“Latest Stem Cells News”

A new report brings bioengineered organs a step closer, as scientists from Stanford and New York University Langone Medical Center describe how they were able to use a “scaffolding” material extracted from the groin area of mice on which stem cells from blood, fat, and bone marrow grew. This advance clears two major hurdles to bioengineered replacement organs, namely a matrix on which stem cells can form a 3-dimensional organ and transplant rejection.

The regional transplant center realized by the San Camillo-Forlanini Hospital along with the Spallanzani medical center is attempting to improve the efficiency of organ transplants with the use of stem cells removed from and used in the patient (autologous stem cells). The project designed by the Lazio based medical institutes is currently being used in experiments at the Ospedali Riuniti di Bergamo (United Hospitals of Bergamo). Rejection is the most frequent cause of kidney transplant failure. With current anti-rejection drugs, about 50% of kidney transplants stop functioning after about 10 years due to chronic rejection or the toxicity of the immunosuppressive therapies which favor tumor growth.