Category Archives: Stem Cell Medical Center


Carolina Stem Cell Treatment Center | Stem Cell Medical …

By Mathew Lyson, on July 24th, 2015

whose lab at the Center for iPS Cell Research and Application (CiRA) at Kyoto University, Japan, is using iPSCs to investigate new treatments for kidney disease. In fact, few studies have managed to transplant the

The news that legendary Green Bay Packer quarterback Bart Starr has undergone stem cell therapy to recover from a stroke has raised the profile for a promising but

The Pros and Cons of Stem Cell Therapy for COPD About.com No medical clinic in the U. S. will currently provide stem cell therapy with manipulation for COPD, though some medical institutions may enroll patients with

Purety Medical Clinic in Santa Barbara has become an R3 Stem Cell Center of Excellence Call (844) GET-STEM for more information and scheduling for Santa Barbara stem cell therapy. At Purety Medical Clinic, patients are offered several pain relief

What Are the Treatment Options for Alcoholism? Drinking too much alcohol doesnt kill brain cells, but it interferes with the brains ability to learn and form new

The Irvine Stem Cell Treatment Center announces a series of free public seminars on the use of adult stem cells for various degenerative and inflammatory conditions. They will be provided by Dr. Thomas A. Gionis, Surgeon-in-Chief and Dr. Nia Smyrniotis

Shes opted to seek a $43,500 stem cell treatment in Russia. BILL ALKOFER, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Janell Carlson will land Thursday in Moscow, prepared to wire $43,500 to the National Pirogov Medical Surgical

Researchers have shown greatly improved outcomes in using stem cell transplantation to treat patients with It is the only reported cure for JMML; however best outcomes of the therapy have shown only that half of patients can be cured from their disease.

Korean Stem Cell Treatment After that, Korea will rise as a global powerhouse in bioengineering and stem cell therapy. It may sound surreal. Yet

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Carolina Stem Cell Treatment Center | Stem Cell Medical ...

Miami Stem Cell Treatment Center

The Advancement of Stem Cell Technology

Welcome to the Miami Stem Cell Treatment Center, an affiliate of the California Stem Cell Treatment Center / Cell Surgical Network of Beverly Hills and Rancho Mirage, California, USA.

Our affiliated Centers utilize cutting edge advanced techniques and innovative technology to improve the health and well being of our patients.

At the Miami Stem Cell Treatment Center, we engage in the investigational use of Adult Adipose-derived Stem Cells (ADSCs) for clinical research and deployment through which patients who are suffering from diseases that may have limited treatment options have an opportunity to respond to stem cell based regenerative medicine and further advance the state of medicine, knowledge, and options for all patients.

Our expertise involves a deep commitment and long-term understanding, knowledge and experience in clinical research and the advancement of regenerative medicine. Our staff and Physicians at the Miami Stem Cell Treatment Center have been trained by the Founders and world renown specialists of the California Stem Cell Treatment Center, who have been nationally recognized for working with autologous (your own) Adult Autologous Adipose-adipose derived Stem Cells (ADSCs) providing investigational therapy to patients with various inflammatory and/or degenerative conditions.

Our Centers utilize a fat transfer technology to isolate and implant the patients ownAdult Autologous Adipose-derived Stem Cells (ADSCs) from a small quantity of fat harvested by mini-liposuction on the same day. Using technology developed in South Korea, our Centers have developed an in-office procedure to isolate a cellular medium called Stromal Vascular Fraction (SVF) which is rich in progenitor and Stem Cells. Our Founders have also worked in conjunction with a number of international organizations and physicians of great expertise to help develop our protocols for procedures. Whereas the California Stem Cell Treatment Center was developed in 2010, in 2012, the Cell Surgical Network (CSN) was formed to provide the same high level quality controlled investigational therapy both nationally and internationally.

Our Protocols are approved by an IRB (Institutional Review Board), and accordingly we are able to safely provide adipose (fat)-derived stem cell procedures on an investigational basis to our patients.The approving IRB is registered with the U.S. Department of Health, Office of Human Research Protection (OHRP). Modeled after the California Stem Cell Treatment Center, weve formed a multidisciplinary team to evaluate patients with a variety of conditions which are known to often be responsive to Stem Cell therapy.

