History of Stem Cell Research Timeline

(1868 - Present)

The history of stem cell research traces over 150 years of scientific discovery, beginning with early theories of blood cell formation and culminating in revolutionary advances such as bone marrow transplantation, embryonic stem cell isolation, induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), and cutting-edge regenerative medicine therapies. More Less

Go to: Timeline | Event List | Key Facts | Directory

Early Discoveries

Lewis Kleinsmith and G. Barry Pierce identify stem cells

1964

In 1964, researchers Lewis Kleinsmith and G. Barry Pierce made early contributions to the identification and understanding of stem cells, laying important groundwork for the modern field of stem cell research.

Image source: Stem cell

Embryonic stem cells first derived from mouse embryos

1981

Embryonic stem cells were independently first derived from mouse embryos in 1981 by two separate research groups. This breakthrough established the foundation for decades of subsequent research into pluripotent cells and their potential therapeutic applications.

Image source: Embryonic stem cell

Embryonic stem cells first derived from mouse embryos

First human embryonic stem cell lines derived

1998

In 1998, a team from the University of Wisconsin, Madison led by James A. Thomson successfully derived human embryonic stem cell lines, opening new possibilities for regenerative medicine while sparking ethical debate.

Image source: Stem cell controversy

Study finds federal stem cell lines contaminated

Jan 24, 2005

The online edition of Nature Medicine published a study on January 24, 2005, stating that the human embryonic stem cells available for federally funded research were contaminated with non-human molecules from the culture medium used to grow the cells.

New serum-free stem cell line reported in Lancet

Mar 8, 2005

A study published in the online edition of Lancet Medical Journal on March 8, 2005 detailed a new stem cell line derived from human embryos under completely cell- and serum-free conditions, addressing contamination concerns.

Image source: Stem-cell line

Nature publishes letter on embryonic-like stem cells

Aug 23, 2006

On August 23, 2006, the online edition of Nature published a letter by Dr. Robert Lanza and colleagues describing a method of deriving embryonic stem cell lines without destroying embryos. This technical achievement could potentially enable scientists to work with new lines of embryonic stem cells using public funding in the US.

Mari Dezawa discovers Muse cells

2010

Multilineage-differentiating stress-enduring (Muse) cells were discovered in 2010 by Mari Dezawa and her research group, adding a novel type of endogenous pluripotent-compatible stem cell to the field.

Cloning Milestones

Dolly the sheep cloned from an adult cell

1996

In 1996, Dolly became the first mammal cloned from an adult cell by the Roslin Institute of the University of Edinburgh. Her creation demonstrated that adult differentiated cells could be reprogrammed, revolutionizing ideas about cellular plasticity.

Image source: Dolly (sheep)

Stemagen creates first mature cloned human embryos

Jan 16, 2008

On January 16, 2008, California-based company Stemagen announced that they had created the first mature cloned human embryos from single skin cells taken from adults, advancing somatic cell nuclear transfer techniques.

Policy and Funding

President George W. Bush restricts federal stem cell funding

2001

In August 2001, President George W. Bush announced restrictions limiting federal funding for embryonic stem cell research to existing cell lines derived prior to August 2001, significantly shaping the direction of US research.

Image source: Stem cell controversy

Executive Order 13505 lifts stem cell funding limits

Mar 9, 2009

Executive Order 13505 was signed by President Barack Obama in March 2009, removing the restrictions placed on federal funding for human embryonic stem cell research by the previous presidential administration.

Image source: List of executive actions by Barack Obama

Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells

Yamanaka and Takahashi publish iPS cell paper

2006

Japanese scientists Shinya Yamanaka and Kazutoshi Takahashi published a paper describing the induction of pluripotent stem cells from cultures of adult mouse fibroblasts by introducing four specific genes encoding transcription factors, pioneering iPS cell technology.

Image source: Induced pluripotent stem cell

Human iPS cells created from differentiated cells

2007

In 2007, it was shown that pluripotent stem cells highly similar to embryonic stem cells can be induced by delivery of four factors (Oct3/4, Sox2, c-Myc, and Klf4) to differentiated human cells, confirming iPS technology in humans.

Mice cured of sickle cell anemia using iPS cells

Dec 6, 2007

As a first indication that iPS cell technology could rapidly lead to new cures, a research team headed by Rudolf Jaenisch of the Whitehead Institute used iPS cells to cure mice of sickle cell anemia, as reported by Science journal's online edition on December 6, 2007.

Clinical Trials

FDA approves Geron's ESC trial for spinal cord injuries

Jan 23, 2009

The US Food and Drug Administration approved Geron Corporation's phase I clinical trial of their human embryonic stem cell-derived treatment for spinal cord injuries. Phase I trials involved transplanting oligodendrocytes derived from human ESCs into spinal cord-injured individuals.

Image source: Geron Corporation

Geron trial put on hold over cysts in rat models

Aug 2009

In August 2009, the FDA placed Geron's spinal cord injury trial on hold due to concerns regarding a small number of microscopic cysts found in several treated rat models.

FDA hold lifted on Geron's ESC trial

Jul 30, 2010

On July 30, 2010, the FDA lifted its hold on Geron's phase I clinical trial, allowing the study of human embryonic stem cell-derived oligodendrocytes in spinal cord injury patients to resume.

First patient enrolled and dosed at Shepherd Center

Oct 2010

In October 2010, researchers enrolled and administered human embryonic stem cell-derived treatment to the first patient at Shepherd Center in Atlanta, marking the first-ever use of hESC therapy in a human patient in the United States.

Geron halts trial and exits stem cell research

Nov 2011

In November 2011, Geron announced it was halting the trial and dropping out of stem cell research for financial reasons, but would continue monitoring existing patients and attempted to find a partner that could continue their research.

BioTime continues ESC spinal cord injury research

2013

In 2013, BioTime, led by CEO Dr. Michael West, took up continuation of the spinal cord injury program originally developed by Geron, keeping the pursuit of embryonic stem cell therapies alive after Geron's exit.

Key Facts

In 1868, Ernst Haeckel first used the term 'Stammzelle' (stem cell) to describe the ancestor cell of all organisms.
In 1961, Toronto scientists James Till and Ernest McCulloch proved the existence of stem cells through their work on mouse bone marrow, laying the foundation for modern stem cell science.
The first successful human bone marrow transplant was performed by Robert Good in 1968 to treat a child with severe combined immunodeficiency.
In 1998, James Thomson at the University of Wisconsin became the first to isolate and culture human embryonic stem cells.
In 2006, Shinya Yamanaka created induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from adult skin cells, a discovery that won the Nobel Prize in 2012 and opened new doors for personalized medicine.

Source

This History of Stem Cell Research timeline was generated with the help of AI, using information found on the internet.

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