National Institutes of Health Center for Regenerative Medicine: putting science into practice

Abstract

The field of regenerative medicine has been revolutionized by breakthroughs in stem cell biology, gene engineering, and whole-genome sequencing. These advances are not only scientific or medical but have also advanced how we conceptualize regenerative medicine. The progenitive research that proceeded as well as a substantial part of the funding that supported these discoveries were provided by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Now, perhaps more than ever, the NIH has a vital role to play in the translation of science into clinical practice. The NIH is uniquely positioned to coordinate interactions between the different institutes and other arms of the government, as well as international organizations. Efforts of researchers in the United States both within and without the NIH are supported by a number of mechanisms, including specialized workshops, and the support of developing small-scale industry. Additionally, the NIH has stepped up to provide necessary infrastructure in areas of regenerative medicine where the medical need might be apparent but might be currently infeasible or unattractive to private-sector investment. This article will discuss these perhaps lesser-known activities of the NIH, which I believe have continued and will continue to contribute to the role of stem cell research in translating science into regenerative medicine.