Stelios Andreadis, Ph.D.

When the myelin sheath that surrounds nerve fibers in the brain and spinal cord becomes damaged, a number of debilitating conditions can result that limit mobility, inhibit independence and reduce life expectancy. Multiple sclerosis (MS) is the most common demyelinating disease, affecting more than 2.5 million individuals globally every year.

Stem cell therapy to treat such diseases often has disappointing results because the transplanted cells die off before they can take effect. In fact, more than 95% of neural progenitor cells (NPCs) transplanted into individuals with a spinal cord injury die following injection. This is partly because the process of injecting the cells can damage them… Continue reading.

A University at Buffalo-led research team has shown that a protein named for the mythical land of youth in Irish folklore is effective at reversing aging in skeletal muscle cells.

Published Sept. 3 in Science Advances, the study centers on the protein NANOG, which is derived from Tír na nÓg, a place in Irish lore renowned for everlasting youth, beauty and health.

In a series of experiments, researchers overexpressed NANOG in myoblasts, which are the embryonic precursors to muscle tissue. The myoblasts were senescent, meaning they were no longer able to divide and grow… Continue reading.