All affiliate members of the California Stem Cell Treatment Center / Cell Surgical Network, including our Miami Stem Cell Treatment Center, contribute to the California Centers IRB approved investigational data. In this manner, we are continuously updating, researching, and learning more on how to help patients and advance the state of the art of regenerative medicine.

All patients who are interested in our investigational protocols will be evaluated by our physicians specially trained in our adipose-derived stem cell procedures and given an honest opinion as to the potential benefits and risks of stem cell therapy for their presenting condition.

The Miami Stem Cell Treatment Center is proud to be part of the only Institutional Review Board (IRB)-based stem cell procedure network in the United States that utilizes fat-transfer surgical technology. We have an array of ongoing IRB-approved protocols, and we provide care for patients with a wide variety of disorders that may benefit from adult stem cell-based regenerative therapy. At the Miami Stem Cell Treatment Center we exploit anti-inflammatory, immuno-modulatory and regenerative properties of AdultAutologous Adipose-derived Stem Cells (ADSCs) to mitigate inflammatory and degenerative diseases.

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Miami Stem Cell Treatment Center

Stem Cell Center

Stem cells are fast becoming relevant to all aspects of our society, with medical, scientific, ethical, political, and economic implications. Therefore it is important that scientists and non-scientists alike be provided with accurate information about stem cell biology. The goals of the UCR Stem Cell Center is to provide the members of the community with a better understanding of the science of stem cells so that they have the necessary tools to make reasoned decisions about the related society issues.

UCR has a strong history in training undergraduate and graduate students and is developing a complete training program in stem cell biology.

Stem cell biology is currently one of the most exciting fields in science with the potential not only to answer basic biological questions but also to provide new therapies and treatments for debilitating diseases. Some of the most important biomedical breakthroughs of this century are likely to come through the use of stem cell technology.

Diseases that could in the future be treated by stem cell biology include (but are not limited to) diabetes, Parkinsons disease, spinal cord injury, Alzheimers disease, aging, heart disease, stroke, burns, amputations, and osteoarthritis.

Stem cell biology will form an important component in both the UCR Health Sciences Research Institute and future Medical School, which will work to facilitate translational research.

Web link to UCR Health Sciences Research Initiative: http://www.hsri.ucr.edu/ Web link to Medical School: http://www.medschool.ucr.edu/

Basic research is needed to understand, control, and use stem cells safely and effectively for therapeutic and environmental purposes.

The UCR Stem Cell Center is making major contributions to stem cell biology by attacking basic biological problems at an interdisciplinary level, enabling translation to the clinical level, and by using stem cells to monitor the effects of the environment on human health.

The Center has faculty working with various types of stem cells including human embryonic, mouse embryonic, hematopoietic, and human umbilical cord stem cells.

Stem cells are valuable tools that have the potential not only to treat numerous diseases, but also to study development and evaluate the toxicity of chemicals and drugs.

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Stem Cell Center

Postdoctoral position in Stem Cell Development and Cancers

Postdoctoral positions are immediately available in the laboratory of Dr. Jian Xu, in the Childrens Research Institute of UTSouthwestern Medical Center to study the epigenetic regulation of normal and malignant blood stem cell development. Our laboratory focuses on the intersection of transcriptional control with stem cell biology, hematopoiesis and cancer. We employ epigenetics, functional genomics, genome editing, and mouse genetics to define epigenetic and genetic programs controlling blood stem cell development, and how these processes go awry in cancer progression. By comparing the ontogeny of gene networks in normal and neoplastic hematopoiesis, we aim to understand how non-coding regulatory genome, lineage-specifying regulators, and epigenetic modulators cooperate to control developmental potency, and how aberrations lead to cancer development. The laboratory is equipped with cutting-edge genomics and bioinformatics platforms, and has access to numerous shared facilities including metabolomics, imaging, and flow cytometry. Our laboratory brings together enthusiastic scientists with diverse backgrounds, and provides a wide range of perspectives in a multi-disciplinary and collaborative team setting. Please refer to our representative publications for details about the ongoing research: Nature 460:1093-1097; Science 334:993-996; Cell, 151:929-931; Dev Cell, 23:796-811; Mol Cell, 57:304-316; Cell Stem Cell 14:68-80; NEJM, 365:807-814; G&D 23:2824-2838.

