Download Discovery: Stem Cell Biology NIH Actions

Discovery: Stem Cell Biology
NIH Actions
Continue infrastructure award program
Characterize cell lines
Stimulate more research on basic
biology
Train investigators to culture and use
stem cells
NIH AWARDS
• 60 investigators at 40 institutions
• 14 investigator-initiated grants
• 44 supplements
hESC LINES
Number available
for shipping increased
from 5 to 11 since
September 2002.
NIH Supported Research
University of Wisconsin scientists
replaced a specific stretch of DNA in hESC
-- homologous recombination
Advance: Scientists can now study the
function of specific genes within these
cells and could modify hESC-derived
tissues for potential treatment in patients.
NIH Supported Research
NIH Scientists observe: differentiated
mESCs repaired damage when
transplanted into the mouse brain or spinal
cord.
Advance: May lead to development of
replacement therapy for cells destroyed
by injury or disease, such as stroke,
Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s disease.
NIH Supported Research
Advance: In vitro studies produced cells
from hESC that might be used for blood
cell transplantation therapies for patients
with blood malignancies such as leukemia
or myeloma.
NIH Supported Research
Scientists are currently working to identify those
genes that are involved in the differentiation of
hESCs and genes that permit embryonic stem
cells to self-renew.
Advance: Once the genes are identified, gene
transfer techniques may permit scientists to coax
hESCs into becoming insulin-producing beta
cells to treat insulin-dependent diabetes.
NIH Supported Research
Scientists tested the ability of human
feeder cells derived from fetal or adult
tissues to support the growth of hESC.
Advance: This is an ideal system for
identifying factors secreted by human
feeder cells that maintain hESCs’ selfrenewing and multipotent state.
NIH Supported Research
U. of Minn. Scientist isolated multipotent
adult progenitor cells from human bone
marrow
Advance: Adult stem cells demonstrated
the potential to differentiate beyond bone
marrow stem cells and into other cell
types, including liver cells, neurons and
blood vessel-forming cells.
NIH Supported Research
Stem cells found in dental pulp of “baby
teeth” have the potential to become cells
expressing molecular markers
characteristic of dentin, bone, fat, and
nerve cells.
Advance: These cells could possibly be
used to repair damaged teeth, regenerate
bone, treat nerve injury or disease.
NIH-supported research
Umbilical cord stem cells are able to
repopulate the bone marrow of a small
child, but only a small number of cells are
obtained from each umbilical cord.
We are now seeking methods to expand
cells in culture to generate larger numbers
for use in clinical applications.
Investigator-Initiated Awards
Modeling Development hematopoiesis with
embryonic stem cells — Whitehead Institute
Strategies for Primate Transgenesis
– U. of Wisconsin at Madison
Neurons from Human & Mouse
– Washington University
Investigator-Initiated Awards
In vivo potential of human ES-cell derived
blood cells – University of Minnesota
Gene expression in beta-cells by lentiviral
vectors – Harvard University
Growth factor-based culture system for ES
cells – R and D System, Inc.
Investigator-Initiated Awards
Towards renal regeneration - U. of
Queensland, AU
Cranial bone repair with adipose tissuederived stem cells – U.Va.
Derivation of smooth muscle lineages from
stem cells – U.Va.
Regulation of embryonic stem cells–
Monash University, AU
Investigator-Initiated Awards
Radiation damage repair in the brain via
human ES cells – Sloan Kettering
Institute
Improved lentiviral vectors for primate ES
cells– U. of Wisconsin – Madison
Neural specification of embryonic stem
cells – U. of Wisconsin