Scientific Research Oversight Committee (SROC)

In accordance with all Federal Guidelines, the University of Nebraska and Board of Regents policy, the Scientific Research Oversight Committee (SROC) must review and approve all research using hESC lines and ONLY lines from the NIH Human Embryonic Stem Cell Registry are allowed.  Cell lines which are not on this registry are not allowed to be used for NU System research.  The NIH Registration Number for a proposed stem cell line must be cited on your application for hESC use when submitting your application to the SROC.  

The committee must be composed of scientists who have hESC expertise and at least 2 non-affiliated members, one of which must be a non-scientist.

Human embryonic stem cell research at UNMC: 

Current and prior protocols address a wide range of topics from the very basic mechanisms that regulate stem cell self renewal, which is the primary characteristic that distinguishes stem cells from all other cell types in the body, to potential applications of stem cells in regenerative medicine.

Studies have demonstrated the derivation of human hepatocytes (liver cells) from hES cells, retinal and neuronal (eye and brain) cells and shown that stem cells that are differentiated to fibroblasts of the lung in conditions similar to those in patients with asthma, are much more contractile than normally derived lung fibroblasts.  This has prompted a new hypothesis to explain the persistence of asthma even in the face of anti-inflammatory treatments.  Additional projects address the education aspects of the properties of hES cells.  These results have been published in nationally ranked and recognized medical journals. 

All studies must be SROC and IRB approved and employ federally approved hES cell lines that are used according to all federal, state and university regulations.