Breakthrough in 'mass production' of stem cells

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Researchers around the world have hailed stem cells as a huge step forward in the treatment of conditions such as multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's and heart disease. However, producing and storing enough of the cells for use in therapies has so far proved difficult.

A team from the universities of Bath and Leeds said they have discovered a chemical that stops stem cells turning into other cell types, effectively freezing their development.

It can be added to embryonic stem cells grown in the lab, allowing them to multiply without changing into other cell types.

Professor Melanie Welham, co-director of the University of Bath's Centre for Regenerative Medicine, led the research. She said: "When you grow stem cells in the lab, they can spontaneously develop into specialised cells, making it difficult to grow large enough stocks to use for medical research.

"We've identified a chemical that will put this process on hold for several weeks so that we can grow large numbers of them in their unspecialised state."