# Presentation: 878237

## Slide 2

## Discovery: Stem Cell BiologyNIH Actions

- Continue infrastructure award program
- Characterize cell lines
- Stimulate more research on basic biology
- Train investigators to culture and use stem cells

## NIH AWARDS

- 60 investigators at 40 institutions
- 14 investigator-initiated grants
- 44 supplements

## hESC LINES 

Number available 
for shipping increased 
from 5 to 11 since	
September 2002.

- Number available
- for shipping increased
- from 5 to 11 since
- September 2002.

## NIH Supported Research

***University of Wisconsin*** scientists replaced a specific stretch of DNA in hESC -- homologous recombination
**Advance:**  Scientists can now study the function of specific genes within these cells and could modify hESC-derived tissues for potential treatment in patients.

## NIH Supported Research

***NIH Scientists*** observe: differentiated mESCs repaired damage when transplanted into the mouse brain or spinal cord.
**Advance:**  May lead to development of replacement therapy for cells destroyed  by injury or disease, such as stroke, Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s disease.

## NIH Supported Research

- Advance:  In vitro studies produced cells from hESC that might be used for blood cell transplantation therapies for patients with blood malignancies such as leukemia or myeloma.

## NIH Supported Research

- Scientists are currently working to identify those genes that are involved in the differentiation of hESCs and genes that permit embryonic stem cells to self-renew.
**Advance**:  Once the genes are identified, gene transfer techniques may permit scientists to coax hESCs into becoming insulin-producing beta cells to treat insulin-dependent diabetes.

## NIH Supported Research

- Scientists tested the ability of human feeder cells derived from fetal or adult tissues to support the growth of hESC.
- Advance:  This is an ideal system for identifying factors secreted by human feeder cells that maintain hESCs’ self-renewing and multipotent state.

## NIH Supported Research

***U. of Minn***. Scientist isolated multipotent adult progenitor cells from human bone marrow
**Advance:**  Adult stem cells demonstrated the potential to differentiate beyond bone marrow stem cells and into other cell types, including liver cells, neurons and blood vessel-forming cells.

## NIH Supported Research

- Stem cells found in dental pulp of “baby teeth” have the potential to become cells expressing molecular markers characteristic of dentin, bone, fat, and nerve cells.
**Advance**:  These cells could possibly be used to repair damaged teeth, regenerate bone, treat nerve injury or disease.

## NIH-supported research

- Umbilical cord stem cells are able to repopulate the bone marrow of a small child, but only a small number of cells are obtained from each umbilical cord.
- We are now seeking methods to expand cells in culture to generate larger numbers for use in clinical applications.

- Investigator-Initiated Awards
- Modeling Development hematopoiesis with embryonic stem cells — ***Whitehead Institute***
- Strategies for Primate Transgenesis
***U. of Wisconsin at Madison***
- Neurons from Human & Mouse
***Washington University***

## In vivo potential of human ES-cell derived blood cells – University of Minnesota

Gene expression in beta-cells by lentiviral vectors – Harvard University

Growth factor-based culture system for ES cells – R and D System, Inc.

- Gene expression in beta-cells by lentiviral vectors – ***Harvard University***
- Growth factor-based culture system for ES cells – ***R and D System, Inc.***

- Investigator-Initiated Awards

## Investigator-Initiated Awards

- Towards renal *regeneration* - ***U. of Queensland, AU***
- Cranial bone repair with adipose tissue-derived stem cells – ***U.Va***.
- Derivation of smooth muscle lineages from stem cells – ***U.Va.***
- Regulation of embryonic stem cells– ***Monash University, AU***

## Investigator-Initiated Awards

- Radiation damage repair in the brain via human ES cells – ***Sloan Kettering Institute***
- Improved lentiviral vectors for primate ES cells– ***U. of Wisconsin – Madison***
- Neural specification of embryonic stem cells ***– U. of Wisconsin***