Regenerative Medicine Research
What is Regenerative Medicine?
Regenerative medicine is a broad definition for innovative medical therapies that will allow the body to repair, replace, restore and renew damaged or diseased cells, tissues and organs. Scientists worldwide are involved in research activities that may allow repair of damaged heart muscle after a heart attack. Replacement of skin for burn victims. Restoration of movement after spinal cord injury. Regeneration of pancreatic tissue to produce insulin for people with diabetes. Regenerative medicine promises to extend healthy life spans, and improve the quality of life by supporting and initiating the body’s natural healing.
Regenerative Medicine Timeline
YESTERDAY
1. Successful transplantation of bone, soft tissue, and corneas occurred early in the 20th century.
2. Real progress in organ transplantation began in 1954 with the first successful kidney transplant.
3. During the 1960s, successful transplantation of pancreas/kidney, liver, isolated pancreas and heart occurred.
4. Transplant surgery success continued into the 1980s with successful heart-lung, single lung, double lung, living-donor liver, and living-donor lung transplants.
TODAY
1. The rapid development of transplant medicine along with the aging of the baby boomer generation has caused an increased demand for tissues and organs far exceeding the available donor organs.
2. Approximately 500,000 Americans benefit from a transplant each year.
3. As of August 2010, there were approximately 108,000 people on the waiting list for donor organs. Many of these individuals will die before a suitable organ can be found.
4. Tissue-engineered skin has been used for skin replacement, temporary wound cover for burns, and treatment for diabetic leg and foot ulcers.
5. Tissue-engineered bladder, derived from a patient’s own cells, can be grown outside the body and successfully transplanted.
6. A material developed from the small intestines of pigs is increasingly used
Regenerative medicine is a broad definition for innovative medical therapies that will allow the body to repair, replace, restore and renew damaged or diseased cells, tissues and organs. Scientists worldwide are involved in research activities that may allow repair of damaged heart muscle after a heart attack. Replacement of skin for burn victims. Restoration of movement after spinal cord injury. Regeneration of pancreatic tissue to produce insulin for people with diabetes. Regenerative medicine promises to extend healthy life spans, and improve the quality of life by supporting and initiating the body’s natural healing.
Regenerative Medicine Timeline
YESTERDAY
1. Successful transplantation of bone, soft tissue, and corneas occurred early in the 20th century.
2. Real progress in organ transplantation began in 1954 with the first successful kidney transplant.
3. During the 1960s, successful transplantation of pancreas/kidney, liver, isolated pancreas and heart occurred.
4. Transplant surgery success continued into the 1980s with successful heart-lung, single lung, double lung, living-donor liver, and living-donor lung transplants.
TODAY
1. The rapid development of transplant medicine along with the aging of the baby boomer generation has caused an increased demand for tissues and organs far exceeding the available donor organs.
2. Approximately 500,000 Americans benefit from a transplant each year.
3. As of August 2010, there were approximately 108,000 people on the waiting list for donor organs. Many of these individuals will die before a suitable organ can be found.
4. Tissue-engineered skin has been used for skin replacement, temporary wound cover for burns, and treatment for diabetic leg and foot ulcers.
5. Tissue-engineered bladder, derived from a patient’s own cells, can be grown outside the body and successfully transplanted.
6. A material developed from the small intestines of pigs is increasingly used