The Center for Stem Cell Biology (CSCB) was established in 2010 to serve as a hub for existing stem cell efforts at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. The center also supports targeted recruitment of stem cell faculty and provides resources for stem cell research such as core facilities and trainings programs.

Memorial Sloan Kettering has been a leader in various aspects of stem cell research for many years. It has been at the forefront of realizing the potential of hematopoietic stem cells in the treatment of hematopoietic malignancies, the use of umbilical cord blood as a source of stem cells suitable for transplantation, and the isolation of human mesenchymal stem cells. In recent years research has expanded to new areas such as neural stem cells, embryonic stem cells, and induced pluripotent stem cells. The CSCB will link these existing stem cell research efforts and build the resources critical for new developments in the future.

To achieve these goals the CSCB will bring together scientists across various programs with a broad range of expertise in the following areas: cancer pathogenesis, cell biology, chemical biology, computational biology, developmental biology, and pharmacology. These partnerships will facilitate research projects that transcend traditional departmental boundaries to explore the full potential of stem cells, ranging from basic developmental studies to the use of human stem cells in drug discovery. Another core mission of the CSCB is the training of investigators in stem cell technologies such as induced pluripotency, directed differentiation, genetic modification, and prospective purification of stem cells. Finally, the CSCB links stem cell efforts at Memorial Sloan Kettering with the Tri-Institutional Stem Cell Initiative, a collaborative program of Memorial Sloan Kettering, The Rockefeller University, and Weill Cornell Medical College, as well as with other national and international stem cell organizations.