The Helen and Martin Kimmel Center for Stem Cell Biology

The Helen and Martin Kimmel Center for Stem Cell Biology was established in January 2005. The mission of this new center is to establish a world-class, multidisciplinary research center focusing on the basic biology of stem cells in animal models, a vital platform for the eventual application of stem cells to treat a host of human diseases. 

The study of stem cells stands to revolutionize the practice of medicine. Stem cells have exceptional characteristics that distinguish them from other types of cells. First, they are unspecialized cells that renew themselves for long periods of time through cell division.  Secondly, under certain physiological or experimental conditions, they can be induced to differentiate or divide into cells with special functions, such as the beating cells of the heart muscle or the insulin-producing cells of the pancreas.  The ultimate goal of the center is to be able to translate animal models in stem cell research to human stem cell research, thus enabling the design of advanced therapies for many diseases. 

The Kimmel Center for Stem Cell Biology links scientists and individual laboratory groups who are working in some of the most exciting and promising areas of stem cell research. In addition to a group of first-rate scientists already working on different aspects of stem cell biology, the program is actively recruiting new scientists.  The program aims to cross departmental and programmatic boundaries, with emphasis on the programs in germ cell biology, neurobiology, immunology, dermatology, cardiology, and cancer biology.

For more information about stem cells, visit the Stem Cell Information page of the National Institutes of Health Web site.