Regenerative Medicine
Overview What is Regenerative medicine? What can it do? How does it work? How does it help? What are the drawbacks? The future
What is it? Creating living tissues Regenerating tissue Growing organs Replace irreparable organs No more transplants Patient cells Combination of biology/chemistry
What is it? Research into stem cells Why stem cells can develop into almost any tissue Self repair Imitation tissues and structures
Current Situation Palliative care Delaying progression Self healing Few real cures Ageing population
Situation Large demand Meagre supply Long waiting list
Illegal organ trade
Aims Solve donor shortage Eliminate rejection Stop organ trafficking Solve ethical issues Made to order Focused on systems with no regeneration
Yesterday 20 th century Bone, tissue Kidney 1954 Kidney, liver, heart 1960s Lungs and living donors 1980s
Today Skin Grafts Engineered Bladder Supplementary healing Bone, burns, tissue Trachea – no donor tissue
Today Engineered vascular Stem cells For any cells For same type
How does it work? Inspired by animal regeneration Stem cells accumulate at injury - Blastema
Regrowing
Regrowth in Humans Liver growth not original No regrowth in other areas 2 nd degree burns
Growing Organs Rat kidneys: Wash away cells to leave collagen Renal artery, ureter. Added rat stem cells Recoated with recipient’s cells Cells formed into a kidney.
Growing Human Organs
Human Organs
How does it help? Potential to save many and extend lifespan. Potential for cures over palliative care.
How does it help? Mesenchymal cells over embryonic cells Ageing Birth Defects
What are the drawbacks? Destruction of Blastocysts Long term effects unknown Stem cells can be rejected by a patient Stem cells are pre specialised
Ethical problems Stem cell research Alleviate suffering for majority Respect human life Is an embryo a person? If so, when? Religious debate
The future No donor problem Healing for now irreparable injuries Spinal, brain Fewer complications New pancreas Organ printing Cosmetic - Scarring