University of Cambridge
Derivation of Human Stem Cells from Human Surplus Embryos: The Development of hES Cultures, Characterisation of Factors Necessary for Maintaining Pluripotency and Specific Differentiation towards Transplantable Tissues (R0162)
Licence holder: Professor Roger Pederson
The aim of our research is to derive clinically useful human stem cells from surplus embryos for cell transplantation therapies. Embryonic stem (ES) cells have a high potential to become any cell within the human body and present a potentially unlimited source of cells to cure degenerative diseases (e.g. Alzheimer's, diabetes), to test new medicines, to test the safety of new treatments and to serve as models for understanding diseases.
Human embryonic stem cell cultures will be derived from surplus embryos generated by in vitro fertilisation (IVF) treatments and donated specifically for research purposes.
However, our current understanding of the requirements for successful derivation of human ES cells from surplus embryos is very limited and refinements are needed in order to increase the chances of generating stem cells from each donated embryo.
We propose to assess the physiological properties of the human embryo and resulting ES cell lines before and during human ES cell derivation.
The project will examine growing human ES cells in defined conditions including various growth promoting factors. We will investigate the mechanisms that maintain the ability of human ES cells to become different types of cells and we will explore the potential of human ES cells to differentiate into specialised cells for transplantation purposes.
These studies can thus increase the quality, number, and utility of human ES cells.
This work is conducted in collaboration with licensed work conducted at the University of York, R0067 and Bourn Hall Clinic, R0167.
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Page last updated: 11 April 2009