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A milestone in embryonic stem cell therapy occurred Oct. 8 when the 1st human clinical trial started. Spinal cord cells created from embryonic stem cells were inserted into the damaged spine of a just lately paralyzed patient. The safety of embryonic stem cell therapy for spinal cord injuries is the main question researchers want answered by the study, which will monitor 10 individuals for two years. Source of article - First human clinical trial of embryonic stem cell therapy begins .

Stem cell research from private funds

Embryonic stem cells are being used in a human being scientific trial in order to treat spinal cord traumas. This is being done by a biopharmaceutical company in Menlo Park, California, called Geron Corp. A spinal cord injury is why the patient had been paralyzed, reports the Washington Post. The place where the person was damaged, in an Atlanta hospital, millions of embryonic stem cells were injected. The research and stem cells of this research were all financed independently. This is because a renewed ban on federal funds for research passed in August in a district court. The Justice Department is appealing.

Hope for patients with spinal cord injuries

The Phase I trial of the embryonic stem cell therapy is where the human test is. Animals were tested quite extensively which is why Phase I is intended to be totally safe, reports the Los Angeles Times. Patients between the 3rd and 10th thoracic vertebrae will get to be a part of the test if they're one of the lucky 10 individuals chosen. There is only a 14 days period where the treatment can occur. That's the only time the stem cells could be injected. Before injection, the stem cells, which can develop into any type of cell within the body, are transformed into "glial" cells that insulate nerve fibers. The coating that protects nerve cells ought to be able to grow back. Scientists optimism that this enables signals to travel through the spinal cord again.

A possible remedy for paralysis

Geron CEO Dr. Thomas Okarma said the spine ought to be built with the embryonic stem cells just like a womb prepares for a fetus. According to CNN, Okarma claims it is simple. It's like an electrical cable that needs fixing. If the outer fibers are damaged and wire is exposed, the cable shorts out. Just like patching a cable, the glial cells reinsulated the nerve in a spinal cord injury. The result might be permanent repair of the damage causing the paralysis. The whole point of this is for making it so a patient can start working in physical therapy rather than being in complete paralysis.

Information from

Washington Post

voices.washingtonpost.com/checkup/2010/10/first_patient_treated_in_stem.html?wpisrc=nl_natlalert

Los Angeles Times

latimes.com/health/la-sci-stem-cell-trial-20101012,,362113.story

CNN

pagingdrgupta.blogs.cnn.com/2010/10/11/first-human-injected-in-human-embryonic-stem-cell-trial/?npt=NP1