| Opportunities in Human Embryonic Stem Cells | | | | therapies, and basic stem cell biology research. Of |
| hESCs Report ( ) gives the information about | | | | particular interest to the medical community is the |
| types of stem cell. | | | | potential for use of hESCs to heal tissues with |
| | | | | naturally limited capacity for renewal, such as the |
| Human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) are stem | | | | human heart, liver and brain. |
| cells derived from the inner cell mass of a | | | | |
| blastocyst, which is a stage reach 4-5 days post | | | | This market report recognizes that a wide |
| fertilization. hESCs are the most pluripotent of all | | | | range of products and services are needed to |
| stem cell types and can develop into over 200 | | | | support this active and well-funded research |
| different cell types of the human body. | | | | community. Thus, this report provides: |
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| hESCs were first derived from mouse embryos | | | | * Discussion of key advances in hESC research |
| in 1981 by Martin Evans and Matthew Kaufman, | | | | * A breakdown of hESC research applications, |
| and independently by Gail R. Martin. In 1995, the | | | | including shared priorities and priorities by segment |
| first successful culturing of embryonic stem cells | | | | * hESC patent analysis |
| from non-human primates occurred at the | | | | * Historical and future growth projections for |
| University of Wisconsin-Madison. Another | | | | the hESC market |
| breakthrough followed at the University of | | | | * Competitive analysis of providers of hESC |
| Wisconsin-Madison in November 1998 when a | | | | research tools |
| group led by Dr. James Thomson developed a | | | | * Overview of specialty pharma companies |
| technique to isolate and grow hESCs derived from | | | | developing hESC therapies |
| human blastocysts. Federal funds to support hESC | | | | * Overview of toxicology testing legislation |
| research became available on August 9, 2001, | | | | impacting use of hESC in toxicology applications |
| when President Bush announced his decision | | | | * A breakdown of hESC research product |
| regarding federal funding for hESC research. | | | | categories |
| | | | | * Suggestions for novel NSC research products, |
| Because of their plasticity and unlimited capacity | | | | including cells, kits, assays, media and reagents |
| for self-renewal, hESCs have been proposed for | | | | * Guidance for companies that wish to offer |
| use in wide range of applications, including | | | | hESCs products |
| toxicology testing, tissue engineering, cellular | | | | * And more... |