The challenge remains to create serum-free systems in which SCs for human therapy can be placed in a microenvironment for optimal growth and differentiation without the risk of introducing viruses and animal-related pathogens.

Local scientists are currently researching what may progress this challenge; the extracellular matrix (ECM), a dynamic biological support structure around cells of all tissues and organs in the human body ebwana.

SC-development depends on communication with the ECM through signaling, be it in the human body or in lab-based experimental models like cell culture systems.

According to Professsor Deirdre Coombe from Curtin University, "the use of serum in research is great".

"Serum for cell culturing contains matrix proteins, which cells in a dish can stick to," she says.

"But if you go down a pathway where you cannot use serum, you need an ECM ribbon barcode. Otherwise cells will either completely differentiate and stop proliferating or die."

Prof Coombe`s aim is to understand the biology of the niche in which the ECM sequester and localise growth factors to provide optimal stimulation for SCs to multiply, specialise and regenerate defined parts of the body.

Her specific interest in the biochemical composition and function of the ECM is geared towards using synthetic chemistry to create look-alikes of its components High quality Soccer Sleeveless Jerseys.

Of particular interest are mimetics of the glycoseaminoglycans (GAGs)--complex sugar molecules which stick to matrix proteins and bind and capture circulating growth factors for SC-stimulation.

Her research in this field complements clinical studies by others in the collaborative research network of the Centre for Cell Therapy and Regenerative Medicine.

Previous studies in her lab support the promising observation that SCs cultured on a scaffold of synthetic or natural products, like silk, start making their own matrix mori lee julietta wedding dress.

"You only need to kick-start them to begin a positive feed-forward loop."

In her view, a sustainable future for cell therapy could be the use of chemically modified ECM-like scaffolds in humans to trigger the body`s own SCs to replace a synthetic ECM over time and regenerate damaged tissue in an autologous manner.

In many ways, this would be advantageous over routine lab-based culturing of cells for transplantation.

New NHMRC funding will allow Prof Coombe to design and test new GAG-mimetics, each unique in contributing to the right microenvironment for human cell therapy iwannayou.