Stem cells have the potential to become any cell type in the body. Therefore they can be used to regenerate organs that no longer are working optimally due to disease or old age. Stem cell and regenerative biology research is about exploring and understanding the possibilities, advantages, and disadvantages of stem cell therapy. Some of the research topics in stem cell research are:
- The biology and engineering of cell differentiation
- Pluripotency (ability to become any cell type) and nuclear reprogramming (making an already differentiated cell become pluripotent again).
- Stem cell-based therapies, e.g.:
- Regenerating insulin producing beta cells in patients with type I diabetes
- Regenerating neural cells in patients that have had a stroke or who have Huntington’s or Parkinson’s disease
- Regenerating hair cells in people with hearing loss
- Regenerating skin cells in patients that have had severe burns
- Side effects of stem cell therapy (e.g. immune rejection and tumor formation)
We welcome researchers to submit articles in all fields relating to stem cell and regenerative biology research.