University of Wisconsin scientists published findings Thursday that make use of a new method to induce human pluripotent stem cells that are significantly safer and more useful for research.

Human pluripotent stem cells, or iPS cells, are skin cells reprogrammed to act as embryonic stem cells.

According to UW spokesperson Terry Devitt, the cells were previously induced using viruses to transmit reprogramming genes into adult cells. The new findings make use of a plasmid, or small circle of DNA, that still allows the cells to morph into any of the 220 types of cells in the human body without mutating into a form that could cause risks including cancer if ever used in a human.

“Previously, to induce pluripotency in adult cells … you had to move in exotic genes and to do that you had to have a viral factor,” Devitt said. “Essentially what it does is it introduced genetic baggage that you don’t wont there for safety purposes or for genetic research purposes, so getting that out of the equation is a big step forward.”

The study took place in the laboratory of famed stem cell researcher James Thomson, who in 1998 was the first scientist to successfully culture human embryonic stem cells.

The study was led by Wisconsin researcher Junying Yu, who co-discovered induced iPS cells with Thomson in 2007, according to Devitt.

“We believe this is the first time human-induced pluripotent stem cells have been created that are completely free of vector and transgene sequences,” Thomson said in a statement.

Thomson said the plasmid replicate inefficiently, meaning they can be easily removed once they have reprogrammed cells.

Given the pace stem cell research is currently evolving at, he said he wouldn’t be surprised if several alternatives are available soon.

“However, it will be essential to determine which of these methods most consistently produces induced pluripotent stem cells with the fewest genetic abnormalities,” Thomson said in the statement.

According to Devitt, the discovery will have an important impact on stem cell research.

“It takes it an important step forward,” Devitt said. “There’s still a lot of work to be done before these therapies reach clinical trial, but its an important step along the way.”