Stem Cell Research in Urological, Hepatological, and Ophthalmological Disorders
A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Biology".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 28 February 2026 | Viewed by 78
Special Issue Editor
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Stem cell research represents a transformative frontier in regenerative medicine, offering unprecedented potential to address diseases impacting highly sensitive and essential organ systems. This Special Issue invites original research and comprehensive review articles that explore the latest advancements, mechanisms, and clinical applications of stem cells and cellular therapies across three critical yet distinct fields: Urology, Hepatology, and Ophthalmology.
While these fields treat seemingly unrelated disorders, they share common challenges, including irreversible tissue damage, organ failure, and the need for novel, non-invasive restorative strategies. By bringing together research from these areas, this Special Issue aims to highlight fundamental commonalities in stem cell behavior, differentiation protocols, and therapeutic delivery systems, fostering innovative cross-disciplinary insights.
We welcome submissions covering, but not limited to, the following research themes:
I. Urological Disorders
- Renal Regeneration: Use of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) or organoids for kidney repair and disease modeling.
- Bladder and Urethral Repair: Application of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and progenitors for reconstructive urology and sphincter repair.
- Erectile Dysfunction and Infertility: Stem cell-based approaches to treat vascular and tissue damage in the reproductive system.
- Cancer Stem Cells: Studies focusing on the role of cancer stem cells (CSCs) in prostate, bladder, or renal cancer progression and therapy resistance.
II. Hepatological Disorders
- Liver Repair and Failure: Utilizing hepatocyte-like cells (HLCs) derived from stem cells for acute and chronic liver failure.
- Drug Testing and Disease Modeling: Use of liver organoids derived from stem cells for in vitro screening of hepatotoxicity and modeling diseases like Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH).
- Exosomes and Extracellular Vesicles: Research on paracrine signaling mechanisms mediated by stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles in liver regeneration.
- Transplantation Alternatives: Developing scalable stem cell sources as alternatives to whole-organ transplantation.
III. Ophthalmological Disorders
- Corneal and Limbal Stem Cells: Strategies for regenerating the corneal surface and treating limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD).
- Retinal Degeneration: Advanced protocols for generating retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells and photoreceptor cells from iPSCs to treat age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and retinitis pigmentosa.
- Glaucoma and Optic Nerve Repair: Investigating stem cell therapy for neuronal protection and regeneration in the optic nerve.
- Ocular Tissue Engineering: Development of biomaterials and scaffolds to support stem cell delivery and integration within the eye.
We encourage submissions of high-quality manuscripts in the following categories:
- Original Research Articles: Detailed reports of new experimental findings.
- Review Articles: Comprehensive surveys and critical analyses of current literature and future directions.
- Methodology Articles: Detailed descriptions of novel techniques relevant to the field.
We look forward to your contributions in making this Special Issue a defining resource for the future of stem cell applications in these vital medical disciplines.
Dr. Yuanyuan Zhang
Guest Editor
Manuscript Submission Information
Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.
Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Molecular Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.
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Keywords
- stem cells
- induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs)
- exosomes
- tissue regeneration
- urinary incontinence
- kidney dysfunction
- ocular disorders
- molecular mechanisms
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