Michigan Researchers Create Stem Cell Lines for Hemophilia B

Investigators from the University of Michigan (U-M) in Ann Arbor have created six new embryonic stem cell lines for US-based research. Two of the new lines carry the genetic mutation linked to hemophilia B, the first of its kind.

Stem cells are unspecialized cells that can renew themselves for prolonged periods. They can also develop into many different cell types, making them a potentially renewable source of replacement cells that could be used in the future to treat many conditions. The creation of such stem cell lines will open the door to an enhanced understanding of the origin and progression of congenital disorders, and hopefully to new therapies based on those findings.