Posts Tagged ‘stem cell news’

Helping You Research Stem Cells Online

Tuesday, July 21st, 2009

stem cell research funding

There are many reasons why you may be interested in research stem cells. Perhaps you’re majoring in biology or another medical science in college and you’re considering getting into the brave new field of stem cell therapies. Or maybe you’re a patient suffering from heart disease, diabetes, damaged tissue, a spinal cord injury, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, cancer or stroke, and you’re looking for an alternate treatment. Treatment using stemcells is still a long way off, although human clinical trials are expected to begin this summer and the possibilities are promising.

One place to do some research on stem cells is the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM). Despite former President Bush’s ban on federal stem cell research funding, the rogue Californians approved a 2004 ballot initiative (Proposition 71) that set aside state funds for just that purpose. As a result, $3 billion was appropriated to California research facilities, making the state an epicenter of stem cell news. On their site, you might like to read their comprehensive annual report, which reads much more like a magazine than a lofty scientific publication. You can read about awards, stem cell therapy treatments, studies and stem cell research facilities at www.cirm.ca.gov/pub/pdf/annual_rpt_08.pdf.

Science Daily is an all-around great medical news site, where you can also research stem cells. Some recent headlines include: “Stem Cells Jumpstart Bone’s Healing Process,” “Stem Cell Therapy Makes Cloudy Corneas Clear,” “Biologists Discover A Protein Link To Wound Healing,” “Stroke Victim’s Own Stem Cells Used In Trial For First Time” and “New Clues To How Stem Cells Form.” In addition to catching up on the latest stem cell news, you’ll also be able to read articles, watch videos, look at images and find books on the subject. Visit www.sciencedaily.com/health_medicine/stem_cells/ to access this content.

With the new allocation of federal stem cell research funding, a number of facilities across the country will be receiving money to research stem cell therapies. For instance, the University of Buffalo will receive $4.9 million for human stem cell research. The University of California at Irvine will receive $27.2 million to build a new stem cell research facility and the University of San Diego will get $2.8 million to improve their current facilities. It may take another 10 years to produce a widely recommended cure, but research has been promising.

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Pointers About Embryonic Stem Cells

Tuesday, July 14th, 2009

stem cells research

What if human cells could be stimulated to regenerate body parts or repair damaged tissues in the same way that earthworms or planarians can? Embryonic stem cells are the most versatile type of cells to work with because they can differentiate into any kind of cell in the body. Adult stem cells are more tissue-specific, although the body responds better to its own stem cells in therapy. In order for stem cell therapies to work, the body’s immune system must be suppressed so there is no reaction to the transplanted cells. Additionally, scientists must take special care to ensure the cells proliferate enough to heal the body but not so much that cancer develops.

There are two types of stem cells research. One involves the use of embryonic stem cells and the other involves the use of adult stem cells. The embryonic cells come from a one-week-old mass of cells called a blastocyte. Many of the fetal stem cells come from in vitro fertilization patients who had leftovers after receiving fertility treatment. A single embryo can create enough lines of cells for use in Stem cell therapies. Tissue from aborted fetuses is not regularly used in stem cell research. What makes an embryonic stem cell so special is that it can develop into any organ or tissue. Stem cell therapies can help treat diseases like heart or Parkinson’s disease, as well as burn or stroke victims and patients with spinal cord injuries, muscular dystrophy, arthritis and diabetes.

Though fetal stem cells have been the focus of most of the research, scientists are discovering that adult stem cells are particularly effective in transplants. For instance, they can grow an entire organ, a section of the windpipe or a section of tissue to offer the human host, which will most certainly accept the new cells derived from its own DNA. Another alternative to using embryonic stem cells is under current examination. It involves stimulating adult stem cells to revert back to their “pluripotent” state, which allows them to proliferate again. It’s believed that humans may be able to regrow lost skin or repair other tissues this way, although more research is needed before human trials can begin to prove this theory.

In recent stem cell news, the Harvard Stem Cell Institute (HSCI) and Massachusetts General Hospital discovered that a medication for bone marrow cancer can affect osteoporosis in mice by acting upon mesenchymal stem cells, which differentiate into several tissue types. “Stem cell therapies are often thought of as putting new cells into the body,” said David Scadden, director of the MGH Center for Regenerative Medicine, “but this study suggests that medications can turn on existing stem cells that reside in the body’s tissues, acting as regenerative medicines to enhance the body’s own repair mechanisms.” Therefore, instead of relying on controversial embryonic stem cells, a person’s own stem cells can be used in the treatment.

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