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Chair's Introduction <i>(John Gearhart).</i> <p>What is a stem cell ?  Discussion <i>(Davor Solter).</i></p> <p>Bone-marrow derived hepatocytes - Discussion <i>(Markus Grompe).</i></p> <p>Normal and neoplastic stem cells - Discussion <i>(Irvin L. Weissman).</i></p> <p>Multipotent adult progenitor cells: an update - Discussion <i>(Catherine A. Verfaillie).</i></p> <p>Neural progenitor cells of the adult brain - Discussion <i>(Steven A. Goldman and Fraser Sim).</i></p> <p>Stem cells in the brain - General Discussion I.</p> <p>Embryonic stem cells: a perspective - Discussion <i>(Martin Evans).</i></p> <p>Nuclear cloning, epigenetic reprogramming and cellular differentiation - Discussion <i>(Rudolf Jaenisch, Konrad Hochedlinger and Kevin Eggan).</i></p> <p>General Discussion II.</p> <p>Nuclear reprogramming by xenopus oocytes - Discussion <i>(J.B. Gordon, J.A. Byrne and S. Simonsson).</i></p> <p>Cardiac stem cells and myocardial regeneration - Discussion <i>(Bernardo Nadal-Ginard, Perio Anversa, Jan Kajstura and Annarosa Leri).</i></p> <p>Genenration of insulin-producing cells from stem cells - Discussion <i>(Bernat Soria, Enrique Roche, Juan A. Reig and Franz Martin).</i></p> <p>Cell therapy for Parkinson's disease: problems and prospects - Discussion <i>(Anders Bjorklund).</i></p> <p>Ethical (and political) issues in research with human stem cells - Discussion <i>(Thomas H. Murray).</i></p> <p>The regulatory environment - final discussion.</p> <p>Index of contributors.</p> <p>Subject index.</p>

"...this book provides: a comprehensive overview of current issues in stem cell research, with contributions from leading figures in the field..." (<i>British Society of Cell Biology</i>, January 2006) <p>"This compact book is easy to read…[discussions] provide insights into the practice of science as a deeply human enterprise. I learned a great deal." (<i>Doody's Health Services</i>)</p> <p>‘This book is an essential purchase for all those engaged in stem cell research, whether in the laboratory or the clinic.’ (<i>Anticancer Research</i>, 2007)</p>

The <strong>Novartis Foundation</strong> is an international scientific and educational charity which promotes the study and general knowledge of science and in particular encourages international co-operation in scientific research.

Stem cells are specialized cells with unique potential for self-renewal and specific cell-type commitment. They remain uncommitted until a particular physiological signal prompts them to differentiate and become lineage-specific cells with particular physiological functions. <p>In 1998 investigators isolated embryonic stem cells from human embryos for the first time and were able to culture these <i>in vitro</i>.  Since then, stem cell-based technologies have received enormous scientific attention because of their potential for developing novel therapeutic applications. Potential clinical applications covered in the book include the production of cardiomyocytes to replace damaged heart tissue, the production of insulin-producing cells for patients with diabetes, and the generation of neurons for the treatment of patients with Parkinson’s disease or spinal cord injury.</p> <p>Particular attention is paid to the factors that maintain stem cells in a pluripotent state or which drive them to create differentiated and lineage-committed cells <i>in vitro</i> and <i>in vivo</i>.  Understanding stem cells at the molecular level is essential to understanding their behaviour in a physiological context. Nuclear reprogramming, the process by which a nucleus acquires developmental potential, is currently a focus of great interest in the scientific community and is covered here. It is relevant to stem cell research generally, and also to research on the cloning of animals by nuclear transfer. </p> <p>The book features animated discussion from the world’s experts in this topic on the important ethical issues that are raised by research on stem cells. They review the various regulatory regimes which apply in different countries―a key factor in determining where future stem cell research is carried out. This book is an essential purchase for all those engaged in stem cell research, whether in the laboratory, the clinic or the regulatory authorities.</p>

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