Translational Stem Cell Research Research Articles

The broader context of medical ethics

The broader context of medical ethics

Emphasizing the need to more fully understand development: a stem cells and regenerative medicine meeting report

A shared enthusiasm towards the highly promising utility of stem cell research brought together clinicians and scientists from academic institutions, government, and industry at the Second Annual International Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine meeting presented by GeneExpression Systems, Inc. earlier this year. A common theme was echoed by presenters that a deeper understanding of natural development of the whole organism and individual organ systems is needed. Armed with this greater knowledge, a more efficient and conscientious translation of stem cell research may be achieved. Guest lectures included presentations by Dr. Elizabeth H. Blackburn, Dr. Irving L. Weissman, and Dr. Erin Lavik. Attendees were updated and encouraged by these and several other speakers on such topics as stem cell biology, epigenetics, biotechnology, regenerative medicine, tissue engineering, and bioethics. Biomedical engineers and scientists are making steady strides in designing specific three dimensional scaffolds, tracking and controlling stem cells. The future of stem cell research continues to be promising with applications for treating cardiac and neurodegenerative diseases, hearing loss, diabetes, and so on.

Stem Cells Probed as Diabetes Treatment

New York City—While an autoimmune disease of any type is a serious condition that is often difficult to treat, finding a cure for type 1 diabetes is particularly daunting because of the nature of the pancreas and its insulinproducing beta cells. “The pancreas is pathetic at regeneration,” said Douglas Melton, PhD, of the Harvard Stem Cell Institute at Harvard University, in Cambridge, Mass. Thus, finding a way to generate beta cells poses a difficult challenge for researchers. The promise and shortcomings of various options were discussed by Melton and others at the New York Stem Cell Foundation’s recent Translat ional Stem Cell Research Conference.

High-resolution X-ray microtomography for three-dimensional visualization of human stem cell muscle homing

In the perspective of clinical translation of stem cell research, it would be advantageous to develop new techniques to detect donor cells after transplantation to track their fate and thus better understand their role in regeneration of damaged and diseased tissues. In this study we use X-ray computed microtomography for three-dimensional visualization of stem cells that were labeled with magnetic nanoparticles and transplanted via intra-arterial infusion. We show that X-ray computed microtomography offers the possibility to detect with high definition and resolution human cells after transplantation, and opens new possibilities for both experimental stem cell research.