Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology

Still wrestling with big questions

At 94, pioneering scientist Jack Strominger remains at the bench

Campus|

DateJanuary 6, 2020February 18, 2020

Lab success, life goals

Dalton Brunson keeps his rural hometown in mind as he plots his course to expanding health care resources

Campus|

DateMay 16, 2019May 24, 2019

‘Any patient with any disease’

Sana Biotechnology licenses innovative immune-silent stem cell technology developed though Harvard’s Blavatnik Biomedical Accelerator

Science|

DateMarch 26, 2019March 25, 2019

Through the lens of black health

Tania Fabo ’18 combines stem cell biology and health disparities in racial minorities

Health|

DateApril 23, 2018May 24, 2018

SMN protein (red) is necessary for the survival of spinal cord neurons (motor neurons) responsible for breathing and all movement. Harvard researchers have found a compound that stabilized this protein in mouse and human motor neurons. This may lead to the development of new treatments for motor neuron diseases including Spinal Muscular Atrophy and Lou Gehrig’s disease.

Compound protects nerve cells targeted by diseases

Harvard scientists find evidence that ALS and SMA could be treated with a common drug

Health|

DateApril 14, 2017March 4, 2019

Colorful clones track stem cells

Harvard researchers track the development and behavior of individual stem cells

Health|

DateNovember 23, 2016March 4, 2019

The image depicts immature (undifferentiated) cells on the left panel and cells that have differentiated in response to treatment with brequinar, a synthetic enzyme inhibitor, on the right panel.

Progress against acute myeloid leukemia

Simple compound could provide first new therapy for disease in four decades

Health|

DateSeptember 15, 2016September 28, 2016

Rahul Palchaudhuri (left), postdoctoral fellow, and David Scadden, co-director of the Harvard Stem Cell Institute, look at real-time images of blood stem cells settling into bone marrow.

Making bone marrow transplants safer

New approach would use antibodies rather than radiation and chemotherapy

Health|

DateJune 7, 2016March 7, 2019

Callosal projection neurons (green) in the cerebral cortex. In 2004, Jeffrey Macklis’ lab was the first to describe abnormal development in this type of neuron.

New drug target for Rett syndrome

Researchers identify potential new route to therapy

Health|

DateFebruary 2, 2016March 4, 2019

Projection neurons of the cerebral cortex targeted for reprogramming are displayed in green.

Neurons reprogrammed in animals

Connections are properly ‘rewired,’ recognized, say researchers

Health|

DateNovember 4, 2015March 8, 2019

Hope against disease targeting children

Researchers identify molecular changes in genetic ailment, see ties to ALS behavior

Health|

DateSeptember 24, 2015July 26, 2019

Harvard researchers have found a path to improvement in bone marrow transplants. The findings are featured on the cover of the July 23 issue of Nature. Harvard Stem Cell Institute researchers at Boston Children's Hospital believe it could lead to human trials in patients with cancer and blood disorders within a year or two.

Zebrafish reveal drugs that may improve bone marrow transplant

Compounds boost stem cell engraftment; could allow more matches for patients with cancer and blood diseases

Health|

DateJuly 23, 2015April 17, 2019

Harvard researchers have successfully converted mouse and human skin cells into pain-sensing neurons. The neurons respond to a number of stimuli that cause acute and inflammatory distress.

Creating pain-sensing neurons

Stem cell researchers manage to formulate them out of skin cells

Health|

DateNovember 24, 2014July 26, 2019

Joe Zhou, an associate professor in Harvard’s Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, and his collaborators used a combination of genes to change pancreatic exocrine cells — one of the main forms of cells in the pancreas — in adult mice that have diabetes into insulin-producing beta cells that appeared to cure about a third of the mice of the metabolic disease, and improved insulin production in most of the other mice.

Reprogramming cells, long term

Positive finding could have major implications for diabetes treatment

Health|

DateNovember 17, 2014April 9, 2019

“Because of the genetic complexity of schizophrenia and other psychiatric disorders, we need a large sample size to conduct this type of research," said Steve E. Hyman, director of the Broad’s Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research. Broad summer student Lydia Emerson prepares samples for sequencing in the Stanley Center lab in July. Research scientists Ellen Vieux and Tim Blosser collaborate in the background.

