The Department of Surgery is committed to the study of stem cell biology as the future of developing new cellular and regenerative therapies for organ-based disease. Stem cell biology is an area of active recruitment for the department.
Faculty members are currently studying the molecular mechanisms that commit stem cells toward specific lineages, and the niches that support stem cell activity and differentiation. The regeneration of tissue to recover from damage — for example, wounds, burns or disease — is a major goal.
We are also studying the potential to use the iPS and MASC cells (embryonic-like stem cells derived by reprogramming adult cell types) for research and patient-specific therapies.