This second book in the Stem Cell Repair and Regeneration series provides a deeper exploration of the therapeutic potential of undifferentiated human stem cells.Regenerative medicine is an extremely fast-moving field which is evolving from the initial days of hype and excitement to a more realistic appraisal of the role of stem cells in the treatment of degenerative disorders. The series aims to keep abreast of these changes by combining new knowledge in stem cell biology and therapeutic applications.The current volume contains papers by the field's leading scientists and explores the current knowledge on cell therapy for different diseases and injured organs, including diabetes, liver and heart disease./a

Stem cell research is one of the leading “cutting edge” areas of life science research in the world today and is a topic of significant interest to a broad range of the medical and scientific community. This authoritative book provides reviews by the field's leading scientists and covers many of the areas in which stem cells are becoming increasingly important, such as in organ repair and regeneration. Stem cells offer the possibility of cell therapy issues to treat a myriad of diseases, conditions, and disabilities including Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases, spinal cord injury, stroke, heart disease, and diabetes.

Stem cell research is one of the leading "cutting edge" areas of life science research in the world today and is a topic of significant interest to a broad range of the medical and scientific community. This authoritative book provides reviews by the field's leading scientists and covers many of the areas in which stem cells are becoming increasingly important, such as in organ repair and regeneration. Stem cells offer the possibility of cell therapy issues to treat a myriad of diseases, conditions, and disabilities including Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases, spinal cord injury, stroke, heart disease, and diabetes.

Tissue engineering integrates knowledge and tools from biological sciences and engineering for tissue regeneration. A challenge for tissue engineering is to identify appropriate cell sources. The recent advancement of stem cell biology provides enormous opportunities to engineer stem cells for tissue engineering. The impact of stem cell technology on tissue engineering will be revolutionary.This book covers state-of-the-art knowledge on the potential of stem cells for the regeneration of a wide range of tissues and organs, including cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, neurological and skin tissues. The technology platforms for studying and engineering stem cells, such as hydrogel and biomaterials development, microfluidics system and microscale patterning, are also illustrated. Regulatory challenges and quality control for clinical translation are also detailed. This book provides an comprehensive update on the advancement in the field of stem cells and regenerative medicine, and serves as a valuable resource for both researchers and students.

Recent scientific breakthroughs, celebrity patient advocates, and conflicting religious beliefs have come together to bring the state of stem cell researchâ€"specifically embryonic stem cell researchâ€"into the political crosshairs. President Bush's watershed policy statement allows federal funding for embryonic stem cell research but only on a limited number of stem cell lines. Millions of Americans could be affected by the continuing political debate among policymakers and the public. Stem Cells and the Future of Regenerative Medicine provides a deeper exploration of the biological, ethical, and funding questions prompted by the therapeutic potential of undifferentiated human cells. In terms accessible to lay readers, the book summarizes what we know about adult and embryonic stem cells and discusses how to go about the transition from mouse studies to research that has therapeutic implications for people. Perhaps most important, Stem Cells and the Future of Regenerative Medicine also provides an overview of the moral and ethical problems that arise from the use of embryonic stem cells. This timely book compares the impact of public and private research funding and discusses approaches to appropriate research oversight. Based on the insights of leading scientists, ethicists, and other authorities, the book offers authoritative recommendations regarding the use of existing stem cell lines versus new lines in research, the important role of the federal government in this field of research, and other fundamental issues.

The Regeneration Promise is a reader-friendly guide to the world of regenerative medicine and stem cell technology. It covers the history of stem cell technology as a general introduction to the subject and then continues with a description of the many known types of stem cells and how these can potentially be used to treat disease. The author explains the pros and cons of using stem cell technology to treat patients in simple and factual terms throughout the book while clarifying many stem cell myths. There is valuable advice for people considering undergoing stem cell therapy and also for those who are considering stem cell storage such as umbilical cord blood storage at the birth of a baby. The book also covers information on current research in stem cell technology and how this may be useful in the clinic, as promising regenerative medicine treatments emerge in the near future. The simple use of language with a clear explanation of scientific terms, where applicable, makes this book an accessible source of information for anyone interested in enhancing their general knowledge about regenerative medicine when considering such treatment options and understanding the debate surrounding stem cell technology and its use in disease therapy.