery of blood-making stem cells after exposure to radiation. The finding could lead to new treatments for cancer patients and those affected by dirty bombs or nuclear disasters.
Researchers discovered zebrafish stem cells can selectively regenerate damaged photoreceptor cells, including cones that provide daytime colour vision. This breakthrough could lead to new hope for human eyesight restoration through stem cell therapy.
Researchers at the University of California, Berkeley have discovered a sirtuin protein that can reverse age-related degeneration in mice by rejuvenating aged blood stem cells. The study provides new hope for targeted treatments for age-related diseases and opens up possibilities for a 'molecular fountain of youth'.
Research reveals diabetes disrupts bone marrow's ability to produce and repair stem cells, exacerbating cardiovascular disease. MicroRNAs play a crucial role in this process, and targeting them may offer new treatments for diabetic patients.
The study reveals that the Notch protein activates GATA2 gene to produce hematopoietic stem cells and regulates its expression through HES-1 repressor. This basic circuit is essential for generating limited production of GATA2, necessary for hematopoietic stem cell production.