Chances are you’ve already heard about stem cells, and wonder how they can help you or a loved one with a serious disease. Well, there is no need to worry since you are not alone. Actually, many people worldwide have no idea what stem cells are, how they help in treating disease and injury, and why they’re the subject of such vigorous debate.
In a nutshell, stem cells are the body’s raw materials- cells from which all other cells with specialized functions are generated. Under the right conditions, stem cells and derived products offer great promise for new medical treatments. With that in mind, this post will take you through some of the things you ought to know about stem cell research. Keep reading to find out more.
Regenerative Medicine
You might not know this, but stem cell research helps in the generation of healthy cells to replace diseases cells. This process is commonly referred to as regenerative medicine. Researchers and doctors get to watch stem cells mature into cells in bones, heart muscle, nerves, and other organs to gain a better understanding of how diseases and conditions develop.
With this information, they can guide stem cells into becoming specific cells. These cells are then used in regenerating and repairing diseased or damaged tissues in people. Among the group of individuals that can benefit from regenerative medicine include those with type 1 diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, heart disease and cancer to mention a few.
Test New Drugs
Before using investigational drugs, it is essential for researchers to test their safety and effectiveness. That’s where stem cell research comes in handy as it helps researchers test the drugs for safety and quality. The results attained from this type of testing have a direct impact on drug development first for cardiac toxicity testing.
The Bottom Line
It is quite evident that stem cell research plays a vital role in changing our lives for the better. After all, it allows for the testing of new drugs for safety and effectiveness. Furthermore, it increases our understanding of how diseases occur. If you want to partake in stem cell research, then you should consider enrolling yourself for a programme at Duke NUS Medical School. As one of the leading medical schools in Asia, you will get all the help and resources you need o partake in the research.
