ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

National Center for Regenerative Medicine

The National Center for Regenerative Medicine (NCRM) is like a big, fancy doctor’s office where special scientists work to help people by growing new parts for their body. It’s all very magical!

You know how sometimes you get a scrape on your knee and it hurts a lot and takes time to heal? Well, there are some really smart people who are working to help people heal faster by growing new cells and tissues in their lab. They use tiny, tiny things called stem cells to do this.

Now, you remember when you learned about seeds in school? How they can grow into big plants with lots of leaves and branches? Stem cells are kind of like tiny seeds, they can grow into different kinds of cells that make up different parts of our bodies. The scientists take these stem cells and then use their magical knowledge to turn them into the cells and tissues that our bodies need to heal or even grow new parts.

The NCRM works with lots of different people who want to make sure that they can help as many people as possible. They work with important doctors who help sick people and they also work with other scientists who are very good at figuring out how to make the stem cells do exactly what they want them to do.

So, if you ever get hurt or need a new part for your body, don't worry! The National Center for Regenerative Medicine is working very hard to help people just like you to feel better and help you heal faster!