U-M researchers hit stem-cell research breakthrough

Researchers at the University of Michigan have taken a major step forward in stem cell research, putting their efforts in the league of Harvard and Stanford.

University scientists have created human embryonic stem cell lines that carry the genes responsible for inherited disease, such as hemophilia B and Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease. The new development has promising implications for the treatment of these hereditary conditions.

"This is a very large step in using stem cells as a tool to see how these diseases form," says Gary Smith, co-director of the U-M Consortium for Stem Cell Therapies and leader of the cell-line derivation project.

So far only teams at Harvard and Stanford have also developed similar stem cell lines. Smith says U-M plans to expand its stem cell lines to cover more diseases to further the knowledge of these afflictions.

"There are numerous other diseases we are working towards to try and understand," Smith says.

Source: Gary Smith, co-director of the U-M Consortium for Stem Cell Therapies
Writer: Jon Zemke

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