Pioneering research and therapies to transform the future of medicine 

Stem cells are uniquely able to make the many different specialised cells in the body, and have the capacity to self-renew. Because of their fundamental importance to human biology, stem cells hold incredible potential for alleviating suffering and transforming lives. 

University of Cambridge scientists have long been at the forefront of pioneering stem cell discoveries. Today, the Cambridge Stem Cell Institute is a world-leading research centre with a powerful mission: to transform human health through a deep understanding of stem cell biology.  

With more than 300 stem cell scientists collaborating under one roof, our work encompasses the full journey of medical discovery, from exploring the fundamentals to undertaking ground-breaking clinical trials of new therapies.  

Tackling the root causes of disease and promoting healthy ageing 

Understanding the fundamental biology of stem cells is critical in tackling global challenges in human health and disease. By understanding what goes wrong within stem cells, we can lay the groundwork for prevention, diagnosis and treatment. 

Stem cells could also hold the key to healthy ageing. Their capacity to regenerate lost or damaged cells declines progressively with age. In studying this phenomenon, our scientists are finding ways to counteract stem cell deterioration and extend the number of years lived in good health. 

Precise, personalised treatment 

Stem cells provide a robust modelling platform for discovering new methods of diagnosis and treatment. Using human cell samples, researchers at CSCI can grow tissue to model diseases, allowing them to observe disease progression and test new drugs or therapies. 

Importantly, stem cell models are specific to individuals. In order to move beyond the traditional 'one-size-fits-all' approach, CSCI researchers are working to improve efficacy by developing treatments that can be tailored to a patient's particular disease. 

Regenerative medicine 

Stem cell medicine holds immense promise. Through exploiting the regenerative power of stem cells, researchers aim to change the landscape of regenerative medicine by enabling doctors to repair or replace damaged tissues and, one day, even entire organs. To make this vision a reality, CSCI scientists are developing novel interventions for a broad range of conditions—some of which are already in clinical trials—including: 

• Testing whether transplanting stem cells directly into the brain could repair cells destroyed by Parkinson's disease
• Exploring whether stem cell therapies could repair nerve cells damaged by multiple sclerosis and heal arthritic joints
• Developing methods through which stem cells could be used to produce blood, to engineer an artificial liver, or to regenerate the heart following a heart attack