Topic description and stories

Stem cells, the 'building blocks' for every type of cell in the body, have tremendous potential to improve human health.

Functional nerve cells from skin cells

22 May 2014

Research will make the study of diseases such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s easier, and could lead to personalised therapies for a variety of...

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Paper ball

Bulletproof nuclei? Stem cells exhibit unusual absorption property

20 Apr 2014

Stem cells – the body’s master cells – demonstrate a bizarre property never before seen at a cellular level, according to a study published today...

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Mini-livers show promise to reduce animal use in science

26 Feb 2014

Cambridge research that has for the first time successfully grown “mini-livers” from adult mouse stem cells has won the UK’s international prize for...

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Chromosomes in haploid mouse embryonic stem cells

Rewiring stem cells

09 Jan 2014

A new technique for determining what causes stem cells to convert into other cell types could revolutionise our understanding of how genes function...

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Micrograph of a plasmacytoma, a hematological malignancy

Researchers discover new test for chronic blood cancers

10 Dec 2013

A new test for blood cancers will catch many more cases than the present test that identifies only 60 per cent.

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Sequencing Blood Cells

HAEMCODE: an online web tool contributes to research into blood cells

25 Oct 2013

A community science initiative – HAEMCODE – has been welcomed for its contribution to our understanding of blood cells and ultimately, to the...

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Histopathological image of the active stage of ulcerative colitis. Endoscopic biopsy. Hematoxylin & eosin stain.

Scientists explore using stem cells to treat inflammatory bowel disease

18 Oct 2013

Research paves way for new therapies for ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease

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Foregut stem cells (green) differentiated into pancreatic cells expressing insulin.

Stem cell breakthrough could set up future transplant therapies

10 Oct 2013

A new method for developing stem cells enables the production of liver and pancreatic cells in “clinically relevant” quantities for the first time...

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A small colony of cells derived from a single blood stem cell.  Hundreds of such colonies were assessed for their proliferation kinetics and blood cell types produced.

Unraveling tumour growth one stem cell at a time

04 Jun 2013

Study has relevance to all cancers that are suspected to have a stem cell origin

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Nurturing science’s next generation

20 Mar 2013

Twelve years after his death, the legacy of distinguished organic chemist Dr Herchel Smith is enabling a new generation of bright young researchers...

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Beakers

Scientists discover how epigenetic information could be inherited

25 Jan 2013

Research reveals the mechanism of epigenetic reprogramming.

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iPS cell colony

New patient-friendly way to make stem cells for fight against heart disease

30 Nov 2012

Promising new technique for creating stem cells using a routine blood sample.

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