Original broadcast date: March 15, 2009

Although stem cell research is a common topic in the news, the issue is more in the forefront recently now that US President Obama plans to reverse restrictions placed on embryonic stem cell research enacted by the Bush administration.

Two recent studies from McMaster University have added to this body of knowledge. The first, published in the journal Nature Biotechnology, has provided the means to differentiate between normal stems cells from cancer stem cells, and in the second, published in the March 6 issue of Stem Cell McMaster researchers were able to instruct stem cells to convert into blood cells.

What is the state of research today, what are the present day clinical implications and what direction is the science leading?

• Dr. Mick Bhatia, scientific director of the McMaster Stem Cell and Cancer Research Institute in the Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine. And Professor, Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences at McMaster University.