Project Objective: Research Insights
Development of 3D Bioprinting Techniques using Human Embryonic Stem Cells Derived Cardiomyocytes for Cardiac Tissue Engineering
Heart, stroke and other cardiovascular diseases are responsible for ~17 million deaths per year globally and this number is predicted to reach 23.3 million by 2030. Cardiovascular diseases impose a staggering annual cost of $300 billion on the U.S. health care system. Heart transplantation is the ultimate solution to end-stage heart failure. However, a major […]
Injectable Macroporous Matrices to Enhance Stem Cell Engraftment and Survival
Despite the great promise stem cells hold for regenerative medicine, the efficacy of stem cell-based therapies is greatly limited by poor cell engraftment and survival. To overcome this major bottleneck, the goal of this proposal is to validate the efficacy of novel microribbon (µRB)-based scaffolds for cell delivery. These scaffolds combine the injectability and cell […]
Identification and isolation of transplantable human hematopoietic stem cells from pluripotent cell lines; two steps from primitive hematopoiesis to transplantable definitive cells, and non-toxic conditioning of hosts for hematopoeitic stem cell transp…
A goal of stem-cell therapy is to transplant into a patient “tissue-specific” stem cells, which can regenerate a particular type of healthy tissue (e.g., heart or blood cells). A major obstacle to this goal is obtaining tissue-specific stem cells that (1) are available in sufficient numbers; and (2) will not be rejected by the recipient. […]
Center of Excellence for Stem Cell Genomics – UCSC
The Center of Excellence in Stem Cell Genomics will bring together investigators from seven major California research institutions to bridge two fields – genomics and pluripotent stem cell research. The projects will combine the strengths of the center team members, each of whom is a leader in one or both fields. The program directors have […]
Center of Excellence for Stem Cell Genomics – Salk
The Center of Excellence in Stem Cell Genomics will bring together investigators from seven major California research institutions to bridge two fields – genomics and pluripotent stem cell research. The projects will combine the strengths of the center team members, each of whom is a leader in one or both fields. The program directors have […]
Center of Excellence for Stem Cell Genomics – Stanford
The Center of Excellence in Stem Cell Genomics will bring together investigators from seven major California research institutions to bridge two fields – genomics and pluripotent stem cell research. The projects will combine the strengths of the center team members, each of whom is a leader in one or both fields. The program directors have […]
In vitro modeling of human motor neuron disease
Motor neuron (MN) diseases such as spinal muscular atrophy and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis lead to progressive degeneration of MNs, presenting first with muscle weakness, followed by locomotor defects and frequently death due to respiratory failure. While progress has been made in identifying genes associated with MN degeneration, the molecular and cellular processes underlying disease onset […]
Mass Cytometry to Delineate the Human Muscle Stem Cell Hierarchy and Dysfunction in Aging
Aging is characterized by a decline in skeletal muscle mass and strength (sarcopenia), coupled with an accumulation of fat tissue, impairing mobility and quality of life in 45% of individuals over 65 years of age. In aged mice, the regeneration defect arises in part from a diminished regenerative capacity of resident muscle stem cells (MuSCs). […]
Mechanisms of human induced neuronal cell reprogramming
We and other groups have recently shown that it is possible to convert skin cells from foreskin of newborns into nerve cells that closely resemble nerve cells of the brain in terms of both shape and functional properties. If it were possible to also reprogram human adult skin cells into similarly functional nerve cells, we […]
Non-invasive live imaging of stem cell signature metabolic states
Stem cells in tissues exhibit unique metabolic states that could distinguish them from other more specialized cells. Using a new type of microscopy we can image the metabolic states of cells in living tissues and, therefore, attempt to identify stem cell populations. Because stem cells can give rise to tumors that are metabolically very different […]