For Scientists


The Institute will support scientists with adult stem cells who will collaborate with the Institute to satisfy FDA preclinical requirements for specific clinical diseases. The current support will be in the form of adult stem cells and tissue culture media. The research is approved by Institutional Review Board and is in compliance with State and Federal regulations. The following adult stem cells are available from the Institute.

Hematopoetic Stem Cells (HSC)

HSC are primitive blood-borne stem cells found in bone marrow, cord blood and peripheral blood. HSC represent a very small fraction of cells (~1-3 percent) in umbilical cord blood and even less in adult peripheral blood. HSC are multipotent stem cells that have historically been a source of stem cell treatment for bone marrow transplantation to restore resident bone marrow cells after cancer patients receive chemotherapy. There is increased evidence to suggest that these same stem cells have the potential to differentiate into non-blood tissues as well. Research using HSC are currently being directed to treat chronic cardiovascular disease, peripheral vascular disease, multiple sclerosis, stroke, pulmonary hypertension and chronic lung disease. A significant challenge of using HSC is that the number of HSC is too low to provide a sufficient dose to treat adults. The Institute is pursing research approaches to expand and grow sufficient HSC to treat adults and test whether the process is safe and efficacious. An advantage of cord blood stem cells is that these cells are immunological immature, which minimize the risk of tissue rejection so that patients do not have to take anti-rejection medicines and risk infections.

Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells

HMSC are multipotent stem cells that are found in bone marrow, muscle, fat tissue, umbilical cord tissue (Wharton Jelly) and umbilical cord blood and adult peripheral blood. HMSC have been shown to differentiate into a variety of different tissue (cartilage, bone, blood, cardiac, muscle and neural tissues) under laboratory conditions. An important advantage of HMSC is that they express low levels of Major Histocompatibility Complex (HMC), which is the determinant for defining donor compatibility. By low expression of HMC cell markers, HMSC can be delivered to an un-related recipient without having to take anti-rejection therapy. By not taking anti-rejection medication, the risk of infection is greatly reduced. Another advantage of HMSC is that they are ?smart drug stores? that secrete anti-inflammatory molecules, which can reduce tissue injury and promote repair. This feature makes them potentially attractive in reducing or eliminating anti-inflammatory drugs like steroids that have adverse side effects. HMSC have potential for treating chronic heart disease, chronic neuromuscular disorders, diabetes, Parkinson Disease and some autoimmune disorders. The Institute is pursuing HMSC-related research applications.

Amniotic Epithelial Stem Cell Research

Amniotic epithelial stem cells (AESC) are pluripotent stem cells derived from the amniotic layer of the placenta. AESC have been shown to differentiate into a variety of different tissue. An important advantage of AESC is that they express low levels of Major Histocompatibility Complex (HMC) and they do not express telomerase, which causes tumor formation. AESC have potential for treating chronic heart disease, chronic neuromuscular disorders, diabetes, Parkinson Disease and macular degeneration. The Institute is pursuing AESC-related research applications.

Multipotent Unrestricted Somatic Stem Cell (MUSSC) Research from Cord Blood

Multipotent cord blood unrestricted somatic stem cells are isolated from human umbilical cord blood, which, like amniotic epithelial stem cells, are pluripotent stem cells. Multipotent unrestricted somatic stem cells express no MHC complex and do not express telomerase. They are ideal pluripotent stem cells because they do not cause rejection or form tumors. The Institute is pursuing MUSSC-related research applications.