Scientists are a step closer to understanding how the body retains a pool of stem cells that can be turned into specific cells to repair damage to tissues and organs. The findings will be discussed today at the official launch of the Medical Research Council Centre for Regenerative Medicine at the University of Edinburgh.

Experts are investigating the delicate process by which stem cells either duplicate to make copies of themselves, or differentiate into specialists cells such as those found in cartilage or in the liver, which could help develop new regenerative therapies.

Researchers have found that stem cells reach a crucial stage when they can either go onto differentiate into cells that can form different tissues or revert back to their original form and duplicate if stem cells are in short supply.

Previously it was thought that once stem cells started to change, they were only able to turn into specialist cells. This important middle stage means that the number of stem cells needed for self renewal and for production of specialist cells can be fine-tuned according to need.

The research was carried out using embryonic stem cells but researchers believe it could also apply to adult stem cells, which would have implications for regenerative therapies.

Dr Ian Chambers, of the University of Edinburgh’s MRC Centre for Regenerative Medicine, said: “If there is too much self renewal, the capacity to generate specialist cells to repair damaged tissues and organs is diminished. Yet if you don't have enough self renewal going on you will run out of stem cells, which could otherwise have been converted into specialist cells to help the body heal.

“This is a fine balance but gaining greater understanding of how stem cells work will help us develop therapies for a range of diseases.”

The MRC Centre for Regenerative Medicine, headed by Professor Sir Ian Wilmut, has attracted world-class expertise to work towards medical therapies for diseases of the blood, bone, brain and liver.

Scientists at the centre are developing ways to mend damaged bones and cartilage using a patient’s own stem cells, as well as looking at ways liver disease could be treated using embryonic stem cells to reduce the need for transplantation.

Other work looks at how blood stem cells could be produced, so they could be used to treat patients needing bone marrow transplants or blood transfusions. Scientists are also looking at how stem cells could be used to screen potentially harmful side effects in drugs.

A £60 million building will be completed within the next three years at Little France to bring all the centre’s scientists under one roof. The building will also form part of the Edinburgh Bioquarter, collaboration between the University of Edinburgh, Scottish Enterprise and NHS Lothian.