Shahin Rafii, M.D., Chief
The Division of Regenerative Medicine is dedicated to furthering discoveries and knowledge on the biological events of vasculature in organ regeneration and repair, and also to translating their potential into life-saving therapeutics. Led by Dr. Shahin Rafii, who has been at the forefront of stem cell research for nearly two decades, the division has established an interactive community of researchers and clinicians who work at Weill Cornell Medicine in stem cell research and regenerative medicine. Research in this division is not only of great value in terms of patient care, it is serving to educate the next generation of scientists and clinicians, as well as the general public, about the realities and potential benefit of stem cell research. A role model in creating synergistic partnerships with other institutions and foundations, the division also advocates for public policy that promotes stem cell based research and therapies.
Located at Weill Cornell Medicine, the division’s laboratory has been carrying out cutting-edge studies on stem cells and organ regeneration since 2003. Dr. Rafii, who also serves as the Director of the Ansary Stem Cell Institute at Weill Cornell Medicine, provides a core laboratory that is utilized by junior faculty members, principle investigators, postdoctoral fellows, graduate resident students, and support staff. The laboratory also trains visiting scientists from around the world. Additionally, the division deploys staff to the Starr Foundation Tri-Institutional Stem Cell Derivation Laboratory at WCM to offer on-site human embryonic stem cells and a GLP facility that serves researchers working with pluripotent stem cells.
Distinguished for its remarkable history in state-of-the-art approaches, the core laboratory is a hub for centralized access to multiple technologies that enable the derivation, differentiation, characterization, isolation and functional assessment of pluripotent stem cells and their tissue-specific derivatives. Facilities include an embryology laboratory equipped with culture, live imaging, flow cytometry, and a cell sorter.
