Cleveland Clinic
The Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine plays an integral role in efforts to establish a research framework for the discovery of novel paradigms in cell lineage commitment and in the development of therapeutics to be used in the treatment of diseases that result from abnormal cellular function and the destruction of tissue. The goal of the latter is to repair damaged and diseased tissues by providing replacement cells or factors that can restore tissue function.
The Department’s broad expertise contributes to a greater understanding of fundamental biology of adult stem cells, the development of pre-clinical models of stem cell therapeutics, “first in nation” clinical trials, and efficient clinical application. The Department undertakes research that provides basic information o the mechanism of stem cell biology. Some disease areas targeted for adult stem cell therapeutics that, or will be, studied in the department include musculoskeletal disorders, cardiovascular diseases, leukemias, neurodegenerative diseases, and diabetes. The Department is housed within the Center for Genomics Research, a 155,000-square-foot facility that opened in March 2005. Seven Faculty members currently reside within the department. The goal is to grow to around 12 Faculty members within the next five years.