Researchers shed new light on schizophrenia

International team's work may lead to innovations in treatment that has seen little change in 60 years

Health|

DateJuly 21, 2014

Professors Lee Rubin (photo 1) and Amy Wagers (photo 2) of Harvard’s Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology have shown that a protein that can make failing hearts in aging mice appear younger may also improve brain and skeletal muscle function.

Hope for aging brains, skeletal muscle

Harvard stem cell researchers say protein can make those body parts function in old mice much as they did when younger

Health|

DateMay 4, 2014April 16, 2019

A Harvard research team led by Kevin Kit Parker, a Harvard Stem Cell Institute principal faculty member, has identified a set of 64 crucial parameters by which to judge stem cell-derived cardiac myocytes, making it possible for scientists and pharmaceutical companies to quantitatively judge and compare the value of stem cells.

Quality control

Harvard researchers develop long-needed standards for gauging ‘good’ stem cells

Health|

DateMarch 6, 2014July 26, 2019

Two former Stanford postdocs, Amy Wagers (pictured), now a professor in Harvard’s Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, and Emmanuelle Passegué, studied why patients with leukemia stop producing healthy blood cells. After almost a decade of bicoastal collaboration, they have an answer.

A cross-country collaboration

After eight years, stem cell researchers produce new model of leukemia development

Health|

DateJuly 31, 2013June 5, 2019

A finding by Richard T. Lee (left), a Harvard Medical School professor at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, and Amy Wagers (right), a professor in Harvard’s Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, ultimately may rewrite our understanding of aging.

Making old hearts younger

Researchers at Harvard Stem Cell Institute find protein that reverses some effects of aging in mice

Health|

DateMay 9, 2013April 15, 2019

Using a new, stem cell-based, drug-screening technology developed by Professor Lee Rubin at the Harvard Stem Cell Institute, researchers have found a compound that is more effective in protecting the neurons killed in ALS than the two drugs that failed in human clinical trials.

Big boost in drug discovery

New use for stem cells identifies a promising way to target ALS

Health|

DateApril 18, 2013September 12, 2019

Paola Arlotta, associate professor of stem cell and regenerative biology, stands outside her office in Sherman Fairchild. The object to her left on the glass wall is a crocheted version of a corticospinal neuron, the type Arlotta and postdoctoral fellow Caroline Rouaux created. It was crocheted for Arlotta by a graduate student.

New avenue in neurobiology

Harvard researchers turn one form of neuron into another in the brain

Health|

DateJanuary 21, 2013April 11, 2019

Amy Wagers, Konrad Hochedlinger (center), and Kevin Eggan will now turn to building on the accomplishments in stem cell research that earned them full professorships.

Pausing to celebrate

Stem cell specialists Eggan, Hochedlinger, Wagers rise to professor

Campus|

DateAugust 10, 2012March 12, 2019

This study points the way to screening patients with Parkinson’s for their particular variation of the disease, and then treating them with drugs shown effective to work on that variation, rather than trying to treat all patients with the same drugs, as is generally done now, notes Ole Isacson, a leader of the study.

Personalized medicine closer to reality

Study uses stem cells to study variants of Parkinson’s disease

Health|

DateJuly 13, 2012June 14, 2019

Using skin cells of patients with cystic fibrosis, Jayaraj Rajagopal (right) and colleagues have created induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells. “We’re not talking about a cure for CF; we’re talking about a drug that hits the major problem in the disease. This is the enabling technology that will allow that to happen in a matter of years,” said Rajagopal, the senior author on the paper. Postdoctoral fellow Hongmei Mou (left) is first author on the paper. The work is featured on the cover of this week’s journal Cell Stem Cell.

Big advance against cystic fibrosis

Stem cell researchers create lung surface tissue in a dish

Health|

DateApril 5, 2012April 8, 2019

Since the launch of the Technology Development Accelerator Fund, its money has been awarded and used to seed 33 projects, 25 of which have already been completed. Of those completed projects, a dozen have resulted in research collaborations with industry and new licensing agreements, with both existing and startup companies.

