Experts
As a leading center of biomedical research, the University of Michigan has many scientists who have been attracted to the promising new frontier of stem cells. They hope to build new understanding of basic biology and perhaps improved medical treatments.
Across a wide array of topics, from repairing facial injuries to attacking cancer, all types of stem cell research are being done at Michigan, using both adult and embryonic stem cells from humans and animals. To see some recent press releases on their important work, please see “In the News”.
Here are a few of the U-M researchers exploring stem cells:
James Douglas (Doug) Engel, Ph.D.
Professor and Chair, Cell and Developmental Biology
Director, Center for Organogenesis
Engel’s lab studies the embryonic development of mammals to determine how tissues and organs are generated, and how embryonic cells are instructed to become specialized cells. He is interested in learning how chemical signaling between cells works and how, when it goes wrong, cancers and other diseases can occur. These studies have led to surprising insights into the developmental origin of the central and peripheral nervous system, the kidney, the cardiovascular system and blood.
Eva L. Feldman, M.D., PH.D
Professor of Neurology in the Medical School
Director, A. Alfred Taubman Medical Research Institute
Director, JDRF Center for the Study of Complications in Diabetes
Director, ALS Clinic
As one of the nation’s leading biomedical researchers Feldman is conducting groundbreaking work in ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Diseases) and other neurological diseases. One of the most exciting new approaches to treating ALS involves stem-cell technology. Injecting stem cells into the spinal cords of rats with ALS has shown great promise in arresting the disease.
A. Alfred Taubman Medical Research Institute >
Paul Krebsbach DDS, Ph.D.
Donald A. Kerr Collegiate Professor of Oral Pathology
Chair of the Department of Biologic & Materials Sciences
Associate Professor of Dentistry and Biomedical Engineering
Krebsbach’s research focuses on bone growth and bone marrow with the goal of being able to help human tissue heal itself better and regrow missing or damaged areas. He is currently studying how human embryonic stem cells differentiate into bone tissue, using both cell cultures and biomaterial scaffolds in animal models. His work also compares the activity of embryonic stem cells to adult stem cells. His long-term goal is to understand the signals that specify bone cell differentiation of hES cells and work towards some day being able to grow replacement bone.
Ivan Maillard, M.D., PH.D.
Assistant Professor, Center for Stem Cell Biology at the Life Sciences Institute
Assistant Professor of Hematology-Oncology in the Medical School
Maillard investigates the signals regulating the development and function of blood-forming stem cells. He is studying how these cells are supported in fetal hematopoietic organs, such as the fetal liver, the main site of blood development during fetal life before migration of blood-forming stem cells into the bone marrow to improve or enhance their function after transplantation. In addition, it might provide insights into the function of stem cells in other contexts, including in cancerous tissues.
Sean Morrison, Ph.D.
Director of the Center for Stem Cell Biology at the Life Sciences Institute
Associate professor of Molecular Medicine & Genetics in the Medical School
Investigator, Howard Hughes Medical Institute
Sean Morrison is investigating the mechanisms that regulate stem cell function in the nervous and blood-forming systems, particularly the mechanisms that regulate stem cell self-renewal, aging, and organ formation. His goal is to integrate what we know about stem cells in different tissues to understand the extent to which they employ similar or different mechanisms to regulate critical functions. He received a Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers from the White House, received the Rave Award from Wired magazine and has been named to Technology Review magazine’s list of 100 young innovators.
Morrison Lab >
Profile by American Society for Cell Biology (PDF)
Video Clip > Dr. Morrison and Doctoral student Eve Kruger discuss why stem cell research is important to them, personally and professionally. (Real Media) (Windows Media) (Quicktime)
Jack M. Parent M.D.
Associate Professor of Neurology in the Medical School
Acting Director, Epilepsy Research Program
Dr. Parent’s research has focused for a decade on the role of adult stem cells in epilepsy and stroke. His laboratory, working with the Michigan Center for Human Embryonic Stem Cell Research at U-M, is attempting to repair stroke damage by transplanting neural progenitor cells derived from embryonic stem cells.
Neurodevelopment and Regeneration Laboratory >
K. Sue O’Shea, Ph.D.
Director, Michigan Center for Human Embryonic Stem Cell Research
Professor of Cell and Developmental Biology
O’Shea’s lab is focused on the cell-to-cell communication that occurs during formation of the nervous system. In particular, her group is interested in a protein, thrombospondin, that appears to be telling new nerve cells to migrate in specific ways to form parts of the brain. Embryonic stem cells are being used to study patterns of gene expression during formation of the retina in animal models.
She also heads the Michigan Center for hES Cell Research, which is an NIH-funded central resource for the U-M campus that helps researchers from many labs culture and work with human embryonic stem cell lines that are on the approved list for NIH-funding.
Michigan Center for Human
Embryonic Stem Cell Research >
O’Shea Lab >
Video Clip >
Gary D. Smith, Ph.D.
Gary is Director, Assisted Reproductive Technologies Laboratory
Work in Dr. Smith’s research laboratory focuses on regulation of mammalian gamete and embryo development and function. Specifically, investigations include intracellular regulation of oocyte meiosis, factors and forces influencing sperm function, and molecular regulators of pre- and postimplantation embryo development. Studies in his laboratory range from very basic in nature to translational research aimed at introducing new or improving existing means of preserving fertility or treating infertility.
Max Wicha, M.D.
Director, University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center
Professor of Internal Medicine
Dr. Wicha is at the forefront of research into cancer stem cells, the small number of cells within a tumor that are capable of fueling the tumor’s growth. His team was first to identify stem cells in a solid tumor, finding them in breast cancer. Recent research suggests cancer stem cells share some basic elements with embryonic stem cells, as well as with normal adult stem cells. Thus, in order to understand how cancer stem cells are regulated, scientists have to study and understand how these pathways work in embryonic stem cells. By studying embryonic stem cells, we can accelerate efforts to find a cure for cancer.
Press release on stem cells in breast cancer >
Comprehensive Cancer Center >
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