As the largest collaborative of its kind, the Harvard Stem Cell Institute is a truly unique scientific enterprise -- a gathering place for a whole community of scientists and clinical experts in stem cell science seeking to bring new treatments to the clinic, and new life to patients with a wide range of chronic illnesses.

The Harvard community, consisting of the university, medical school and 11 teaching hospitals and research institutions, already represents one of the largest concentrations of biomedical researchers in the world. But stem cell research is a challenge that involves areas of expertise not encompassed in any one discipline, department or school. Most importantly, basic biology must interface with medical expertise if the promise of this field is to be fully realized. Through the generous support of pioneering donors like Howard and Stella Heffron, HSCI was founded was founded in 2004 to draw Harvard's resources together by establishing a cooperative community of scientists and practitioners, by developing new ways to fund and support research, and by promoting opportunities for open communication and education.

Addressing the many societal issues, including legal, political and economic questions, raised by stem cell research requires an interdisciplinary approach, and HSCI draws in faculty not only from the biomedical sciences but also from Harvard's professional schools, including Harvard Law School, the Harvard Kennedy School, the Harvard School of Public Health, the Harvard Business School and the Harvard Divinity School.