The Pera Lab
Human pluripotent stem cells and the human embryo: Human pluripotent stem cells (hPSC) have opened up a previously inaccessible phase of the human life cycle to experimental study.
Human pluripotent stem cells and the human embryo: Human pluripotent stem cells (hPSC) have opened up a previously inaccessible phase of the human life cycle to experimental study.
Press Release
August 15, 2016
Martin F. Pera, Ph.D., is a leading stem cell researcher with interests in neuroscience and regenerative medicine. He will join The Jackson Laboratory in January 2017.
A preclinical study published in December 2015 (Ruggeri et al., 2015) using humanized NSG mice demonstrates that an anti-NKG2A antibody can trigger NK cell-mediated killing of lymphoid and myeloid leukemias in vivo. The antibody blocks the “self” inhibitory signal produced when NKG2A receptors on human NK cells bind to their cognate ligand on cancer cells and stimulates the NK cells to destroy the cancer. The research demonstrates how humanized mice are used to evaluate immuno-oncology therapeutic efficacy, and provides hope for leukemia patients whose cancers are refractory to haploidentical stem cell transplantation therapy.
Blog Post
September 14, 2015
Learn how mouse research was conducted during the Space Shuttle Program era and the advantages of having a Rodent Research Facility in the ISS. Recent advances bring great promise to protect astronauts and people with serious health conditions on Earth.
Learn how reprogrammed human induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells can be used to regenerate muscle and restore muscle function in a muscular dystrophy mouse model.
Blog Post
August 26, 2015
Researchers are finding new ways to boost the body’s immune system to attack cancer cells. If you are new to Immuno-Oncology, here are the 5 terms you need to know to catch up on what’s going on in this very exciting field.
Learn about the advantages of using induced pluripotent stem cells and which mouse strains can be used for stem cell research.
The idea of using the patient’s own cells to regenerate tissue for therapeutic purposes has fueled great enthusiasm to the medical field for the past several decades. The success of coaxing a patient’s cells to regenerate his or her own failing body parts, would solve the problem of the limited number of compatible organ donors.
A novel humanized mouse model supports development of a human immune system, allowing studies applicable to regenerative medicine, vaccine development and autoimmune disease research.