15 Years Later: This Is How Scientists Are Using Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells

In November 2007, Shinya Yamanaka, MD, PhD, senior investigator at Gladstone Institutes, demonstrated for the first time that he could “reprogram” human skin cells into cells that function like embryonic stem cells, meaning they can multiply indefinitely and transform into any cell type in the body. These reprogrammed cells are known as induced pluripotent stem cells, or iPS cells.

Yamanaka was awarded the 2012 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for this breakthrough. His discovery fundamentally changed biomedical research and opened up promising avenues for studying and treating unsolved diseases. 

Fifteen years later, researchers at Gladstone—and all around the world—continue to use iPS cells to study the cause of disease, test potential drugs, and develop new treatment options. Four scientists explain the power of iPS cells in research.