Paul Knoepfler Talks About the Tendency of Embryonic Stem Cells to Form Tumors

Jack Hubbard

One hallmark of embryonic stem cells is that they cause a particular type of tumor called a teratoma. Stem cell researchers must learn how to prevent these tumors before any transplantation-based therapy can be successful. Paul Knoepfler has a CIRM grant to study how and why the cells form tumors and to help understand ways of preventing those tumors from forming. He is an assistant professor of cell biology and human anatomy at the UC, Davis Institute for Regenerative Cures and is associated with the Institute for Pediatric Regenerative Medicine at Shriner’s Hospital for Children Northern California.