Funding success, and finding it

Four years in, Accelerator program is spawning development of technology

Science|

DateFebruary 28, 2012May 8, 2019

In a study, researchers report that defects in the regeneration of the myelin sheaths surrounding nerves, which are lost in diseases such as MS, may be at least partially corrected after exposing an old animal to the circulatory system of a young animal. The research was led by Associate Professor Amy Wagers (above) of Harvard’s Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology and the Harvard Stem Cell Institute.

Age-related effects of MS may prove reversible

Study provides hope of stimulating myelin sheaths around nerves

Health|

DateJanuary 6, 2012March 20, 2019

Harvard researchers report the first creation of a stem cell line containing a patient’s genome using SCNT — somatic cell nuclear transfer. The papers also include an experiment explaining why other attempts at SCNT have been unsuccessful; and a commentary reporting that it is impractical if not impossible to recruit ova donors without paying them.

Stem cell lessons

Insights on somatic cell nuclear transfer in studies, commentary

Health|

DateOctober 5, 2011May 22, 2019

Rebecca M. Henderson (left) of the Harvard Business School and Douglas Melton of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences and the Harvard Medical School were named University Professors in recognition of their dedication to teaching and groundbreaking scholarship that crosses academic boundaries.

Two named University Professors

Henderson, Melton recognized for groundbreaking scholarship that crosses academic boundaries

Campus|

DateSeptember 27, 2011June 6, 2019

“One of the utilities [of this new method for producing motor neurons] is it makes a much more rapid way to grow motor neurons. This could allow us to test very rapidly whether a new therapeutic is likely to be effective,” said Kevin Eggan, leader of the Harvard team of stem cell researchers that has succeeded in reprogramming adult mouse skin cells directly into the type of motor neurons damaged in Lou Gehrig's disease and spinal muscular atrophy.

From skin cells to motor neurons

Researchers find success with direct cellular reprogramming

Health|

DateAugust 26, 2011March 13, 2019

Steven E. Hyman, who is stepping down after leading Harvard’s sweeping expansion into interdisciplinary research, recalls the challenges and changes of his long tenure.

A provost’s view across a decade

Departing Steven Hyman recalls challenges and changes aplenty

News|

DateMay 20, 2011

Page 1 of 3

At 94, pioneering scientist Jack Strominger remains at the bench

Dalton Brunson keeps his rural hometown in mind as he plots his course to expanding health care resources

Sana Biotechnology licenses innovative immune-silent stem cell technology developed though Harvard’s Blavatnik Biomedical Accelerator

Tania Fabo ’18 combines stem cell biology and health disparities in racial minorities

Harvard scientists find evidence that ALS and SMA could be treated with a common drug

Harvard researchers track the development and behavior of individual stem cells

Simple compound could provide first new therapy for disease in four decades

New approach would use antibodies rather than radiation and chemotherapy

Researchers identify potential new route to therapy

Connections are properly ‘rewired,’ recognized, say researchers

Researchers identify molecular changes in genetic ailment, see ties to ALS behavior

Compounds boost stem cell engraftment; could allow more matches for patients with cancer and blood diseases

Stem cell researchers manage to formulate them out of skin cells

Positive finding could have major implications for diabetes treatment

International team's work may lead to innovations in treatment that has seen little change in 60 years

Harvard stem cell researchers say protein can make those body parts function in old mice much as they did when younger

Harvard researchers develop long-needed standards for gauging ‘good’ stem cells

After eight years, stem cell researchers produce new model of leukemia development

Researchers at Harvard Stem Cell Institute find protein that reverses some effects of aging in mice

New use for stem cells identifies a promising way to target ALS

Harvard researchers turn one form of neuron into another in the brain

Stem cell specialists Eggan, Hochedlinger, Wagers rise to professor

Study uses stem cells to study variants of Parkinson’s disease

Stem cell researchers create lung surface tissue in a dish

Four years in, Accelerator program is spawning development of technology

Study provides hope of stimulating myelin sheaths around nerves

Insights on somatic cell nuclear transfer in studies, commentary

Henderson, Melton recognized for groundbreaking scholarship that crosses academic boundaries

Researchers find success with direct cellular reprogramming

Departing Steven Hyman recalls challenges and changes aplenty

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