NUIG regeneration research may hold key to cancer biology

The research is led by NUI Galway’s regenerative medicine institute and focuses on a small, native-Irish marine animal called the Hydractinia echinata.

According to the Irish Times, Hydractinia echinata has the power to regenerate any lost body part, can clone itself and does not age biologically.

The tiny creature, which is a relative of jellyfish and sea anemones, is perfect for understanding the role of stem cells in development, ageing and disease.

The Galway team has discovered an unknown link between ‘heat-shock’ proteins and a cell-signalling pathway, known as Wnt signalling, in Hydractinia stem cells.

Both the heat-shock proteins and Wnt signalling are known to be associated with cancer and cell growth.