Advanced stem cell therapy reverses blindness in mice

[IDemo]

Source: State Column

Researchers at the University of Toronto have demonstrated that specially engineered “hydrogels” can help along the process of stem cell transplantation. The gels can also speed up healing to damage in the eyes and the brain, according to U of T Engineering News.

The study, led by University of Toronto professors Molly Shoichet, Derek van der Kooy, and Cindi Morshead, was published in Stem Cell Reports earlier this week. The team encased stem cells in a hydrogel that increased the healing time for injuries to the brain and vision organs. The team hopes that their findings can help develop new therapies for nerve damage caused by injury or disease.

A “hydrogel” is similar in function to bubble wrap. It keeps cells in place as they are transported and attached to sites of nerve damage. The stem cells are much better at healing damaged nerve tissue when they arrive at the site undamaged themselves.

Dr. Shoichet created the hydrogel casings with her team several years ago. This study expanded on their previous work, showing how the hydrogels directly promote stem cell survival and integration in addition to protecting the stem cells during transport.

Read more: http://www.statecolumn.com/2015/05/advanced-stem-cell-therapy-reverses-blindness-in-mice/

[George II]

1. We're going to have to change the words to that old song!

[Cirque du So-What]

4. I, for one, hope this puts an end to the senseless violence

on the part of farmer's wives with carving knives.

[christx30]

5. Did you ever see such a sight in your life,

as three visually restored mice?

[wordpix]

2. great news! Maybe it could cure my neuropathy

from chemo. And my poor SIL is nearly blind from glaucoma, it would be a miracle if she could see again.

[Heidi]

3. Kick!

[Paladin]

6. And yet another profound "Fuck You!" to George W. Bush....

...for throwing up roadblocks to stem cell research.

[Igel]

8. These are mice. n/t

[Paladin]

9. I stand by my prior comment. (nt)

[4lbs]

7. I think there's a grammatical error there.

"increased the healing time"

Doesn't it mean increased the healing rate, thereby DECREASING the healing time?

[father founding]

10. no more fairy tales

This will mean the end of the three blind mice conspiracy theory.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

11. Somewhere there's a poor graduate assistant ...

... who gets to say

"My job is to make mice blind, so we can experiment on them".

Good work, if you can get it.

[dembotoz]

12. maybe he gets them to masterbate