First person treated with Embryonic Stem Cells

The Geron Corp. doctors used human embryonic stem cells to inject into the first patient to ever receive the embryonic stem cells. The embryonic stem cells came from a embryos that were going to be discarded. The cells were taken and matured a little before they were inserted into the patient who had a spinal cord injury. These embryonic stem cells still had the ability to differentiate into any cell in the human body. The clinical trial took place in Atlanta, Georgia. In order for a patient to receive the stem cells, they must have had an injury very recent.


This is important to me because with embryonic stem cells, people with paralyzing injuries could eventually be healed with this type of treatment. The use of these cells is very controversial, but what is interesting is that these cells are taken from embryos that were going to be discarded anyway. These embryos can come from fertility clinics. As a biomedical engineer, I want to be able to use embryonic stem cells in order to find cures for different diseases. People who suffer from a disease need a cure because diseases or paralysis is a serious issue. The people who suffer from this do not get to experience life as it should be. As long as there is embryos that are going to be discarded, why not put them to a good cause? I understand that it is a human being, but I also know first hand the damage caused by disease and paralysis. I hope that this treatment is successful, so that those who do not agree with this will understand just how important this treatment could be.

Source: www.reuters.com/articles/idUSN1117596620101011
Austen Adamcik VTPP 434-501