HSCI Lab Explores More Efficient Ways to Generate iPS Cells

October 20, 2014

(Harvard Stem Cell Institute) – Harvard Stem Cell Institute scientists at Massachusetts General Hospital have found that adding two small molecules to the four classic “Yamanaka factors” generates the fastest mouse induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells ever reported. This simple tweak to the iPS cell recipe, published in Nature Methods, yields colonies in as little as 48 hours of factor expression—a great improvement to the 2-4 week wait typical of other protocols. The existence of a more efficient way to generate mouse iPS cells is also evidence that human iPS cell production could similarly be improved.