News Writer:
Ann Motrunich
Eric H. Davidson, Norman Chandler Professor of Cell Biology
When certain cells in our bodies are missing or nonfunctional, the only current options are to treat the symptoms with drugs or try to acquire transplants. But what if cells in our own bodies could be transformed to take on the missing functions? What if we could convert cells from other organs to function as neurons after a stroke; cardiomyocytes to address heart disease; gland cells to address endocrine diseases, or cartilaginous cells to address joint deterioration?