The overall program of the ESI involves three major integrated research lines in pluripotent and tissue specific stem cell research.

• Functional characterization of stem cells through development and differentiation
• Genetic and epigenetic programming of stem cells and their microenvironment
• Stem cell and related regenerative therapies

These research lines are applied to several tissue systems identified as the strengths of the ESI and Erasmus MC biomedical research communities and include blood, intestine, muscle, bone and nervous systems and pluripotent cells. Innovative technologies required to support these programs and in-house translational expertise are available to expedite therapies. A synergy between the scientists working on the individual tissue systems is already operating due to hypothesis-driven stem cell related questions and through the common technologies exploited within the three integrated research lines. Collaborations between investigators are abundant and are creating considerable added value.