Developmental Biology
The is a diversified research program that is focused on:
- understanding the biological nature of normal tissue committed stem cells (TCSC)
- the potential therapeutic application of normal stem cells for tissue and organ regeneration
- understanding the biological nature of very small embryonic-like stem cells (VSELs)
- the potential therapeutic application of VSELs for tissue and organ regeneration
The Developmental Biology Program was developed under the direction of Dr. Mariusz Z. Ratajczak who has formed strong collaborations with the other cancer clinical and research programs, as well as departments and divisions throughout the UofL Health Sciences Center. These include:
- Brown Cancer Center Structural Biology research program
- Brown Cancer Center Blood and Marrow Transplantation program
- UofL Division of Cardiology
- UofL Department of Neurological Surgery
- UofL Department of Ophthalmology
- UofL Institute for Cellular Therapeutics
- Bone Marrow Transplant Program at Kosair Children's Hospital
Furthurmore, Dr. Ratajczak is a coordinator of the European Stem Cell Therapeutics Excellence Center sponsored by the European Union in Brussels and the Polish National Stem Cellular Therapy Program Project.
The diversity of expertise resulting from these collaborative relationships is invaluable. The importance of recognizing and fostering the interdependence of stem cell biology research and the other research disciplines cannot be overstated in terms of opening doors for discovery within those disciplines.
Stem cells
Stem cells could be described as the building blocks of the human body. They are the primary cells from which all other cells originate. The fertilized embryo is the first stem cell–from which the entire body evolves–and serves as a fitting illustration of the ability of stem cells to proliferate and differentiate into any of the more than 200 different types of cells which comprise the human body.
Stem cells do not have a predetermined life span as do differentiated (mature specific-tissue) cells and are active throughout the life of the body, replacing cells which die as a result of their normal life cycle or of tissue injury. Stem cells are fundamental to the healing of any tissue injury.
Stem cell research holds great promise for the treatment of many diseases. Inasmuch as cancers are the result of uncontrolled cell growth and proliferation, the understanding of the mechanics of stem cells is particularly pertinent to the discovery of new therapies for cancer and related disorders in addition to the ability to regulate treatment side effects and regenerate damaged tissues.
With our growing knowledge of the plasticity of stem cells, the options for employing stem cells as therapeutics have increased dramatically. In the coming new era of stem cell-based therapies, numerous additional applications can be envisioned such as:
Transplants of keratinocytes derived from ex vivo expanded skin stem cells to treat burns or skin ulcerations (as has already been done by expansion of primary foreskin fibroblasts)- Mesenchymal stem cells to treat bone lesions and as a source of cells which, after genetic modification, may secrete various proteins (such as factor VIII which is necessary for blood coagulation–the lack of which is the cause of hemophilia)
- Endothelial progenitor cells to improve vascularization of the heart and other organs
- Co-transplants of hematopoietic stem cells with solid organs to increase their engraftment (an area actively being explored by Dr. S. Ildstad in the University of Louisville Institute for Cellular Therapeutics)
In addition, stem cells could potentially be a source of cells for liver regeneration or correcting neuronal loss. A new important area of investigation is the search for progenitor cells of pancreatic beta cells. All these cells listed above may be isolated from the tissues of normal patients or cadaveric organ donors.
Developmental Biology
The is a diversified research program that is focused on:
- understanding the biological nature of normal tissue committed stem cells (TCSC)
- the potential therapeutic application of normal stem cells for tissue and organ regeneration
- understanding the biological nature of very small embryonic-like stem cells (VSELs)
- the potential therapeutic application of VSELs for tissue and organ regeneration
The Developmental Biology Program was developed under the direction of Dr. Mariusz Z. Ratajczak who has formed strong collaborations with the other cancer clinical and research programs, as well as departments and divisions throughout the UofL Health Sciences Center. These include:
- Brown Cancer Center Structural Biology research program
- Brown Cancer Center Blood and Marrow Transplantation program
- UofL Division of Cardiology
- UofL Department of Neurological Surgery
- UofL Department of Ophthalmology
- UofL Institute for Cellular Therapeutics
- Bone Marrow Transplant Program at Kosair Children's Hospital
Furthurmore, Dr. Ratajczak is a coordinator of the European Stem Cell Therapeutics Excellence Center sponsored by the European Union in Brussels and the Polish National Stem Cellular Therapy Program Project.
The diversity of expertise resulting from these collaborative relationships is invaluable. The importance of recognizing and fostering the interdependence of stem cell biology research and the other research disciplines cannot be overstated in terms of opening doors for discovery within those disciplines.
Stem cells
Stem cells could be described as the building blocks of the human body. They are the primary cells from which all other cells originate. The fertilized embryo is the first stem cell–from which the entire body evolves–and serves as a fitting illustration of the ability of stem cells to proliferate and differentiate into any of the more than 200 different types of cells which comprise the human body.
Stem cells do not have a predetermined life span as do differentiated (mature specific-tissue) cells and are active throughout the life of the body, replacing cells which die as a result of their normal life cycle or of tissue injury. Stem cells are fundamental to the healing of any tissue injury.
Stem cell research holds great promise for the treatment of many diseases. Inasmuch as cancers are the result of uncontrolled cell growth and proliferation, the understanding of the mechanics of stem cells is particularly pertinent to the discovery of new therapies for cancer and related disorders in addition to the ability to regulate treatment side effects and regenerate damaged tissues.
With our growing knowledge of the plasticity of stem cells, the options for employing stem cells as therapeutics have increased dramatically. In the coming new era of stem cell-based therapies, numerous additional applications can be envisioned such as:
- Transplants of keratinocytes derived from ex vivo expanded skin stem cells to treat burns or skin ulcerations (as has already been done by expansion of primary foreskin fibroblasts)
- Mesenchymal stem cells to treat bone lesions and as a source of cells which, after genetic modification, may secrete various proteins (such as factor VIII which is necessary for blood coagulation–the lack of which is the cause of hemophilia)
- Endothelial progenitor cells to improve vascularization of the heart and other organs
- Co-transplants of hematopoietic stem cells with solid organs to increase their engraftment (an area actively being explored by Dr. S. Ildstad in the University of Louisville Institute for Cellular Therapeutics)
In addition, stem cells could potentially be a source of cells for liver regeneration or correcting neuronal loss. A new important area of investigation is the search for progenitor cells of pancreatic beta cells. All these cells listed above may be isolated from the tissues of normal patients or cadaveric organ donors.