Skin Stem Cells Used to Mend Spines of Rats

The Toronto Star reports researchers have used adult skin stem cells to heal spinal cord injuries in rats. "Injured rats injected with skin-derived stem cells regained mobility and had better walking co-ordination, according to the study published yesterday in the Journal of Neuroscience. The skin-derived stem cells, injected directly into the injured rats' spinal cords, were able to survive in their new location and set off a flurry of activity, helping to heal the cavity in the cord."

Comments

chinese got there first

[crayz]

Sounds similar to the experimental (human) treatment being practiced in China. There's been a lot of skepticism about why/how such a thing could work, but according to a lot of people who've gone through the treatment it does restore some amount of functionality

Re:very nice

[Pentavirate]

It's the embryonic stem cell research that is forbidden in the United States

One little difference from what you said. Embryonic stem cell research is not forbidden in the United States. The federal government just won't fund it except from a couple of pre-existing stem cell lines (which I guess are corrupted and worthless now anyway). Lot's of embryonic stem cell research happens via private funds and is often even funded through states like California.

Everything else you said is spot on.

Re:very nice

[bensafrickingenius]

Another interesting point -- George W. Bush is the only president ever to provide any funding for embryonic stem cell research. Ever. And yet he gets his ass kicked for not expanding the funding to cover more cell lines.