Organ Regeneration

Technologies for reprogramming cells are spreading like wildfire. One laboratory after another is reporting faster, more efficient methods for generating cardiomyocytes, blood cells, and even neurons, all from readily available skin fibroblasts. But how close are these “custom-made” cells to reaching the clinic? This Select highlights recent studies demonstrating the ability of cultured stem cells to repopulate and regenerate damaged organs in vivo while also offering a glimpse of future challenges on the horizon