The 1st human being scientific test of embryonic stem cell therapy that began last week marked a milestone in stem cell therapy. The patient, who has a severe spinal cord injuries, had been inserted with embryonic stem cells at the site of the trauma. The two-year scientific test will track the progress of up to 10 individuals to answer the question of whether or not stem cell research for individuals with spinal cord traumas is safe.
Personal donations to stem cell therapy to fund it
The human clinical trial using embryonic stem cells to treat spinal cord injuries is being directed by Geron Corp., a biopharmaceutical company based in Menlo Park, Cali. A spinal cord injuries is why the patient was paralyzed, reports the Washington Post. The place where the person was destroyed, in an Atlanta hospital, millions of embryonic stem cells were injected. In August, a district court made sure a renewed ban on federal resources for research could go via which makes this scientific trial one that was totally funded privately. The plan is for the Justice Department to appeal.
Patients with spinal cord injuries feel a little hope
The Phase I trial of the embryonic stem cell therapy is where the human test is. The Los Angeles Times reports that Phase I intends to determine the safety of the treatment, which was tested extensively on animal subjects. 10 individuals can be chosen to participate in the study. They will all be between the 3rd and 10th thoracic vertebrae. The stem cells must be injected no later than 14 days following the injury occurred. Before injection, the stem cells, which can develop into any type of cell in the body, are transformed into “glial” cells that insulate nerve fibers. The optimism scientists have is that signals will travel via the spinal cord again after the coating that protects the nerve system is grown back.
Paralysis obtaining a cure
Geron CEO Dr. Thomas Okarma said that the spine ought to be built with the embryonic stem cells just like a womb prepares for a fetus. Okarma told Cable News Network the process resembles fixing an electrical cable. Damaged fibers mean the wire is being exposed. The cable will end up shorting out this way. Just like patching a cable, the glial cells reinsulated the nerve in a spinal cord injury. This might make paralysis something that can be fixed. It could mean permanent repair too. The goal is to bring a patient from complete paralysis to a point where they can respond to physical therapy.
Articles cited
Washington Post
voices.washingtonpost.com/checkup/2010/10/first_patient_treated_in_stem.html?wpisrc=nl_natlalert
Los Angeles Times
latimes.com/health/la-sci-stem-cell-trial-20101012,,362113.story
CNN
pagingdrgupta.blogs.cnn.com/2010/10/11/first-human-injected-in-human-embryonic-stem-cell-trial/?npt=NP1
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