Scientists around the world are continuously searching for new methods to heal diseases via stem cells. From developing new treatments, to helping us understand diseases in ways they couldn't be studied before, researchers conclude that the only way to progress is the increase the amounts of cell material that can be examined. The latest studies suggest 3D cell models, which reflect conditions of the human body most accurately, are the optimal way to test and study stem cell treatments & its effects. This is mostly done in sterile conditions, utilizing droplet-shaped nutrient solutions. These conditions can only be created in a laboratory setting, which requires extensive resources and equipment. As a part of the LabBag project, the Fraunhofer Institute for Biomedical Engineering IBMT, the Fraunhofer Institute for Surface Engineering and Thin Films IST, and the Fraunhofer Institute for Process [...]

The U.S. government is finally cracking down on shady doctors pushing unproven & dangerous stem cell treatments in an effort to police the growing, decentralized regenerative medicine field that's run rampant in recent years. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) laid out a new framework for regulating cell-based medicines, including the hundreds of private clinics that have sprung up across the country. Many of these uncertified clinics offer stem cell injections for all sorts of diseases, such as arthritis, multiple sclerosis, blindness, and even Alzheimer's. Clinics charge $5,000, up to $50,000, for these treatments, despite the lack of evidence they're safe or effective. Here are the highlights of the proposed framework. JUMPING THROUGH LOOPHOLES Legit, credited stem cell researchers have called to close this loophole for a decade. Hopefully, the FDA's promise to target [...]

It's not a common known fact, but the discovery of stem cells is as Canadian as Don Cherry complaining about hockey visors. Dr. James Till and Ernest McCulloch made the groundbreaking find in 1961, when they stunned the science world with transplantable stem cells. Stem cell science in Canada, and around the world, was here. But make no mistake - the stem cell scientists and researchers across the country carry tremendous pride, assuming the responsibility of an industry, and a significant piece of Canadian heritage. This is why Canadian institutions regularly debate and discuss the ethics and legality of stem cell research in the country. McGill University hosted a speaker series exploring the ethical and legal ramifications of stem cell research earlier this month here's our summary of the stem cell summit. EMBRYO ETHICS Michel [...]

Traumatic spinal injuries make it impossible for many patients to operate assistive devices, turning simple movements into titanic struggles, replacing independence with a reliance on caregivers. But recently, an ambitious stem cell treatment could prove to be a ground-breaking development for paralysis recoveryhelping patients move their hands and arms on their own. While doctors and scientists aren't making any promises, there are plenty of reasons for hope. THE BIRTH OF A TREATMENT Scientists from Fremont's Asteria Biotherapeutics extracted embryonic stem cells from other cells originally isolated for in vitro fertilization. The embryonic stem cells were processed and transformed into oligodendrocyte precursors, then transplanted directly into the spinal cord with a syringe. HOW DO OLIGODENDROCYTES IMPACT SPINAL FUNCTION? Oligodendrocytes help construct myelina fatty white substance surrounding the axon of nerve cells, forming an insulating layer [...]