Success stories: research breakthroughs thanks to StemCore

StemCore is proud to have played a role in many key discoveries at The Ottawa Hospital and the University of Ottawa. Selected success stories are profiled below.

Engineered lung tissue model reveals possible new treatment for lymphangioleiomyomatosis
July 12, 2023 - A research team led by Dr. Bill Stanford has discovered a new class of drugs that may be effective in treating lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM). This rare disease is characterized by abnormal cell growth in the lungs which can lead to severe breathing
Novel stem cell drives ‘remarkable’ regeneration of tiny blood vessels in the lung
May 15, 2023 - Dr. Duncan Stewart’s team has identified a novel stem cell with a remarkable ability to regenerate and repair the tiny blood vessels in the lungs.
Prenatal exposure to low doses of methylmercury causes autism-like behaviors in mice
March 9, 2023 - A study co-led by Dr. Jing Wang and Dr. Laurie Chan is the first to show that exposing pregnant mice to low doses of methylmercury causes autism-like behaviors in their offspring.
Study could lead to new treatments for pulmonary hypertension and right heart failure
February 28, 2023 - The human heart has a remarkable ability to adapt and compensate in the face of injury and disease, but unfortunately this isn’t universal.
Tweaking the ovary’s immune system may help prevent ovarian cancer
October 5, 2022 - The diabetes drug metformin prevents fibrosis in the ovaries by adjusting the organ’s immune cells, according to a study in mice published in Science Advances.
Research reveals novel mechanism controlling muscle stem cells
October 5, 2022 - New research from Dr. Michael Rudnicki’s team shows for the first time that a cellular structure called a primary cilium, which functions somewhat like an antenna, plays a crucial role in priming muscle stem cells for repair and regeneration.
Hyaluronic acid, a naturally occurring compound, awakens stem cells to repair damaged muscle
August 4, 2022 - A new study published in the journal Science reveals a unique form of cell communication that controls muscle repair.
Lab-grown “mini-kidneys” unlock secrets of a rare disease
July 21, 2022 - Researchers have solved a medical mystery in a poorly understood disease by uncovering which cells cause tumours in patients with tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC).
MicroRNA protects mice from acute kidney injury
October 6, 2021 - New research led by Dr. Kevin Burns shows that intravenous delivery of a type of microRNA can protect mice from acute kidney injury, a serious and untreatable condition.
50 ways to repair an ovary? Study suggests multiple pathways can create stem-like ovarian cells
August 17, 2021 - Approximately every 28 days, hundreds of cells die and disintegrate on the ovary’s surface as an egg breaks through and begins its journey. Ovaries have become masters at repairing this damage, but exactly how they do this remains a mystery.

2021

6/2/2021 12:00:00 AM - Research unravels links between fasting, lifespan and muscle stem cells
5/12/2021 12:00:00 AM - Stem cells go ‘all in’ to repair damaged muscles
1/27/2021 12:00:00 AM - Studying sex differences in kidney disease could open door to developing new treatments

2020

6/8/2020 12:00:00 AM - Using lab-grown human tissues to identify possible treatments
5/8/2020 12:00:00 AM - COVID-19 research moving at ‘lightning speed’, thanks to generous community support
4/29/2020 12:00:00 AM - Researchers and research staff honoured for outstanding work in cancer clinical trials, emergency medicine, cell sorting and tissue collection

2019

10/22/2019 12:00:00 AM - How does a stem cell know what to be when it grows up?
10/9/2019 12:00:00 AM - “Wild idea” opens possible new frontier for preventing ovarian cancer
10/2/2019 12:00:00 AM - Researchers reveal the circuitry regulating muscle stem cell function
9/25/2019 12:00:00 AM - Unravelling the mystery of how one gene contributes to Parkinson’s, Crohn’s and leprosy
5/17/2019 12:00:00 AM - $950,000 to help develop stem cell treatments for septic shock, lung injury and muscle degeneration
5/1/2019 12:00:00 AM - Precision medicine approach for leukemia awarded $1.5M
1/31/2019 12:00:00 AM - Discovery points to innovative new way to treat Duchenne muscular dystrophy

2018

10/22/2018 12:00:00 AM - New drug combination destroys chemo-resistant blood cancer
9/10/2018 12:00:00 AM - Often-overlooked Natural Killer cells may be key to cancer immunotherapy
9/6/2018 12:00:00 AM - How does type 1 diabetes start? New research implicates early metabolic defects in the pancreas
7/20/2018 12:00:00 AM - $1.7 million to advance research on colon cancer, brain development, kidney disease and severe fluid loss
7/11/2018 12:00:00 AM - Estrogen and ovarian cancer: study provides first molecular link
7/11/2018 12:00:00 AM - Researchers uncover possible new mechanism to enhance cancer-killing viruses

2016

10/11/2016 12:00:00 AM - $2-million project aims to bring personalized medicine to lung cancer care