Adult Stem Cells: Exciting News From Georgia

There is some great news of a new clinical trial in the works down in Georgia, where researchers will investigate the efficacy of adult stem cells in the treatment of cerebral palsy.  This is important work and needs to be publicized, particularly because the main stream media continues to ignore advances like these or simply refers to them enigmatically as 'stem cells' without ever emphasizing that these are adult stem cells rather than embryonic.  These actions in regards to publicity are all ways that the powers that be continue to try and push forward the unethical failures that are embryonic stem cells rather than focus on something that works: Adult stem cells.  So read the article and keep spreading the word that there is great hope for treatments using adult stem cells.

AUGUSTA, Ga., Feb. 15 (UPI) -- U.S. scientists say they are starting a clinical trial to determine whether stem cells from umbilical cord blood

can help children with cerebral palsy.
Medical College of Georgia researchers said their study represents the first such U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved clinical trial. The study will include 40 children age 2-12 whose parents have stored cord blood at the Cord Blood Registry in Tucson, Ariz.
The principal investigator of the trial, Dr. James Carroll, a professor at the college's school of medicine, said umbilical cord blood is rich in stem cells, which can divide and morph into different types of cells throughout the body. Cerebral palsy is caused by a brain injury or lack of oxygen in the brain.
Animal studies indicate that infused stem cells help injured brain cells recover and replace brain cells that have died, Carroll said.
While no controlled clinical trials have been conducted to date, Carroll said previous studies have shown marked improvement in children with cerebral palsy about three months after an initial infusion of cord blood.
"Evidence up to this point has been purely anecdotal," he said. "While a variety of cord blood stem cell therapies have been used successfully for more than 20 years, this study is breaking new ground in advancing therapies for brain injury -- a condition for which there is currently no cure."

H/T Mary Meets Dolly