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Stem cells can give rise to a wide range of cell types, including the various blood cells shown in this scanning electron micrograph.
Image courtesy of Bruce Wetzel, National Cancer Institute

The Merkin Family Foundation today announced a gift to launch the Richard Merkin Foundation for Stem Cell Research at the ӳ����ý of MIT and Harvard. By combining the foundation’s deep interest in stem cells with the ӳ����ý’s scientific expertise and vision, the funds will foster groundbreaking research that harnesses genome-based tools and knowledge to realize the promise of stem cells for human health.

“Stem cells have the potential to inspire a new generation of treatments for a host of devastating human diseases,” said Richard Merkin, MD, Founder and CEO of Heritage Provider Network. “We are delighted to provide this gift to support such an extraordinary group of scientists, accelerating progress toward this important goal.”

“We are deeply grateful to the Merkin family for their support,” said ӳ����ý Director Eric Lander, PhD. “This generous gift will enable us to probe the genomic controls that govern stem cells’ unusual properties, a key step along the path toward innovative stem cell-based therapies.”

Stem cells possess unique regenerative abilities. Unlike most cells, stem cells have the capacity to generate many different cell types. For example, hematopoietic stem cells give rise to various types of cells in the blood, such as red blood cells, platelets and immune cells. Another form of stem cell, the embryonic stem cell, can produce an almost unlimited range of cell types, from bone and skin to heart, brain and lung.

Scientists worldwide are working to understand the molecular underpinnings of these cells’ remarkable plasticity, with the hope that it might one day be harnessed therapeutically. That means cells lost or damaged by diseases such as diabetes or Parkinson’s disease could be replaced with healthy ones. Yet that kind of clinical advance rests on a deep knowledge of the molecular controls and switches that direct stem cells and their developmental decisions.

Initial funds from the Merkin gift will support research in these areas by a collaborative team of scientists led by ӳ����ý core member Aviv Regev, PhD and associate member John Rinn, PhD. “We’ve made remarkable strides in identifying novel functional elements across the human genome, but we’re only just beginning to understand how they influence stem cell biology,” said Rinn. “Thanks to the generosity of the Merkin family, we can more rapidly advance that knowledge and its future clinical application.”