News

Children's Memorial Hermann Hospital and Cord Blood Registry® (CBR) are launching the first FDA-approved, Phase I safety study on the use of cord blood stem cells to treat children with sensorineural hearing loss.

The study, which will use patients' stem cells from their own stored umbilical cord blood, is the first of its kind, and has the potential to restore hearing. The year-long study will follow 10 children, ages 6 weeks to 18 months, who have sustained post-birth hearing loss.

Researchers have found a new therapeutic method that may restore damaged myelin sheaths lost during Multiple Sclerosis.

Researchers introduced an experimental demyelinating injury into the spinal cord of an old mouse, using surgical techniques, creating small areas of myelin loss.  An affected area was then exposed to cells found in the blood of young mouse which caused the younger immune cells to restore effective remyelination of the spinal cord.

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Adult stem cells, and not embryonic stem cells, are what all scientists in this field of research should be working on, says Dr Peter Hollands.

Dr Peter Hollands, a renowned clinical scientist and researcher at the University of Westminster, London, took part in the first Vatican-sponsored conference to analyse adult stem-cell technology in early November.

In this interview, Hollands spoke more about the advantages of adult stem-cell research.

The doctors behind the world's first transplant of an artificial windpipe made from a patient's own stem cells are to begin clinical trials next year on a stem-cell "bandage" for mending torn knee cartilage - a common problem among sportspeople.

The team of doctors aim to transplant stem cells derived from a patient's bone marrow on to a damaged knee joint, where it is hoped the cells will act like a repairing bandage to mend the tissue.

Hannah Gillespie was diagnosed with Fanconi anaemia, a serious genetic disorder that means she could die before reaching adulthood.

In a bid to save Hannah's life, her family decided to privately store her younger sister's umbilical cord stem cells at birth.  Whilst the stem cells from baby Zoe are still in storage, they will be readily available to Hannah for use in future.

A newly published study undertaken on mice has shown the efficacy of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (hUCMSCs) in the treatment of breast cancer.

Mice in the medium- and high-concentration hUCMSCs treatment groups exhibited a clear reduction in tumour volume and weight.  The entire study has shown hUCMSCs have the ability to significantly prevent the growth of breast cancer cells.

A new study published by the Journal of Translational Medicine reports on the effectiveness of cord blood-derived stem cells and physical therapy in the treatment of Hereditary Ataxia.  Following treatment, patients with Hereditary Ataxia showed statistically significant improvements in functionality and quality of life after treatment.

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South African rugby icon, Joost van der Westhuizen, is undergoing experimental stem cell therapy in order to regenerate and repair d­­amaged tissue and to assist with impaired muscle functioning.

Van der Westhuizen was diagnosed with ALS, a life-threatening form of Motor Neuron Disease (MND) with limited treatment options.  In a bid to regenerate and repair damaged muscle tissue and hopefully delay further degeneration of his muscle function, doctors have recommended stem cell treatment using mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) isolated from his own fat tissue.

Stem cells obtained from the umbilical cord of a newborn baby were used to treat eight year old Harshu Singh of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD), a genetic disorder that weakens the muscles of children.

After just five sessions of stem cell therapy, the deterioration of Harshu's muscles appears to have stopped and he has regained movement in both his hand and leg.

Whilst there is no documented treatment for DMD, the successful use of stem cells has provided a ray of hope for others suffering with muscular dystrophy.