Year 3 + NCE

The technology enabling researchers to convert somatic cells, such as skin cells, into induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells makes it possible to generate patient-specific iPS cells for cell replacement therapy without inciting an immune response. This technology also makes it possible to generate disease-specific iPS cells and tissues to study mechanisms of diseases and for drug discovery. Understanding mechanisms underlying somatic cell reprogramming is critical for the safe usage of these cells for clinical therapy. This project is to study the molecular mechanisms of ipS cell induction.
In the past three years, we have made significant progress on each of the three aims. The funding has lead to 11 publication and including 7 in which the PI is a corresponding or co-corresponding author author. These paper are in Cell Stem Cell, Scientific Reports and Stem Cell etc.