Stem+Cells+Updated

** Stem cells ** have the remarkable potential to develop into many different cell types in the body. Serving as a sort of repair system for the body, they can theoretically divide without limit to replenish other cells as long as the person or animal is still alive. When a stem cell divides, each new cell has the potential to either remain a stem cell or become another type of cell with a more specialized function, such as a muscle cell, a red blood cell, or a brain cell.
 * Stem Cells Updated **
 * 3/23/09 **
 * Update: **
 * In January 2009, Obama lifted Bush’s ban on federal funding for research on embryonic stem cells. There was no ban on funding for other types of stem cells. **

The Promise of Stem Cells
Studying stem cells will help us understand how they transform into the dazzling array of specialized cells that make us what we are. Some of the most serious medical conditions, such as cancer and birth defects, are due to problems that occur somewhere in this process. A better understanding of normal cell development will allow us to understand and perhaps correct the errors that cause these medical conditions. Another potential application of stem cells is making cells and tissues for medical therapies. Today, donated organs and tissues are often used to replace those that are diseased or destroyed. Unfortunately, the number of people needing a transplant far exceeds the number of organs available for transplantation. Pluripotent stem cells offer the possibility of a renewable source of replacement cells and tissues to treat a myriad of diseases, conditions, and disabilities including including Parkinson's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, spinal cord injury, burns, heart disease, diabetes, and arthritis.

Have human embryonic stem cells successfully treated any human diseases?
Scientists have been able to do experiments with human embryonic stem cells (hESC) only since 1998, when a group led by Dr. James Thomson at the University of Wisconsin developed a technique to isolate and grow the cells. Moreover, Federal funds to support hESC research have been available since only August 9, 2001, when President Bush announced his decision on Federal funding for hESC research. Because many academic researchers rely on Federal funds to support their laboratories, they are just beginning to learn how to grow and use the cells. Thus, although hESC are thought to offer potential cures and therapies for many devastating diseases, research using them is still in its early stages. In late January 2009, the California-based company Geron received FDA clearance to begin the first human clinical trial of cells derived from human embryonic stem cells. Adult stem cells, such as blood-forming stem cells in bone marrow (called hematopoietic stem cells, or HSCs), are currently the only type of stem cell commonly used to treat human diseases. Doctors have been transferring HSCs in bone marrow transplants for over 40 years. More advanced techniques of collecting, or "harvesting," HSCs are now used in order to treat leukemia, lymphoma and several inherited blood disorders. The clinical potential of adult stem cells has also been demonstrated in the treatment of other human diseases that include diabetes and advanced kidney cancer. However, these newer uses have involved studies with a very limited number of patients. Newborn stem cells are a rich and diverse population of stem cells that can be collected from umbilical cord blood without ethical concerns in a 10-minute window immediately following birth. This population of stem cells is a desirable source for clinical research because they are younger, more flexible and more pristine than adult stem cells. In addition, newborn stem cells have demonstrated embryonic-like capabilities to proliferate and develop into all of the major cell types in the body; yet they don’t carry the same safety concerns as embryonic stem cells. As Dr. Healy points out, there are advantages to using a patient’s own stem cells in therapy. There may be even greater advantages to using a patient’s own newborn stem cells from cord blood. Researchers are making great strides forward in learning how to use a child’s own newborn stem cells to treat conditions that have no cure today, like diabetes, brain injury and other forms of nerve damage.
 * Alternatives to embryonic stem cells **