The field of cellular therapeutics is vast, affording an exciting array of potential applications. With a network of researchers and clinicians who are developing a myriad of treatments for many genetic conditions, as well as diseased, mechanically injured or metabolically deficient tissues, the McGowan Institute’s Cellular Therapies Program is squarely at the center of this fast-growing field of regenerative medicine.

A critical question guiding much of this work is which cell type to use for each area of research. Differentiated (specialized) cells, non-differentiated progenitor cells, and stem cells each present unique benefits and drawbacks, and each day yields new insights into their advantages and disadvantages. limited availability, as well as restricted use of embryonic stem cells, spurred Institute researchers to identify other sources of cells capable of differentiating to serve various needs.