It is the first of the stem cell lines derived at U-M to be put on the registry. It is a milestone in the ongoing research, officials say, since U-M is among a few universities nationwide that are creating human embryonic stem cell lines. Currently there are only 147 stem cell lines available on the registry.

“We envision in the future that investigators will be able to use the genetically normal embryonic stem cell lines like UM4-6, together with disease-specific embryonic stem cell lines, as a model system to investigate what causes these diseases and come up with treatments,” says Sue O’Shea, professor of Cell and Developmental Biology, and co-director of the Consortium for Stem Cell Therapies.

The line that was placed on the registry was derived in October 2010 from a cluster of about 30 cells removed from a donated five-day-old embryo. It was created for a couple for reproductive purposes but was no longer needed. They donated the embryo to U-M instead of discarding it. Known as UM4-6, the stem cell line is genetically normal.

Two genetically abnormal stem cells lines that were derived at U-M also were submitted to the national registry last fall. One carries the genetic defect that causes hemophilia B, while the other carries the gene responsible for Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, a hereditary neurological disorder.

Another eight human embryonic stem cell lines are going to be submitted to the NIH in the near future.