When the South Jersey chapter of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation reached out to Coriell interested in learning about stem cell research at the Institute, one of Coriell's talented scientists and speakers, Dr. Karen Fecenko-Tacka, supervisor of Coriell's Stem Cell Laboratory, was delighted to present a talk. In a presentation titled, "Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine," Dr. Fecenko-Tacka described Coriell's work with a powerful new kind of stem cell – the induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cell – which is the transformation of an adult cell, like a skin or blood cell, into a stem cell and then into a specialized cell like a cardiac (heart) cell or a neuron (brain cell).

The audience, individuals living with Type I diabetes or supporting their children and spouses living with Type I diabetes, were excited to hear about iPS cells very relevant to them: Juvenile-onset insulin-dependent Type I diabetes iPS stem cells that Coriell has established and characterized for use by the diabetes research community.

The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation members appreciated interacting with a scientist who is actively involved with these cells; naturally, they asked just how soon stem cell technology will treat and cure Type I diabetes. Dr. Fecenko-Tacka explained that the technology is just four years old and challenges to its safe implementation remain. However, Dr. Fecenko-Tacka explained that panels for heart disease are currently being compiled to screen drugs; she added that looking forward, and with the right funding, Coriell will create "disease in a dish" models that have been proven to further the understanding of human disease.