Stem cell biology, cell therapy, cardiovascular disease, diabetes

To understand the basic biology of stem cells and how they become specified into different tissue types.  This information will allow us to further our work on the development of cell therapies for cardiovascular disease, diabetes and neurological disorders/injuries.

We now have a good appreciation of how stem cells grow, divide and differentiate into a wide variety of cell types. This offers two exciting opportunities: (i) it allows us to investigate the idea that solid tumors originate from ‘rogue’ stem cells; (ii) sets the scene where human stem cells can be used for a wide variety of cell therapy applications directed towards the curing of cardiovascular disease, diabetes and neurodegenerative diseases.

Firstly, the environment in Georgia is very supportive towards R&D and the future landscape for cancer research in the State is very promising.  Georgia also offers vast opportunity for academic researchers to interact with the biotechnology sector.