What kind of stem cell research is occurring at UWMadison?
More than 30 research groups involving more than 80 scientists at UWMadison are working with human embryonic stem cells. Work ranges from the study of brain cells to treat Parkinsons disease and ALS to studies of heart cells to treat heart disease and insulin-producing cells to treat diabetes. Scientists have found ways to transform blank-slate, or undifferentiated stem cells, into important cell lineages with therapeutic potential. For example, Wisconsin scientists were the first to turn embryonic stem cells into the critical motor neurons that may someday be used to treat ALS and other devastating central nervous system disorders. Wisconsin scientists were also the first to transform human embryonic stem cells into blood cells, work that could someday alleviate chronic shortages of blood products.
