By Alisa Machalek
(NIH, January 25, 2010) The National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) has awarded a $27 million, five-year contract to the Coriell Institute for Medical Research in Camden, N.J., to continue and expand operation of the NIGMS Human Genetic Cell Repository (HGCR). Under the new contract, the HGCR plans to enhance its collection of carefully maintained human cell lines by adding induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells that carry disease gene mutations. “The addition of iPS cells will make the repository an even more valuable resource,” said Jeremy M. Berg, Ph.D., director of NIGMS. “In addition to teaching important lessons about biology, these cells hold great promise for studying — and maybe one day treating — a wide range of diseases.”
While not derived from embryos, iPS cells offer the same scientifically desirable properties as embryonic stem cells. They reproduce indefinitely and have a similar potential to become any of the more than 200 cell types in the body. The iPS cells will enable scientists to more readily examine normal cell development and study the effect of one or more disease genes in many different cell types. The iPS cells will be available to researchers in about six months.
Established by NIGMS in 1972, the HGCR provides human cell lines and DNA for use in genetic and genomic research. Scientists use the cells and DNA to identify genes and biochemical changes associated with a wide range of conditions and to study rare genetic diseases. The repository’s materials have helped scientists gain important insights into a number of disorders, including Huntington’s disease, cystic fibrosis and Fragile X syndrome. Click here to read more…