WHAT'S NEXT?
Stem cell research: What's next?
By Jeremy Manier Tribune reporter
October 9, 2008
Human embryonic stem cells can grow into any type of tissue, giving scientists hope of replacing or helping to heal tissues damaged by diseases. Doctors have used adult stem cells for decades in bone marrow transplants for cancer patients, but embryonic stem cells are considered more versatile in the lab. Here's how stem cells could change medicine:
RIGHT NOW
Drug companies are starting to use stem cells to screen drugs for toxic effects on human tissue. For example, some antihistamine drugs can block key chemical channels in heart cells. By testing drugs on heart cells grown from human stem cells companies hope to find toxic effects before trying drugs on patients.
IN 10 YEARS
Researchers are likely to start experimenting with using stem cells to make transplant tissue for certain patients, possibly retinal cells for macular degeneration or motor neurons for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or Lou Gehrig's disease.
IN 30 YEARS
Stem cells could evolve into a standard component of medical treatment, research and drug development. The full effects are hard to predict, just as no one could have guessed the long-term influence of genetic medicine in 1953 when the structure of DNA was found.
Stem cell research: What's next?
By Jeremy Manier Tribune reporter
October 9, 2008
Human embryonic stem cells can grow into any type of tissue, giving scientists hope of replacing or helping to heal tissues damaged by diseases. Doctors have used adult stem cells for decades in bone marrow transplants for cancer patients, but embryonic stem cells are considered more versatile in the lab. Here's how stem cells could change medicine:
RIGHT NOW
Drug companies are starting to use stem cells to screen drugs for toxic effects on human tissue. For example, some antihistamine drugs can block key chemical channels in heart cells. By testing drugs on heart cells grown from human stem cells companies hope to find toxic effects before trying drugs on patients.
IN 10 YEARS
Researchers are likely to start experimenting with using stem cells to make transplant tissue for certain patients, possibly retinal cells for macular degeneration or motor neurons for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or Lou Gehrig's disease.
IN 30 YEARS
Stem cells could evolve into a standard component of medical treatment, research and drug development. The full effects are hard to predict, just as no one could have guessed the long-term influence of genetic medicine in 1953 when the structure of DNA was found.