The successful candidate must hold a Ph.D. and/or M.D. degree with a strong background in mouse genetics, blood cell development and disorders, molecular biology, or a related field. The ideal candidate will exhibit independence, flexibility and creativity with a record of scientific productivity. Previous experience in generating and analyzing mouse models, epigenetics, genomic engineering, and/or hematology-oncology is strongly preferred.

To apply please submit CV, a short summary of research interest and experience, and a list of three references to:

Jian Xu, PhD

Assistant Professor, Childrens Research Institute

CPRIT Scholar in Cancer Research

American Society of Hematology Scholar

UT Southwestern Medical Center 5323 Harry Hines Blvd. Dallas, TX 75390-8502

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Postdoctoral position in Stem Cell Development and Cancers

Banner Cancer Center Adult Stem Cell Transplant Cellular …

Banner Cancer Center Adult Stem Cell Transplant Cellular Therapy Apply Now Company: Banner Health System Location: Gilbert, AZ Date Posted: June 13, 2015 Source: ZipRecruiter Job Description: Oncology Job in Gilbert, AZ BANNER MD ANDERSON CANCER CENTER: Adult Stem Cell Transplant/Cellular TherapyBanner Health. Gilbert, AZ85284. Accepts J1s:No Job ID:292371. Loan Assistance:No Practice Type:Employee. Apply Now. Save JobShare with a FriendPrint. PracticeLink Login. Have an account? Email Address* Required. Password* Required. Log InForgot your password?Keep me Logged In New to PracticeLink? With PracticeLink you can manage your full CV, get updates on new jobs that interest you, respond to jobs across the country & more! Get Started. Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center seeks Hematology/Oncology experienced board-certified physicians (M.D. or D.O.) to join its adult stem cell transplantation and cellular therapy program. The SCT/CT Program expects to perform transplants using all donor types. Qualified candidates should have excellent clinical training in stem cell transplantation and cellular therapy and an interest in clinical research. Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center is a full clinical extension of The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer in Houston. M. D. Anderson is ranked as the number one cancer center by U.S. News & World Report, is the worlds largest treatment facility for oncologic diseases including stem cell transplantation and cellular therapy. Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center is located in Gilbert, Arizona on the campus of Banner Gateway Medical Center. The Cancer Center is a new, state-of-the art facility that provides access to a world-renowned medical community and the splendid cultural and recreational diversity of the sophisticated, metropolitan Phoenix area. SUBMIT YOUR CV FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION. Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, religion, disability or veteran status except where such distinction is required by law. All positions at Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center are security sensitive and subject to examination of criminal history record information. Smoke-free and drug-free environment. Saudi Aramco - Phoenix, AZ

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Autism – Wu Medical Center – A Leading Medical Center for …

Stem Cell Therapy for AutismMay 25th, 2015

Like Wu, Xiaojuan Wang, Freda Peng, Bo Cheng, Susan Chu

Wu Medical Center

The patient is 8-year-old boy. He was presented with language, mental, behavioral and human communication disorders for the past 5 years. He was diagnosed as Autism. He was born full-term with normal delivery. He was hyperactive, upset, agitated, impaired language development and was unable to communicate with others when he was 2 years old.

Physical examination: he was stable, Skin and mucous membrane were with no yellow stain or petechia. His heart and lung were normal. He was alert, his comprehension, judgment, attention and adaptability were bad. He was hyperactive, upset, unquiet, soliloquize and he couldnt answer questions. He could count from 1-10. He couldnt cooperate with the memory, calculation ability, or orientation examinations. He seldom had eye contact with others. He couldnt cooperate with the cranial nerves, sensation and coordinated movement during examinations. The muscle power of four limbs was at level 5, his muscle tension was normal. The tendon reflex decreased. The pathological sign was negative. All of the laboratory examination and accessory examinations were normal. He was diagnosed as Autism.

Treatment target: increase the number of normal neural stem cells (NSCs) in the brain, switch on neural development, repair and regenerate the nerves. Increase the brain function, improve the patients cognitive function and communication skills.

Treatment procedure and results: We gave the patient 4 times neural stem cells (NSCs) and 4 times mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) implantation treatment. The stem cells were activated in the patients body to repair the damaged nerves. Together with nourishment of the neurons, improve circulation, regulating the immune, daily rehabilitation training was incorporated. After the treatment, the patient was stable, developed a good spirit and mood. He seldom gets upset and he developed more concentration. He could see movies or listen to music by himself, and the duration was increased to between 30-40 minutes than before. He speaks more with family members. He could answer questions and gained more vocabulary. He could say a sentence which is made up of 6 words. His learning skill was better. The memory, calculation ability, orientation, comprehension and attention were better. He had more eye contact with others. His nerves, sensation, coordinated movement examinations and meningeal irritation sign examination cooperation degree was better.

