Institute for
Regenerative Medicine
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Our mission is to understand how cells and tissues are formed and to apply that knowledge to next generation diagnostics and therapies
Announcing our
2020 Collaborative Research Grants
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Our Response to COVID-19
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Hongjun Song, Perelman Professor of Neuroscience and co-Director of the IRM’s Neurodevelopment & Regeneration Program, was one of five Penn faculty elected to the National Academy of Medicine (NAM) in 2020. Election to NAM is one of the nation’s highest honors in the fields of health and medicine. Hongjun was recognized by his peers in … Continue reading Hongjun Song elected to the National Academy of Medicine
Recent preprints and publications from IRM researchers. This month: a path toward scar-less healing, physical drivers of cell fate, factors that influence fracture repair, and a method to follow a cell’s RNA through time. (Image from Plachta lab) Using an old cream to prevent new scars Mammals tend to repair wounds by forming scars. While … Continue reading Research Recap: Scar skipping, filament foretelling, fracture fixing, and more
Recent preprints and publications from IRM researchers. This month: a new technique for tracing cancer cells back to the source, another step toward producing patient blood stem cells outside of the body, and a search for coronavirus targets in the brain that leverages insights from other viral fights. Which cancer cells go rogue? Why do … Continue reading Research Recap: Following the footsteps of metastatic cancer, blood development, and COVID-19
Working to find cellular cures for diseases.
The IRM supports initiatives to translate discoveries in stem cell science into new therapies. We offer:
Collaborative Research Programs
Grants for Innovative Ideas
Engaging Symposiums & Events
Training Workshops
Award-winning Outreach Partnerships
Scientific Communication Support
Research Programs
Epithelial Stem Cells
The cells that constitute our skin and line our organs are the first line of defense against injury and illness. These vital barriers are replenished by epithelial stem cells. IRM researchers study epithelial stem cells throughout the body to find ways to improve wound healing, heal the lungs after viral infection, reverse baldness, and more. … Continue reading Epithelial Stem Cells
Hematopoietic Stem Cells
Humans produce hundreds of billions of blood cells every day, thanks to the incredible regenerative potential of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). To create all those oxygen-carrying red blood cells and pathogen-fighting white blood cells, HSCs follow very specific development pathways. IRM researchers are exploring how to control these pathways and use HSCs to treat disease. … Continue reading Hematopoietic Stem Cells
Musculoskeletal Regeneration
Muscles, bones, and cartilage are critical to our quality of life, so maintaining musculoskeletal health from childhood to old age is incredibly important. However, injuries, aging, and disease can all undermine musculoskeletal health. IRM scientists and engineers are studying innovative ways to repair degraded tissues and are working toward solutions for muscular dystrophy, osteoarthritis, and … Continue reading Musculoskeletal Regeneration
Neurodevelopment & Regeneration
The nervous system’s capacity for growth and change underlies everything from proper mental development to the body’s coordination and movement. IRM researchers study how neurons develop in different stages of life, why the neurons in limbs regenerate better than in the brain, and how dysregulation leads to diseases including autism spectrum disorder, schizophrenia, and glioblastoma. … Continue reading Neurodevelopment & Regeneration
Reproductive Medicine
The cells of the reproductive system give rise to all other cells in the body. IRM researchers seek to understand the regenerative qualities of sperm and eggs and the biology of early embryos, with the goals of improving the storage of germ cells and embryos for cancer patients and creating safe, effective assisted reproductive technologies. … Continue reading Reproductive Medicine
Outreach
Sharing our science across the Philadelphia region and beyond.