Monday, 15 April 2019

Stem Cell Research Facilities Want To Revolutionize Medical Science

By Mary Bell


One can but marvel at the pace at which mankind progresses in all fields of endeavor. The field of medicine is no exception. New cures are now available for previously debilitating and deadly conditions. New drugs allow people to live more comfortable lives and people in developed countries live longer thanks to new treatment methods. Stem cell research facilities think that they are on the verge of the biggest medical breakthroughs in the history of mankind.

The concept behind bone marrow transplants is no a recent one. These transplants have been done on patients suffering from leukemia and other blood related cancers for some years. The theory is that the transplant will encourage new blood cells to grow in order to replace the ones destroyed by chemo therapy. The procedure is risky, however, and only used as a last resort as the success rate is rather low.

Bone marrow transplants are by no means a cure for cancer. At best it can add some years to the lives of patients. Scientists are positive, however, that in time transplants will indeed become a cure for many different types of cancer. Progress is slow because scientists have to move forward with the utmost care. Transplants as a cancer cure is therefore still some years in the future.

While huge efforts are made to develop bone marrow transplants into a cure for cancer, many scientists are also studying the possibilities of these transplants in other areas. Many studies are conducted to find ways in which transplants will be able to repair brain damage caused by accidents and conditions such as strokes. They hope that it will become possible to replace damaged brain cells with healthy ones.

The possibility of using bone marrow transplants to cure heart diseases is also high on the list of priorities. If it becomes possible to grow new cells inside the heart to replace those damaged by heart diseases, many heart conditions will no longer be life threatening. Heart disease is still one of the biggest killers in the world and a major breakthrough in this area will indeed be beneficial to many millions of people.

This area of research has numerous enemies, many of them eminent scientists themselves. They say that there is no prove whatsoever that bone marrow transplants can stimulate the growth of new cells. They point out that these transplants are dangerous and that many recipients do not survive the procedure. They also point out that the cells being transplanted are often obtained from the umbilical cords of fetuses, which raises many ethical questions.

Researchers are misleading the public, their funders and the authorities, critics also say. If there are any benefits to be had from bone marrow transplants, they are still many years in the future. Researchers are creating false expectations. Vast sums are spent on research that has not produced a single positive result. This money could have been used in other more likely fields of study.

It is impossible to say whether bone marrow transplants will become a miracle cure or not. There is simply not enough information to form a valid opinion. One cannot but help to hope, however, that a cure for many dread diseases will indeed be found.




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