Case analysis: Autism is also called autistic disorder, it is one subtype of the catholicity eccyliosis. Male patients were more than female as observed. This disease onset at early infancy. The cardinal symptoms: various degrees of speech disturbance, human communication disorders, less interesting or mechanic behavior. Around 3/4 young patients accompanied with visible mental retardation. The main pathogen was unclear, it may be: heredity, perinatal period factors, abnormal immune system or imbalance of various neuroendocrine and neurotransmitter function. The patient had this disease from very young, the pathogen was unclear, and his symptoms were: abnormal mind and behaviors, cognitive disorder, bad communication skills and excitement.

There are a lot of methods to treat autism, but most of them lack medical evidences and there is no best treatment plan. Our center uses advanced NSCs transplantation technique to treats patients with autism. The NSCs is used together with MSCs to make the imbedded NSCs increase the number of brain and spinal cord nerve cells, promotes nerve differentiation and growth to improve his cognition and mental. This technique was used in this patient and he recovered well and not only his cognition and mental, his self-care ability and social skills were improved also. This provided relief of mental stress and daily burden to his relatives. This brings hope to patients with this disease.

Research under our direction, the treatment result was satisfactory. During retrospective experiment on animals, we found the same program had made great advances in nerve precursor cells structure, migration, cortical tissue, neuron differentiation and connection. For example: a small group of neurons migration lag in specific area or appear in ectopia area of the patient, could result in mental hypoevolutism, epilepsy or speech impediment. This can be fixed with implantation of nerve precursor cell. The shape and structure of cortex can be normal. The safety of this treatment was confirmed in many medical literatures. But each patient need complicated clinical technology supporting, because the brain was controlled by gene in the development process, for example: when we use the NSCs to correct neuron developmental deviation and abnormality, neuron development need growth factors participation. It also need immunological surveillance. Over growth nerve will be controlled by immune system, only in that way can we get good result. All the processes need to be controlled by experienced clinician and complicated clinical technology.

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Autism - Wu Medical Center - A Leading Medical Center for ...

Stem Cell Therapy | Cellular Prolotherapy | Caring Medical

Home Stem Cell Therapy | Cellular Prolotherapy

Ross Hauser, MD

Ross Hauser, MD: the use of Stem Cell Therapy in the treatment of joint and spine degeneration.

Stem cell therapy is exploding in the medical field, and for good reason. Stem cells have the potential to regenerate into any type of body tissue. The amazing thing about stem cells is that when you inject them into the body, they know what kinds of cells your body needs for example, meniscus cells or cartilage cells. It is a very exciting time for medicine, especially in the field of regenerative medicine. In our office we often refer to this as Cellular Prolotherapy.

In Stem Cell Therapy we use a persons own healing cells from bone marrow, fat, and blood (alone or in various combinations) and inject them straight to the area which has a cellular deficiency.

The goal is the same: to stimulate the repair of injured tissues. Stem cells aid in fibroblastic proliferation where cell growth, proteosynthesis, reparation, the remodeling of tissues, and chondrocyte proliferation occurs. Our bone marrow contains stem cells,also termed mesenchymal stem cells and progenitor cells, among other names. These immature cells have the ability to become tissues like cartilage, bone, and ligaments.

Consequently, researchers and clinicians are focusing on alternative methods for cartilage preservation and repair. Recently,cell-basedtherapyhas become a key focus of tissue engineering research to achieve functional replacement of articular cartilage.1

Not all injuries require stem cells to heal. For many patients the success rate with traditionalProlotherapyin this office is in the 90%+ range for all patients. However, for those cases of advanced arthritis, meniscus tears, labral tears, bone-on-bone, or aggressive injuries, our Prolotherapy practitioners may choose to use stem cell injections to enhance the healing, in combination with dextrose Prolotherapy to strengthen and stabilize the surrounding support structures formeniscus repair.

