Stem Cell Research Into Spinal Cord Injury Treatment Set to Begin
A long awaited breakthrough in the treatment of spinal cord injuries may be realized this summer as an American company announced its plans to begin the world's first study of stem cell treatment for spinal cord injuries.
The US Food and Drug Administration has approved a study by biotech company, Geron Corporation of California. The study will involve injecting eight to ten patients with stem cells or cells that are extracted from embryonic cells. The subjects will all be paraplegics, and the study will involve administering a single injection just two weeks after they have suffered a spinal cord injury.
The announcement coincides with the swearing in of President Obama, but insiders say that's just a coincidence. Obama had pledged to reverse Bush's standing on stem cell research during his campaign. Stem cell research has not been as much a part of this particular campaign, bogged down as it was by lipsticks, pigs and plumbers, but it was a significant campaign issue during the 2004 election. There's no doubt that medical researchers and the community at large have high hopes pinned on this new trial.
Spinal cord injuries can involve loss of mobility of various levels, each resulting in their own set of limitations. Paraplegics – whom the study will use as subjects - can move their arms, but not their body, while quadriplegia involves the loss of control over muscles, leading to an inability to walk, talk, or move other muscles. A complete cure has been elusive.
The way embryonic cells can treat major illnesses is by replacing damaged cell tissue, thus making them attractive in the treatment of a large number of conditions. The possibilities, medical researchers say are endless. Controversy has developed around the fact that embryos have to be destroyed in order to harvest the cells. Results of studies conducted on animals have been very encouraging thus far, but researchers involved in the project are urging caution. Obviously nobody is expecting miraculous overnight breakthroughs that can have a man out of his wheelchair in a day, but if successful, the possibilities for the therapy are endless. If you or a loved one has been a victim of a spinal cord injury as the result of an individual or a companies fault you should consutl with spinal cord injury lawyers as soon as possible in order to best preserve and protect your rights.
