This was a major year for stem cells, as we saw the first ever induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) trial in humans, as well as several large mergers and acquisitions within the stem cell industry. One of the most prominent was the buyout of Life Technologies by industry behemoth Thermo Fisher Scientific.

There were also major technical advances that occurred, including notable advances made by scientists at the Harvard Stem Cell Institute (HSCI) toward the creation of human insulin-producing cells from human embryonic stem cells, as well as advances in the bio-fabrication of human tissues using 3-D cell printing technology, led by Guohao Dai of the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, among others.
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