Biomedical researchers at the University at Buffalo (New York, USA) have engineered adult stem cells that scientists can grow continuously in culture, a discovery that could speed development of cost-effective treatments for diseases including heart disease, diabetes, immune disorders and neurodegenerative diseases. The new cell lines – named "MSC Universal" – were created by genetically altering mesenchymal stem cells, which are found in bone marrow and can differentiate into cell types including bone, cartilage, muscle, fat, and beta-pancreatic islet cells. The cells that Techung Lee and team created show no signs of aging in culture, but otherwise appear to function as regular mesenchymal stem cells do – including by conferring therapeutic benefits in an animal study of heart disease. Importantly, despite their propensity to proliferate in the laboratory, MSC-Universal cells did not form tumors in animal testing.