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Phenotyping of Human iPSC-derived Neurons: Patient-Driven Research examines the steps in a preclinical pipeline that utilizes iPSC-derived neuronal technology to better understand neurological disorders and identify novel therapeutics, also providing considerations and best practices. By presenting example projects that identify phenotypes and mechanisms relevant to autism spectrum disorder and epilepsy, this book allows readers to understand what considerations are important to assess at the start of project design. Sections address reproducibility issues and advances in technology at each stage of the pipeline and provide suggestions for improvement. From patient sample collection and proper controls to neuronal differentiation, phenotyping, screening, and considerations for moving to the clinic, these detailed descriptions of each stage of the pipeline will help everyone, regardless of stage in the pipeline. In recent years, drug discovery in the neurosciences has struggled to identify novel therapeutics for patients with varying indications, including epilepsy, chronic pain, and psychosis. Current treatment options for such patients are decades old and offer little relief with many side effects. One explanation for this lull in novel therapeutics is a lack of novel target identification for neurological disorders (and target identification requires exemplar preclinical data). To improve on the preclinical work that often relies on rodent modeling, the field has begun utilizing patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) to differentiate neurons in vitro for preclinical characterization of neurological disease and target identification. - Discusses techniques and new technology for iPSC culturing and neuronal differentiation to establish best practices in the lab - Outlines considerations for phenotypic assay development - Provides information about the successes, failures, and implications of phenotyping and screening with iPSC-derived neurons - Describes how human iPSC-derived neurons are being used for preclinical discovery research as well as the development of therapeutics utilizing hiPSC-derived neurons

This publication is based upon work from COST Action'16203 MARISTEM Stem cells of marine/aquatic invertebrates: from basic research to innovative applications', supported by COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology).COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology) is a funding agency for research and innovation networks. Our Actions help connect research initiatives across Europe and enable scientists to grow their ideas by sharing them with their peers. This boosts their research, career and innovation.www.cost.eu Aquatic invertebrates represent the largest biodiversity and the widest phylogenetic radiation on Earth, with more than 2 million known species. Up until a few years ago, their use as model organisms in biological research was limited by the paucity of omics data. Recently, the situation has rapidly changed and is still changing. Today, the genomes and various transcriptomes of many aquatic invertebrate species, as well as many recombinant proteins of invertebrate origin, are available. New technologies have revolutionized the available toolbox of research methodologies. This explains the rising interest of researchers in the use of aquatic invertebrates as reliable model organisms.In contrast to the prevalence of diverse oligopotent and unipotent stem cells in vertebrates, aquatic invertebrates (especially non-ecdysozoan invertebrates) exhibit multiple adult cell types with stem cellattributes characterized by multipotency and pluripotency; furthermore, these give rise to cell lineages characteristic of more than a single germ layer, sometimes with somatic and germ line potentials. In addition, unlike vertebrates, aquatic invertebrate adult stem cells are disseminated and widespread inside the animal body, are not associated with a regulatory microenvironment (niche) and do participate in aging and regeneration phenomena. These properties can help us to better understand the processes and phenomena in mammalian stem cell biology, such as natural chimerism and cancer, aging and senescence, immunity and autoimmune responses, which are all difficult to explain or understand in the human context.The COST Action 16203 MARISTEM'Stem cells of marine/aquatic invertebrates: from basic research to innovative applications'started in 2017 with the aim to foster the knowledge of the biology of aquatic invertebrates stem cells and strengthen the European community of researchers on aquatic invertebrate stem cells in order to build innovative ideas relevant to various biomedical disciplines. This book represents one of the deliverables of the Action and collects part of the materials produced during the past 3 years within the network as a tool to disseminate and render available what has been achieved up to now. We hope that this book will be useful to scientists interested in stem cells of non-model organisms, with particular reference to aquatic invertebrates.

Noch vor wenigen Jahren standen die vermeintlich schwerwiegenden Risiken der Stammzellforschung für Mensch und Gesellschaft im Fokus der Öffentlichkeit. Heute hingegen wird die Stammzellforschung weitestgehend als eines der fortschrittlichsten und vielversprechendsten biomedizinischen Forschungsfelder präsentiert. Wie lässt sich dieser Paradigmenwechsel erklären? Und was bedeutet er für die ethische, rechtliche und politische Bewertung der Stammzellforschung? °°°°Der Band versammelt einerseits Arbeiten aus dem BMBF-geförderten Forschungsverbund „Multiple Risiken. Kontingenzbewältigung in der Stammzellforschung und ihren Anwendungen“ und andererseits Beiträge ausgewiesener Expertinnen und Experten aus Naturwissenschaft und Medizin, Ethik, Sozial- und Rechtswissenschaften zum Thema Chancen und Risiken der Stammzellforschung sowie politische Handlungsempfehlungen. Die Beiträge analysieren die Darstellung von Nutzen und Risiken in internationalen wissenschaftlichen sowie öffentlichen und rechtlichen Diskursen in verschiedenen Gesellschaftsbereichen.

