4 Teams of Scientists at Japanese Universities Hope to Create Blood, Corneas, Nerves

Posted by Bill Belew on July 14th, 2010 in Japan | Comments Off

Japanese scientists are working with applications of induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells in regenerative medicine.

1.  The cells were created from human skin cells by a Kyoto University professor and his team.

The team wants to start research next year on producing brain cells to help treat Parkinson's disease.

2. Another professor of Tohoku University succeeded in growing mouse iPS cells that can become corneas.

3. Still another Tohoku University prof has begun research aimed at generating platelets used for blood clotting.  The plan is for

patients to be able to use their own blood for transfusions.

4. A Yokohama City University Professor and a Kumamoto University professor want to treat diabetes by transplanting pancreatic cells made from a patient's iPS cells.

Japan's Ministry of Science and Technology has no plans to restrict the research except to prohibit creating ovum or sperm.

Embryonic stem cells research face prohibitions, but iPS cells do not.

The difference – fewer ethical issues. 

source 

 


 

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