Prof.dr. Ed Morrisey (University of Pennsylvania, VS) found a new stem cell in human lungs. 'It has a critical role in maintaining the alveoli and is altered in lung disease.
Epithelial cells line the inside of the airways and alveoli. They play an important role in asthma. Prof.dr. Pieter Hiemstra of the Leiden University Medical Centre (LUMC) is an internationally renowned expert in culturing human epithelial cells.