Research on stem cells and regenerative medicine. Covers engineered T cells, scalable manufacturing, blood-cancer research, and stem-cell training programs.
The Merkin Family Foundation will fund promising Broad Institute scientists as Merkin Institute Fellows, supporting bold research in areas like stem cell biology and regenerative medicine. The program aims to create a pipeline of talented researchers advancing science and medicine at the Broad Institute.
A team of UCLA researchers demonstrates that genetically engineered human blood stem cells can form mature, multi-functional T cells that specifically target HIV-infected cells. This approach shows promise for suppressing the virus in living tissues in animal models.
A team of researchers at Caltech has traced the developmental process that ensures certain stem cells become T cells. They identified key genes and regulatory proteins involved in this process, shedding light on how stem cells are committed to a specific cell fate.
Researchers suggest that stem cells have intrinsic capacities for self-maintenance and evasion of differentiation. By analyzing current properties and characteristics of stem cells, the 'by default' hypothesis proposes that stem cells exist due to factors that repress cellular signals for specialization.
Researchers have developed a new type of human stem cell called endodermal progenitor cells, which can differentiate into multiple cell types, including functioning pancreatic beta cells. The cells show promise for modeling human diseases and may offer a potential source for future diabetes treatments.
A combination approach therapy targeting β-catenin pathway may stamp out CML for good. Leukemia stem cells are vulnerable to treatments aiming at this pathway, unlike normal blood stem cells.
Human embryonic stem cells are regulated by three genes: Nanog, Oct 4, and Sox 2. These genes control self-renewal and differentiation, essential for treating diseases like Parkinson's and Alzheimer's. The study highlights the importance of human research over mouse models.
Researchers have developed a unique suspension technique for growing stem cells, eliminating the need for surface growth and increasing efficiency. This breakthrough has the potential to make cost-effective large-scale stem cell manufacturing possible, which could lead to new treatments for heart disease.
Researchers at NIH have discovered how arsenic exposure can turn normal stem cells into cancer stem cells, spur tumor growth. This finding suggests that cancer may be a stem-cell-based disease and has implications for understanding carcinogenesis.
A new study reveals a population of intestinal stem cells that respond to damage and prevent cancer, increasing understanding of normal and cancer cell progression in the intestines. The discovery highlights the potential for Lrig1 as a target for treating intestinal and colon cancer.
Researchers have identified a new population of intestinal stem cells marked by the protein Lrig1, which appears to be relatively quiescent and acts as a tumor suppressor. This finding may hold clues to the origin of colorectal cancer and could lead to better understanding of its development and therapeutic targets.
A recent study has created motor neurons using skin cells from a patient with inherited MND, discovering abnormalities in protein TDP-43 that lead to motor neuron cell death. This breakthrough model could speed up the discovery of new treatments for the devastating disease.
A study led by Mayo Clinic researchers found that bone marrow-derived stem cells improved ejection fraction, a measure of the left ventricle's pumping ability, by 2.7% in patients with chronic heart failure. The most significant improvements were seen in younger patients and those with enriched CD34+ and CD133+ type of stem cells.
Researchers discovered that embryonic stem cells undergo a metabolic shift, using glucose as their primary energy source like cancer cells. This shift occurs under low oxygen conditions and is driven by a transcription factor called hypoxia-inducible factor 1alpha.
The Scripps Research Institute has received a $206,250 grant from the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) to expand its high school summer internship program. The program aims to inspire talented students from diverse backgrounds to pursue careers in stem cell research.
A symposium on TMJ stem cell biology and engineering presents novel clinical therapy approaches for TMJ disorders. Researchers discuss the origin, homeostasis, differentiation, hormonal regulation, and bioengineering of temporomandibular joint tissues.
Researchers at Kansas State University are developing genetic models to study diseases like Parkinson's and spinal cord injury. They aim to create cell lines that can help solve medical mysteries.
Researchers at UCLA have identified a method to correct human mitochondrial mutations by targeting corrective RNAs, which could lead to treating a range of mitochondrial diseases. The study builds on previous work that uncovered a role for an essential protein in regulating RNA import into mitochondria.
A study by Columbia researchers suggests that intestinal progenitor cells can be coaxed into producing insulin, offering a potential new treatment for type I diabetes. The technique involves knocking out the Foxo1 gene in these cells, which then produce functional insulin-producing cells.
Researchers found that insulin and nutritional factors help maintain the 'stemness' of blood stem cells in fruit flies. The study's implications include a potential connection between metabolic disruptions and chronic inflammation in humans.
