Human Embryonic Stem Cell Research

The Human Embryonic Stem Cell Research topic includes research involving human embryonic stem cell lines, as defined by NIH Guidelines for Human Stem Cell Research.

Embryonic stem cells are cells found in early embryos that can become any kind of cell in the body. Stem cells can self-renew and re-create functional tissues. Scientists can use stem cells to learn about human biology and for the development of therapeutics. An important potential application is the generation of cells and tissues for cell-based therapies, also called tissue engineering. While stem cells offer exciting promise for future therapies, significant technical hurdles remain that will likely only be overcome through years of intensive research.