Molecular Insights into the Function, Fate and Prospects of Stem Cells

¹ Department of Surgery, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Ave, New York, NY 10021, USA.
² Reprogenetics LLC, 101 Old Short Hills Road, Suite 501, West Orange, NJ 07052, USA.

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: vinagolr{at}mskcc.org.

	Abstract

The focus of the third annual meeting of the International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR: http://www.isscr.org) held in San Francisco, California was recent advances in stem cell biology. Over 2000 scientists from around the world met to discuss stem cell research, clinical applications and the ethical hurdles facing the field. Major topics highlighted during the meeting included the self-renewal and differentiation of embryonic stem (ES) cells as well as adult stem cells. Presentations included diverse topics such as cancer stem cells, tissue-specific stem cells, technology development and clinical aspects of stem cells. Given the excitement the field has generated, linking basic stem cell research and clinical applications was paramount for discussion at the meeting. With the current resources in molecular biology research, improvements in genetic engineering, post-genomic capabilities and biotechnological advances, it appears timely that stem cell biology research is headed towards making a major therapeutic contribution to human health.

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