Human Stem Cell Use: Adult or Tissue Stem Cell
Tunable hydrogels for therapeutic delivery of multipotent stem cells.
Rationale: Skin ulcers represent the largest economic burden of all skin diseases. Human adult stem cell therapies for the treatment of chronic wounds have shown considerable promise. However, a delivery system is needed before they can be used clinically. Hydrogels have emerged as a promising vehicle for stem cell delivery because their 3-D structure and […]
The generation and expansion of tissue-engineered small intestine from human stem/ progenitor cells: a preclinical study of functional translation
This proposal aims to complete the preclinical steps to develop tissue-engineered intestine (TESI) as a functional replacement of the small intestine to treat short bowel syndrome (SBS). Common birth conditions especially those associated with prematurity result in SBS wherein 50-75% of the small intestine is gone. SBS children cannot get adequate nutrition and supportive medical […]
Regulation of Epidermal Self-Renewal and Differentiation by Histone and DNA Demethylases.
Tissue specific stem and progenitor cells exist to replenish the tissue it resides during normal homeostasis or during regeneration from a wound. Disease and aging leads to a depletion of these stem and progenitor cells, which can impede the ability of the body to regenerate itself. Thus, an understanding of the mechanisms of how tissue […]
Asymmetric stem cell division oriented by a local self-renewing signal
When stem cells divide, the two daughter cells have a choice. Commonly, one of the daughter cells becomes a new stem cell while the other one will be more specialized (or differentiated). This property — the ability to generate more stem cells (self-renewal) while making differentiated cells simultaneously — defines a stem cell. Stem cells […]
Mechanism of heart regeneration by cardiosphere-derived cells
In the process of a heart attack, clots form suddenly on top of cholesterol-laden plaques, blocking blood flow to heart muscle. As a result, living heart tissue dies and is replaced by scar. The larger the scar, the higher the chance of premature death and disability following the heart attack. While conventional treatments aim to […]
DECIPHERING THE INSTRUCTIONS FOR VERTEBRATE HSC SPECIFICATION AND AMPLIFICATION.
Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) are an important population of cells that continuously produce and replace blood and immune cells over the course of our lifetimes. These rare, self-renewing cells are the key element of bone marrow transplants, which are used to treat a variety of conditions including many forms of leukemia and solid tumors. Understanding […]
Prostaglandin pathway regulation of self-renwal in hematopoietic and leukemia stem cells
Leukemias are cancers of the blood cells that result from corruption of the normal controls that regulate blood-forming stem cells. They are serious causes of illness and death, and are particularly devastating in children and the elderly. Despite substantial advances in treatment of leukemia, a significant proportion of cases are unresponsive to current therapy. Since […]
Stem Cell Mechanisms Governing Discrete Waves of Gliogenesis in the Childhood Brain
White matter is the infrastructure of the brain, providing conduits for communication between neural regions. White matter continues to mature from birth until early adulthood, particularly in regions of brain critical for higher cognitive functions. However, the precise timing of white matter maturation in the various neural circuits is not well described, and the mechanisms […]
Allogeneic Cardiac-Derived Stem Cells for Patients Following a Myocardial Infarction
The proposed research will demonstrate both safety and efficacy of a heart-derived stem cell product in patients who have experienced a heart attack either recently or in the past by conducting a mid-stage clinical trial. A prior early-stage trial showed that the product can repair damaged portions of the heart after a heart attack in […]
Genetic Re-programming of Stem Cells to Fight Cancer
Science has made great progress in the treatment of certain cancers with targeted and combination therapies, yet prolonged remissions or cures are rare because most cancer therapies only inhibit cell growth and/or reduce such growth but do not stop the cancer. The study investigators propose to develop an Investigational New Drug (IND) and fully enroll […]