 Spectrum --
January 2005
 In This Issue...
Stem cells
are unspecialized cells that can differentiate into numerous types of
specialized cells with specific functions. Diseases and disorders that might
benefit from stem-cell research include Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, diabetes,
cancer, heart disease, spinal cord injury, and multiple sclerosis, as well as
organ transplantation and wound treatment. Stem cells are also a valuable
source of material in drug discovery, high-content screening assays, and
toxicology studies. In this report, we discuss the study of both
undifferentiated stem cells and adult stem cells, the use of stem-cell biology
to elucidate the pathways and mechanisms involved in different diseases,
ongoing research to develop methods of using stem cells to replace
disease-damaged cells, stem-cell-based drug discovery platforms, the use of
stem cells in drug screening and toxicology, and the outlook for
stem-cell-based drug discovery. We also profile companies and consortia
involved in stem-cell research and examine the legal issues surrounding the
field.
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