Stem cells for tissue repair : research on therapy using somatic and embryonic stem cells

Damaged cells in tissue can sometimes be replaced by cells from a donor. Striking examples are cell transplants used in animal models for studying diabetes and in clinical trials with Parkinson patients. This research has given rise to the hope that it will be possible to repair human organs and tissue using donor cells. The analogy is with the current use of bone marrow transplants for bone marrow failure.

Committee

• prof. dr P Borst, professor of clinical biochemistry; University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands Cancer Institute / Antoni van Leeuwenhoek Hospital, Amsterdam, chairman
• dr GJ Boer, biochemist; Netherlands Institute for Brain Research, Amsterdam
• dr PAFM Doevendans, cardiologist; Maastricht University Hospital
• prof. dr AC Gittenberger-de Groot, professor of embryological anatomy; Leiden University Medical Center
• mr LF Markenstein, health lawyer; Koninklijke Nederlandse Maatschappij voor Geneeskunst (Royal Dutch Medical Association), Utrecht
• prof. Dr C Mummery, professor of developmental embryology of the heart; Hubrecht laboratory, Utrecht
• prof. Dr MJ Staal, professor of neurosurgery; Groningen University Hospital
• dr SM Weima, clinical embryologist; IVF laboratory UMC, Utrecht
• prof. Dr G de Wert, professor of medical ethics; University of Maastricht
• dr GJ Olthof, Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport, The Hague, advisor
• dr PA Bolhuis, Health Council of the Netherlands, The Hague, scientific secretary