Tissue Regeneration and Stem Cell Biology

Striving to heal hearts, vessels, muscles, and bones, tissue engineering and biomaterials offers new clinical applications with advanced treatments, providing hope where no other medical solution is available. By developing biological substitutes, incorporating living cells and synthetic or natural materials, scientists can today foster tissue regeneration, remodeling, and repair of damaged tissues and organs. These technologies use the body's natural ability to adjust, incorporate, and heal, to replace or enhance vital tissue function. The traditional view that organs have only limited regenerative capacity has been challenged in recent years as the field of stem cells has emerged. Stem cells represent natural units of embryonic development and tissue regeneration. Embryonic stem (ES) cells, in particular, possess a nearly unlimited capacity for self-renewal, and the developmental potential to differentiate into virtually any cell type of an organism. While most current strategies for tissue engineering depend upon a sample of cells from the diseased organ of the host, pluripotent ES cells are envisioned as a viable source of cells since they can serve as an alternative source from which the desired tissue can be derived. Combining the techniques learned in tissue engineering over the past few decades with this potentially endless source of versatile cells, novel sources of replacement organs can be produced.

The Principle:

This discipline is concerned with the development of biological substitutes incorporating living cells and synthetic or natural materials to foster tissue regeneration and remodeling to repair, replace, or enhance tissue function.

The Promise:

New, non-invasive treatments can be developed for neurodegenerative disorders, diabetes, heart diseases, and a broad array of other genetically inherited diseases. As science unfolds the potential of this field, every area of human health will be imbued with the new hope of sophisticated, precise and lasting medical solutions.

The Process:

By researching the core technologies to develop tissue substitutes and induce stem cells to differentiate into various tissues, the Technion is already advancing the tissue engineering industry in Israel. Through vigorous pursuit of interdisciplinary efforts, hurdle after hurdle is being lifted, and new techniques, skills and applications are being created.

Scientific and Technological Goals

• Promote research to develop core technologies enabling the engineering of tissue substitutes.
• Promote interdisciplinary efforts in tissue engineering and stem cell research and development among Technion scientists.
• Educate the next generation of Israeli engineers, physicians, and life scientists in tissue engineering and stem cell research and technology.
• Support, stimulate, and advance tissue engineering in Israel.