Stem cell and regenerative medicine research is an important area of clinical research which promises to change the face of medicine as it will be practiced in the years to come. Challenges in the 21st century to combat diseases such as cancer, Alzheimer's disease and retinal disorders, among others, may well be addressed employing stem cell therapies and tissue regeneration techniques. Frontiers in Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Research is essential reading for researchers seeking updates in stem cell therapeutics and regenerative medicine.This volume includes current literature on a variety of topics:-the utility of exogenous and endogenous neural stem cells in spinal cord injury-somatic cells for human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs)-reactive oxygen species (ROS) mediated cellular signaling for stem cell differentiation-the therapeutic potential of microRNAs in cardiac diseases-stem cell therapy for the treatment of malaria

Human Pluripotent Stem Cell Derived Organoid Models, Volume 159 highlights recent and emerging advances that describe organoid differentiation protocols for the different organ systems that implement organoids as tools to understand complexity and maturation, high content drug screening, disease modeling, development and evolution. Specific chapters in this new release include Pluripotent stem cell derived gastric organoids, Pluripotent stem cell derived esophageal organoids, Pluripotent stem cell derived small intestinal organoids, Pluripotent stem cell derived colonic organoids, Pluripotent stem cell intestinal organoids with an Enteric Nervous System, Pluripotent stem cell derived airway organoids, Pluripotent stem cell derived alveolar organoids, and much more. - Provides the first comprehensive collection of pluripotent stem cell derived organoid protocols - Includes cutting-edge methods - Presents methods that generate organoids from many organ systems

This volume examines cells set aside during development for use later in ontogeny or in adult life. There is no single term for such cells. The cells explored fall within several major categories — stem cells, set-aside cells (in echinoderm larvae), imaginal discs in insects such as Drosophila, meristems (plants), blastemata (regeneration in amphibians), neoblasts (regeneration in planarians). The book compares and contrasts these cell types and the environments (niches) in which they operate with the aim of unravelling any relationships between them, between their activation in development, and in their evolution.Key Features Explores the nature of deferred-use cells in evolutionary and developmental context. Reviews the mechanisms of development of set-aside cells, such as stem cells, meristems, and imaginal discs. Provides phylogenetic overview of different types of deferred-use cells. Compares and contrasts different theories on the origin of deferred-use cells. Related TitlesCalegari, F. & C. Waskow, eds. Stem Cells: From Basic Research to Therapy (ISBN 978-1-4822-0775-0)Cabral, J. M. S. & C. L. da Silva, eds. Bioreactors for Stem Cell Expansion and Differentiation (ISBN 978-1-4987-9590-6)Kong, H., A. J. Putnam, & L. B. Schook, eds. Stem Cells and Revascularization Therapies (ISBN 978-1-4398-0323-3)Schaffer, D., J. D. Bronzino, & D. R. Peterson, eds. Stem Cell Engineering: Principles and Practices (ISBN 978-1-4398-7204-8)

This book is a continuum of the first two books published in the STEM CELLS series entitled'Stem Cells: From Drug to Drug Discovery'and'Stem Cells: From Hype to Real Hope'which were published in 2017 and 2019, respectively. The scope of the book encompasses a wide range of topics with a latitude from adult stem cells to pluripotent stem cells in regenerative medicine either alone or as part of the combinatorial therapeutic intervention approach as'drug'besides their application as tools (disease model) during drug development process. Written by a leading group of researchers, the book encompasses experimental to clinical aspects of stem/progenitors cells, their biology, and characteristics.

This collection of articles deals with the benefits of different types of stem cells sources, use, manipulation, and aspects for the treatment of chronic diseases. Topics include the role of calcium channel pathways in the regulation of neural stem cell differentiation; the evolutionary roles of the totipotent, pluripotent, or even multipotent stem cells; the derivations of multipotent MSCs; and potential canine-derived stem cell therapies for dogs. The scope of the book also provokes further studies into other topics, such as MSC differentiation into hepatocytes and the involvement of these cells with microRNA-133 in type 1 diabetes; the role of Vitronectin in the differentiation into endoderm; the extent to which the stemness of dental pulp stem cells might be useful; PBMCs as a source for pluripotent stem cells; yoga in possible synergy with the finding that bone marrow stromal cells provide relief from a laboratory reagent used as drug-mediated pain in spinal cord injury.

This invaluable resource discusses insights ranging from basic biological mechanisms of various types of stem cells through the potential applications in the treatment of human diseases, including cancer and genetic disorders. These discoveries are placed within the structural context of tissue and developmental biology in sections dealing with recent advances in understanding different types of stem cell biology and their potential applications in tissue repair and regeneration and in the treatment different types of human cancer and genetic diseases or disorders.Stem Cells for Cancer and Genetic Disease Treatment and the other books in the Stem Cells in Clinical Applicationsseries will be invaluable to scientists, researchers, advanced students and clinicians working in stem cells, regenerative medicine or tissue engineering as well as cancer or genetics research.

