Bio-Rad Laboratories has played an important role over the years of stem cell research. They have provided numerous tools necessary for scientists to make their discoveries. One of these tools the Bio-Rad Laboratories produced was the TC10 Automated Cell Counter. The new cell counter has allowed to eliminate the lethal wrong estimate of the cell count in use. Its upgraded version, the TC20
FIGURE 18: The S3 Cell Sorter has been released in 2012, and one of the first models were provided to the Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research at the University of California, San Francisco (CITATION 29)
FIGURE 39: The TC10 Automated Cell Counter enables scientists to perform their work at a higher level, with more precision and accuracy.
FIGURE 40: The TC20 Automated Cell Counter is an improved version of the TC10 Automated Cell Counter, with greater speed and veracity (CITATION 41)
FIGURE 17: The Bio-Rad Laboratories have provided various helpful tool that have aided numerous scientists in their quest of stem cell research
Stem Cell Research is empowered by numerous of scientists and researchers around the world, who dedicate their time to terminating human suffering while regarding ethical conduct of their society. Billions of individual researchers, institutions, research laboratories, and other innovators exhibit a myriad of efforts in order to introduce latest, cutting-edge discoveries.
FIGURE 41: On the 7th of December, 2004, California voters have ratified Proposition 71, weighting over at 59.1%
FIGURE 44: The Stem Cell Reports are one of the ways the ISSCR propogate latest information regarding advancements in stem cell reserach
PRIVATE INNOVATORS
The Gladstone Institutes, founded by J. David Gladstone from London, was officially established in 1971, under the leadership of Robert W. Mahley, MD, Ph.D., and partnership with the University of California, San Francisco. Initially focused on virology and immunology, the research institutes soon shifted to discovering fresh, advanced treatments and cures for HIV/AIDS and neurological illness patients, including Alzheimer's disease. Over the years, the scientists at Gladstone Institutes achieved many accomplishments, including: Shinya Yamanaka and Sir John Gurdon's discover of a pathway to modifying adult skin cells into cells which are capable of developing into any type of cell of the organism, earning them a 2012 Noble Prize in Physiology or Medicine; and attainment of several branches of the organization in various divisions
FIGURE 46: The founder of the Gladstone Institutes.
FIGURE 47: The current president of the Gladstone Institutes and founder of several branches of the organization.
FIGURE 48: One of the main pioneers in the field of stem cell research and discoverer of various modern innovations in the inquest.
FIGURE 49: Received a Noble Prize for his work on stem cells with Dr. Yamanaka in 2012 (CITATION 48).
StemCells, Inc. is an organization whose main objectives are to achieve in the field of stem cell biology, provide innovative stem cell treatments, and implement au courant and unfamiliar technology and tools for stem cell researchers. Their recent collaborative work with the Stanford University and Stanford School of Medicine has been projected toward development of therapies for hepatitis C and stroke through the utilization of stem cells. Currently, they are focused upon developing cell-based therapies, revolving mainly around stem cell transplants. Several of the proposed treatments are already in clinical trials, with high hopes of success.
StemCells, Inc. additionally produces products, known as SC Proven Products. Ranging from human cell kits to cell reprogramming to antibody reagents, Stem Cells, Inc. provides stem cell researchers with the tools they need in order to succeed.
Furthermore, StemCells, Inc. specializes in augmentation of stem cell treatments. The first and exclusive rights to complete a United States Clinical Trial to remedy illness considering the central nervous system through therapies of human neural stem cells, were granted to StemCells, Inc. for their CNS Program. The CNS Program specializes upon developing cures for disorders of the central nervous system, including Alzheimer's and Spinal Cord Injuries
The Stanford Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine is part of the university’s expanding Stanford School of Medicine. Their researcher’s primary goal is focused upon the application of human stem cells, such as in medical therapies of serious maladies. Inside the Institute is a separate center, the Center for Human Embryonic Stem Cell Research and Education, specializing only on human embryonic stem cells. The scientists of this center collaborate to discover new applications for embryonic stem cells and new information regarding them. The research is divided roughly into four fields: early human embryo development, human embryonic stem cell biology, reprograming and somatic cell nuclear transfer, and germ cell development.
The Stanford University School of Medicine’s Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine was established in Stanford in 2002. Located in the dynamic center of innovation known as the Silicon Valley, the Institute, headed by stem cell researcher Dr. Irving Weissman, proposed to be “[…] devoted to exploring the how stem cells are created, the mechanisms by which they are regulated and how they devolve into specialized cells.”
Over the years, the Stanford Institute achieved much, placing numerous milestones in the history of stem cell research. They were the first to isolate stem cells of various types using the cell sorters developed in Stanford, such as the embryonic, adult, tissue-forming, cancer, and even brain stem cells. Additionally, they were the first to put stem cells into practice in the field of women’s breast cancer through the replacement of blood formation. The Stanford Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine has also helped other institutes and centers of stem cell research around the globe by providing them with advanced technology necessary to create the profound discoveries that serve as the fundamental blocks of modern stem cell research. Without the Stanford Microarray Technology, Microarray Database, and fluorescence-activated cell sorters (FACS), scientists worldwide would not have been as efficient in discovering the new cures and stem cell treatments, saving the lives of millions of people every day.
