Stem cells from umbilical cord blood

"MHH researchers can produce stem cells from umbilical cord blood that can be reproduced almost indefinitely..."

Excerpt from the MHH press release, October 5, 2009:

Scientists at Hannover Medical School (MHH) have succeeded in producing so-called induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS cells) from cells of human umbilical cord blood. Like embryonic stem cells, these can develop into all cells of the body. This makes them a beacon of hope for the treatment of numerous diseases. The team led by Prof. Dr. Ulrich Martin, Deputy Coordinator of the Cluster of Excellence REBIRTH, published its results in the current issue of the renowned journal Cell Stem Cell. The first author is biologist Alexandra Haase. It is the first publication from Germany on human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS).