Stem cells and regenerative medicine. Dr. Juan Carlos Izpisúa, Professor from The Salk Institute for Biological Studies and Director of the Centre for Regenerative Medicine of Barcelona, at the Foundation’s 2005 award ceremony for prizes and grants, held in Barcelona on 5 October 2005.

Izpisúa explained how research in the field of developmental biology has evolved in recent years in his attempt to understand how human beings develop and the functions of stem cells. All living organisms are made up of biological units called cells which are grouped into tissues which make up the body. Stem cells are defined as progenitor cells which are able to generate cells for the kidneys, lungs, nerves or any other tissue in the body, skin, muscle or bone.
Because they have this ability, stem cells are believed to be able to regenerate new organs and tissues which are damaged or defective. One of the purposes of learning the signature of a stem cell, or what makes stem cells proliferate and differentiate in the development of an organism, is to be able to use them in the future as replacement material in illnesses which are difficult to cure with medicine which is currently available. Izpisúa won over those in attendance with his scientific knowledge but also explained the difficulties faced by those carrying out research in this field, the techniques which they are using and the current state of what will someday become regenerative medicine.