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Discovery of Teratocarcinomas and Embryonal Carcinoma Cells
Researcher Leroy Stevens made an accidental finding which was the teratocarcinomas and highly proliferative embryonal carcinoma cells with the ability to form a wide variety of tissue types, skin, muscle and intestinal tissues.
These studies were important in realising the potential of these cells to give rise to many cell types forming a building block for ensuring research in the fields of stem cells and regenerative medicine to further the study of cell development and cancer. -
Discovery of Hematopoietic Stem Cells
Ernest McCulloch and James Till identified Hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) in mice which showed two fundamental properties:
self renewal and differentiation properties.
These are the multipotent cells that give rise to all blood cell types in the organism from erythrocytes and leukocytes to platelets.
This was crucial for finding out how stem cells may be used to replace any blood cells and for further work on bone marrow transplantation and other treatments -
Understanding Pluripotency
The work of Leroy Stevens showed that teratocarcinomas occurring in mice were indeed germ cell tumors and introduced the important concept of pluripotency.
Pluripotent cells have the ability to become any cell type including skin, nerve and muscle cells.
This was an essential regenerative medicine proof that some cells can give rise to any cell type in the body.
Thus, the knowledge of pluripotency became a giant stride in the study of stem cell biology. -
Identification of Embryonic Stem Cells
Martin Evans discovered ESCs in mice.
Embryonic stem cells are derived from the inner cell mass of a blastocyst and are capable of giving rise to all cell types of the body.
This was now going to allow the research of the early development stages and observe the differentiation of cells resulting in the formation of different tissues and organs.
The research also brought a very important tool in the study of genetic diseases and possibly developing therapies for many damaging diseases. -
Cloning of Dolly the Sheep
Ian Wilmut and his research team cloned a sheep named Dolly thus showing outstanding possibilities with regard to stem cells in cloning.
This was proof that one could achieve an exact genetic copy of an organism by using a somatic cell taken from an adult sheep.
It opened up new possibilities not only in medical research and therapeutic cloning but also in understanding genetic disorders and raised several moral and scientific questions regarding implications of cloning technology. -
Isolation of Human Embryonic Stem Cells
James Thomson and John Gearhart were able to isolate and culture human embryonic stem cells in the laboratory.
Human embryonic stem cells are pluripotent and form any cell type within the human body.
That gave them a new origin of cells to study the development of human disease.
These cells have the promise to become any cell type in the human body opening up the avenues for treatment and research in a number of ways. -
First Use of Stem Cells for Muscle/Tissue-Related Injury Treatment
This was the first time someone was treated with a muscle/tissue related injury performed by Dr. Shinya Yamanaka and his team at the University of Wisconsin Madison.
They focused on using muscle derived stem cells to treat a patient with muscular dystrophy aiming to regenerate damaged muscle tissue and improve muscle function. -
rCap on Federal Funding for hESC Research
US President George W. Bush put a limitation on federal funding for research on human embryonic stem cells.
This had consequently sparked a debate about the ethics of conducting research involving human embryos.
In the interim, scientists have been racing to find other sources of stem cells and seek a balance between scientific progress and ethical concerns while encouraging a new line of techniques like the induced pluripotent stem cells. -
Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells
Shinya Yamanaka discovered when he derived induced pluripotent stem cells from adult tissues without having to destroy human embryos.
Using the expression of four key genes Yamanaka was able to reprogram adult fibroblast cells into becoming pluripotent.
This was the magic that freed scientists to approach a whole new world of personalised medicine in the form of patient specific stem cells for tailored treatments and minimised some ethical concerns with the use of embryonic stem cells. -
Lift on Restrictions on hESC Research Funding
President Barack Obama lifted the restrictions on federal funding for research on human embryonic stem cells.
Researchers could now extend their research into newer treatments for a wide array of diseases.
This hastening the pace at which breakthroughs in medicine were being discovered with a promise for new therapies and more investment in public and private stem cell research. -
Clinical Trial for Treatment of Spinal Injury
The first clinical trial ever using human embryonic stem cells for treating spinal injury marked a milestone in the use of stem cell therapy. The trial was to test the safety and possible efficacy of the use of stem cells in the regeneration of the damaged tissue of the spinal cord and thus bring hope to patients with injured spinal cords by further advancing the field of regenerative medicine. -
Restoration of Sight Using hESCs
Human embryonic stem cells were used to treat blindness therefore demonstrating the ability of the cells to bring destroyed tissues back to normal.
In this clinical application the stem cells were replacing the destroyed or degenerated retinal pigment epithelial cells of patients suffering from macular degeneration and thus demonstrating the therapeutic potential of the stem cells in the treatment of degenerative diseases thus improving the quality of life for blind patients. -
Stem Cell Therapy for Sports Injuries
Present day stem cell treatment to for muscle/tissue injuries like ACL tears Achilles tendinopathy and knee ligament injuries stem cells are applied directly used in stem cell bearing sutures or injected to stimulate healing and improve recovery in athletes.
This shows the potential of stem cells to enhance recovery and performance by reducing downtime and long lasting injury related damage.