For a moment in time, an embryonic stem cell has infinite possibilities. These “master” cells that form part of a newly created embryo have the capacity to grow into literally any tissue the body might require: bone, hair, nerves, muscle, blood, heart, anything. Once an embryonic stem cell chooses its path, however, there’s no turning back.

But what if we could harness the power of these cells before their course is determined? Researchers believe that stem cells, sometimes referred to as the body’s own “repair kit,” could have tremendous potential to cure diseases and disorders ranging from Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s to multiple sclerosis, diabetes, heart disease, and even cancer.

A Pioneering Effort

The discovery of blood-forming stem cells at Stanford University in 1987 marked a revolutionary leap in the history of medicine, yet the great potential of this discovery has still not been realized. At the Stanford Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, home to a leading group of scientists and physicians who are exploring and exploiting the power of stem cell-centered therapy, we are finally positioned to leverage this immense finding. We are focused on discovering the means to:

Regenerate healthy organs and tissues: In addition to blood-forming stem cells, Stanford investigators have identified brain, muscle, and other tissue-specific stem cells. Now we want to discover adult stem cells in other tissues such as the lung, peripheral nervous system, skin, liver, and pancreas, and to home in on the potential to regenerate organs and tissues.

Create new embryonic stem cell lines: Using cutting-edge technology, we plan to produce new stem cell lines from the tissues of patients with both common and rare genetic diseases—creating research models that will deepen our knowledge of human stem cell development and enable us to develop new strategies for treating many of the intractable diseases that have resisted our efforts so far.

Cure cancer by targeting the cancer stem cell: A benchmark discovery found that only a handful of stem cells within a cancer seem to possess the unlimited capacity to multiply. As Stanford scientists were among the first to find, most of the cells in a tumor are incapable of further growth. This discovery holds great promise for new anti-cancer strategies, suggesting that if we can identify and isolate cancer stem cells, we can create entirely new therapies targeted at shutting down their destructive action.

Starting at the Beginning

If biomedical research holds the potential to vanquish many of the diseases that touch our lives, surely there is no more promising place to start than with the stem cell. Through our quest to understand its essential mechanisms, our determination to translate those findings to new therapies, and our commitment to train the next generation of gifted leaders to continue Stanford’s legacy in this field, we are bringing our best resources to bear on this immense opportunity.

For more information or to make a gift, please contact:
Heather Renshaw
Director of Development
650.234.0604
web site: med.stanford.edu