Stem Cells: Current Challenges and New Directions

Dr. Kursad Turksen is the Editor-in-Chief of the journal Stem Cell Reviews and Reports and the Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine book series, which are both published by Springer. He is also the Editor of numerous protocol volumes published in Springer’s Methods in Molecular Biology series. Dr. Turksen is a Senior Scientist at the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, and his research interests cover the area of epidermal stem cells and the role of Claudins in the epidermal lineage.

• Myogenic Potential of Stem Cells: In Vivo Assessment.- Urine DerivedSstem Cells: Biological Characterization and Potential Clinical Applications.- Immunoregulatory Properties of Mesenchymal Stem Cells: In Vitro and in Vivo.- Current Research on Stem Cells in Parkinson’s Disease: Progress and Challenges.- Stem Cell Applications in Retinal Diseases.- Potential Use of Dental Stem Cells for Craniofacial Tissue Regeneration.- Pediatric Diseases and Stem Cells:  Recent Advances and Challenges.- Stem Cell Therapy – From the Heart to the Periphery.- Stem Cells in Wound Healing.- Cancer Stem Cells: The Gist of the Matter.- Filling the Gap in the Relationship Between Cancer and Stem Cells.- Therapy Resistance in Prostate Cancer: A Stem Cell Perspective.- Mechanisms of Somatic Cell Reprogramming.- Disease Modeling and Drug Discovery Using Human Pluripotent Stem Cells.- Stem Cell Research: Ethical Considerations.

From the reviews: "This is a compilation of review articles that presents current advances in different areas of research on stem cells and their clinical applications. ... It is intended for individuals interested in the field of stem cell biology and regenerative medicine, among them scientists working in industry and academia, physicians and other healthcare professionals, and students of biomedical sciences. ... This is a good overview of the directions and challenges in the quickly evolving field of stem cell biology." (Joanna Goral, Doody's Book Reviews, January, 2014)