In our research published inThe Open Stem Cell Journal,Rationale for Using Direct Bone Marrow Aspirate as a Proliferant for Regenerative Injection Therapy(Prolotherapy). We not only showed the benefit of bone marrow derived stem cells as a Prolotherapy proliferant solution, but also that this exciting field of medicine needs doctors and scientisists working together to expand research and technique guidelines.

Typically the tissue that we are trying to stimulate to repair with Stem Cell Therapy or Cellular Prolotherapy is articular cartilage, but we can also proliferate soft tissues structures such as ligament and tendons. This is new technology so we are studying it as we use it to treat patients.

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Stem Cell Therapy | Cellular Prolotherapy | Caring Medical

Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease – Wu Medical Center – A …

Stem Cell Therapy for Charcot-Marie-Tooth DiseaseMay 26th, 2015

By Like Wu, Xiaojuan Wang, Sherry Xi, Bo Cheng, Susan Chu

Wu Medical Center

The patient is 34-year-old female. She was presented with involuntary movement of fingers and extremities prior weakness for the past 13 years without any apparent cause. The disease progressed gradually. She had nerve biopsy and gene analysis at a local hospital and was diagnosed with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT). She took vitamins without any improvement. Her four limbs were weak. Her balance was bad. She always falls because of bad balance and lower limbs weakness. She had difficulty to hold objects. The distal ends of four limbs were depauperated, numbness and painful.

Physical examination: The general examination was normal. Her speech and spirit was good. The cranial nerves was normal. The distal ends of four limbs were depauperated. The proximal end muscle power of both upper limbs was at level 4, the distal ends muscle power of both upper limbs was at level 3, and the muscle power of all fingers was at level 3-. The proximal end muscle power of both lower limbs was at level 4. The distal ends muscle power of both lower limbs was at level 3. The muscle tension of four limbs was normal. The tendon reflex of four limbs disappeared, the pathology sign was negative. The deep and shallow sensation of her four limbs distal ends were not good.

Diagnosis: Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT)

Treatment target: Replace the heredodegeneration nerve cells with normal stem cells to repair the nerves, improve the nerve function, and also to improve equilibrium function and motor function.

Treatment procedure and results: We gave the patient 4 times neural stem cells (NSCs) and 4 times mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) implantation treatment. The stem cells were activated in the patients body to repair the nerve damage. Together with nourishment of the neurons, improvement of circulation and regulating the immune, daily rehabilitation training was incorporated. During the treatment, the patient was happy, had a regular eating and sleeping pattern. With our doctors help, she was able to complete the treatment. After the treatment, the patient had significant improvement, her four limbs had less pain, numbness and weakness. Her exercise tolerance was better. The proximal end muscle power of both upper limbs was at level 5-. The distal ends muscle power of both upper limbs was at level 4, the muscle power of all fingers was at level 4-. The proximal end muscle power of both lower limbs was at level 5-. The distal ends muscle power of both lower limbs was at level 4-. Her balance and coordinate movement were better. Her life had been noticeably improved.

Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT) is also called Hereditary Motor and Sensory Neuropathy (HMSN), it has visible heredity. The main clinical characteristics: the distal ends of four limbs has progressive weakness, atrophia and sensory disturbance. CMT is one of the most common hereditary peripheral neuropathy (the incidence is around 1/2500). CMT is classified two types according to clinical and electrophysiological characteristics; CMT1 (demyelinating type) and CMT2 (axon type).

The patient had this disease when she was growing up, and the disease progressed slowly. She gradually had four limbs weakness, the distal ends of four limbs were depauperated, hypesthesia, tendon reflex of four limbs disappeared and balance disturbance. All the accessory examinations supported the diagnosis.

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Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease - Wu Medical Center - A ...

Regenerative Medicine Symposium set for April 24 at GRU

AUGUSTA, Ga. - Scientists and physicians from the region interested in regenerative and reparative medicine techniques, such as helping aging stem cells stay focused on making strong bone, will meet in Augusta April 24 to hear updates from leaders in the field and strategize on how to move more research advances to patients.

The daylong Regenerative Medicine and Cellular Therapy Research Symposium, sponsored by the Georgia Regents University Institute for Regenerative and Reparative Medicine, begins at 8 a.m. in Room EC 1210 of the GRU Health Sciences Building.