The Stanford Microarray Database is a vital research tool and archive which, “allows hundreds of researchers worldwide to store, annotate, analyze and share data generated by microarray technology.” By providing unrestricted access to various tool and publications, the Microarray Database greatly supports the ongoing research. Microarrays play a key role in stem cell research today. Their ability to allow scientists to distinguish the features which define a stem cell is a necessary instrument in stem cell research, allowing scientist to precisely extract the wished cells.
(CITATIONS 81)(CITATION 82)(CITATION 83)(CITATION 84)(CITATION 85)
The Harvard Stem Cell Institute, also known as HSCI, is Harvard’s stem cell research center. Aimed at understanding the biology of stem cells and using them to treat selected diseases and conditions, the research center collaborated with various biomedical researchers and institutions, including:
Harvard Medical School
Immune Disease Institute
Boston Children’s Hospital
McLean Hospital
Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary
The Schepens Eye Research Institute
In addition to science, the Institute also focuses on social and legal issues, political questions, and economic difficulties of the stem cell research worldwide. By forming a bridge to mend the gap between scientific research and actual medical applications, the scientists and Harvard hope to bring new stem cell treatments from “bench to bedside.” In the past, they have been successful in developing Embryonic Stem Cell and iPS stem cell lines, publishing various works upon the issue, and translating information from laboratories to the society.
Harvard Stem Cell Institute also features various programs and affiliations, including the Disease Programs, which target specific diseases and discovers the stem cell treatments for each. As of today, the scientists were able to create multiple disease-specific blood cell lines; analyze tissue tumors, determining the cancer stem cells; infuse adult stem cells from the bone marrow into beating heart tissue, repairing the heart after damages such as heart failure; differentiate pancreatic cells to produce insulin, curing diabetes to a certain extent; identify the regenerative cells of the kidneys; and learn more about the cells of the nervous system and how stem cells may be applied in the case of a disease, such as the spinal cord trauma.
INNOVATORS
BIO-RAD LABORATORIES
Gladstone Institutes
Automated Cell Counter has been improved in speed and veracity. In addition, some of its new abilities include: counting cells in clusters, which allows scientist to not risk losing the cells as they attempt to divide the cluster; assessment of the cells' viability, resulting in less experimental error from utilization of damaged cells; cell size gating, helpful in work with different cells, sorting them by size; and quick access to analysis options, which transfer the acquired data to a USB flash drive, enabling the stem cell researchers to instantly organize their data in the provided software. Bio-Rad Laboratories' most recent help in the field of regenerative medicine also includes their S3 Cell Sorter, some of which “early access” tools was given to the Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research at the University of California, San
Francisco. This new innovative cell sorter allows scientist to sort cells at a faster speed, with high purity and sensitivity, necessary especially in stem cell research
CALIFORNIA'S STEM CELL AGENCY
International Society for Stem Cell Research
STANFORD INSTITUTE FOR STEM CELL BIOLOGY AND REGENERATIVE MEDICINE
The California Institute for Regenerative Medicine, or CIRM, has been formed through the Proposition 71, in 2004. It's primary goal is to fund California's stem cell research. Their mission, is to,
"'To support and advance stem cell research and regenerative medicine under the highest ethical and medical standards for the discovery and development of cures, therapies, diagnostics and research technologies to relieve human suffering from chronic disease and injury'"
Through development of elementary standards and strategic funding of the research, the CIRM strives to provide the citizens with proper and effective stem cell elixirs in order to ensure patients of dangerous illnesses of the availability of cures and treatments, not allowing them to lose hope. (CITATION 42)(CITATION 43).
The International Society for Stem Cell Research, more commonly known as ISSCR, has been (formed) as a non-profit, independent society, whose main mission is to promote education of stem cell research and transfer of the knowledge internationally. Through Stem Cell Reports, ISSCR's own scholarly journal, the organization publishes fresh research concepts of stem cell (reserach) and its innovative applications in the field of medicine. Additionally, the ISSCR hold annual meetings, where stem cells professors from different parts of the world are able to meet and advocate peers about new advances in the field through lectures, workshops, and even symposiums! (CITATION 44)(CITATION 45)(CITATION 46)
HARVARD STEM CELL INSTITUTE
STEMCELLS, INC.
CAMBRIDGE STEM CELL INSTITUTE
Under the University of Cambridge, United Kingdom, “The Cambridge Stem Cell Institute explores and defines the properties of stem cells to establish their true medical potential.”
Through the culture human stem cells in their laboratories under the supervision of the currents experts in the field of stem cell and regenerative medicine, the scientists at the Institute hope to discover new information regarding stem cells and transmit it to the public worldwide.
With numerous publications, the scientists at the University of Cambridge continue to share new discoveries in the field of stem cell research through their symposiums. The most recent, International Cambridge Stem Cell Symposium took place in July, bringing together a myriad of, “[…] world-leading scientists working on different aspects of cancer initiation, maintenance and recurrence.” The delegates discussed the potential use of stem cells in the search of the cure for cancer.
