Early (embryonic) stem cell research is an amazingly new science, begun in 1998 by Dr. James Thomson of the University of Wisconsin.  Despite continual political attacks and extremely limited funding, human Embryonic Stem cell (hES cell) research has already made a substantial contribution to the battle against allegedly incurable diseases and disabilities.  To See  the Advances Click Here.

In the last year, researchers have made a tremendous breakthrough using embryonic stem cells to produce almost all the different types of blood cells. This could provide an essentially limitless and more affordable supply of blood. The development could allow responders save lives in disasters and on the battlefield by allowing them to transport blood to where it is needed and reduce the need for blood donors .  Read More

Growing human embryonic stem cells in the lab is no small feat. Culturing the finicky, shape-shifting cells is labor intensive and, in some ways, more art than exact science.

Now, however, a team of researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison reports the development of a fully defined culture system that promises a more uniform and, for cells destined for therapy, safer product. Read More

“Building blocks” containing gels turn cells into different types of tissue.

If embryonic stem cells are left to grow in a tissue-culture dish, they will differentiate more or less at random, into a mixture of different types of cells.  Researchers at Harvard – MIT hope to make cardiac tissue by stacking blocks containing cells that have turned into muscle next to blocks containing blood vessels. Read More