Pioneering the Fourth Breakthrough in Stem Cell Research

"If I have seen further than others, it is by standing upon the shoulders of giants."  --- Isaac Newton

In the evolutionary journey of stem cell research, only three landmark breakthroughs have indelibly shaped the landscape of the field's research and applications.

In the 1950s, a team at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, led by Dr. E. Donnall Thomas, revolutionized stem cell transplantation from bone marrow, saving countless lives. This groundbreaking effort culminated in Dr. Thomas receiving the Nobel Prize in 1990.

In 1981, researcher Evans Martin achieved a momentous milestone by isolating embryonic stem cells (ESCs) from mouse blastocysts and successfully cultivating them in cell cultures. This pivotal achievement marked a critical juncture in stem cell research and the inception of the stem cell field. Evans Martin was honored with the Nobel Prize in 2007 for his significant contributions.

In 2006, Shinya Yamanaka made a groundbreaking discovery by identifying a select number of genes within the mouse genome crucial for reprogramming skin cells into immature stem cells. Recognizing the transformative potential, Yamanaka was honored with the Nobel Prize in 2012 for his pioneering work.

While the breakthroughs by Dr. Martin and Dr. Yamanaka catalyzed the emergence of new research fields, they were not without their limitations. Since Dr. Martin's groundbreaking work in deriving mouse ESCs, scientists have faced challenges in deriving ESCs from species other than mice. Mice are not suitable for many research and development purposes.

Dr. Yamanaka's induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), while demonstrating pluripotency for various cell types, have faced scrutiny for potentially remaining in a "primed" state rather than attaining the coveted "naïve" status exhibited by ESCs. The ability of these iPSCs to differentiate is not as effective as ESCs.

Building upon the groundbreaking work of Evans Martin and Shinya Yamanaka, A-New Bio founder Dr. Qilong Ying has made substantial advancements on both fronts. In addition to successfully achieving rat ESCs derivation, Dr. Ying has identified culture conditions for deriving ESCs from a diverse array of animal species. Furthermore, these culture conditions facilitate the reprogramming of animal iPSCs into a "naïve" state, providing them with similar pluripotency as ESCs. These breakthroughs hold the potential to significantly broaden the scope of stem cell research and its applications on a much larger scale.

A-New Bio was founded upon the breakthroughs made by Dr. Ying. We strive to leave a lasting and profound impact on the field of stem cell research and application, carrying forward the pioneering spirit of Dr. Martin, and Dr. Yamanaka.