When will stem cell research lead to new disease cures?
Stem cell-based therapies are already in widespread clinical use, in the form of bone marrow and cord blood transplants. These procedures, which save many lives every year, demonstrate the validity of stem cell transplantation as a therapeutic concept. We are optimistic that similar successes will be possible with other types of stem cells for other diseases, but it is impossible to predict how soon this will happen, given the many technical challenges that must be overcome. The only safe prediction is that the sooner we begin, the sooner we will reach our goal.
