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stem cells

Stem cells are immature cells that have the ability, under the right conditions, to develop into many types of cells in the body with specialized functions. Here you can learn how they’re being used to develop therapies for diseases such as cancer, Parkinson’s, and infertility, better understand autism, schizophrenia, and other brain illnesses, and how some stem cell research is raising ethical concerns.

Most Read

First Opinion I. Glenn Cohen and Alex Pearlman

Creating eggs and sperm from stem cells: the next big thing in assisted reproduction?

In the Lab Usha Lee McFarling

International team creates first chimeric human-monkey embryos

In the Lab Leah Samuel

Scientists discover why our hair thins as we age

In the Lab Megan Molteni

In mouse experiments, scientists unlock the key to scar-free skin healing

In the Lab Megan Molteni

Provocative new findings suggest a surprising cause of Down syndrome: cells linked to aging

Health Brittany Flaherty

Canada case highlights possible long-term risks of experimental stem cell therapy

In the Lab Sharon Begley

Macular degeneration trial will be first human test in U.S. of Nobel-winning stem cell technique

Exclusive Sharon Begley

A secret experiment revealed: In a medical first, doctors treat Parkinson’s with a novel brain cell transplant

All Coverage

In the Lab Megan Molteni

In a boost for species conservation, freeze-dried mouse cells produce healthy pups

First Opinion Paul Knoepfler

Google’s ongoing stem cell problem points to a larger issue with its search results on unproven therapies

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In the Lab Megan Molteni

Last-gasp gene therapy saved a Syrian refugee’s life. Five years later, the boy is thriving and a clinical trial is starting

Health Megan Molteni

Q&A: Bioethicist Leigh Turner on the worrisome boom in unregulated stem cell clinics

First Opinion Paul Knoepfler

For now, stem cells for Covid-19 are mostly a shot in the dark

In the Lab Sharon Begley

STAT Plus: In a stem cell experiment that seemingly failed, scientists see a possible way to prevent a devastating disease

Politics Lev Facher, Nicholas Florko, Andrew Joseph and Kate Sheridan

Doctors in Congress, new e-cigarette taxes, stem cells, and abortion rights: Here’s what STAT is watching tonight

Politics Usha Lee McFarling

STAT Plus: With wildfires burning and Covid-19 spreading, can California afford stem cell research? Voters are set to decide

Health Sharon Begley

Ethics questions swirl around historic Parkinson’s experiment

First Opinion David A. Pearce

We need better regulation of stem cell therapies, especially rogue clinics

Business Sharon Begley

STAT Plus: Facing bottlenecks in manufacturing cell therapies, Boston leaders plan to build their own

First Opinion David Mitchell, Saad Kenderian and S. Vincent Rajkumar

Letting academic medical centers make CAR-T drugs would save billions

Don't Miss Sharon Begley

What’s in the cards for this year’s Nobel Prizes? Scientists are placing their bets

First Opinion Jeremy Snyder

Kudos to Google for banning stem cell ads. Other tech companies should follow

Health Sharon Begley

In a CRISPR first, therapy intended to cure HIV patient appears safe — though ineffective

In the Lab Sharon Begley

With mini-placentas and mini-brains, scientists try to unravel the roots of psychiatric disorders

Biotech Kate Sheridan

STAT Plus: A mysterious startup launched with an impossibly ambitious rallying cry. Now its plans are coming into focus

Health Liz Szabo — Kaiser Health News

Employers are steering workers toward a controversial stem cell therapy

Politics Eric Boodman

STAT Plus: Stem cell clinics co-opt clinical-trials registry to market unproven therapies, critics say

First Opinion Jeremy Snyder

GoFundMe should stop embracing and promoting unproven clinical research

Health Megan Thielking

Crowdfunding raises millions for unproven — and potentially harmful — treatments

First Opinion Paul J. Hauptman

Stem cell clinics for heart failure: buyer be wary

Biotech Andrew Joseph

STAT Plus: What will FDA’s new rules mean for legitimate stem cell treatments?

Politics Usha Lee McFarling

STAT Plus: What the FDA’s promised crackdown on stem cell clinics means — and what may come next

Health Andrew Joseph

Federal agents seize unauthorized smallpox vaccine as FDA signals broader crackdown on stem cell clinics