Stem cells have tremendous promise to help us understand and treat a range of diseases, injuries and other health-related conditions. Their potential is evident in the use of blood stem cells to treat diseases of the blood, a therapy that has saved the lives of thousands of children with leukemia; and can be seen in the use of stem cells for tissue grafts to treat diseases or injury to the bone, skin and surface of the eye. Important clinical trials involving stem cells are underway for many other conditions and researchers continue to explore new avenues using stem cells in medicine.
There is still a lot to learn about stem cells, however, and their current applications as treatments are sometimes exaggerated by the media and other parties who do not fully understand the science and current limitations, and also by clinics looking to capitalize on the hype by selling treatments to chronically ill or seriously injured patients. The information on this page is intended to help you understand both the potential and the limitations of stem cells at this point in time, and to help you spot some of the misinformation that is widely circulated by clinics offering unproven treatments.
It is important to discuss these Nine Things to Know and any research or information you gather with your primary care physician and other trusted members of your healthcare team in deciding what is right for you.
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Nine Things to Know About Stem Cell Treatments
- Politics of Stem Cell Research [Last Updated On: May 7th, 2011] [Originally Added On: May 7th, 2011]
- Obama Ends Funding Ban for Stem Cell Research [Last Updated On: May 8th, 2011] [Originally Added On: May 8th, 2011]
- Stem Cell Research: A Father's Fight [Last Updated On: May 10th, 2011] [Originally Added On: May 10th, 2011]
- Human Embryonic stem cell research [Last Updated On: May 11th, 2011] [Originally Added On: May 11th, 2011]
- Frost Over The World - Stem Cell Research and Turkey -26 Oct [Last Updated On: May 20th, 2011] [Originally Added On: May 20th, 2011]
- McCain Favors Embryonic Stem Cell Research [Last Updated On: May 20th, 2011] [Originally Added On: May 20th, 2011]
- US divided over stem cell research reversal - 09 Mar 09 [Last Updated On: May 21st, 2011] [Originally Added On: May 21st, 2011]
- The Politics and Promise of Stem Cell Research [Last Updated On: May 22nd, 2011] [Originally Added On: May 22nd, 2011]
- Inside Story - Obama to end stem cell research ban - March 9 - Part1 [Last Updated On: May 30th, 2011] [Originally Added On: May 30th, 2011]
- Cardiovascular Therapies: Spotlight on Stem Cell Research - Douglas Boyd [Last Updated On: June 3rd, 2011] [Originally Added On: June 3rd, 2011]
- The Human Embryo and Embryonic Stem Cell Biology: Spotlight on Stem Cell Research [Last Updated On: June 3rd, 2011] [Originally Added On: June 3rd, 2011]
- US appeals court lifts stem cell research ban [Last Updated On: June 7th, 2011] [Originally Added On: June 7th, 2011]
- Trailer for Mapping Stem Cell Research: Terra Incognita [Last Updated On: June 9th, 2011] [Originally Added On: June 9th, 2011]
- Politics: President Obama on Stem Cell Research [Last Updated On: June 10th, 2011] [Originally Added On: June 10th, 2011]
- Stem Cell Research Documentary [Last Updated On: June 11th, 2011] [Originally Added On: June 11th, 2011]
- TEDxSingapore - Susan Lim - Hype and hope of stem cell research [Last Updated On: June 13th, 2011] [Originally Added On: June 13th, 2011]
- Lou Gehrig's Disease (ALS): Spotlight on Stem Cell Research - Wrapup [Last Updated On: June 14th, 2011] [Originally Added On: June 14th, 2011]
- The Next Frontier in Stem Cell Research [Last Updated On: June 17th, 2011] [Originally Added On: June 17th, 2011]
- Robert Klein: Stem Cell Research [Last Updated On: June 22nd, 2011] [Originally Added On: June 22nd, 2011]
- Fibrocell Stem-Cell Wrinkle Smoother Wins FDA Clearance [Last Updated On: June 23rd, 2011] [Originally Added On: June 23rd, 2011]
- The Politics of Stem Cell Research [Last Updated On: June 23rd, 2011] [Originally Added On: June 23rd, 2011]
