Where We're Going: Stem Cell For Expecting Parents

Doctors and researchers on the cutting edge of stem cell research new treatments and discoveries for babies and expectant parents.

Stem cells: What are they and what do they do?

Stem cells are the "blank slates" in cell biology. They are the starting point for new cells in an embryo and when they are isolated, they can be used to repair or replace damaged tissues in people with serious diseases.

Scientists have been able to make embryonic stem cells from human embryos for the last few decades. This has been possible thanks to two different techniques. The first is the removal of the outer portion of the embryo, which is known as a blastocyst. The second is the production of stem cells from the blastocyst, the inner portion of the blastocyst.

The two most important properties of stem cells are their self-renewal capacity, or the ability to produce the same cell multiple times, and their differentiation capacity, or the ability to differentiate into various specialized cell types. Stem cells are a very important and exciting area of research, and the fields of regenerative medicine and oncology.

In the field of regenerative medicine, scientists are developing ways to grow new organs and tissues from scratch. There are a number of potential clinical uses for regenerative medicine, including growing new bone to replace bone that's broken in accidents or surgery, new muscle to replace tissue that's damaged from trauma, and new skin to repair skin that's been damaged from burns.

How can stem cells be used?

Stem cells can be used to treat all sorts of conditions, including some that can't be cured with traditional therapies. When doctors treat patients with these conditions, they rely on stem cell therapy to grow new cells that can repair and replace cells damaged by injury. Doctors can use stem cells to treat a variety of conditions, including brain injury, muscle and bone injury, spinal cord injury, heart damage and many other conditions. The most popular type of stem cell therapy is called bone marrow transplants, and doctors use them to treat people who have received an organ transplant. Patients with blood cancer and other serious conditions like HIV/AIDS have long sought these types of treatment.

Why is there such an interest in stem cells?

Let's start with the obvious.

We've seen some amazing progress in this area. And now, a new option for expecting parents is available, through the umbilical cord of a baby. Researchers and doctors are hopeful of the future of stem cell-based therapies. Stem cell studies can help to increase an understanding of how diseases occur. If more information is gathered, scientists can develop treatments to combat disease.

Future for stem cell research

The complex nature of stem cells make it almost impossible to understand what the future holds. Scientists are studying stem cell therapies to understand how these treatments may improve health. They are researching how stem cell therapies may enhance new treatments for heart disease, cancer, and Alzheimer's disease. Researchers and physicians who are studying the impact of stem cell therapies in the world of medicine are constantly developing new and exciting ways to use stem cells to repair damaged tissues. For example, a new trial will be beginning soon where patients with advanced cancer are going to be treated with stem cells to improve their quality of life. While other treatments have failed to deliver the results that we hoped for, stem cell therapies have become a promising option for those who are currently seeking to find relief from symptoms that are common with MS, a disease which has no cure. There have been four decades of research that has shed light on the potential of stem cells to treat various diseases. It is possible that in the near future, stem cell-based therapies will offer help to diseases such as type 1 diabetes, and Parkinson's.

For many families, the research being conducted for stem cell therapies has offered a lot of hope. Expecting families now have the option to bank their baby's cord blood and tissue for stem cells. At Anja Health, we help make that possible. To learn more, visit https://anjahealth.com/.