Transformers

摘要

Doesn't Philippe Collas get the message? If he wants to use engineered cells to help treat diseases such as Parkinson's, diabetes and Alzheimer's, he should be working with stem cells, right? After all, these multitalented cells are the hottest thing in biology. With the potential to form all sorts of replacement tissues from scratch, their promise seems boundless, their popularity unrivalled. But Collas has his own agenda. It's as if he can see the stem cell bandwagon pass him by, but doesn't really care. As he enthusiastically describes his research over the phone from his lab at the University of Oslo, you can almost picture the anticipation of a eureka moment carving its way into a fleeting half-smile. That's because Collas believes he has found another way to create cells for transplants and therapy ― and what's more, cells that are compatible with the patient's tissue type and immune system. All he needs, he says, is a skin biopsy, and he can teach the cells to become the type of cell that patient requires.