Stem cell and regenerative medicine research is a hot area of research which promises to change the face of medicine as it will be practiced in the years to come. Challenges in the 21st century to combat diseases such as cancer, Alzheimer and related diseases may well be addressed employing stem cell therapies and tissue regeneration. Frontiers in Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Research is essential reading for researchers seeking updates in stem cell therapeutics and regenerative medicine. This volume includes reviews on the following topics: -the role of microvesicles and exosomes in mesenchymal stem cell (MSCs) in treating diseases while overcoming side effects -alternative models for understanding cancer stem cell biology -stem cells treatments for orthopaedic injury and endocrine disorders -wound healing biomaterials -theoretical models of hematopoietic cell dynamics (with implications for bone marrow transplants)

A Roadmap to Non-hematopoietic Stem Cell-Based Therapeutics: From the Bench to the Clinic is a resource that provides an overview of the principles of stem cell therapy, the promises and challenges of using stem cells for treating various clinical conditions, and future perspectives. The overall goal is to facilitate the translation of basic research on stem cells to clinical applications. The properties of stem cells from various sources are reviewed and the advantages and disadvantages of each for clinical use are discussed. Modifying stem cell properties through preconditioning strategies using physical, chemical, genetic, and molecular manipulation to improve cell survival, increase cell differentiation potential, enhance production of paracrine factors, and facilitate homing to the site of injury or disease upon transplantation are reviewed. Various routes of stem cell administration and dosing, and the duration of effects, are explored. Individual chapters are written by experts in the field and focus on the use of stem cells in treating various degenerative diseases, autoimmune diseases, wound healing, cardiovascular disease, spinal cord injury, oral and dental diseases, and skeletal disorders. Finally, experts in the regulatory arena discuss mechanisms used in different countries for approving the use of stem cells to treat diseases and many common issues that are typically encountered while seeking approval for this class of therapeutic agent. - Offers advanced students, as well as new researchers, an overview of the principles of stem cell therapy - Discusses a wide array of pressing clinical issues with stem cell-based therapies so that new ideas in the laboratory can be efficiently translated to the clinic through better designed clinical trials - Helps clarify current regulatory mechanisms so that the safe use of stem cells for treating a variety of diseases can move forward - Fosters cross-disciplinary dialogue between research scientists and physicians to accelerate the safe implementation of efficacious cell therapies

Perinatal Stem Cells provides researchers and clinicians with a comprehensive description of the current clinical and pre-clinical applications of stem cells derived from perinatal sources, such as amniotic fluid, placenta and placental membranes, the umbilical cord and Wharton's jelly. It's compiled by leading experts in the field, offering readers detailed insights into sources of perinatal stem cells and their potential for disease treatment. Therapeutic applications of perinatal stem cells include the treatment of in utero and pregnancy related diseases, cardiac disease, liver disease, pulmonary disease, inflammatory diseases, for hematopoietic regeneration, and for neural protection after stroke or traumatic brain injury. In addition, the rapid advance in clinical translation and commercialization of perinatal stem cell therapies is highlighted in a section on Clinical and Industry Perspective which provides insight into the new opportunities and challenges involved in this novel and exciting industry. - Explores current clinical and pre-clinical application of stem cells derived from perinatal sources - Offers detailed insight into sources of perinatal stem cells and their potential for disease treatment - Discusses progress in the manufacturing, banking and clinical translation of perinatal stem cells - Edited by a world-renowned team to present a complete story of the development and promise of perinatal stem cells

This handbook presents information on different cell culture assays which can be used to perform experimental analysis. Readers are introduced to the basics of in vitro cell cultures followed by a comparative analysis of different experimental protocols d

'An engrossing read that is hard to put down and packed with insights blend history and the latest research with broader examination of stem cell potentials to change not only health conditions, but society as a whole. No collection covering stem cell advancements should be without this hard-hitting examination that uses California's results as a foundation for considering stem cell's special promises and powerful obstacles to success.'Midwestern Book ReviewThirteen years ago, America faced an epidemic of chronic disease: cancer, paralysis, blindness, arthritis, Alzheimer's disease, diabetes and more.But California voters said'YES!'to a $3 billion stem cell research program: the awkwardly-named California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM). Born into battle, the scrappy little state agency was immediately blocked by three years of anti-science lawsuits — but it defeated them all. And then?A quiet triumph. With a focused intensity like the Manhattan Project (but for peaceful purposes, not to build a bomb), scientists funded by CIRM took on the challenges: disease and disability called chronic: incurable.In a series of connected stories, accurate though written to entertain,'California Cures'relates a war: science against disease, with lives on the line. Think what it means for a paralyzed young man to recover the use of his hands, or for a formerly-blind mother to see her teenaged children — for the first time!Do you know the'bubble-baby'syndrome? Infants without a proper immune system typically die young; a common cold can kill. But for eighteen babies in a stem cell clinical trial, a different future: they were cured of their disease.No one can predict the pace of science, nor say when cures will come; but California is bringing the fight. The reader will meet the scientists involved, the women and men behind the microscope, and share their struggle.Above all,'California Cures'is a call for action. Washington may argue about the expense of health care (and who will get it), but California works to bring down the mountain of medical debt: stem cell therapies to ease suffering, and save lives.Will California build on success — and invest $5 billion more in stem cell research?'We have the momentum', says author Don C Reed,'We dare not stop short. Chronic disease threatens everyone — we are fighting for your family, and mine!'

