This group has pioneered the collection and use of human embryonic and fetal tissues for the investigation of normal and abnormal development. Use of embryonic and fetal tissues for research is an emotive issue and access is varied across the world. We are proud to say that we are at the forefront of discovery in combined research models on human embryonic stem cells (hES), human embryonic germ cells (hEG) and human embryonic/early fetal development.
We were the second group worldwide to report hEG cell derivation. We also focus on studies in cardiogenesis and congenital heart disease, endocrine development (including pancreatic beta-cell), adrenal and gonad development, and neural development. Collaborating with teams across the faculty, we are leading investigations into mesenchymal stem cells in fetal bone, fetal lung development and predisposition to asthma, fetal kidney stem cells and single cell manipulation and characterisation (with the School of Electronics and Computer Science).
Research focus
- Understanding the events during blastocyst formation and the contribution of tight junction formation, the effects of nutrients and cellular signalling
- Investigating the effects of culture conditions on the integrity of preimplantation embryos and pluripotency of embryonic stem cells
- Using embryonic tissues and stem cells as models for drug toxicity screening in particular the effects of cardiotoxic drugs on ion channels expressed in cardiomyocytes
- The investigation of normal human cardiac development and establishing the cause of cardiac defects in children
- The use of skeletal or mesenchymal stem cells for the investigation of bone and cartilage formation and the utilisation of 3-D matrices
- The development of regenerative cellular therapies for degenerative bone and joint disease and their translation to clinical delivery
- Role of the niche in the regulation of hippocampal neural stem cells in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy
4 Year Integrated PhD Programme in Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine
MRC funded positions. Further Details Here.