Center for Regenerative Medicine

This is a historic time in stem cell research, with an inexhaustible supply of patient-derived stem cells available. The Center for Regenerative Medicine (CReM)—a joint initiative of the Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine and Boston Medical Center (BMC)—is one of the nation’s few centers focused on differentiating patient-derived stem cells into chosen cell or tissue types and manipulating their DNA to correct genetic defects.

CReM is also working on lab-based disease modeling, gaining insight into human disease and testing the effectiveness of new drugs on lab-grown cells and tissues—hastening the advent of patient-specific medicine.

The researchers collaborate with more than 50 other scientists to discover cell mutations and find out how to generate new cells for patients with many common and currently untreatable conditions. The ultimate goal: to create working organs made from patient-derived cells.

With the advent of COVID-19, CreM researchers joined forces with clinical lab technicians from BMC Pathology & Laboratory Medicines and outside advisers to design a COVID-19 test from scratch. Within a week they had developed a one-of-a-kind test that could give results in less than 24 hours. “We repurposed the whole CReM,” says Greg Murphy, CReM co-director.

And in December 2020, CreM researchers—with scientists at BU’s National Emerging Infectious Diseases Laboratories (NEIDL) and the BU Center for Network Systems Biology—reported the first map of human lung cells’ molecular response to the virus, paving the way for new, promising therapies.

Philanthropic support will help CReM lead the way in stem cell and other research.

Support the CReM Fund 

To learn how you can help, please contact the BU Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine Development team.

Learn more about CReM’s research.