The rapid advancement of stem cell research creates a foundation for future therapeutic strategies spanning from organ replacements to treatment of diabetes and neurodegenerative disease, and to aging-related frailty and disease. To fully realize the potential of stem cell based strategies, we must first understand the cellular processes critical for stem cell function. We have discovered that metabolism is a potent driver of stem cell fate and that metabolic interventions can guide stem cell function. Subsequently, we have for example succeeded in producing near-mature stem cell derived pancreatic islets, that produce insulin in response to elevated glucose. During the second term, we will focus on illuminating how metabolism controls differentiation of stem cells in a tissue environment, and whether metabolic tools can be used to enhance the maturation of lab-grown pancreatic islets for stem cell based diabetes therapy.

2023

2025