"We think this is a terrific opportunity for basic scientists and physicians to come together and pursue more opportunities to work together to get better prevention and treatment strategies to patients," said Dr. William D. Hill, stem cell researcher and symposium organizer.

Dr. Arnold I. Caplan, Director of the Skeletal Research Center at Case Western Reserve University and a pioneer in understanding mesenchymal stem cells, which give rise to bone, cartilage, muscle, and more, will give the keynote address at 8:45 a.m. Mesenchymal stem cell therapy is under study for a variety of conditions including multiple sclerosis, osteoarthritis, diabetes, emphysema, and stroke.

Other keynotes include:

The GRU Institute for Regenerative and Reparative Medicine has a focus on evidence-based approaches to healthy aging with an orthopaedic emphasis. "As you age, the bone is more fragile and likely to fracture," Hill said. "We want to protect bone integrity before you get a fracture as well as your bone's ability to constantly repair so, if you do get a fracture, you will repair it better yourself."

Bone health is a massive and growing problem with the aging population worldwide. "What people don't need is to fall and wind up in a nursing home," said Dr. Mark Hamrick, MCG bone biologist and Research Director of the GRU institute. "This is a societal problem, a clinical problem, and a potential money problem that is going to burden the health care system if we don't find better ways to intervene."

The researchers are exploring options such as scaffolding to support improved bone repair with age as well as nutrients that impact ongoing mesenchymal stem cell health, since these stem cells, which tend to decrease in number and efficiency with age, are essential to maintaining strong bones as well as full, speedy recovery.

Dr. Carlos Isales, endocrinologist and Clinical Director of the GRU institute, is looking at certain nutrients, particularly amino acids, and how some of their metabolites produce bone damage while others prevent or repair it. Isales is Principal Investigator on a major Program Project grant from the National Institutes of Health exploring a variety of ways to keep aging mesenchymal stem cells healthy and focused on making bone. "I think the drugs we have reduce fractures, but I think there are better ways of doing that," Isales said. "We are always thinking translationally," said Hill.

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Regenerative Medicine Symposium set for April 24 at GRU

U-M researchers find new gene involved in blood-forming stem cells

ANN ARBOR--Research led by the University of Michigan Life Sciences Institute has identified a gene critical to controlling the body's ability to create blood cells and immune cells from blood-forming stem cells--known as hematopoietic stem cells.

The findings, scheduled for online publication in the Journal of Clinical Investigation April 13, provide new insights into the underlying mechanics of how the body creates and maintains a healthy blood supply and immune system, both in normal conditions and in situations of stress--like the body experiences following a bone marrow transplant.

Along with helping scientists better understand the body's basic processes, the discovery opens new lines of inquiry about the Ash1l gene's potential role in cancers known to involve other members of the same gene family, like leukemia, or those where Ash1l might be highly expressed or mutated.

"It's vital to understand how the basic, underlying mechanisms function in a healthy individual if we want to try to develop interventions for when things go wrong," said study senior author Ivan Maillard, an associate research professor at the Life Sciences Institute, where his lab is located, and an associate professor in the Division of Hematology-Oncology at the U-M Medical School.

"Leukemia is a cancer of the body's blood-forming tissues, so it's an obvious place that we plan to look at next. If we find that Ash1l plays a role, then that would open up avenues to try to block or slow down its activity pharmacologically," he said.

Graduate students Morgan Jones and Jennifer Chase were the study's first authors.

Dysfunction of blood-forming stem cells is well known in illnesses like leukemia and bone marrow failure disorders. Blood-forming stem cells can also be destroyed by high doses of chemotherapy and radiation used to treat cancer. The replacement of these cells through bone marrow transplantation is the only widely established therapy involving stem cells in human patients.

But even in the absence of disease, blood cells require constant replacement--most blood cells last anywhere from a few days to a few months, depending on their type.

Over more than five years, Maillard and his collaborators identified a previously unknown but fundamental role played by the Ash1l gene in regulating the maintenance and self-renewal potential of these hematopoietic stem cells.

The Ash1l (Absent, small or homeotic 1-like) gene is part of a family of genes that includes MLL1 (Mixed Lineage Leukemia 1), a gene that is frequently mutated in patients who develop leukemia. The research found that both genes contribute to blood renewal; mild defects were seen in mice missing one or the other, but lacking both led to catastrophic deficiencies.

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U-M researchers find new gene involved in blood-forming stem cells