Paralysed patient gets stem cells to walk again
October 12th, 2010 - 1:32 pm ICT by IANSLondon, Oct 12 (IANS) A paralysed patient has become the first person to receive a shot of human embryonic stem cells to help him walk again.
Doctors believe stem cells will help nerves in a newly-damaged spinal cord regenerate before the disability becomes permanent.
The patient has had millions of stem cells injected into the site of his injury in an effort to find a revolutionary cure, according to the US firm carrying out the hugely controversial experiment.
The study has been described by University College London professor Chris Mason as “the dawn of the Stem Cell Age”.
It is likely to reignite a fiery debate over the ethics of the treatment, which uses cells derived from three-to-five-day old fertilised embryos discarded by in vitro fertilisation (IVF) doctors, the Daily Mail reported.
It offers hope to patients suffering from devastating spinal injuries and blindness - the two specific areas being targeted by the US tests.
Researchers are also looking to unlock the potential of stem cells for new ways to treat cancer, Parkinson’s disease and a host of other illnesses.
In animal experiments, paralysed rats were able to walk again after being injected with the cells, but the effect on humans is still unknown.
The landmark test at a hospital in Atlanta, Georgia, by US biotech giant Geron comes after America’s Food and Drug Administration eased restrictions on stem cell research.
Geron president Thomas Okarma said it will take some time to get the results.
The technology was championed by Superman star Christopher Reeve, who received the treatment for his spinal injury after a fall.
- US greenlight to world's first stem cell treatment on humans - Aug 02, 2010
- US approves stem-cell therapy for humans - Aug 01, 2010
- Paralysed patient becomes world's first to get stem cell therapy - Oct 12, 2010
- London hospital to do Europe's first embryonic stem cell trial - Sep 24, 2011
- Scientists develop toothy way to treat spinal injuries - Dec 04, 2011
- Americans flocking to India for stem cell therapy - May 28, 2012
- Cell therapy for athletic injuries - Oct 05, 2011
- Stem cell therapy could 'help the blind see within 6 weeks' - Nov 22, 2010
- Scientific breakthrough in creating synthetic blood - Aug 17, 2010
- Stress, hectic lifestyle raises IVF demand - Sep 03, 2011
- IVF breakthrough boosts pregnancy chances - Oct 13, 2010
- New stem cell treatment raises hope for people with cervical damage - Nov 10, 2009
- Stem cell regulations shouldn't stifle research: Indian experts - Apr 21, 2011
- Stem cells injected into the brain of stroke patient in world first - Nov 17, 2010
- Stem-cell treatment helps American see again, view Taj Mahal - Dec 06, 2011
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