Stem Cells Therapy and Markets
Sunday, November 14th, 2010
Stem cells are cells in the body that have the potential to develop into different specialized types of cells. For example, when the cell divides, the new cells can become muscle, brain, or other type of cells. The inner cells of a three-to-five day old embryo have the potential to create the entire body of the organism from which it is taken, including humans.
In adults, stem cells in certain tissues such as bone marrow, brain and muscles do repair work replenishing damaged cells. However, they do not do this in certain other tissues, such as pancreas and heart, except under special conditions.
It is considered possible to induce stem cells to become tissue or organ specific cells with specialized functions. If this becomes possible, cell-based therapies for, say diabetes and heart disease might become possible. Damaged tissues and organs can be regenerated in a controlled manner. Such regenerative therapies can overcome the current problem of shortage of organs for transplant.
Already, stem cell therapies are employed in bone marrow transplant. Umbilical cord blood stem cells are particularly valuable for such transplants because they more easily available from presently discarded umbilical cords, and are less likely to be rejected by recipient organs.
Read about Stem Cells Markets and Applications in this industry with very high growth potential.
Tags: biotechnology, stem cell treatment, stem cells market
Posted in biotechnology, stem cell research | 2 Comments »
A Cure for Type I Diabetes?
Wednesday, September 29th, 2010
Type I Diabetes is an auto-immune disease in which the insulin producing beta cells (one type of islet cells) of the pancreas are destroyed over time by antibodies. When insulin production goes down, the body is unable to process the glucose in the blood and diabetic problems appear. Treatment has been attempted through transplantation of islet cells from external donors.
Such transplantation poses two problems. One is the shortage of donor pancreases for extracting islet cells. Two is the rejection of foreign cells by the body which sees them as it sees disease-producing viral organisms, and destroys the foreign intruders. To counteract this tendency, the transplantation must be accompanied by immunosuppressant drugs.
A new treatment seeks to use the patient’s own stem cells to regenerate islet cells. Stem cells are master cells from which all specialized cells such as the islet cells in the pancreas are created. Differentiation of stem cells into islet cells has been achieved in labs and this holds the potential to tackle the problems of transplantation.
And now a company is seeking partners to test a drug developed by it. The company believes that by adding its product to the transplanted islet cells (regenerated from stem cells as above) the success of the transplantation can be improved.
Read the news release at MarketWatch.
Tags: biomedicine, biotechnology, stem cell treatment
Posted in biopharmaceutical, biotechnology, diseases, stem cell research | No Comments »
Market Reports on Biochips, Stem Cell Research and more
Monday, August 16th, 2010
Market Publishers Ltd has just announced release of new market reports on drugs and biotechnology. The new reports cover Biochips, Stem Cell Research, Prions, Intravenous Solutions and Bionanotechnology.
Biochips: Biochips is a major thrust area under biotechnology along with such areas as genomics, protenomics and pharmaceuticals. Combining the understanding of cell functioning gained from the latter studies and the advanced micro-miniaturization capabilities of the semiconductor industry, one can develop biochips that act as sensors inside the body, where they can perform even thousands of biochemical reactions. Biochips have applications in various fields including disease diagnosis to detection of bioterrorism agents.
Stem Cell Research: Stem cells are cells in the body that can renew themselves through miotic cell division and grow into specialized cell types. Such specialized cells can help repair damaged organs by replenishing dead cells, for example. Embryonic stem cells can differentiate into cells of all the embryonic tissues while adult stem cells are more specialized. Bone marrow transplant is an example of adult stem cell therapy. Researchers hope to treat diseases like cancer, Parkinson’s, and more using stem cell therapy in the future.
The above and other market reports from the publishers provide the type of information that prospective entrepreneurs need.
Read the news release at Market Publishers Website.
Tags: biochips, bionanotechnology, biotechnology, stem cell research
Posted in biotechnology, diseases, stem cell research | 7 Comments »
Stem Cell Treatment for Lou Gehrig’s Disease
Sunday, February 28th, 2010
Stem cell treatment includes taking a patient’s own cells from bone marrow and developing them into specialized cells such as nerve cells in the laboratory, for injecting back into the patient. Scientists hope to find cures for diseases like Alzheimer’s using this approach.
A report from Israel mentions about a clinical research agreement for Lou Gehrig’s Disease between Hadassah Medical Organization and biotechnology firm BrainStorm. Hadassah will make its top experts in neurology and stem cell research at the disposal of BrainStorm, which will invest NIS 5 million into the research effort.
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) leads to progressive degeneration of motor neurons, the nerve cells in the central nervous system that control voluntary muscle movements. It has come to be known in North America as Lou Gehrig’s disease. Gehrig was a New York Yankee’s baseball icon who died from the disease in 1941 at age 37.
The world-renowned sceintist Stephen Hawking is a victim of the disease, illustrating how a brilliant mind can reside in a wasted body and still continue to function with its full power. In certain cases, ALS can affect cognitive functions also.
The Israeli scientists hope to prove that the proposed treatment can slow down or even halt the progress of ALS in victims. Success can help BrainStorm to tap a billion dollar market.
Read the report at Haaretz.com.
Tags: ALS, biotechnology, Lou Gehrigs, motor neuron disease, stem cell treatment, stephen hawking
Posted in biotechnology, diseases, stem cell research | No Comments »
