What are the benefits of studying embryonic stem cells?
Embryonic stem cell research represents new hope for millions of Americans. Research on these cells has the potential to lead to new treatments for a range of serious human ailments, including diabetes, cancer, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, ALS, heart disease, birth defects, spinal cord injury and burns. This extraordinary research is still in its infancy. Research on human embryonic stem cells only began in 1998, while research on adult stem cells has taken place for 50 years. No one can say how long it will take to find a cure for any specific disease using embryonic stem cells. Typically, biomedical research can take 10, 20, even 30 years to produce successful results. But the sooner the research starts, the sooner it can bring new insights and new treatments. There are currently FDA-approved clinical trials using ESCs for spinal cord injury. Another trial to repair damaged retinas is pending approval.
