Pancreatic Stem Cells

The aim of Pancreatic Stem Cells is to provide a broad overview of an intriguing model of organogenesis (the development of the pancreas) from the perspective of stem cell research. The tangible prospect of devising effective cell therapies for type I diabetes –a disease thus far considered incurable– has stoked a widespread interest in harnessing our knowledge on the basic biology behind the development of this organ. This text is conceived as an all-encompassing guide to explore the many aspects of "regenerative therapies" for the endocrine pancreas, from adult and embryonic stem cells to endogenous regeneration and transdifferentiation. All these themes are built upon an up-to-date discussion on pancreatic ontogeny, which provides a solid background for both basic scientists and health professionals.