Italian biologist Alessandro Fantin, together with colleagues at University College London (UCL), has co-authored a study published in the journal Nature on the discovery of new stem cells that can help rebuild blood vessels. Fantin, who spent 11 years at UCL, recently returned to Italy to continue his research at the University of Milan.

The study used stem cells in mouse embryos, but if the cells can be identified in humans they may open the way to new technologies in regenerative medicine for treating cardiovascular diseases in which blood vessels are damaged. The study showed that stem cells circulating in the blood can change into endothelial cells, which are important cells that line all blood vessels.