Welcome to fourth and final part of our series highlighting the best stem cell discoveries in 2017.  This series highlights some of the most exciting discoveries and the potential implications they may have for medical science.

Stem Cells Found in the Cord Blood can Treat Brain Injury

Scientists from Stanford University have developed a stem cell treatment for patients who have suffered a stroke.  The treatment involves the transfusion of Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) directly into the brain.

This treatment has already been proven to be both safe and effective.  Patients who received this stem cell therapy had less brain damage than those who did not.  Another clinical trial has been announced, involving more than 150 patients.  Read more about this research

Gene Altering Therapy to Treat Leukaemia Set for FDA Approval

Leukaemia is one of the most common forms of cancer.  There are more than 400,000 cases diagnosed annually and over 250,000 deaths per year.

A Swiss healthcare company called Novartis has developed a new therapy to treat leukaemia.  The therapy, called chimeric antigen receptor T cell (CAR-T) therapy, uses cells from the patients own body.  T-Cells are taken from the blood, then genetically modified so they can hunt down cancer cells.  Researchers hope that this therapy can someday become a widespread cure for leukaemia.  Read more about this research

The First USA Trial Using Umbilical Cord Tissue to Treat Autism

There were multiple clinical studies this year that tested the ability of stem cells to treat autism.  One of the most exciting was a Phase 1 trial performed by Duke University. 

It was the first stem cell trial of its type in the United States.  The researchers gave a single intravenous injection of stem cells to twenty-five children with autism.  None of the children had an adverse reaction to the treatment.  Most of the children also saw a reduction in their autism symptoms.  Read more about this research

Study Claims that Heart Failure May Be Treated by Umbilical Cord Stem Cells

Researchers at the Universidad de los Andes in Chile completed a trial earlier this year which test the ability of stem cells to treat heart failure.  They found that a transfusion of umbilical cord blood stem cells could improve heart function in patients who had been diagnosed with heart failure.  Read more about this research

Scientists Grow & Purify Earliest Lung Progenitors from Human Stem Cells

Researchers from the Boston University’s Center for Regenerative Medicine (CReM) have had a major stem cell breakthrough the may lead to a cure for certain lung diseases.  They have developed a method for growing and purifying lung progenitor cells, which are the earliest forms of lung cells.

This breakthrough allows scientists to take stem cells from human subjects with chronic lung diseases, then turn them into lung progenitor cells.  Once in this form, scientists can analyse the behaviour of the cells and gain insight into the lung disease that the patient has.  They will be able to test drugs on the progenitor cells to assess their effectiveness.  This breakthrough may lead to a cure for some potentially fatal lung diseases. Read more about this research

Thanks for reading A Recap of the Best Stem Cell Discoveries of 2017: Part 4.  To learn more about the powerful regenerative capabilities of stem cells, subscribe to the blog or contact us today.

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