- A Dose of Reality on Alternative Stem Cell Treatments: What you don't know can hurt you [Last Updated On: June 28th, 2011] [Originally Added On: June 28th, 2011]
- Governor Tim Pawlenty Discusses Stem Cell Research [Last Updated On: June 30th, 2011] [Originally Added On: June 30th, 2011]
- The EU and stem cell research [Last Updated On: July 5th, 2011] [Originally Added On: July 5th, 2011]
- Parkinson's Disease: Spotlight on Stem Cell Research - Jeff Bronstein [Last Updated On: July 6th, 2011] [Originally Added On: July 6th, 2011]
- Cardiovascular Therapies: Spotlight on Stem Cell Research - Yung-Wei Chi [Last Updated On: July 7th, 2011] [Originally Added On: July 7th, 2011]
- Spotlight on Cancer Stem Cell Research [Last Updated On: July 11th, 2011] [Originally Added On: July 11th, 2011]
- A Stem Cell Story [Last Updated On: July 12th, 2011] [Originally Added On: July 12th, 2011]
- Bishop Blair bars support for Komen breast cancer group [Last Updated On: July 13th, 2011] [Originally Added On: July 13th, 2011]
- Stem Cell Research In Toronto [Last Updated On: July 14th, 2011] [Originally Added On: July 14th, 2011]
- Arthritis: Spotlight on Stem Cell Research - Introduction [Last Updated On: July 14th, 2011] [Originally Added On: July 14th, 2011]
- Huntington's Disease: Spotlight on Stem Cell Research 2007 - Han Keirstead [Last Updated On: July 15th, 2011] [Originally Added On: July 15th, 2011]
- TMconfUK2011-08 - Stem Cell Research in the UK - Prof Charles Ffrench-Constant [Last Updated On: July 16th, 2011] [Originally Added On: July 16th, 2011]
- UCSF opens stem cell research building [Last Updated On: July 16th, 2011] [Originally Added On: July 16th, 2011]
- HIV/AIDS: Spotlight on Stem Cell Research - John Zaia [Last Updated On: July 17th, 2011] [Originally Added On: July 17th, 2011]
- Deafness: Spotlight on Stem Cell Research - Ebenezer Yamoah [Last Updated On: July 22nd, 2011] [Originally Added On: July 22nd, 2011]
- Spotlight on Basic Stem Cell Research - Irv Weissman [Last Updated On: July 25th, 2011] [Originally Added On: July 25th, 2011]
- Diabetes: Spotlight on Stem Cell Research - Peter Butler [Last Updated On: July 27th, 2011] [Originally Added On: July 27th, 2011]
- Parkinson's Disease: Spotlight on Stem Cell Research - Arnold Kriegstein [Last Updated On: July 27th, 2011] [Originally Added On: July 27th, 2011]
- HIV/AIDS: Spotlight on Stem Cell Research - Loren Leeds [Last Updated On: July 27th, 2011] [Originally Added On: July 27th, 2011]
- Alzheimer's Disease: Spotlight on Stem Cell Research - Leeza Gibbons [Last Updated On: August 2nd, 2011] [Originally Added On: August 2nd, 2011]
- Geron's Embryonic Stem Cell Clinical Trial for Spinal Cord Injury [Last Updated On: August 3rd, 2011] [Originally Added On: August 3rd, 2011]
- The Skin Gun stem cell research [Last Updated On: August 10th, 2011] [Originally Added On: August 10th, 2011]
- Deafness: Spotlight on Stem Cell Research - Karen Doyle [Last Updated On: August 10th, 2011] [Originally Added On: August 10th, 2011]
- Stem Cell Research: Huntington's Disease [Last Updated On: August 14th, 2011] [Originally Added On: August 14th, 2011]
- Adult and Non-Embryonic Stem Cell Research Conference at Notre Dame [Last Updated On: August 20th, 2011] [Originally Added On: August 20th, 2011]
- Stemcell Research and Aging - Panel 1 [Last Updated On: August 22nd, 2011] [Originally Added On: August 22nd, 2011]
- Texans for Stem Cell Research Learn for Life: KXAN Coverage Aired August 16th, 2011 [Last Updated On: August 24th, 2011] [Originally Added On: August 24th, 2011]
- Stem Cell Research: Macular Degeneration [Last Updated On: September 18th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 18th, 2011]
- Brilliant Minds - Stem Cell Research | Tomorrow Today [Last Updated On: September 25th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 25th, 2011]
- Ethics of Stem Cell Research (1) [Last Updated On: September 29th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 29th, 2011]
- Legal and Public Policy Dimensions of Stem Cell Research [Last Updated On: September 29th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 29th, 2011]
