Image credit: McEwen Stem Cell Institute, University Health Network
If every great piece of art begins with a blank canvas, then every great human begins with pluripotent stem cells (PSCs). PSCs can uniquely develop into any one of more than 200 cell types found in the adult body depending on the signals in their environment. In addition to their ability to specialize, these cells can also replicate indefinitely. These remarkable properties have scientists exploring the use of human PSCs in cell-replacement therapies used to treat damaged and diseased tissues. One such scientist is world-renowned researcher Dr. Gordon Keller, whose dedication to unravelling the mysteries behind PSC regulation has resulted in promising new regenerative strategies for treating diabetes.
Dr. Keller’s quest to ignite the stem cell revolution began in Canada, where he earned his PhD in Immunology at the University of Alberta and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the Ontario Cancer Institute in Toronto. He then spent five years in Switzerland as a Member of the Basel Institute for Immunology before moving to Vienna, Austria to continue his work at the Research Institute of Molecular Pathology. Throughout his career, Dr. Keller has done groundbreaking work in regenerative medicine, notably identifying key regulators that control how PSCs transform (or “differentiate”) into other cells. This trailblazing discovery gives scientists the ability to activate and differentiate a patient’s dormant stem cells into the cell type required for treatment.
Eventually, Dr. Keller returned to Canada to become the Director of the McEwen Stem Cell Institute at the University Health Network in Toronto. The McEwen Stem Cell Institute aims to transform stem cell research into tangible cell-based therapies for a wide array of conditions. Researchers within the institute work on one of four core research areas: heart disease, liver disease, blood cell disease and diabetes. While Dr. Keller’s work overlaps several of these areas, his previous research with human blood disorders identified PSCs as an invaluable tool to stimulate human platelets and red blood cells. This revelation provides hope that PSCs can similarly be used to replace damaged insulin-producing beta cells observed in those living with diabetes. The McEwen Stem Cell Institute is currently investigating this method in treating diabetes, eliminating the need for daily injections.
Dr. Kellers commitment to realizing the full potential of stem cells has led him to entrepreneurial pursuits aimed at translating concepts into actualized therapies. In 2016, Dr. Keller became the scientific co-founder of BlueRock Therapeutics, a next-generation regenerative medicine company that reprograms stem cells for therapeutic endeavours. Dr. Keller plans on revolutionizing the field of regenerative medicine by developing the technology and processes needed to provide cellular therapies to patients. It is because of this relentless drive to push the boundaries of science that we, as a society, are able to imagine a radically hopeful future for regenerative medicine.
— Written by April Hrynyk