The Center for Human Embryonic Stem Cell Research and Education is actively engaged in basic research exploring the biology of stem cells, with the goals of translating our findings to clinical applications and advancing the field of regenerative medicine.
Research at the Center concentrates on several Areas of Focus
Early Human Embryo Development
We have the opportunity to understand our beginnings: the first few days of life and decisions made in forming the early human cell lineages. We seek to understand what genes regulate early human embryonic development.
Human Embryonic Stem Cell Biology
The fundamental mechanisms that drive hESC differentiation into major cell lineanges are not clearly understood. We are constantly optimizing our stem cell culture conditions and finding more efficient ways to derive and differentiate human embryonic stem cell lines that can be used to treat and cure diseases.
Reprogramming and Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer (SCNT)
Currently we are using SCNT technique to derive human embryonic stem cells that are medically-accepted for therapeutic treatments of diseases. At the same time, we are exploring other strategies to generate pluripotent stem cells that can also be used clinically.
Understanding the developmental program of human germ cells is important to reproductive health, including fertility, sex determination and cancer.
