Innovation Profile: Stem Cell Research in the Toronto Region
It all began in the early 1960s when Toronto researchers Drs James Till and Ernest McCulloch dazzled the world with their discovery of stem cells. Today, there are about 100 principal investigators here and the region is widely known for the calibre and breadth of its stem cell research, partnerships and investment. Read about stem cell research in the Toronto Region.
View video clips of:
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Dr Mick Bhatia |
Dr Janet Rossant Chief of Research The Hospital for Sick Children |
Building on Success: World-Centre for Stem Cell Discovery
| Why Stem Cells | Why Toronto Region | Why Now | Who's Here | What's Available |
Toronto Region scientists are leading the way in understanding how to exploit the potential of these valuable cells for medical purposes. With strong ties between researchers and clinicians and our vast network of clinical trials, Toronto Region scientists see near-term applications for stem cells built on our bench strength in developmental and cellular biology, drug toxicity testing, cancer and regenerative medicine.
Years of work in this field are fuelling a surge of discoveries. In 2007, scientists in both Japan and the US turned human adult skin cells into ones that act like embryonic stem cells, known for their ability to turn into different cell types that make up the body. 
"The observation that adult cells can be reprogrammed into pluripotent stem cells, and that these cells can be generated from individual patients and individual disease types, is fantastic," says Dr Peter Zandstra, a highly-respected stem cell bioengineer at the University of Toronto.
Until now, a chief concern around using induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells for therapy was the fact that tumours could arise from the use of viruses in the reprogramming process. That changed in 2009 when Dr Andras Nagy of Toronto's Samuel Lunenfeld Research Institute at Mount Sinai Hospital announced a virus-free way to reprogram cells into iPS cells.
Scientists in this region have been quick to investigate the possibility of using these iPS cells, rather than the more controversial embryonic ones, for stem cell-based therapies and transplantation. A partnership between the University of Toronto and Kyoto University, where the skin reprogramming discovery was made, is linking Toronto scientists with key researchers in Japan.
Another partnership involves California's Gladstone Institute of Cardiovascular Disease and scientists at the University of Toronto, The Hospital for Sick Children and Mount Sinai Hospital's Samuel Lunenfeld Research Institute, who will translate advances in the area of skin reprogramming into medical treatments.
Advances with iPS cells -- and research successes with other types of stem cells -- are contributing to intense lab activity, a significant demand for stem cell lab products, and exciting new partnerships among researchers and with industry.
View Toronto Region Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Fact Sheet.
© 2010 Toronto Region Research Alliance