US firm applies to test 'incredible' stem cell technique on humans

[babylonsister]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/medicine/story/0,,2074598,00.html

US firm applies to test 'incredible' stem cell technique on humans

Ed Pilkington in New York
Tuesday May 8, 2007
Guardian Unlimited


A company based in Massachusetts has applied for permission from US authorities to begin trials on humans of a new stem cell technique that it says holds out the promise of rapid healing of damaged eyes, lungs, hearts and arteries.

In a new step within the ferocious debate about the ethics and application of stem cell research, the company, Advanced Cell Technology (ACT), said it had devised a simple method for taking stem cells from human embryos and differentiating them into the precursor cells of blood vessels. Injected into mice and rats, the researchers found that the cells migrated to damaged parts of the body and helped to repair them.

"When injected into the bloodstream, they homed to the other side of the body and repaired damaged vasculature within 24 to 48 hours," said Dr Robert Lanza, who led the ACT team.

Dr Lanza told Associated Press that the technique they had developed had "incredible reparative potential". Other potential benefits could be the treatment for lung damage, the prevention of amputation of limbs blocked by blood clots, help for victims of heart attacks and production of red blood cells for transfusions.

Though its findings have yet to be subjected to peer review, ACT is pressing the US Food and Drug Administration which regulates drug trials for permission to go ahead with human tests by the end of the year.

As a private company, ACT can legally fund stem cell research involving cells obtained from human embryos, although any cloning of human material is banned. However, the claim that it has found a way of using the technology to help repair damaged organs will impact on the on-going debate about the research.

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[Little Wing]

1. This always made sense to me

:shrug:

THey'd go directly to my liver, but that's another story.

Anyway, go Massachusetts!

[babylonsister]

2. I don't think your liver has the embryonic cells they're looking for.

:rofl: I kid! I know what you mean, mine might need some rejuvenation, too! ;-)

[zalinda]

3. This is the only hope for my son

His one eye has atrophied slightly and now a cloudy cataract is starting to form, he can't see out of this eye. His other eye is quite near-sighted, and at 30 he is close to needing thick bifocals.

zalinda