US treats first patient with human embryonic stem cells

[kpete]

Source: Raw Story/Agence France-Presse

US treats first patient with human embryonic stem cells

By Agence France-Presse
Monday, October 11th, 2010 -- 12:00 pm

US treats first patient with human embryonic stem cells

WASHINGTON (AFP) – US doctors have begun treating the first patient with embryonic stem cells as part of the first human study of the controversial treatment authorized by the government, the Geron Corporation said Monday.

The patient was enrolled at the Shepherd Center spinal cord and brain injury rehabilitation hospital in Atlanta, Georgia, where Geron began clinical trials of their GRNOPC1 human embryonic stem cells in treating patients with devastating spinal cord injuries.

The trial comes just 11 years after Geron began working with human embryonic stem cells in 1999, when "many predicted that it would be a number of decades before a cell therapy would be approved for human clinical trials," said Thomas Okarma, Geron's president and CEO.

"Initiating the GRNOPC1 clinical trial is a milestone for the field of human embryonic stem cell-based therapies," Okarma said.



Read more: http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2010/10/treats-patient-human-embryonic-stem-cells/

[ghurley]

1. fingers crossed n/t

[Beavker]

2. I bet that guy votes for Obama...

Hope it works out for the patient! One way to help cut medical costs: Withold all medical treatments and science related care to Republicans. They don't believe in it anyway, so what the harm.

Think of the savings in Medicare and Medicaid!

[MinneapolisMatt]

3. I hope it works a miracle.

Good luck to all involved!

[tridim]

4. I know for a fact that this isn't the first.

But it's still awesome.

Go stem cells! Go science!

[lunatica]

8. I you talking about all stem cell human experimentation or spinal cord?

[Dogtown]

5. K&R n/t

[Diane R]

6. So many people are depending on this. This was the change we voted for.

[lunatica]

7. Thanks in part to Christopher Reeve's advocacy

I hope they name something that's involved in spinal cord stem cell regeneration after him.

[SkyDaddy7]

11. Not to take away from his advocacy role...

But prior to being injured he visited the Shepherd Center while filming a movie and the staff at the Shepherd Center said he was very arrogant & did very little interaction with patients...Of course that all changed after his injury.

I spent 8 weeks at the Shepherd Center in 2003 after suffering a spinal cord injury...Of course the staff was happy with the focus Christopher Reeve brought to the horrors of spinal cord injuries but some could not get past his behavior during his visit prior to being injured.

Spinal cord Injuries are humbling to say the least...They shatter not your life but all those who around you as well.

[saigon68]

9. This guy in the Dress---Won't like it.

[SkyDaddy7]

10. The Shepherd Center is my hospital!!!

I am here to tell you as an Atheist that the people who work at the Shepherd Center in Atlanta and all the donors who give to the Shepherd Center Foundation are living ANGELS!

I suffered a spinal cord injury in 2003 & spent 8 weeks as in house patient there and I have been returning at least every 3 months for my check-ups...The place is absolutely wonderful!

In 2007 my insurance canceled my policy...Just flat out dropped me as I was going through some expensive pain therapy! Well, I am on several medications that if in my health I were to stop taking abruptly I could die! Well, the apothecary at Shepherd helped me pay for the meds I could out of pocket with some kind of coupons they had & my doctors went to all the other doctors & rounded up enough free samples of the medicine I could not afford...They did this for 3 months until I was able to get enrolled in Medicare!

All the nurses are very caring & really fun to be around and that sure helps as you are dealing with a life shattering injury!

PLEASE if you are considering a charity to give to or you know someone who is in a financial position to give PLEASE consider the Shepherd Center Foundation.

http://www.shepherd.org/charitable-giving/contact

[go west young man]

12. This patient may be a friend of mine but I'm unsure.

A friend Marc (I won't use his last name) broke his C5 and C6 vertebrae down on Saint Simons Island
Georgia last Sunday the 3rd of October. He dove off a boat in shallow water unaware of the depth.
He was moved to the Shepherd Center in Atlanta this past Thursday. I assume he's an ideal candidate.
He's 22, male, and was very active until the accident last week.

If it is him it's a great honor to know the first human treated with stem cells for a spinal injury.
It wouldn't surprise me if it is him as he is a very brave young man.
Fingers crossed that this treatment works for whoever it is. And kudo's to the Shepherd Center.

[sandnsea]

13. I HOPE n/t