# Research ![banner1.jpg](/sites/g/files/omnuum10026/files/styles/hwp_21_9__1920x825/public/hsci/files/banner1.jpg?itok=eZVGaoss) ## Our research program bridges gaps in traditional funding to encourage bold thinking and nurture scientific careers. ### We strive to create a highly collaborative environment with multiple channels of interaction, which gives rise to new ideas, new programs, and the resources to support them. ## Disease Programs We channel world-class resources, both intellectual and technological, toward some of the most prevalent, devastating diseases for which stem cell research holds promise. [Disease Programs chevron\_right](/disease-programs) [### Blood Diseases ](/blood-diseases-program) ![red-blood-cell-4216070_1280.jpg](/sites/g/files/omnuum10026/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/hsci/files/red-blood-cell-4216070_1280.jpg?itok=MFyMstt8) [### Cancer ](/cancer-program) ![Fluorescent microscopy of blue-stained cancer cells](/sites/g/files/omnuum10026/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/hsci/files/cancer-cells-541954_1280.jpg?itok=jPDdNQay) [### Cardiovascular Diseases ](/cardiovascular-disease-program) ![cardio.jpg](/sites/g/files/omnuum10026/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/hsci/files/cardio.jpg?itok=AjV7LRgt) [### Diabetes ](/diabetes-program) ![diabetes.jpg](/sites/g/files/omnuum10026/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/hsci/files/diabetes.jpg?itok=vEPIcutE) [### Kidney Disease ](/kidney-disease-program) ![kidney.jpg](/sites/g/files/omnuum10026/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/hsci/files/kidney.jpg?itok=YOYfOfao) [### Musculoskeletal Disease ](/research) ![muskulo.png](/sites/g/files/omnuum10026/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/hsci/files/muskulo.png?itok=nBEgc_1x) [### Nervous System Diseases ](/nervous-system-diseases-program) ![neuron.jpg](/sites/g/files/omnuum10026/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/hsci/files/neuron.jpg?itok=lg8xAbf0) [### Skin Diseases ](/skin-program-1) ![skin_cells.jpeg](/sites/g/files/omnuum10026/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/hsci/files/skin_cells.jpeg?itok=NpmpaNwL) [### Fibrosis & Aging ](/aging-fibrosis) ![red-blood-cell-4216070_1280.jpg](/sites/g/files/omnuum10026/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/hsci/files/red-blood-cell-4216070_1280.jpg?itok=MFyMstt8) [### Stem Cells as Tools ](/stem-cells-tools) ![Fluorescent microscopy of blue-stained cancer cells](/sites/g/files/omnuum10026/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/hsci/files/cancer-cells-541954_1280.jpg?itok=jPDdNQay) ## Early Stage Research HSCI provides early funding for innovative projects in stem cell research through Seed Grants, Junior Faculty Programs, and the Barry Family HSCI Innovation Award. These focused funds allow scientists to pursue "high risk/high reward" avenues of research that might be difficult to fund from more traditional sources. HSCI also recognizes the achievements of early-stage researchers at an annual retreat, which is a unique opportunity for our researchers to connect with one another and forge new collaborations. [ Early Stage Research arrow\_circle\_right ](/early-stage-research) ![Ya-Chieh Hsu with award-winning members of her lab at the HSCI 2019 annual retreat](/sites/g/files/omnuum10026/files/styles/hwp_1_1__480x480/public/hsci/files/hsu_lab_awards_hsci_annual_retreat_2019.jpg?itok=5m9547my) *Ya-Chieh Hsu with award-winning members of her lab at the HSCI 2019 annual retreat* [### Seed Grants ](/seed-grant-awards)We support ideas that are not typically funded by traditional sources, either because the research is too early-stage or the researcher too junior to compete with larger laboratories. [### Junior Faculty Programs ](/junior-faculty-programs)We support highly collaborative, “high risk, high reward” projects in which young HSCI faculty with diverse expertise pool their efforts to tackle a major, shared challenge. ### Barry Family HSCI Innovation Award We support innovation by early career investigators that has the potential to transform the field of stem cell research. ## Our approach Stem cells have already changed medicine, saving the lives of leukemia patients for over 50 years. Today, technological breakthroughs have opened up vast potential to use stem cells to understand and treat human disease. HSCI researchers are harnessing the potential of stem cells in a number of ways: ### Replace Different types of stem cells can be used to develop cell-replacement therapies. For example, a diabetes patient’s damaged insulin-producing cells could be replaced with healthy ones created from stem cells, which have been corrected using gene editing. We are expanding this approach to address many diseases. ### Repair Understanding how different organs repair themselves following injury or disease helps HSCI scientists identify ways to stimulate a patient’s own stem cells to regenerate, for example using drugs to regrow inner ear cells and restore hearing. ### Reprogram Stem cells can be reprogrammed to become specific tissues, such as neurons or heart tissues. This helps scientists study human diseases directly in a dish, and test a potential treatment safely outside the body before giving it to a patient. ### Learn more about stem cells and medicine Comprehensive resources are hosted by the International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) and the Alliance for Regenerative Medicine. [ISSCR's A Closer Look at Stem Cells](https://www.closerlookatstemcells.org/) [Alliance for Regenerative Medicine](https://alliancerm.org/) ## Research news [### Jason Buenrostro lands MacArthur ‘Genius Grant’ ](/news/jason-buenrostro-macarthur-genius-grant) October 04, 2023 [### New model for in vitro production of human brown fat cells lays groundwork for obesity, diabetes cell therapy ](/news/new-model-vitro-production-human-brown-fat-cells-lays-groundwork-obesity-diabetes-cell) September 22, 2023 [### Out with the Old (Neurons), In with the New ](/news/out-old-neurons-new) May 30, 2023 [### Mutant protein switches sides in melanoma ](/news/mutant-protein-switches-sides-melanoma-0) April 26, 2023 [ More research news arrow\_circle\_right ](/news) ## Stem-cell research news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for the HSCI monthly newsletter [ Subscribe arrow\_circle\_right ](https://harvard.us19.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=6462e89f312befb995e43ed10&id=dc8cb3048c)