ESTOOLS - Advances with human embryonic stem cells - Scientific Advisory Panel

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Scientific Advisory Panel

ESTOOLS’ Scientific Advisory Panel has been established to review, on an annual basis, our scientific progress.  The panel also provides ongoing assessments of the quality of research activities, highlighting any deficiencies in approach or execution of experimental plans, and suggesting alternative approaches based upon experience outside the Consortium.

All members of the Scientific Advisory Panel are independent, with none taking part in the scientific work of ESTOOLS. 

Members           

Prof. Magdalena Götz, Head of Institute, GSF-Institute of Stem Cell Research, Neuherberg, Germany.

The Institute aims to elucidate the key mechanisms specifying neural stem cells and their differentiated progeny. In contrast to other organs such as skin or blood where many cells continue to divide, most cells in the adult nervous system are permanently postmitotic, such as the neurons and the oligodendrocytes, and are not turned over nor regenerated once they die. Thus, most of the neurons have to function throughout the life-time of the organism. The key issue of our research is therefore to instruct the one cell type that is not permanently postmitotic and can still divide throughout adulthood, the astrocytes, towards (re)generation of neurons. Further information.

Prof. Christine Mummery, Professor of Developmental Biology, Hubrecht Laboratory / Netherlands Institute for Developmental Biology, Utrecht, The Netherlands.

The goal of Prof. Mummery’s group is to induce (human) embryonic stem cells and selected adult stem cells to differentiate to cardiac myocytes and/or vascular endothelial cells for three purposes: 1. to understand development of the human heart and vascular system and identify the molecular and genetic pathways that control this process; 2. to develop models for the human cardiovascular system in culture for studying normal physiology and disease; 3. to produce cells suitable for cardiovascular cell repair therapies. Further information.

 

Dr Andras Nagy, Samuel Lunenfeld Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Canada.

The Nagy laboratory is interested in using mouse genetics to study mammalian development and to apply this knowledge to human disease. Dr. Nagy is also developing new, powerful tools for genetic approaches and phenotype analysis for these ongoing studies. Another main activity of the Nagy lab is connected to mammalian genomic imprinting. Further information.

 

   

Prof. Martin Pera, Director, Center for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, USA. 

The Centre’s scientific teams will pursue basic research in regenerative medicine and will work with teams from the California Institute of Technology and other regional scientific institutions to develop novel platforms in imaging, bioengineering and nanotechnology for application to stem cell research. The stem cell scientists at the Broad Institute and their associated researchers will also work to translate this basic research into useable new therapies for a wide variety of diseases and conditions.  Further information.