News & Commentaries

Utrecht, NL – Scientists from the Hubrecht Institute, Princess Máxima Center, Utrecht University and University Medical Center Utrecht have successfully created kidney organoids from urine cells. This could lead to a wide range of new treatments that are less onerous for kidney patients. The results of the research were published in Nature Biotechnology.

Luxembourg, Luxembourg – Scientists from the Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine (LCSB) of the University of Luxembourg and from the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) have been able to rejuvenate stem cells in the brain of aging mice. The revitalised stem cells improve the regeneration of injured or diseased areas in the brain of old mice. The researchers expect that their approach will provide fresh impetus in regenerative medicine and facilitate the development of stem cell therapies.

Amsterdam, NL – Cell replacement may play an increasing role in alleviating the motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease in future. Writing in an open access special supplement the Journal of Parkinson's Disease, experts describe how newly developed stem cell technologies could be used to treat the disease and discuss the great promise, as well as the significant challenges, of stem cell treatment.

Bergen, Norway – For the first time, researchers have shown that ordinary human cells can change their original function. The University of Bergen-research published in Nature may give new hope for diabetes patients.