Objective
The use of stem cells for curing disease and ending disabilities may change the medical treatment in this century. However, there are some major roadblocks that need to be resolved before these cells are implemented in ordinary medical care. There are serious ethical issues regarding the use of embryonic stem cells, reliable methods for isolation and expansion of stem cells need to be established, stem cell plasticity raises the issue of tumorigenicity, the use of stem cell transplantation might encounter with rejection and more information is needed on stem cell immunogenicity. This proposal aims to address some of these roadblocks. Replacement of β-cells by transplantation of pancreatic islets has become a viable option for the treatment of certain patients with unstable Type 1 diabetes mellitus. However, the current supply of islets from pancreata of organ donors is very limited. Stem cells may serve as a new source of β-cells. Although promising results have been reported in the production of β-like cells from human embryonic stem cells, the process appears relatively inefficient. We have described the isolation of a novel class of human amniotic fluid stem (AFS) cells and showed that they are capable of extensive clonal expansion and can give rise to differentiated cell types derived from all three embryonic germ layers, but do not form teratoma tumors. Experiments with mouse AFS cells show that, when we forced the expression of the pancreatic transcription factor PDX-1, the cells can be induced to form islet-like clusters containing a high proportion of cells that synthesize proinsulin and display glucose-stimulated insulin secretion. Studies with human AFS (hAFS) cells have confirmed that they can express mRNA for critical beta-cell lineage functions. However, in the clinical scenario hAFS cells will face potential alloimmune responses including autoimmunity.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: https://op.europa.eu/en/web/eu-vocabularies/euroscivoc.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: https://op.europa.eu/en/web/eu-vocabularies/euroscivoc.
- medical and health sciences clinical medicine endocrinology diabetes
- medical and health sciences basic medicine immunology
- medical and health sciences medical biotechnology cells technologies stem cells
- medical and health sciences clinical medicine transplantation
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
FP7-PEOPLE-2007-4-1-IOF
See other projects for this call
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Coordinator
OX1 2JD Oxford
United Kingdom
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.