| Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2080041 | Drug Discovery Today | 2014 | 5 Pages |
•Regeneration within a three-dimensional organ is complex.•Stem cells are an important part of regenerative medicine.•The identification and validation of novel leads will advance the field.•The nematode shares conserved signal transduction and regenerative properties.•Caenorhabditis elegans is well positioned to study fundamentals of regenerative medicine.
Stem cell research is a major focus of regenerative medicine, which amalgamates diverse disciplines ranging from developmental cell biology to chemical and genetic therapy. Although embryonic stem cells have provided the foundation of stem cell therapy, they offer an in vitro study system that might not provide the best insight into mechanisms and behaviour of cells within living organisms. Caenorhabditis elegans is a well defined model organism with highly conserved cell development and signalling processes that specify cell fate. Its genetic amenability coupled with its chemical screening applicability make the nematode well suited as an in vivo system in which regenerative therapy and stem cell processes can be explored. Here, we describe some of the major advances in stem cell research from the worm's perspective.
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