Research by a group headed by Dr. Mariusz Ratajczak, M.D., Ph.D., head of the Stem Cell Biology Program at the James Graham Brown Cancer Center at the University of Louisville, co-inventor of VSEL^TM Technology and a member of the NeoStem Scientific Advisory Board, provides compelling evidence that bone marrow contains a heterogeneous population of stem cells that have properties similar to those of embryonic stem cells. These cells are referred to as very small embryonic-like stem cells or VSELs^TM. This finding opens the possibility of capturing many of the key advantages associated with embryonic stem cells without the ethical or moral dilemmas and without some of the potential negative biological effects associated with stem cells of embryonic derivation.  NeoStem and our collaborators have shown that VSELs are present in the bone marrow and other organs of humans, and can be mobilized from the bone marrow into the peripheral blood and collected by apheresis.  It has been established that these human VSELs are comparable to those described by Dr. Ratajczak. The possibility of autologous VSEL treatments is yet another huge potential benefit to this unique population of adult stem cells.

Please explore these pages to learn more about the history of VSEL^TM Technology development, the supporting peer-reviewed literature on these cells, details on NeoStem’s current on-going studies with VSELs, and our significant funding achievements through government sources.

Thank you for visiting and sharing in our excitement about the potential of these cells.

- Denis O. Rodgerson, Ph.D., Director of Stem Cell Science

Denis O. Rodgerson, Ph.D.
Director of Stem Cell Science
NeoStem, Inc.