Stem Cell Consortium

Mission:

The Columbia University Stem Cell Consortium is a community of researchers from a variety of medical and scientific disciplines. Their investigative efforts strive to translate basic science studies into clinical treatments that will defeat the advancement of many chronic and untreatable diseases.

The Stem Cell Consortium is deeply committed to the conversion of stem cells into a source of future cell-based therapies. Our researchers continue to examine both adult and embryonic stem cells

1. to study the normal birth, maturation and death of cells;
2. to repair or replace cells or tissues that are damaged or destroyed by many of our most devastating diseases and disabilities, such as ALS, Parkinson's, juvenile diabetes, as well as brain injury stroke;
3. to employ stem cells from humans and animal models to study mechanisms of human diseases; and
4. as a tool to develop new drug therapies

Columbia University Medical Center researchers, using mouse embryonic stem cells and following the nerve cell's own developmental recipe, have produced and isolated motor neurons that make appropriate connections to muscle during development. Besides its impact on ALS research, the Columbia protocol can be applied to create better stem cell-derived cells for research into therapies for other neurodegenerative disorders, such as Parkinson's disease. Columbia researchers have also shown recently that adult stem cells from the bone marrow can help regenerate lost blood vessels and heart cells after heart attacks in rats.

The Stem Cell Consortium continues to expand its research efforts through collaboration and education.