Engineered mesenchymal and endothelial cell layers effectively mimic native lymph nodes

The rising incidence of cancer worldwide has led to an increasing number of surgeries that involve the removal of lymph nodes. Although these procedures play a major role in cancer staging and preventing the spread of malignancies, they sometimes come with severe long-term consequences. Since lymph nodes do not naturally regenerate once removed, their absence … Read more

Interferon response key to fighting rhinovirus infections in nasal passages

When a rhinovirus, the most frequent cause of the common cold, infects the lining of our nasal passages, our cells work together to fight the virus by triggering an arsenal of antiviral defenses. In a paper publishing January 19 in the Cell Press journal Cell Press Blue, researchers demonstrate how the cells in our noses … Read more

New mouse model sheds light on smell loss and neural regeneration

A new study suggests that stem cells thought to be dormant may offer clues to why our sense of smell declines or is lost. Using a newly devised, three-dimensional model to study the regeneration of nerve tissue in the nose, researchers at Tufts University School of Medicine and the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences (GSBS) and colleagues have discovered … Read more

NIH scientists pioneer new retinal grafting technique for dry age-related macular degeneration

National Institutes of Health (NIH) scientists have developed a new surgical technique for implanting multiple tissue grafts in the eye’s retina. The findings in animals may help advance treatment options for dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD), which is a leading cause of vision loss among older Americans. A report about the technique published today in … Read more

Stem Cell Breakthrough: Mimicking Alpha Cells in Diabetes

Stem Cell Breakthrough Offers New Hope for Diabetes Research Table of Contents Stem Cell Breakthrough Offers New Hope for Diabetes Research Stem Cell breakthrough Offers New Hope for Diabetes Research The Global Diabetes Crisis The pancreatic Balancing Act: Insulin vs. Glucagon Alpha-Cells Under the microscope: A New Research Focus Stem Cell Breakthrough at Mayo Clinic … Read more

The growing threat of banning embryonic stem cell research funding

Welcome to Lab Dish, a First Opinion column on regenerative medicine from Paul Knoepfler. Twenty years ago, the use of human embryonic stem cells in research was among the most fiercely debated topics at the always-crowded intersection of science and politics. As part of that, President George W. Bush restricted such research funding to existing … Read more

Humanized liver organoids double survival rate in rodent models

One reason why our livers excel at clearing waste from our blood system is that the organ functions according to three key “zones” that perform specific major tasks. So, if scientists hope to create self-growing patches of liver organoid tissue that could help repair damaged organs, it’s important that the lab-grown tissue faithfully reproduce such … Read more

Mitochondria found to fuel dangerous growth in aging blood stem cells

As we age, blood stem cells, the essential source of new blood cells in the body, can accumulate genetic mutations. These mutations can give the cells a growth advantage, laying the foundation for developing serious health conditions. Now, scientists at The Jackson Laboratory (JAX) have not only discovered the mechanism that fuels their unchecked growth … Read more

Hidden Neural Stem Cells May Hold Key to Brain Regeneration

Summary: Scientists have identified a previously unknown type of neural stem cell (pNSC) that exists outside the brain and spinal cord, overturning decades of neuroscience dogma. These peripheral neural stem cells, discovered in tissues like the lung and tail of mice, share key properties with brain-derived neural stem cells, including the ability to self-renew and … Read more

New discovery promises to revolutionize liver organoid development

Organoids are small-scale models that mimic human organs. These models could help scientists understand diseases and test treatments, and potentially aid in regenerative therapeutic methods. Organoids derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs), represent a promising frontier in medical research. Unfortunately, growing organoids that are large and functional enough to be truly useful is … Read more