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Stem Cells Reversing Paralysis?
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The timing is critical.
I've clearly said it many times before here: I run a stem cell lab and have for a decade, been studying them for ~15 years after earning my Ph.D.
This could be an exciting development - I am well aware of the work and the folks involved. But: it's one person cited here, the extent of repair is good but not great, and the cells are injected soon after injury (I think it's 2-3 weeks). As many know, sometimes people spontaneously recover during this period anyway, so it's not clear that the cells should receive the credit. This is why placebo-controlled, double blinded studies are needed to show that something actually causes repair to happen. The current studies are primarily designed to establish safety.
Also, to tempura and so many others: the term "stem cell" is completely misused. Generically speaking, it's a cell that can divide to make a copy of itself and a "specialized" cell. Most tourist "stem cell" destinations like China or even many places in America will take fat out of your ass, process it in some quick way, and shoot it back to another place in your body. Technically, that fat contains some "stem cells", but these cells have a limited capacity to make other cell types, and they generally make bone, cartilage, some muscle types, and a few others but not the neural cells needed to repair the actual damage. Many of us "embryonic stem cell" people do not believe this strategy will work well, although there are reasons to think it could make a small contribution for reasons too complicated to put on Vital. Obviously many of them disagree with us in the interest of being fair. It's just that they're wrong
This product is derived from human embryonic stem cells and it's the very first such product ever submitted to the FDA. I honestly didn't have high hopes for it based on the biology, but the recent evidence is encouraging. But using terms like "reversing paralysis" and then citing one person is fairly irresponsible because it creates false hope. I think we should be cautiously optimistic.
The Shop
Here's an article that talks about a case of paralysis that showed improved trunk stability, partial recovery of the voluntary movements of the lower extremities, and an increase of the muscle mass in the left thigh, as well as partial recovery of skin and deep tissue sensation. Doesn't show a complete recovery, but I wouldn't be surprised to find out that it hasn't happened yet.
What type of stem cell work are you involved with, spinal cord injury or something else's? I'm holding out hope there will be a positive development for chronic spinal cord injury as my son suffers from one 12 years ago from this sport.
I was around the Reeve Irvine Research Center as Hans Keirstead was going for the FDA approval of this Oligodendrocycte therapy, while it may not be the silver bullet hopefully it will pave the way for other stem cell treatments.
It amazes me about how uniformed The general public is about stem cells and what are valid therapies and how most all of them if not all are scams but I guess if I wasn't close to someone that could benefit from there successful use I would be the same.....
Keep working in your lab and maybe you'll be the the one to help with the quality of life for the thousands out there dealing with these terrible injuries and diseases.
I don't really know how to share this properly but there's an article on page 11 of this online magazine
Epidural Electronic Stimulation
Yes, I don't know the details of his "stem cell treatment" , but he was charged a lot of money and the results weren't positive.
I sent them an email to see if I can be a volunteer, I haven't heard back yet.. Bastards haha
I am part of a group that has manufactured a therapy for Parkinson's. We are hoping to get to the FDA by 2018. But, my lab works on many things, and we have made spinal motor neurons in a dish for many years now. The problem is getting the cells to grow long distances to the right place after such an injury.
I've been riding for over 40 years, so obviously this topic is near and dear to my heart. The field is still learning a lot, so there's many exciting possibilities going forward. But I worry that many in our field (such as Hans in the past, IMO) has overhyped things. I don't want to suffocate hope, but I do want a sober reflection of the difficulties that we have in trying to develop treatments. It's not easy and takes lots of time and money.
Thanks for your support and kind words.
Be really careful about what you sign up for, because the people taking your money do not often mention these bad outcomes. Only those of us subjected to actual clinical trials must report the good and the bad.
And, a single case study is not a trial: it's a single case study. MDs frequently publish such cases, but a clinical trial is the result of many patients either receiving or not receiving a therapy to compare outcomes. It's not that it's not credible: it's just that you can't draw any conclusions about whether the patient got better because of the cells or in spite of the cells. Maybe the cells had nothing to do with it.
Having said that, there have been tons of publications that are wrong. There have been many publications that are not credible that end up in good journals. This guy made people believe that vaccines cause autism based on the worst evidence imaginable. There was a study in Nature that suggested that you could dilute a substance beyond less than 1 molecule (basis of homepathic remedies) and that water would retain the memory. It was super wrong and could not be replicated. Some believe up to 50% of published papers are wrong. But over time, science corrects itself: the truth is out there!
https://educateinspirechange.org/science-technology/first-paralyzed-hum…
Pit Row
Edit: I just did a quick google search and it looks like big pharma is already investing
It's a subject that I follow very closely but it's so difficult to wrap your head around what's actually necessary to reverse a SCI without having a complete, professional education on the subject.
A few days ago I started reading up on Patrick Rummerfield, whose case blows my mind and judging by videos and interviews I've seen, pretty much blows the minds of even the most knowledgeable people in the field.
I know the question can't be answered, but I'm pretty sure your crystal ball is calibrated a little better than mine.. Do you personally believe that we will find a 'cure' (or reversal process) for SCI in the next 50 years?
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