Centre for Stem Cell Biology, University of Sheffield

Optimisation of human embryonic stem cell derivation and the development of treatments for degenerative diseases (R0115)

Licence Holder: Professor Harry Moore

Lay summary:

A major cause of infertility is due to the failure of the early embryo to develop and implant in the uterus. Sometimes there is a good reason for implantation failure such as when the embryo is genetically abnormal, but in many cases the failure for proper development is unknown. This project investigates the processes by which the early embryo forms the trophoblast - the cells which create the placenta and direct the embryo to implant in the uterus. This research can only be carried out with human embryos because the cellular processes are different in laboratory animals. We have created a human trophoblast cell line from human embryonic stem cells. This is the first time this has been achieved. We can now grow these cells in the laboratory and use them examine early stages of the human trophoblast when implantation would occur. The information we obtain will tell us more about why some embryos do not develop and help us develop rational treatments for infertile women.