UCL CENTRE FOR STEM CELLS AND REGENERATIVE MEDICINE

The UCL Centre for Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine, officially launched on 24th April 2009, brings together 186 research groups from several faculties, specialised hospitals and institutes across UCL, including the London Centre for Nanotechnology and the MRC National Institute for Medical Research (NIMR), with a common interest in all aspects of stem cells, tissue engineering, repair and regeneration and the development of their therapeutic and biotechnological potential

Current research includes projects identifying genes that define stem cell properties, their functions and mode of action, finding endogenous stem cells in the embryo and in the adult, defining culture conditions that favour the isolation and maintenance of stem cells, studying factors that control stem cell properties and instruct cells to proliferate or differentiate along specific pathways, and developing applications thereof including organ and tissue engineering, engrafting stem cells to alleviate or cure specific diseases, and the use of stem cells for drug testing.

This research is highly multi-disciplinary and increasingly incorporates ideas and technologies beyond the Life and Medical Sciences including Engineering, Nanotechnology, Mathematics and the Physical Sciences, Computing, Bioinformatics and Chemistry. A strong emphasis is placed on the development of educational activities. We also address the societal implications and the socioeconomic impact of this innovative research as well as biomedical ethics and legal issues.