Stem Cells: The body’s most powerful cells

Infertility is common, affecting 15% of couples. Many cases of infertility are caused by problems with the sex chromosomes - special chromosomes that differ between men (XY) and women (XX). In this talk I will explain why sex chromosomes are so important for the creation of eggs and sperm, and how recent developments in stem cell research could eventually offer new therapeutic options to infertile couples.

Stem cells are established at the very first stages of human embryonic development and are retained throughout adult life to replenish, replace and regenerate cells. Stem cells have unique features that allow them to be used in the lab as a tool to understand key aspects of human biology. They also have massive potential to revolutionise the treatment of many diseases. In this talk we will explore the fundamentals of stem cells: What is a stem cell? Where can we find them? How can we use them in the lab and in the clinic?

Tuberculosis (TB) is caused by a bacterial infection. In 2015, it was responsible for the deaths of 1.8 million people. We'll explore how we can use stem cells to make macrophages, a type of white blood cell designed to kill invading bacteria, and look at how TB can sometimes survive. Find out how we study the fight between our immune cells and the bacteria, as well as the ways in which we can intervene to give ourselves the upper hand.