SCRMC member David Gamm, associate professor of ophthalmology and visual sciences writes: As a pediatric ophthalmologist, there are times I have to deliver some pretty difficult news for patients and families affected by genetic disorders of the eye. There are often no treatments, much less cures. Families come to me and I have to tell them, “Your child is going to lose vision, slowly and inexorably, and he or she may end up completely blind.”
News
The turbulent early days of stem cell policy
Tommy Thompson, former Governor of Wisconsin, writes: As Wisconsin governor in the 1990s, I was very interested in what was happening at the University of Wisconsin with biotechnology discoveries. And when Jamie Thomson discovered how to isolate and grow embryonic stem cells, I thought it should be given as much attention as possible.
Out of left field: Thomson looks at discovery and the future of science
James Thomson, the UW-Madison biologist whose stem cell discovery 20 years ago opened fascinating and promising new avenues in science, took time to discuss his thoughts on the breakthrough and what the future holds for the field of regenerative medicine.
Stem cell progress: Moving from basic discovery to medical benefits
An international conference held in Madison last April offered an enticing glimpse into the future of stem cell therapies. Organized by UW-Madison stem cell pioneer James Thomson, the event showcased human clinical trials under way for cellular therapies to treat Parkinson’s disease, macular degeneration, heart failure, diabetes and spinal cord injury.
Two decades later, a UW discovery fuels powerful scientific advances
An interest in endangered species led scientist James Thomson to make one of the world’s most profound scientific discoveries. In 1998, for the first time, Thomson successfully cultured human embryonic stem cells, which are pluripotent – capable of becoming nearly any of the 200 different cells types in the body.
Art of discovery: A look at the cellular wonders of stem cell research
The stem cell discovery at UW-Madison in 1998 ushered in a new era of science. Today, researchers there continue their quest to find treatments and cures. Here’s a look at the cellular wonders of stem cell research.
After 20 years, stem cells mean business in Wisconsin
On Nov. 6, 1998, developmental biologist James Thomson of the University of Wisconsin–Madison published a paper describing how his team had grown human embryonic stem cells. These cells exist at the earliest stages of development and are “pluripotent” — able to differentiate into every one of the more than 200 specialized cell types in the human body.
Randolph Ashton named SCRMC associate director
Randolph Ashton, assistant professor of biomedical engineering, is the new associate director for UW–Madison’s Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Center. He joins Timothy Kamp, center director and professor of medicine, cell and regenerative biology, and succeeds William Murphy, professor …
New Publication: 20 Years of Human Pluripotent Stem Cell Research: It All Started with Five Lines
November 2018 marks the 20th anniversary of the seminal human embryonic stem cell (hESC) publication, which reported the initial hESC derivations and launched the field of human pluripotent stem cell research. To commemorate this significant milestone, we reflect on the scientific, economic, and clinically relevant impact of this groundbreaking achievement.
Twenty years on, measuring the impact of human stem cells
In November 1998, the world was introduced to human embryonic stem cells, the blank slate cells that arise at the earliest stages of development and that go on to become any of the scores of cell types that make up a human.