Overview

The Promise of Stem Cell Research

Many existing transplantation-based therapies are currently limited by the availability of donor-derived tissues. One key goal of regenerative medicine is to identify a renewable source of cells and tissues for replacement therapies. Embryonic stem cells (ESCs) represent a promising source of material for transplantation because of their unique properties. ESCs are primary cells that can be expanded indefinitely in culture and thus are a renewable source of tissue. In addition, ESCs are capable of becoming all cell types of the body and thus could be used to generate cells for replacement therapy of any diseased or damaged cell. One significant challenge in using ESCs therapeutically is to identify methods that promote their differentiation into specific and functional adult cells for use in cell-replacement therapy.

Our Mission

The PSCF is dedicated to providing high quality, well characterized, and reliably archived human embryonic stem cells for distribution to researchers. Additionally, the facility will provide investigators with expert training in the protocols and techniques for proper handling and manipulation of human embryonic stem cells. Our overall mission is to facilitate all aspects of pluripotent stem cell experimentation to contribute to advancing stem cell therapies for human disease.

Our Objectives

  • Establish a bank of well characterized, quality controlled human embryonic stem cells (hESCs)
  • Provide reagents and expertise for the generation of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) 
  • Make these cells available to Cincinnati researchers
  • Provide training in the culture and manipulation of hESCs and iPSCs
  • Utilize and develop protocols for directed hESC/iPSC differentiation
  • Assist investigators in experimental design as well as data analysis and interpretation
  • Provide support for manuscript and grant proposal development

Advantages of Using the Stem Cell Facility

The facility has all the necessary expertise, equipment, reagents and regulatory approvals to perform most experiments in-house. Performing your experiments in our facility has several advantages:

  • Significant savings in time and cost versus establishing procedures and approvals in investigator labs*
  • Assistance with experimental design and data interpretation 
  • Access to hands-on training
  • Access to quality controlled reagents
  • The ability to perform approved experiments using our ESCRO approval

 *Investigators can purchase and use their own hESCs but are then responsible for obtaining ESCRO approval,  appropriate IACUC and IBC permissions, as well as permission to use the cells from the cell line originator. 

Contact Us

James Wells PhD (Director)
Chris Mayhew PhD (Co-Director)
Katie Tolle (Research Assistant)
Matt Kuhar (Research Assistant)
Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center
Division of Developmental Biology
Location R, Room 3469
Cincinnati, OH 45229
Email: PSCF@cchmc.org 
Phone: (513) 636-3744