Growing Cartilage?

http://www.biologynews.net/archives/2014/04/30/columbia_engineers_grow_functional_human_cartilage_in_lab.html

Researchers have announced today that they have successfully grown fully functional human cartilage in vitro from human stem cells derived from bone marrow. Their study, which has shown a better, more efficient way to mimic the complexity of tissues, is published in the April 28^th issue of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. "We've been able—for the first time—to generate fully functional human cartilage from mesenchymal stem cells by mimicking in vitro the developmental process of mesenchymal condensation," says Gordana Vunjak-Novakovic, who led the study and is the Mikati Foundation Professor of Biomedical Engineering at Columbia Engineering and professor of medical sciences. "This could have clinical impact, as this cartilage can be used to repair a cartilage defect, or in combination with bone in a composite graft grown lab for more complex tissue reconstruction."

This is a very important advancement and will change future medicine though stem cell study, offering ways to overcome the body's limitations. "This is a very exciting time for tissue engineers," says Vunjak-Novakovic. “ We bioengineers are now working with stem cell scientists and clinicians to develop technologies that will make this dream possible.”

NOS: Science is collaborative: many researchers worked to develop this tissue

Role of motivation and curiosity: Dr. Vunjak-Novakovic is motivated to I improve this tissue to use as a

Role of credibility: Mikati Foundation Professor of Biomedical Engineering at Columbia.