StemSave Blog

Australia’s Federal Health Minister has just announced the establishment of the Australian Stem Cell Therapies Mission [with initial funding of 150 million AUD], which strives to put the country at the forefront of medical progress. The Minister has stated that the country’s commitment to invest in creating autologous treatments [utilizing the patients' own stem cells] to effectively treat Parkinson’s, dementia, spinal cord injuries and other previously incurable diseases and injuries, over the course of 10 years. Additionally, the promise of tailoring treatments to each patient with autologous cells could create more effective options compared to standardized medicine.

Researchers at the Salk Institute have used stem cells to understand the changes in neural development for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). This study has uncovered the first measurable changes in neuronal development of individuals with ASD, which is a major step toward understanding the disorder and ameliorating current therapies. The research found that by allowing the stem cells to differentiate into neurons, several developmental steps differed in cells from individuals with ASD compared to the control group. This led researchers to the conclusion that changes occur much earlier in neuronal development, since cells from individuals with ASD turn on their genes for neuronal development much earlier and the neurons grew faster compared to controls.

Organs-on-Chips are set to be studied in zero gravity at the International Space Station. Astronauts who go into space have been known to experience changes in their health and immune response, but until recently, the reasons for these changes remained largely unknown. Previously, animals were sent as a way to determine the long-term health effects of being in space. However, since every organism functions differently, this approach, while useful, had obvious drawbacks. Organs-on-Chips [OOCs] are an innovation created by a collaborative effort of the Wyss Institute of Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, among others. OOCs are small vessels that utilize stem cells to create various tissue types to simulate the conditions inside human organs. If the tests prove successful, these tiny chips  will be the closest researchers get to estimating the effects of space travel on human organ function - aside from sending out actual astronauts.

Researchers at USC [University of Southern California] have utilized stem cells to track neuronal growth and identify specific genes that appear to be responsible for the development of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and depression. The study linked the DISC1 gene to the development of schizophrenia, which currently does not have effective treatments and causes disproportionate disability compared to other neurological disorders. Like many neurological disorders, the source of schizophrenia has been ambiguous and this research, with the use of stem cells, is helping to navigate this disorder. Through the utilization of stem cells, the study determined how genes like DISC1 function in the body, and their downstream impact on protein function and neurotransmitter production by tracking the gene expression. 

StemSave is once again sponsoring the International Conference on Dental and Craniofacial Stem Cells [ICDCSC]. This is the 3^rd conference since the inaugural conference of 2012 and will be held on October 26-28 in Paris, France. The conference will be co-chaired by Dr. Jeremy Mao of Columbia University [StemSave’s Chief Scientific Advisor] and Dr. Michael Goldberg of University Paris Descartes. They will be joined by 30 internationally renowned speakers in a collegial and conducive atmosphere to catalyze the biology of stem cell research and translational advances towards therapeutics.

Stem Cells may be the key to maintaining your youth as we age. Researchers at the University of Illinois revealed that injecting mesenchymal stem cells [MSCs - the same type of stem cells found in teeth] into the leg muscles of mice facilitated the repair and strengthening of muscles following exercise. Skeletal muscle decreases in mass and function as we age. Armed with a more nuanced understanding of how muscles respond to exercise, researchers are developing novel therapies utilizing MSCs to rejuvenate aged or damaged muscles in humans.

A new advancement in stem cell differentiation has been developed by UNSW Australia researchers. The technique utilizes autologous stem cells treated with a series of growth factors to promote cell plasticity. The mixture is then inserted into damaged tissues, promoting growth and healing.

According to a recent issue of Time Magazine, children born today could to live to be 142 years old.  Significant advancements in health care, such as regenerative medicine and stem cell therapies, will clearly be a foundational element upon which this projection is brought into fruition.   Maintaining the individual’s health will be critical to addressing increasing lifespans and to insure that an extended life span is both fruitful and productive.  To ensure that families have access to  emerging regenerative treatments that will make it possible  to reach this potential longevity, children’s autologous stem cells can be conveniently and affordably recovered and cryo-preserved during routine dental procedures.. To learn more about how to bank dental stem cells for use in future therapies and treatments, visit StemSave or call 877-783-6728 (877-StemSave) today.