This book contains material contributed by forward-looking scientists who work at the interface of stem cell research and applied science with the aim to improve human fetal safety and the understanding of human developmental and degenerative disorders. Provides important platforms and contemporary accounts of the state of stem cell research in the fields of toxicology and teratology Considers both in vitro uses of stem cells as platforms for teratology and also stem cellopathies, which are in vivo developmental and degenerative disorders Helps the pharmaceutical industry and safety and environmental authorities validate the status quo of in vitro toxicity test systems based on human pluripotent stem cells and their derivatives

After more than four decades living with multiple sclerosis, New York Times bestselling author Richard M. Cohen finds a flicker of hope in a groundbreaking medical procedure.Richard Cohen struggles with failing limbs and is legally blind. He has survived two bouts of colon cancer and a life-threatening blood clot in his lungs. After enduring decades of harsh treatments and invasive therapies, Cohen decided to trade in his life as a patient.In 2012, Cohen and his wife, Meredith Vieira, were invited to host and chair an adult stem cell conference at the Vatican. Scientists would be gathering in Rome to discuss stem cell therapy for autoimmune diseases, including MS. A believer in the power of denial and determination over faith and hope, Cohen was caught off guard by what he learned. Medical technology had advanced further and more quickly than Cohen had known. Could there be a chance his health could improve? Could MS be cured? As Cohen took part in a pioneering stem cell protocol, he opened himself to the possibility of hope for the first time in his adult life.Cohen's deep dive into the cutting-edge world of stem cell research and his journalistic investigation of hope includes interviews with doctors, scientists, and religious leaders, as well as conversations with others living with chronic conditions, all with the goal of understanding a hope that is both elusive and alluring.As drily funny as it is emotionally vulnerable, Chasing Hope navigates the fascinating and ever-changing intersection between illness and hope.

This book looks at where stem cell technology is presently and how it is instrumental in advancing the field of disease modeling and cell transplantation. By focusing on major human disorders such as Alzheimer's disease, cancer, and heart disorders, the book summarizes the major findings in the field of human stem cells and dissect the current limitations on our understanding of stem cells biology. The chapters focus on the genetics, genomics, epigenetics and physiology of stem cells models, together with technological advances on molecular biology such as CRISPR/Cas9 or epigenetic editing, that will be instrumental in the future of human disease modeling and treatment. In base of the limitations of current disease models and in front of the unmet necessity of finding therapeutical interventions for human disorders, the availability of stem cell technology has opened new doors for several fields. The unlimited self-renewal capacity and more extensive differentiation potential of stem cells offers a theoretically inexhaustible and replenishable source of any cell subtype. Since Professor Shinya Yamanaka described it, 10 years ago in his seminal paper, that somatic cells could be reprogrammed to inducible stem cells (iPSC) just by expressing four transcription factors, the field of has exploded, especially its applications in biomedical research.

This book explores the new ways in which biology is becoming technology. The revolutionary iPS cell technology has made it possible to turn human skin and blood cells into pluripotent stem cells, thus providing an unprecedented opportunity to study the pathophysiology of diseases, understand human developmental biology, and generate new therapies. Drawing from a rich ethnographic study, Meskus traces the making of the iPS cell technology through the perspectives of clinical translation, laboratory experimentation, and tissue donation by voluntary patients. Discussing non-human agency, the embodied and affective basis of knowledge production, and the material politics of science, the book develops the idea of an instrumentality-care continuum as a fundamental dynamic of biomedical craft. This continuum, Meskus argues, opens up a novel perspective to the commercialization and industrial-scale appropriation of human biology, and thereby to the future of ethical biomedical research.

Stem cell and regenerative medicine research is a hot area of research which promises to change the face of medicine as it will be practiced in the years to come. Challenges in the 21st century to combat diseases such as cancer, Alzheimer and related diseases may well be addressed employing stem cell therapies and tissue regeneration. Frontiers in Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Research is essential reading for researchers seeking updates in stem cell therapeutics and regenerative medicine. The sixth volume of this series features reviews on roles of mesenchymal stem cells in cartilage regeneration and bone regeneration, liver regeneration, cardiogenesis, cardiomyocyte differentiation, and regenerative therapy for neurodegenerative disorders.

Stem Cells: Promises and Reality will tell you everything you have always wanted to know about stem cells, but could not understand the field from elsewhere.Stem cells are the great therapeutic promise of the century, and this evolving field of research and medicine brings with it many legal, ethical and psychological issues that must be discussed by society as a whole.Written so as to be accessible to general readers as well as specialists, this book explains what stem cells are, and the different aspects of stem cell research and applications. The book will enable the reader to understand the field sufficiently to critically participate in the public debates regarding stem cell research and society and ethics. By the end of the book, the reader will also be able to judge news on the stem cells field, and to discern what are real advances and what are phony treatments.The main advantage of this book in comparison with other'stem cells for the general public'books is that it assumes the reader knows NOTHING about biology, except what is already common knowledge (for example, that we are made of cells). The book constructs step by step the required basic biology knowledge in order for the reader to understand all the different aspects of stem cells. At the same time that it is thorough in its stem cells-based content, and will keep the reader engaged with its narrative.

