This timeline covers the major milestones in the field of stem cells research and the development of regenerative medicine therapies. Keep visiting our site to see any major advances you may have missed.
Teratocarcinomas cancer cells were discovered in a mouse which had the ability to grow in culture and differentiate into (turn into) all cell types in the body (pluripotency), just like ES cells. They were used to test how compounds (e.g. drugs) affected embryonic development.
2 papers published describing the derivation of pluripotent stem cells from mouse embryos (PMID 7242681 and 6950406). The second of these papers (by Gail Martin) is also the first published use of the phrase ‘Embryonic stem cell’.
Investigators publish the isolation and culture of primate (rhesus monkey) ES cells (other studies in the late 1980s and early-mid 1990s describe isolation from a range of species, including hamster and pig).
: James Thompson and colleagues describe for the first time the isolation and culture of human ES cells (9804556). This leads to new interest in the application of these cells for understanding disease developing new treatments.
George W Bush bans federal US funding for ES cell research using cell lines created after August 2001. This stops US universities research ES cells, but allows companies to continue working.
Dr Hwang Woo-suk and his team followed up the 2004 work by demonstrating that they had created 11 human ES cell lines using somatic-cell nuclear transfer, this time using different donors of somatic cells and egg cells.
Dr Hwang Woo-suk and his team at Seoul National University in South Korea announce that they have created a cloned human ES cell using a process known as somatic cell nuclear transfer.
In November 2005 concerns were raised about the source of eggs used in the study. This led to a number of investigations over the coming months and on the 29th December 2005 all 11 of the clones created by Dr Hwang were determined to have been fabricated.
Dr Robert Lanza, medical director of US medical company Advanced Cell Technology, announces a non-destructive method of isolating ES cells without destroying embryos.
Between 2001 and 2009 several states attempted to create laws which would allow them to ignore the ban (most notably California), although the caused ongoing disputes with the Government.
US company Geron announce the first human clinical trial of ES cell therapies to treat spinal cord injuries. This eventually gets approval in 2010, but is discontinued in 2011 after treating only 4 patients, due to financial rather than scientific issues.
Advanced Cell Technology becomes the second company to initiate a human clinical trial using ES cells to treat a form of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) which causes blindness.
The trial is still on-going, and appears to be demonstrating improvement in patients vision
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