IMR-90 and IMR-91

Perhaps the most damning evidence comes directly from the Coriell Cell Repository Report on why IMR-90 and IMR-91 were created in the first place. Read the story in their own words.

Additional References:

IMR-90 AND IMR-91 (NIA/NIH WEBSITE)
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/not93-196.html

Cell Cultures (Excerpt)

To facilitate aging research on cells in culture, the NIA provides support for the NIA Aging Cell Repository located at the Coriell Institute for Medical Research in Camden, NJ. Included are skin fibroblast cultures from individuals with premature aging syndromes, including Werner and Hutchinson-Guilford (progeria), and cultures from clinically documented and at-risk individuals from families exhibiting familial Alzheimer’s disease. Also available are human fibroblasts from female (IMR-90) and male (IMR-91 and MRC-5) fetal lung tissues. WI-38 female diploid lung cells are available at early, middle, and late population doubling levels. Cultures of animal origin include skin fibroblasts from a variety of species of nonhuman primates, bovine and equine endothelia, smooth muscle and fibroblast cultures, and canine and porcine endothelial cell cultures. The repository also has prepared DNA from many of the cell lines, available individually or in panels such as the Primate DNA panel, Aging Syndrome DNA panel, Characterized AD mutation DNA panel, Early and Late Onset AD DNA panels, and Aged Sib Pairs DNA panel.

The catalog for the Aging Cell Repository is available here