Stem Cells in Silence, Action and Cancer
2020
Elaine Fuchs
Summary of the science
Stem cells are a type of cell that can become any other type of cell and are extremely useful in maintaining tissues and organs, especially when cells die or are damaged. However, stem cells can cause havoc when they are left uncontrolled and their continued multiplication could result in cancer. The Fuchs Lab research how cellular processes can facilitate stem cell activity whilst restricting it enough so that it does not cause disease.
About the research
The Fuchs Lab aims to understand how stem cells are recruited to replace ageing and damaged tissues and how this can lead to cancer when perturbed. Adult stem cells are found in all tissues and are used to replace old cells but, given their pluripotency and proliferative capacity, must be tightly controlled to prevent the formation of cancerous tissue. The lab investigates the mechanisms that control the interplay between stem cell inactivity and action and their potential role in oncogenesis.
About the illustration