Despite extensive research and medical advancements in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of dreaded diseases like Diabetes, Cancer, Neurodegenerative and Heart diseases, continue to impose a great threat to human life. Research in human developmental biology has led to the discovery of stem cells which has the potential to cure wide range of dreaded diseases. Stem cells are the unicellular equivalent to the entire animal. In optimum culture milieu they can be differentiated into all cell types of an adult animal. The capability of potency and the relative ease to isolate and expand these cells are invaluable properties for regenerative medicine. Stem cells hold tremendous promise to unravel the key developmental pathways involved in organogenesis and may serve as an essential tissue source for regenerative therapy. Stem cell biology is a fast growing field that is providing new insights into the molecular mechanisms that control developmental processes. At the same time, stem cells may have potential uses in the treatment of devastating diseases such as cardiovascular disease, neurodegenerative disease, musculoskeletal disease, diabetes and cancer. The enormous clinical potential of cardiac regeneration has generated great expectations in both clinicians and patients. Regenerative medicine in the field of skin, cartilage, bone, adipose tissue, and cornea is already well established and is used clinically. Stem cell research harbours potential to have a significant impact on human health. The book will help to increase the awareness vis-à-vis stem cell research in developing countries in particular India. The book pronounces the ways which may help us to extract maximum benefits from state of the art technology. The thrust areas of the proposed book are induced pluripotent stem cells, cord blood stem cells, mesenchymal stem cells, livestock stem cells, amniotic fluid stem cells, role of epigenetics in stem cells, tissue engineering, cancer stem cells, bioinformatics strategies for stem cell research, Protocols for iPS generation and so on. These areas have been identified keeping in mind the current and future alighted issues that have a direct impact on the health sector of the world in general.

This book discusses the main stem cell niches under distinct pathophysiological conditions. The role of tissue microenvironments in stem cell regulation, as well as modern methodologies and new techniques for the identification and characterization of stem cell niches, are discussed by leading experts in the field. Chapters describe the major components of various stem cell microenvironments, such as cellular components, soluble factors, cell-cell interactions, extra-cellular matrix proteins, and physical forces. Stem Cell Microenvironments and Beyond is part of the highly successful Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology series. It is essential reading for graduate students and researchers in the field of stem cells or cell biology as well as clinicians.

Stem cell and regenerative medicine research is a hot area of research which promises to change the face of medicine as it will be practiced in the years to come. Challenges in the 21st century to combat diseases such as cancer, Alzheimer and related diseases may well be addressed employing stem cell therapies and tissue regeneration. Frontiers in Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Research is essential reading for researchers seeking updates in stem cell therapeutics and regenerative medicine.The seventh volume of this series features reviews on roles of mesenchymal stem cells and biomaterials in cartilage regeneration in vivo, liver regeneration, cardiogenesis and magnetic nanoparticles for regenerative therapy.

Stem Cell Research takes a multi-disciplinary approach to the topic of human embryonic stem cell research, starting with the breakthrough discovery up through the present day controversy. The book invites the reader to join the conversation by providing a well balanced approach to many of the issues surrounding the development of this controversial scientific field. It includes the thoughts and experiences of scientists, journalists and ethicists as it tried to approach the topic through a variety of different academic disciplines.The book will help the non-scientist understand the biology, research regulations and funding; and simultaneously it will help the scientist better comprehend the full spectrum of ethical, religious, and policy debates.

This book focuses on nanorobotic agents and stem cells for biomedical applications.It is intended for researchers and clinicians interested in innovative diagnostic and therapeutic strategies based on nanorobots and stem cells.It presents current advances in the field of molecular machines, which could be applied to generate novel therapeutic-diagnostic systems.

Stem cell and regenerative medicine research is a hot area of research which promises to change the face of medicine as it will be practiced in the years to come. Challenges in the 21st century to combat diseases such as cancer, Alzheimer and related diseases may well be addressed employing stem cell therapies and tissue regeneration. Frontiers in Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Research is essential reading for researchers seeking updates in stem cell therapeutics and regenerative medicine. The third volume of this series features reviews on the use of stem cells in bone repair, neonatal brain injury and esophageal tissue engineering. The volume also features an update on current knowledge on regenerative medicine for lung tissue in pulmonary disease.

This book provides a review of imaging techniques and applications in stem cell transplantation and other cell-based therapies. The basis of different molecular imaging techniques is explained in detail, as is the current state of interventional radiology techniques. While the whole is a comprehensive discussion, each chapter is self-sufficient enough so that each can be reviewed independently. The contributors represent years of international and cross-disciplinary expertise and perspective and are all well known in their fields. comprehensive information on the role of clinical and molecular imaging in stem cell therapy from this book reviewed in detail. Essential reading for radiologists and physicians who are interested in developing a basic understanding of stem cell imaging and applications of stem cells and cell based therapies. However, it will also be of interest to clinical scientists and researchers alike, including those involved in stem cell labeling, tracking & imaging, cancer therapy, angiogenesis and cardiac regeneration.

Stem cell and regenerative medicine research is a hot area of research which promises to change the face of medicine as it will be practiced in the years to come. Challenges in the 21st century to combat diseases such as cancer, Alzheimer and related diseases may well be addressed employing stem cell therapies and tissue regeneration. Frontiers in Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Research is essential reading for researchers seeking updates in stem cell therapeutics and regenerative medicine.The fifth volume of this series features reviews on vascular regeneration, neuronal tissue grafting in animal CNS disease models, template mediated biomineralization in bones, corneal endothelium differentiation and stem cell uses for managing hepatocellular carcinoma.

