Monday, May 6, 2013

Whatever Happened to Stem Cells

Here is a link to an article in the April issue of Esquire magazine:

Whatever Happened to Stem Cells

It is about a researcher who has been working on the science of building organs from stem cells. 

He has already been successful in building whole human bladders from fragments of injured bladders and then. successfully, putting these new bladders back into the bodies of young people who have survived and prospered. But when he works with stem cells he is continuously stymied by politicians on both sides of the issue.

This article will make you want to throw your arms up and scream. It made me want to cry. But if you read through the whole thing you kind of come away with an optimism that there may be a light at the end of the tunnel. This man, and many patient, dedicated, persistent, scientists are not giving up on this and, even with all the road blocks, are learning more about stem cells. Thank God there are people like this in our world.

Researchers are making large gains in the knowledge and science that will save millions of dollars (for things like dialysis) and improve the quality of life for millions of people who suffer from chronic and/or terminal injuries and illnesses. The tragedy for all those of us who are going through these things right now is that our politicians have kept this science from being any help to us.


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