- Stem cell symposium [Last Updated On: October 2nd, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 2nd, 2011]
- StemCONN 2011, The Latest in Stem Cell Research [Last Updated On: October 6th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 6th, 2011]
- Arthritis: Spotlight on Stem Cell Research - Mark Genovese [Last Updated On: October 7th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 7th, 2011]
- Judy Roberson: Patient advocates drive stem cell scientists [Last Updated On: October 8th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 8th, 2011]
- Sam Harris - Stem Cells and Morality [Last Updated On: October 8th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 8th, 2011]
- Stem Cell Research, Ethics and Religion [Last Updated On: October 9th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 9th, 2011]
- Stem Cells: Fulfilling the Promise - 2011 CIRM Grantee Meeting [Last Updated On: October 10th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 10th, 2011]
- The Skin Gun (Stem Cell research to replace burnt off skin. Done in 3 days!) [Last Updated On: October 13th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 13th, 2011]
- Alzheimer's Stem Cell Research Patient Advocate Spotlight: The Faces of Neurodegenerative Disease - Video [Last Updated On: October 18th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 18th, 2011]
- Life in the Balance: Perspectives on Stem Cell Research - Video [Last Updated On: October 18th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 18th, 2011]
- Stem Cell Research Funding Halt - Video [Last Updated On: October 19th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 19th, 2011]
- Vatican lending hand in adult stem cell research - Video [Last Updated On: October 20th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 20th, 2011]
- First Spinal-Cord Surgery With Stem Cells - Video [Last Updated On: October 21st, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 21st, 2011]
- Michael J. Fox Embryonic Stem Cell Research - Video [Last Updated On: October 22nd, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 22nd, 2011]
- stem cell research - Video [Last Updated On: October 22nd, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 22nd, 2011]
- Gayle Atteberry - Cloning [Last Updated On: November 5th, 2011] [Originally Added On: November 5th, 2011]
- It Takes Nerve: UC Irvine - Sue [Last Updated On: November 6th, 2011] [Originally Added On: November 6th, 2011]
- Embryonic Stem Cell Research - Video [Last Updated On: November 9th, 2011] [Originally Added On: November 9th, 2011]
- Adult Stem Cell Research Far Ahead of Embryonic - Video [Last Updated On: November 10th, 2011] [Originally Added On: November 10th, 2011]
- Is stem cell research a growing concern .flv - Video [Last Updated On: November 10th, 2011] [Originally Added On: November 10th, 2011]
- Forbes Discusses Stem Cell Research - Video [Last Updated On: November 14th, 2011] [Originally Added On: November 14th, 2011]
- Stem Cell Research Presentation - Video [Last Updated On: November 16th, 2011] [Originally Added On: November 16th, 2011]
- Benedict XVI: No embryonic stem cell research - Video [Last Updated On: November 28th, 2011] [Originally Added On: November 28th, 2011]
- Batten Disease: Spotlight on Stem Cell Research - A Father's Story - Video [Last Updated On: November 30th, 2011] [Originally Added On: November 30th, 2011]
- CIS 111 Digital Media Project - Stem Cell Research - Video [Last Updated On: December 13th, 2011] [Originally Added On: December 13th, 2011]
- Regenerative Medicine and Applications of Stem Cell Research - Video [Last Updated On: December 20th, 2011] [Originally Added On: December 20th, 2011]
- Stem Cell Research Today: Larry Goldstein - CIRM Science Writer's Seminar - Video [Last Updated On: December 22nd, 2011] [Originally Added On: December 22nd, 2011]
- CIRM Bridges Award: Building California's Stem Cell Research Workforce - Video [Last Updated On: December 22nd, 2011] [Originally Added On: December 22nd, 2011]