Mission, Vision and Goals
Mission
To advance the fundamental knowledge of stem cells and their differentiation pathways, understand how stem cells interact with tissues and organ systems of the body, and develop stem cell-based therapies to treat human diseases and injuries.
Vision
The Oakland University William Beaumont Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine seeks a leadership role in basic and translational stem cell research through developing innovative, multidisciplinary collaborative approaches. We will train future leaders for education, research and delivery of novel therapies using stem cells. We will recruit and retain outstanding basic and clinical scientists to advance the field of stem cell research and regenerative medicine through support from federal agencies, commercial sources and philanthropy.
Goals
- Conduct basic research in stem cell biology.
- Develop experimental models for use of stem cells to alter physiological and developmental characteristics of tissues and organ systems involved in disease processes.
- Develop stem cell-based therapies to treat human diseases and injuries.
- Serve as a training and educational center for stem cell biology and regenerative medicine.
- Develop technologies for discovery and production of pharmaceutical and biological agents for use in stem cell biology and therapeutics.
- Investigate and develop high throughput techniques for safety testing of pharmaceutical and biological agents related to stem cell biology and therapeutics.
- Develop and commercialize intellectual property resulting from stem cell research and development.
- Follow guidelines established by the Beaumont Ethics Committee for use of embryonic stem cells.
Stem cell research is advancing the understanding of development of organisms from single cells, the characteristics and reactivity of a wide range of pluripotent cells, the understanding of differentiation pathways induced in stem cells by endogenous and exogenous factors, the induction of differentiated cells to become pluripotent cells, and therapeutic applications of healthy stem cells to regenerate or replace damaged cells in adults. Stem cell research provides hope for prevention and treatment of many debilitating and currently untreatable diseases. In addition, stem cells may be used for diagnostics, toxicological and pharmaceutical testing, understanding fundamental disease processes, drug development and delivery, and tissue bioengineering.
- Stem cell growth and differentiation
- Genomic reprogramming
- Stem cell gene expression
- Adult, cancer, cord blood, embryonic and induced pluripotent stem cell biology
- Neural stem cells
- Mesenchymal stem cells
- Hematopoietic and immune systems
- Hormonal regulation of embryonic development
- Muscle (skeletal and cardiac), bone and cartilage
- Myocardinal infarction and heart failure; cardiovascular injury and repair
- Spinal cord injuries
- Incontinence
- Leukemia and other cancers
- Degenerative diseases such as AD, PD, MS and ALS
- Metabolic disorders
- Retinal regeneration
- Interveteberal disc regeneration
- The ISCRM is expected to become a self-supporting unit within three years of its inception through extramural funding from state, federal and philanthropic sources for stem cell education and research.
- Every member of the ISCRM is expected to submit at least two extramural grant applications each year.
- The ISCRM will foster interdisciplinary/multidisciplinary research across departments and institutions.
- The ISCRM will utilize core facilities at Beaumont and Oakland University for stem cell research, and develop added core facility components needed to advance stem cell research and regenerative medicine.
ISCRM