Shinya Yamanaka: the scientist who reprogrammed the fate of cells
Shinya Yamanaka (Osaka, 1962) forever changed biomedicine by demonstrating that an adult cell can “go back in time” and regain a state similar to that of an embryonic cell. His discovery — the induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS) — opened a powerful and more ethical path to study diseases, test drugs, and, in the future, regenerate damaged tissues.
In 2006, Yamanaka identified a combination of four transcription factors (known as Oct4, Sox2, Klf4, and c-Myc) capable of reprogramming somatic cells and restoring their pluripotency: the ability to become almost any cell type in the body. For this breakthrough, he shared the 2012 Nobel Prize with John B. Gurdon.
Why was it revolutionary?
- Alternative to embryonic cells: avoids the use of human embryos and reduces ethical concerns, while maintaining similar research potential.
• Personalized medicine: allows the generation of patient-specific cell lines to model diseases (from heart conditions to neurological disorders) and screen drugs with greater precision.
• Tissue regeneration: lays the foundation for cell therapies targeting the retina, heart, skin, or blood, with clinical trials advancing step by step under strict safety controls.
Yamanaka promoted the creation of centers dedicated to iPS and advocated for quality standards and cell banks to ensure traceability, safety, and accessibility for the scientific community.
A legacy in progress
Nearly two decades after the discovery, iPS cells continue to expand their impact: they help better understand human biology, accelerate the development of treatments, and bring regenerative medicine closer to real-world clinical applications. Yamanaka's work not only transformed research; it also redefined what we consider possible when we talk about health and the future.
At CymitQuimica, with science
At CymitQuimica, we support laboratories at every step of their research. On our website, you will find molecular and cell biology reagents for reprogramming, cultivation, characterization, and quality control, along with technical advice to help you choose the most suitable option for your research.