Abstract
This special issue of Emerging Topics in Life Sciences entitled ‘Current Topics in Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine’ brings together expertise from a collaborative organisation known as the Mercia Stem Cell Alliance (MSCA). The alliance was established initially by Professors Sue Kimber (University of Manchester) and Jon Frampton (University of Birmingham) just over 10 years ago and now has multiple regional centres of excellence across the Midlands and North West of the UK, including Aston University, University of Chester, Keele University, Manchester Metropolitan University, Lancaster University, University of Leicester, University of Liverpool, Liverpool John Moore's University, Loughborough University, University of Nottingham, University of Oxford, University of Sheffield, University of York. Many of these centres have contributed reviews to this issue. The MSCA also partners with industrial and clinical organisations, including the NHS, and is active in bringing stem cells and regenerative medicines to a meaningful translational endpoint (see: http://www.msca.manchester.ac.uk/).
Highlights
The reviews published in the special issue cover key areas in stem cell biology and regenerative medicine, from aspects of basic stem cell research through to the use of stem cells and tissue engineering to model human pathophysiology and for drug development through to clinical applications of adult stem cells and other regenerative medicines
The need to better understand how mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs) may work as regenerative medicines has been revisited by Amadeo et al [6] (University of Liverpool), who further critique the application of MSCs in animal disease models, which has contributed to what seems like a confusing picture in terms of determining predictive outcomes for clinical trials in humans
This review demonstrates the potential of stem cells and regenerative medicines to help alleviate human suffering as well as offset financial burdens associated with the treatment costs for traumatic injuries, and discusses the use of stem cells to enhance sporting performance [7]
Summary
The reviews published in the special issue cover key areas in stem cell biology and regenerative medicine, from aspects of basic stem cell research through to the use of stem cells and tissue engineering to model human pathophysiology and for drug development through to clinical applications of adult stem cells and other regenerative medicines. Walczak et al [2] (Aston University) have examined the use of induced pluripotent stem cells and advanced tissue engineering to enable in vitro generation of 3D tissue culture models that match the complexity of the human CNS.
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