A comprehensive and authoritative compilation of up-to-date developments in stem cell research and its use in toxicology and medicine Presented by internationally recognized investigators in this exciting field of scientific research Provides an insight into the current trends and future directions of research in this rapidly developing new field A valuable and excellent source of authoritative and up-to-date information for researchers, toxicologists, drug industry, risk assessors and regulators in academia, industry and government

The book outlines first the importance of Extra Cellular Matrix (ECM), which is a natural surface for most of cells. In the following chapters the influence of biological, chemical, mechanical, and physical properties of surfaces in micro and nano-scale on stem cell behavior are discussed including the mechanotransduction. Biomimetic and bioinspired approaches are highlighted for developing microenvironment of several tissues, and surface engineering applications are discussed in tissue engineering, regenerative medicine and different type of biomaterials in various chapters of the book. This book brings together innovative methodologies and strategies adopted in the research and development of Advanced Surfaces in Stem Cell Research. Well-known worldwide researchers deliberate subjects including: Extracellular matrix proteins for stem cell fate The superficial mechanical and physical properties of matrix microenvironment as stem cell fate regulator Effects of mechanotransduction on stem cell behavior Modulation of stem cells behavior through bioactive surfaces Influence of controlled micro and nanoengineered surfaces on stem cell fate Nanostructured polymeric surfaces for stem cells Laser surface modification techniques and stem cells applications Plasma polymer deposition: a versatile tool for stem cell research Application of bioreactor concept and modeling techniques in bone regeneration and augmentation treatments Substrates and surfaces for control of pluripotent stem cell fate and function Application of biopolymer-based, surface modified devices in transplant medicine and tissue engineering Silk as a natural biopolymer for tissue engineering

Research into stem cells started in the 1960s with experiments on spleen cultures. Evans and Kaufman made a breakthrough in mouse embryo culturing and embryonic stem cell extraction in 1981, followed by the work of Thomson in 1998 on the technique for extracting human embryonic stem cells. Since then, stem cell research has rapidly expanded as a therapeutic avenue for different diseases in humans. This book explains the basic developmental biology of stem cells including the development of stem cells during the implantation stage in utero to the regulation of stem cell division. Medical applications of stem cells in the therapy of diseases such as cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, and bone diseases are also explained in subsequent chapters. The book also explains the effect of parasitic cells on stem cell growth. Concepts in the book are explained in a simple clear manner, making this book an informative reference for non-experts, students and professionals in the field of biology and medicine.

Stem cell and regenerative medicine research is a hot area of research which promises to change the face of medicine as it will be practiced in the years to come. Challenges in the 21st century to combat diseases such as tumors, Alzheimer's disease and related neurodegenerative diseases may well be addressed employing stem cell therapies and tissue regeneration. Frontiers in Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Research is essential reading for researchers seeking updates in stem cell therapeutics and regenerative medicine.The second volume of this series features reviews on several key topics in this field including cardiac regeneration strategies, induced pluripotent stem cell therapeutics, stem cell therapy for peripheral nerve and cutaneous injuries, dental tissue regeneration, the potential of stem cell differentiation into ovarian cells and much more.

What is'legal'about bioethics? What are the ideas and artefacts that bioethics encompasses, and how are they related to law? What is the role of law in bioethics? In this work, Calvin Ho attempts to address these questions in the context of the governance of human pluripotent stem cell research. In essence, he argues that the hybridization of law, through processes, devices and techniques of juridification, has helped to constitute bioethics as a public sphere and an emergent civic epistemology.Drawing on his multi-sited ethnographic fieldwork and on Actor-Network-Theory, Ho explains how the law has, through bioethics, contributed to the scientific and public understanding of human pluripotent stem cell research and its artefacts, particularly the embryo and human-animal combinations. Although the focus of his work is on bioethical developments in Singapore over a period of more than 15 years, parallel developments in key jurisdictions (especially the United States of America and the United Kingdom) and in international science policy are also evaluated. It is through appreciating how it has progressed that bioethics will be better able to engage with future challenges presented by advances in human embryo research and gene editing techniques, among others.

This invaluable resource delineates procedures for development and use of stem cells in the laboratory and explores the potential for clinical applications. The text discusses mesenchymal stem cell isolation, isolation of adipose derived stem cells, new trends of induced pluripotent stem cells in disease treatment, cord blood banking, future directions of the discussed therapies and much more. The chapters are contributed by preeminent scientists in the field and present a comprehensive picture of stem cell processes, from development in the laboratory to effects and side-effects of clinical application.Stem Cell Processing and the other books in the Stem Cells in Clinical Applications series, edited by Dr. Phuc Van Pham, is essential reading for scientists, researchers, advanced students and clinicians working in stem cells, regenerative medicine or tissue engineering.

