Adult Stem Cell Breakthrough

Adult stem cells and other ethical stem cell research continue to rack up success after success, while embryonic stem cells continue to fail.

Stanford researchers have verified that embryonic stem cells transplanted into mice are resoundingly rejected by the immune system and destroyed. In contrast, adult stem cells from menstrual blood showed the potential to treat peripheral artery disease and prevent limb amputation.

An international research group led by Dr. Michael Murphy, Indiana University School of Medicine, restored blood circulation and limb function in mice treated with these cells, which could potentially be used as an off-the-shelf treatment for damaged or diseased limbs. Japanese researchers report that they can produce flexible stem cells from wisdom teeth, even after the teeth have been in a freezer for three years.

Today, Harvard researchers report that they can produce insulin-secreting cells directly from other pancreatic cells in mice, improving diabetes symptoms.

And in case you missed it, Maarten van der Weijden won the open-water race Olympic gold medal. His life was saved years ago by an adult stem cell transplant for leukemia, one of thousands of lives saved by adult stem cells.

Tony Perkins heads the Family Research Council. This article is excerpted from the Washington Update that he compiles for the FRC.