Centre for Stem Cell Biology and Medicine

Every year, thousands of patients die waiting for organ transplants that never arrive, while millions more manage—but never cure—chronic diseases like diabetes, Parkinson’s, and multiple sclerosis with existing treatments. This research aims to build the fundamental knowledge of stem cell biology needed to turn these cells into reliable therapies. Embryonic stem cells, taken from a microscopic ball of cells at the earliest stage of development, can potentially become any of the body’s 200 specialised cell types. Stem cells also exist in adult tissues such as bone marrow and the nervous system, offering additional sources for repair. The project is primarily curiosity-driven: it seeks to understand the basic rules that govern how stem cells decide what to become, how they multiply, and how they integrate into damaged tissue. That foundational knowledge is not yet ready for the clinic. But without it, no amount of ambition will produce safe, effective treatments. Past fundamental discoveries in stem cell biology have already led to bone marrow transplants for leukaemia; this work lays the groundwork for the next generation of regenerative medicine.