This is a one-of-a-kind book: combining easy-to-understand science, in-the-trenches political warfare, and inspirational stories. It aims to give hope to individuals and families who suffer from chronic disease or disability; to point out how ordinary people can make an extraordinary difference in the battle to ease suffering and save lives through supporting medical research; to share in “people talk” some of the amazing progress already achieved in the new field of stem cell research; to show how even such a magnificent success as the California stem cell program is under constant attack from ideological groups; to offer medical research as a force for international cooperation; to suggest how cure research lessens the need for the mountainous costs of endless care.Unparalleled background: the author has been involved in virtually every important stem cell battle (state, national, and international) since embryonic stem cell research began. The author works closely with Robert N. Klein, sponsor of the California stem cell program, the largest source of such stem cell research funding in the world. In addition, the author is an award-winning teacher as well as writer, and seeks to entertain as well as educate. His book is not only substantive, but also fun.The book would be a treasured gift: for anyone suffering an “incurable” illness or who is a caregiver for a loved one; for a college student considering a rewarding career in biomedicine; for scientists who want to protect and enhance their research funding; and for anyone who wants to see government respond to the needs of its citizenry. Chronic disease and disability are a prison: cure is the triumphant escape — wheelchairs should be for temporary occupancy only.

This book provides a comprehensive review of the properties of various stem cell types, the mechanisms of their behaviors and their potential clinical application. Stem cells have a great capacity of self-renewal and differentiation. They represent new paradigms for disease treatment in the field of regenerative medicine since the day they were discovered. As stem cell research is complicated and making progress rapidly, it is important to have expertise in this field to share their views and perspectives. This book provides a wonderful platform for those who are interested in stem cells to learn from and communicate with experts. Particularly, it highlights the roles of stem cell based therapy for a variety of diseases. Furthermore, this book gives a detailed introduction to the great works related to stem cells in China. The readers could gain a profound knowledge of the state-of-art research done by scientists in the field of stem cells. Overall, this book will be a valuable reference resource for both experienced investigators pursuing stem cell research as well as those are just entering into this field.Dr. Robert Chunhua Zhao, a Cheung Kong Professor of Stem Cell Biology, is Professor of Cell Biology at the Institute of Basic Medical Sciences & School of Basic Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College (PUMC), Beijing, China. He is Director of the Center for Tissue Engineering, PUMC and Chief Scientist of the National Basic Research Program of China (“973 Program”). He also serves as Regional Editor of Stem Cells and Development.

Stem cell and regenerative medicine research is a hot area of research which promises to change the face of medicine as it will be practiced in the years to come. Challenges in 21st century to combat cancer, Alzheimer and related diseases may well be addressed employing stem cell therapies and tissue regeneration. The first volume of ‘Frontiers in Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Research'features reviews written by experts in key areas of stem cells and regenerative medicine. It summarizes the safety assessment of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) in musculoskeletal implantation that can bridge the gap between translation from animals to humans. The most prevalent strategies to improve immune reconstitution after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation have also been focused upon. This is particularly important because chemotherapy and pre-transplant conditioning impairs thymic function. The application of regenerative medicine for repair of damaged cornea and ocular has also been discussed. The emerging techniques for tissue engineering of functional corneal equivalents represent a new and fascinating way to treat corneal diseases. The area of recently used nanofibrous substrates, as an alternative tool for the expansion and differentiation of embryonic stem cells, has been included in this e-book. In future, such technologies could promote the use of hESC-derived cells for clinical applications successfully.

This book exemplifies experience across the globe in banking of cord blood, mesenchymal, embryonic and induced pluripotent stem cells for clinical use from the United States, Canada, the European Union, Switzerland and Japan to Iran, India and Serbia. The concerns are similar regardless of stem cell type or origin. Implementing core values and common standards depend often on specific circumstances of political and economic setting, which makes flexibility as important as systematic planning. Banking of stem cells is not just building a repository and storing samples. The planning, design, construction and maintenance involve multiple skilled professionals. Stem cell banks are points where technology and medicine converge with ethics, laws and regulations. If properly designed and organized, their utilization will have a broad impact not only on the scientific community and medical professionals but also on the general public.

This volume focuses on stem cell research and disease modeling in non-murine species. The book is divided into three parts: Stem Cells for Pre-Clinical Models, Stem Cells in Non-Conventional Species, and Stem Cell Banking for the Future. The first section presents an overview of the different pre-clinical stem cell models recently created in animal species, including the porcine model for heart failure, iPSC in large animal species, Duchenne muscular dystrophy and canine embryo-derived stem cells and modeling for human diseases. This section also discusses the potential advantages and applications of these models.The second part of this book describes recent efforts to use stem cells for preserving endangered species, including the snow leopard and coral reefs. From this perspective, stem cells are an invaluable tool to preserve bio-diversities. Frozen cells and gametes can be obtained from animals at risk of extinction and even from microorganisms and corals suffering from heavy changes in the eco-system; this may allow the cultivation of a generation of stem cell lines and represents an exciting opportunity to support and ensure the conservation of precious varieties of living creatures. This discussion leads easily into the third section, which discusses stem cell banking as a way of safeguarding these endangered species.

