STEM CELLS : THE BUILDING BLOCKS OF LIFE

                        

                       

Most cells in our body have a specific function in particular organs, such as the liver, skin or brain. The stems cells have a unique potential of regenerating and developing into different types of cell in the body during early age thus enabling treatments for diseases and injuries, many of which cannot be treated with traditional medical methods.  Stem cells are non toxic and devoid of side effects compared to its toxic drug counterparts. The use of stem cells for therapeutic purposes can ensure lower treatment costs and promote longer lives. Stem Cells are the building blocks of our body. They have the unique capability of replacing damaged cells and tissues and repairing the damage cause to the body.

What is stem cell medicine?

Stem Cells hold the potential to cure many diseases. Stem Cells are the fountainhead of all mature cells in the body. They retain the ability to self-renew and differentiate into a variety of different tissues. Recent studies show that Stem Cells are not restricted to one lineage, but can differentiate along different lineages when placed in the appropriate micro-environment, thus potentially opening up new vistas especially in the field of regenerative medicine.

More than 45,000 people across the world are receiving Stem Cell transplant every year. Stem Cell technology can reduce pharmaceutical R&D by 25% each year, with savings of up to US $25 million in each drug market. The first successful stem cell transplant was conducted in 1988 for Fanconi’s anemia and since then research in this field has grown by leaps and bounds.

Stem cell therapy consists of introduction of highly potential stem cells into the blood stream or the damaged tissues of the patient.  The ability of stem cells to self-renew offers a large potential to repair/replace damaged tissues in the body.  Given their unique regenerative abilities, stem cells offer hope to patients with terminal illness and various conditions and diseases that cannot be adequately treated.