Transplanting a person’s own stem cells into the heart helps relieve symptoms of angina, according to a new clinical study. The work tested whether a certain class of stem cell could help the disease in a double-bind study. Recipients of stem cell transplants showed improvements on a number of measures, including the ability to exercise…. [Continue Reading]
Brain Stem Cells Can Amplify as Well As Give Rise to New Neurons
July 8, 2011 By Leave a Comment
A new discovery published in one of the top journals in biology has important implications for regenerative medicine and stem cell therapy. Stem cells are usually defined as cells that can give rise to a specialized cell type and another stem cell like itself when it splits into two. Researchers have discovered that a stem… [Continue Reading]
New Technology Developed to Conserve Stem Cells from Cord Blood
June 20, 2011 By Leave a Comment
New technology developed to isolate stem cells from cord blood may allow more efficient collection of the cells and permit more widespread treatments with them, researchers say. The new system is more effective at collecting higher numbers of cells, and makes stem cell donation and transplants more feasible. Johns Hopkins graduate students have invented a… [Continue Reading]
Stem Cell Therapy Can Help Heal Broken Bones in Animal Models
June 17, 2011 By 1 Comment
Many people are affected by broken bones that fail to heal properly, especially the elderly, who are prone to osteoporosis, which increases the risk of fractures. New research, using mouse as a model system, has found that transplanting stem cells into a fracture resulted in a stronger, faster healing bone. Researchers at the University of… [Continue Reading]
Stem Cell Therapies: How Far From Reality?
June 2, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Stem cells have been highly promoted as potential cures to many different diseases and conditions, but how close is the current research to creating real therapies? A new scientific review highlights the main challenges in the field, and suggest that increased funding for research, together with teams of scientists and doctors can help address these… [Continue Reading]
First Discovery of Lung Stem Cells
May 12, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Harnessing and controlling stem cells could lead to cures for many diseases, but convincing cells to become a given tissue within the body is a major challenge. Now, lung stem cells have been discovered, that can form any cell type within that organ. For the first time, researchers at Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH) have… [Continue Reading]
New Drug Discovered That Boosts Efficiency of Stem Cell Transplants
April 18, 2011 By Leave a Comment
The use of stem cell transplants to treat leukemia and other diseases advanced this week. New research has shown that a compound discovered using zebrafish as a model organism, that may boost the effectiveness of transplants, is safe when used in animals. The drug will next be tested in clinical trials. An innovative experimental treatment… [Continue Reading]
Stem Cell Therapy for Lupus Effective in Mice
April 11, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Lupus is an autoimmune disease that affects thousands of people. New research seeks to develop stem cell therapy for the condition. Tests in mice show that stem cells derived from the umbilical cord blood can help normalize immune system and kidney function. Human umbilical cord blood-derived mensenchymal stem cells (uMSCs) have been found to offer… [Continue Reading]
Step Towards Stem Cell Transplants for Macular Degeneration
March 24, 2011 By Leave a Comment
A new research study reports that scientists have been able to coax stem cells to become retinal cells. The paper marks a large step forward in the future treatment of macular degeneration, a common condition where the cells of the retina die off. The notion of transplanting adult stem cells to treat or even cure… [Continue Reading]
Stem Cell Transplants May Slow Aggressive Multiple Sclerosis
March 22, 2011 By Leave a Comment
A new study suggests that stem cell transplant may help slow the progression of multiple sclerosis (MS) for individuals with rapidly developing forms of the disease. The research followed patients over a decade, and found that after the therapy, symptoms tended to improve. The treatment is not without risks, however, as two patients died of… [Continue Reading]