Stem cells, often described as core building blocks of the human body, have the unique capacity to self-renew and replicate when activated into almost any cell in the body given the right environment. Stem cells can thus be used to repair or replace diseased or damaged tissues, offering enormous potential for curing many diseases.
Therefore it is no wonder that stem cell therapy has been a subject of intense research over the years. Today stem cell therapy is being successfully used to regenerate tissue or renew cells in diseases such as leukaemia, diabetes, Parkinson’s or even Sports Injuries and other injuries to the bone or skin.
What is Kidney Failure
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) occurs when more than …show more content…
It has been estimated that around 10% of population worldwide suffer from CKD, and it is the 9th leading cause of death in the United States. In India, an estimate by a senior AIIMS doctor has put its occurrence at 1 in 10 adults, with close to five lakh patients requiring life-long dialysis or transplantation. With barely a few thousands in a position to receive transplants, people with CKD have no other alternative other than the expensive option of dialysis.
Can Stem Cell Therapy be the answer?
Extensive research has been undertaken worldwide to understand if stem cells can be used to regenerate damaged kidney and restore lost function. Over the past years, there has been substantial improvement in understanding how stem cells can contribute and scientists have formulated initial treatment therapies, although we are still some distance from generating a fully functional kidney in a laboratory.
How Stem Cell Therapy Can Help
After extensive studies, researchers have zeroed in on bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and human induced pluripotent stem cells as having the maximum promise for use in repairing