Regenerative Medicine

I found this picture and quote on reddit:

This is a “ghost organ.” It has been decelluralized, leaving only connective tissue. The organ can then be reseeded with a patient’s own cells to regenerate it so it can be transplanted without fear of tissue rejection. This is experimental

I have written on this process before (see: Francis N. Stein) and, to me, this may be the most exciting scientific development in the next ten to twenty years.  Imagine when your kidneys malfunction, you will then just go to an organ factory, give them a syringe full of your stem cells (from your bone marrow or possibly saved from your umbilical cord when you were born) and go back in a few weeks to have your new kidneys installed … no rejection-fighting drugs … little chance of failure … they will be your brand-new kidneys just like the ones you were born with.

I just hope I am around to see this medical miracle come to pass.

Afterthought: Although these ghost organs are now retrieved and processed from cadavers ... research scientists are now experimenting with 3-D printers to produce them.

Kidney Stew

Over three years ago I wrote a blog about the possibility of reconstructing human organs in the laboratory using adult stem cells (see: Francis N. Stein)  This science, by its very nature is progressing very slowly … but it is progressing.  Research doctors have recently bio-engineered, totally from scratch, a rat kidney, transplanted it into its host rat, and seen it function correctly (see: Science News Article).  Please, please read this previous link to see and understand the details of what is being called regenerative medicine … the creation of replacement body parts in the lab which will duplicate a person’s own organs.  This is revolutionary in that this will mean that there will be no auto-immune rejection complications.  And, at some future time, for the seriously ill, there will be no longer a need to go on a waiting list for donor organs.

To me this is and will be one of the most exciting and dramatic scientific developments in this century and will revolutionize medical care.  I may not be around to see this sea change occur … but I am convinced that my grandchildren will.

Afterward: for more information on this exciting new medical area see: Scientific American Article