Studies on Drosophila melanogaster have provided insights into human stem cell development, particularly in the formation of specialized cells. The research also explores the role of membrane lipids in establishing polarity in sperm cells, which may contribute to cancer progression.
Scientists at Northwestern University developed a powerful analytical method called nanocombinatorics to rapidly identify the chemical and physical structures that cue stem cells to become osteocytes. The researchers successfully directed stem cell differentiation without additional chemical cues, demonstrating better control than curr...
Researchers from the University of Victoria have developed a new 3D stem cell culture method, enabling scientists to study cell behavior in conditions similar to those in the body. This breakthrough has significant implications for regenerative medicine and other fields.
Researchers identified PDGF-B signaling in trophoblasts as a vital component of the placental niche, supporting blood stem cell generation and expansion without promoting differentiation. This discovery provides new insights into regulating EPO expression and governing the fates of blood stem cells during development.
Researchers at UGA created the first blueprint of how stem cells respond to external signaling molecules. The finding reconciles years of conflicting results and enables precise control over stem cell differentiation into specific cell types.
Research identifies SIRT1 as a key enzyme protecting leukemia stem cells from stress and driving cancer recurrence. Inhibiting SIRT1 selectively reduces CML stem cell survival and growth, offering a potential therapeutic target for treatment resistance.
Researchers at Rice University and Texas Children's Hospital have successfully derived vessel-forming stem cells from amniotic fluid, offering hope for repairing infant hearts. The breakthrough could lead to growing tissue patches using the infant's own cells, potentially replacing defective tissue with beating heart tissue.
A novel technique enhances bone growth by guiding stem cells to the bone surface, increasing bone density and preventing age-related bone loss. The study successfully tested this approach in mice with osteoporosis, paving the way for human trials.
Researchers at University of Oxford and Harvard Stem Cell Institute have developed a common standard to describe and integrate large datasets from various fields, enabling better coordination of findings. The ISA Commons platform allows small research groups to store laboratory data without dedicated bioinformatics support.
Scientists at UC San Diego School of Medicine have created in vitro models of sporadic and hereditary Alzheimer's disease using induced pluripotent stem cells. The living cells provide an unprecedented tool for developing and testing drugs to treat the disorder, offering a new method for understanding the cause of the disease.
Researchers have discovered that stem cells from patients with schizophrenia proliferate faster than healthy individuals, indicating dysregulation of the natural cell cycle. This finding provides a potential path to understanding schizophrenia and developing new treatments.
Scientists have identified endothelial and perivascular cells as the key creators of the niche that nurtures haematopoietic stem cells. This discovery could lead to increased safety and effectiveness of bone marrow transplantation by replicating signals that promote blood-forming stem cell expansion.
Researchers at UC Davis have developed a new approach using stem cells to deliver gene therapy specifically targeting the genetic abnormality found in Huntington's disease. By transferring inhibitory RNA sequences from donor cells into target neurons, they significantly decreased the synthesis of the abnormal huntingtin protein.
Researchers have created new microtweezers capable of manipulating objects to build tiny structures, print coatings for advanced sensors, and grab live stem cell spheres. The tool enables the precision printing of chemical or protein dots onto microcantilevers, which can detect chemicals in air and water.
Bioengineers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute receive $2 million NIH grant to study how chemicals in drugs and environment impact stem cells. The team aims to develop a new predictive safety screening tool that eliminates animal testing.
Scientists at OHSU successfully produced the world's first primate chimeric offspring, three baby rhesus macaques, shedding light on stem cell functions and abilities in primates compared to rodents. The research has significant implications for regenerative medicine, particularly in treating diseases like Parkinson's.
Scientists at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine have discovered that injecting stem cells from young, healthy animals into rapidly aging mice can improve their health and increase their lifespan. The study found that stem cell dysfunction is a major contributor to the aging process.
A Penn State research team has discovered a compound produced from fish oil that targets and kills leukemia stem cells, potentially leading to a cure for the disease. The compound, D12-PGJ3, selectively activates a gene in leukemia stem cells that programs their own death.
A study found that a combined immunosuppressive regimen improved the survival of human spinal stem cells in ALS rats. The results suggest that this treatment approach may be a potential therapy for ALS, a degenerative neurological disease.
A new approach using an HIV drug has significantly reduced the incidence of graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) in blood cancer patients after allogeneic stem cell transplantation. Maraviroc dramatically reduced GvHD in organs such as the gut and liver without compromising the immune system.
