The Associated Press High-Flying Experiment Do Stem Cells Grow Better in Space Skip to main content Close Select your preferred language English عربى 简体中文 繁體中文 فارسي עִברִית 日本語 한국어 Русский Español Tagalog Menu Close Call 1-800-CEDARS-1 toggle search form Close Los Angeles, 04 August 2022 09:00 AM America/Los_Angeles The Associated Press High-Flying Experiment Do Stem Cells Grow Better in Space Cedars-Sinai sent stem cells into space for an experiment on the International Space Station, pictured here. Photo by Getty Images. The Associated Press recently interviewed Dhruv Sareen, PhD, executive director of the Cedars-Sinai Biomanufacturing Center, and Clive Svendsen, PhD, executive director of the Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute at Cedars-Sinai, about launching their stem cells into space for a new experiment. Svendsen and Sareen lead a team of Cedars-Sinai scientists looking for new ways to produce large numbers of induced pluripotent stem cells to be used in clinical trials. These cells can be programmed to generate almost any tissue of the human body and later developed into experimental treatments for a wide range of diseases. The team sent a shoebox-sized container holding bags filled with stem cells taken from Sareen and Svendsen into space to determine whether the cells could grow better without gravity. The researchers will run the experiment remotely using a box of cells on Earth for comparison. If the experiment shows that gravity speeds cell production, it could present a way to manufacture billions of cells needed for cutting-edge therapies. "By pushing the boundaries like this, it’s knowledge and it's science and learning," Svendsen told The Associated Press. Currently, the only stem cell treatments approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration are derived from umbilical cord blood and used to treat blood disorders, such as lymphoma. Clinical trials are underway to develop stem cell therapies that treat conditions like macular degeneration and Parkinson's disease or to repair heart attack damage. The Cedars-Sinai team expects its experiment to return to Earth in five weeks. And though they couldn’t join the experiment in space themselves, Sareen was delighted that his cells could hitch a ride into orbit. “At least a part of me in cells can go up!” Sareen told The Associated Press. Click here to read the complete article from The Associated Press. Related Stories RSS feed - Related Stories (opens in new window) View all headlines - Related Stories HealthDay Black Women Less Likely to Get Laparoscopic Fibroid Surgeries October 07, 2022 09:00 AM America/Los_Angeles HealthDay recently interviewed Rebecca J. Schneyer, MD, a resident in the Obstetrics and Gynecology Residency Program at Cedars-Sinai, about a study she led that found Black and Hispanic women were less likely than white women to receive minimally … Read more KCRW Want New Omicron Booster Wait at Least 2 Months After Last Shot October 06, 2022 09:00 AM America/Los_Angeles KCRW program Press Play recently featured Rita Shane, PharmD, vice president and chief pharmacy officer at Cedars-Sinai, discussing who qualifies for the updated COVID-19 booster and how long patients must wait before getting the shot.The Centers … Read more ABC 7 Spider-Man Swings by 4-Year-Old Leukemia Patient s Birthday Party at Cedars-Sinai September 30, 2022 09:00 AM America/Los_Angeles ABC 7 recently profiled Cedars-Sinai patient Jabari Henley, who celebrated his fourth birthday with a special superhero at Guerin Children's newly opened inpatient facility.The Lifedriven Foundation helped throw Henley a surprise party in the Guerin … Read more Show previous items Show next items Contact the Media Team Email: [email protected] Share this release The Associated Press High-Flying Experiment Do Stem Cells Grow Better in Space Share on: Twitter Share on: Facebook Share on: LinkedIn Search Our Newsroom Social media Follow us on Twitter (opens in new window) Visit our Facebook page (opens in new window) (opens in new window) Visit our Youtube profile (opens in new window) Latest news 07 Oct 2022 - HealthDay Black Women Less Likely to Get Laparoscopic Fibroid Surgeries 07 Oct 2022 - Faculty Publications: Sept. 29-Oct. 6 07 Oct 2022 - Fine-Tuning Organ-Chip Technology 06 Oct 2022 - KCRW Want New Omicron Booster Wait at Least 2 Months After Last Shot 05 Oct 2022 - Cedars-Sinai Schedules Free Flu Vaccine Clinics 04 Oct 2022 - Cedars-Sinai Showcases Hispanic and Latinx Art Newsroom Home