Paralysis Successfully Treated
The Korea Times reports that researchers in that country have successfully treated a case of paralysis due to spinal injury with stem cell transplantation from umbilical cord blood. "The stem cell transplantation was performed on Oct. 12 this year and in just three weeks she started to walk with the help of a walker." This is a good example of the sort of first generation therapies - comparatively simple transplants - that are being trialed for a variety of currently incurable conditions. This is particularly poignant given the recent death of paralysed advocate Christopher Reeve. How much sooner could this therapy have come about without political opposition to stem cell research? How many more lives have been lost as politicians try to hold back the advance of medical science?
Link: http://times.hankooki.com/lpage/200411/kt2004112617575710440.htm