Stem Cell Translational Research A Quest, from Stem Cell to Organ, through a Molecular and Cellular Biological Approach to Therapeutic Applications Takayuki Asahara will never forget the moment he found a colony of cells growing on the surface of an injured artery treated by the transfer of a vascular endothelial growth factor gene, an experience that prompted this cardiologist to open an embryology textbook,and thus begin his quest to find applications for developmental biology in regenerative medicine. Soon thereafter, Asahara gained recognition for his identification of bone marrow-derived endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs), and their role in the generation of blood vessels. His research laboratory later worked to elucidate EPC biology and apply the findings to cell transplantation and gene therapy treatments for cardiovascular diseases. His research currently focuses on the isolation and characterization of post-natal pluripotent stem cells, for which Asahara hopes to develop new therapeutic applications in the re-growth of blood vessels and organs. Aims ・ To isolate post-natal pluripotent stem cells from adult tissues ・ To define the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the commitment of stem cells to vascular lineages ・ To elucidate the contribution of stem cell vascular development during organogenesis, and transfer the findings to therapeutic applications Takayuki Asahara M.D., Ph.D. "A stem sell is that which has no part" As a result of recent findings in endothelial progenitor and post-natal pluripotent stem cell research, there are now alternatives to the conventional notion that postnatal neovascularization occurs exclusively as angiogenesis, in which blood vessels are formed from pre-existing, fully differentiated endothelial cells. Asahara intends to determine the extent to which vasculogenesis, whereby blood vessels are derived at least in part from endothelial stem/progenitor cells, contributes to postnatal neovascularization. These studies are conducted using a translational research approach, and are looked to both to yield basic scientific knowledge and to provide clinically relevant applications. Asahara hopes that this initial research will shed light on the unique circumstances and mechanisms responsible for vascular development in organogenesis. Copyright (C) CENTER FOR DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY All rights reserved.