This area of investigation at the McEwen Centre involves understanding the developmental processes that lead to cell and tissue malfunction.
McEwen Investigators working in this area are focused on the following domains:
Normal and cancer stem cells
There is a growing body of evidence supporting the concept that the most deadly cells within a tumour are represented by a small population known as ‘cancer stem cells.’ These cells are so-named because they share many properties with stem cells and are thought to be responsible for the progression and recurrence of some cancers. Understanding normal stem cell function can serve as a model for understanding cancer stem cells and ultimately developing new therapies to treat this devastating disease.
Modeling human disease with embryonic stem cells
McEwen Investigators are studying how human embryonic stem cells develop into malfunctioning cell types (for example, insulin-producing pancreatic cells or heart muscle cells). This provides a better understanding of how diseases arise and develop, offering the possibility of identifying new methods for prevention and treatment. |