This book represents a major contribution to the emerging science of regenerative medicine using non-fetal sources of stem cells. The Editors, Dr Niranjan Bhattacharya and Professor Phillip Stubblefield, have brought together some of the most pre-eminent scientists working on regenerative medicine to share information on currently ongoing work in this area alongside unpublished observations that will help to shape the contours of future therapies.Regenerative Medicine: Using Non-Fetal Sources of Stem Cells discusses the potential clinical and therapeutic applications using non-fetal stem cells as well as providing instruction on the collection, isolation and characterization of stem cells from various non-fetal sources, such as menstrual blood, adipose tissue, breast milk and uprooted decidual teeth.This book will be an invaluable resource for both active researches and those entering the field. The Editors truly hope that the text will act as a stimulant to professionals and clinical scientists, who may be inspired to further the work of the pioneering scientists who have contributed to this volume.

Reparative and regenerative medicine is an evolving area of research. Stem cells represent the basic building blocks of life. Their potential to differentiate into any tissue has paved the way to allow us to hope that repair of soft tissues is possible. However such techniques are still in their infancy. How can we make stem cells differentiate to the desired cell type? How do we implant the cells to the desired location? What are the long term outcomes of these techniques? All these questions and many more still need evaluation and clarification. With the help of pioneering and eminent authors deeply involved in the field, the aim of this book is to take the reader on the journey surrounding tissue engineering techniques, from the days of Alexander Friedenstein and his initial experiments to the present day. This book discusses modern techniques and references pioneering work in the hopes of highlighting the rapidly evolving world of stem cell tissue engineering techniques and their developing role in the treatment of musculoskeletal injuries.

The book offers readers an understanding of the development of neural crest cells, which is crucial as many birth defects and tumours are of neural crest origin. The neural crest is a transient tissue of the vertebrate embryo. It originates from the future spinal cord and neural crest stem cells emigrate from this location to various places in the embryo, giving rise to many different cell types and tissues. Neural crest derivatives include the peripheral nervous systems, endocrine cells such as the adrenal medulla, smooth musculature of the cardiac outflow tract and great blood vessels, as well as craniofacial bone and cartilage.The underlying mechanisms that regulate embryonic neural crest development are still being investigated and are important for our understanding of neural crest pathologies. Readers will have ready access to current research topics, elaborated in great detail, with a focus on adult neural crest-derived stem cells, which persist in various locations of the postnatal organism. Delving into stem cells from different locations of the body, the book explores the best possible source of such cells for future use in medical applications.

Injured mammalian hearts do not regenerate but scar. This is a major medical problem, as ischemic heart disease is among the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Essential clues for human heart repair are uncovered when zebrafish and newt are found to regenerate cardiac muscle after injury.This book presents the major advances of the last decade in the field of cardiac regeneration. These recent advances include: demonstration that zebrafish, a genetically tractable system, can regenerate heart; the identification of several new stem cell populations in the heart; demonstration that stem cells can be used to improve heart function; and demonstration that induction of cardiomyocyte proliferation is a realistic future option to repair injured hearts. This book also provides detailed reviews of the research on model organisms capable of heart regeneration as well as innovative translational research to achieve regeneration in mammals, that comprises work on blood born stem cells, endogenous cardiac stem cells, paracrine factors, reawakening of cardiomyocyte proliferation, and bioengineering. More importantly, the book, in the concluding chapter, dovetails the studies with a comprehensive overview of clinical trials.

Advances in stem cell biology and biotechnology have sparked hopes that therapies will soon be available for maladies which were considered incurable before. However, realization of the clinical potential of stem cells will require better understanding of stem cell physiology and the development of advanced technologies for their efficient differentiation in medically relevant quantities. Resolving these issues necessitates synergistic approaches from multiple fields. Systems biology can be employed to dissect the mechanisms regulating the genome and proteome of stem cells during self-renewal and commitment. Microfluidic platforms can be used to recreate aspects of the stem cell niche and obtain a better understanding of the interactions among stem cells and with their environment. The milieu of stem cells and their progeny can be shaped with appropriately designed biomaterials for the engineering of tissues to replace, reconstitute or regenerate damaged organs. To that end, enabling bioreactor technologies will be necessary for the generation of large quantities of stem cells and their derivatives in a robust and cost-efficient manner. This book invites world-renowned experts in the above fields to discuss the latest advances in their respective areas and to provide insights on the future challenges and achievements in the area of stem cells.

Advances in Stem Cell Research discusses recent advances in stem cell science, including therapeutic applications. This volume covers such topics as biomanufacturing iPS cells for therapeutic applications, techniques for controlling stem cell fate decisions, as well as current basic research in such areas as germ line stem cells, genomics and proteomics in stem cell research. It is a useful book for biology and clinical scientists, especially young investigators and stem cell biology students who are newly entering the world of stem cells research. The editors hope that the new knowledge and research outlined in this book will help contribute to new therapies for a wide variety of diseases that presently afflict humanity.

Among the many applications of stem cell research are nervous system diseases, diabetes, heart disease, autoimmune diseases as well as Parkinson¡¯s disease, end-stage kidney disease, liver failure, cancer, spinal cord injury, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson¡¯s disease, and Alzheimer¡¯s disease. Stem cells are self-renewing, unspecialized cells that can give rise to multiple types all of specialized cells of the body. Stem cell research also involves complex ethical and legal considerations since they involve adult, fetal tissue and embryonic sources. This book brings together leading research from throughout the world in this frontier field.