Pill to repair damaged hearts ‘just 5 years away’
February 1st, 2011 - 2:21 pm ICT by ANILondon, Feb 1 (ANI): A major research programme involving experts in Scotland has suggested that a pill to repair damaged hearts could be a reality in as little as five years.
Researchers are looking at both stem-cell research and biotechnology, which they hope to use to make damaged hearts as easy to repair as broken bones, reports the Scotsman.
They said the “Holy Grail” would be a pill, or injection, that could stimulate the heart to heal itself.
Study is already under way, focusing on fundamental mechanisms that allow the self-repair of hearts in zebra fish and amphibians.
Another approach targets rare stem cells - immature cells that develop into a variety of tissues - that can rebuild lost heart muscle.
The Scottish Centre for Regenerative Medicine, which opens later this year, is looking for new ways to harness stem cells to create such treatments. (ANI)
- Lasers to treat human heart after attack - Aug 12, 2011
- 'Smart' adult stem cells repair heart in 'landmark work' - Aug 17, 2010
- New way to discover drugs that aid regenerative medicine - Jul 12, 2010
- Pain killers retard recovery from heart attack - Apr 09, 2012
- Injectable gel to heal damaged hearts - Feb 22, 2012
- Patients' own stem cells could be used as treatment for their heart disease - Nov 18, 2010
- Scientists grow human heart in lab - Apr 04, 2011
- Human stem cells from fat tissue successfully fuse with rat heart cells and beat - Mar 01, 2011
- Researchers patch damaged heart with engineered tissue - May 08, 2011
- New stem cells could help heal damaged hearts - Dec 23, 2011
- How to heal a broken heart - Apr 13, 2010
- Glowing 'firefly' stem cells could help repair damaged hearts - Sep 29, 2010
- Stem cells bulk up muscle, halt ageing - Nov 11, 2010
- New hope for cardiac attack victims - Dec 05, 2011
- Leftover veins can help treat future heart problems - Apr 26, 2010
Tags: biotechnology, broken bones, fish and amphibians, fundamental mechanisms, heart muscle, hearts, holy grail, immature cells, london feb, medicine, new ways, scotland, scotsman, scottish centre, self repair, stem cell research, stem cells, tissues, zebra, zebra fish