A survey of US human embryonic stem cell researchers found nearly four in ten faced excessive delay acquiring a line, while over one-quarter were unable to get the line they needed. The main reasons for these issues include material transfer agreements, research approval, and federal policies.
Researchers found that patients receiving bone marrow transplants from unrelated donors had the same survival rates as those receiving blood stem cell transplants. However, PBSCs resulted in better engraftment but higher rates of chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), a serious post-transplant complication.
Researchers at King's College London have made a breakthrough in developing xeno-free human embryonic stem cell lines that are suitable for public benefit. The lines will be grown and processed by the UKSCB to provide stem cell stocks for clinical research and treatment.
Researchers in Canada have developed a technique to produce large quantities of endoderm cells from human pluripotent stem cells, overcoming a key hurdle in regenerative medicine. The method allows for significant increases in effective cell production, enabling the potential for regenerative treatments for diabetes and liver disease.
Researchers found that ephrin proteins help satellite cells navigate and differentiate into muscle fibers. By understanding this process, they hope to develop more effective treatments for muscular dystrophy, a condition where muscles are easily damaged and patients' satellite cells lose their ability to repair.
Researchers found that newly derived human embryonic stem cell lines have a better molecular signature than established lines, indicating higher quality and potentially better performance in disease modeling. The study suggests that maintaining the original state of X chromosome inactivation could be crucial for achieving optimal results.
The researchers have developed a highly efficient system to generate nucleic acid molecules, called aptamers, for next-generation disease diagnosis and testing. The Quantitative Parallel Aptamer Selection System (QPASS) aims to make devices like instant diagnosis machines ready for widespread clinical use.
A collaborative study from the International Stem Cell Initiative analyzed human pluripotent stem cells' genetic stability and found that 75% remained normal after prolonged culture. However, researchers detected genetic changes similar to those seen in human cancers, highlighting the need for detecting and eliminating abnormal cells.
Researchers studied hematopoietic stem cells in healthy young and elderly individuals, finding that older stem cells produce fewer lymphocytes and more myeloid cells. This bias may lead to inadequate immune responses and increased risk of blood cancers.
Researchers from UCLA's cancer and stem cell centers have successfully engineered blood stem cells to create cancer-killing T-cells that seek out and attack human melanoma. The approach could lead to a sustained immune response, potentially protecting against cancer recurrence.
Researchers identified a portion of the genome mutated during long-term culture of human embryonic stem cells, which may compromise their utility for regenerative medicine. The study highlights the importance of understanding genetic changes in hESCs and their potential impact on cell therapy applications.
Scientists at the University of Bonn have made a breakthrough in understanding Machado-Joseph disease by studying nerve cells derived from patients' skin cells. The research reveals that electrical activity in these cells triggers protein aggregation, explaining why the disease affects only nerve cells.
Researchers have found that B-type lamins are necessary for proper organ development, but not for the replication and differentiation of embryonic stem cells. Mice deficient in B-type lamins were born with developmental defects, highlighting the protein's importance in tissue organization.
Researchers have discovered a new muscle repair gene, MEGF10, which plays a crucial role in the fusion process of satellite cells. The findings provide accurate genetic testing and diagnosis for devastating conditions affecting muscle function, enabling hope for families affected by progressive muscle disease.
Researchers found that pluripotent stem cells respire at the same level as differentiated body cells but produce very little energy. UCP2 protein blocks respiration substrates from entering mitochondria, allowing glycolysis to dominate. The study suggests that changes in metabolism drive cell differentiation.
Researchers used adult stem cells to treat patients with heart failure after a myocardial infarction. The trial showed an average improvement of 12% in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and a decrease in scarred regions, suggesting that heart tissue can regenerate.
A Mayo Clinic study found that stem cells delivered two to three weeks after a heart attack do not improve heart function. The research provides vital information for the field of cell therapy and cautions against seeking stem cell treatment outside the US.
Researchers at Mount Sinai School of Medicine discovered fetal stem cells in the placenta can migrate to and repair damaged maternal hearts after a heart attack. The study found that these cells reprogram into beating heart cells, providing a potential therapeutic agent for cardiac regeneration.
Researchers from the Chinese University of Hong Kong have developed a technique to reprogram stem cells into a more primitive state, increasing their survival rates and therapeutic efficacy. This breakthrough could lead to improved treatment outcomes for conditions such as degenerative diseases and blood supply disorders.
Researchers at the University of Texas Health Science Center have discovered that old stem cells can be rejuvenated by being placed in a young microenvironment. This could lead to personal stem cell banks treating age-related diseases, with the potential for regular rescue and infusion.