In some ways, stem cell research is much more advanced in China than in the West. This is because the regulation is much less.
Sean Hu, of Beike Biotechnology in China was interviewed recently and gave some fascinating insights into stem cell research in China. This interview is reported by the excellent fight aging blog.
Dr Hu decided to form a company using stem cells for treatment in 2005. To date he has treated over 5000 patients and has seen sometimes staggering results. These results have included treatment for conditions generally regarded in the West as incurable, such as:
- ataxia
- autism
- ALS
- brain trauma
- cerebral infarction
- cerebral haemorrhage
- cerebral palsy
- diabetics, and
- spinal cord injury
One case Dr Hu gives as one example is of a 16-year old who was nearly blind in both eyes. After treatment, she was able to pass her driving test.
There have been many successful stories of stem cell therapy (SCT). One example is the recovery of a nearly blind sixteen-year-old girl, Macie Morse, who recently got her learner’s permit and started driving. She came to one of our hospitals for treatment in July 2006, with 20/4,000 vision in one eye and only light perception in the other due to optic nerve hypoplasia. After treatment, Macie now has 20/80 vision in one eye and 20/400-plus in the other!
Regulation vs. Resources
What has slowed research down in China is the lack of resources given to advanced research and treatment eg by government. There is no doubt, however, that the results have been fantastic, and will increase as time goes on.
Dr Hu says;
Regenerative medicine is the future. Asia will be at its centre. More and more western scholars and doctors are coming to China to collaborate. … (our company) will set the standard and criteria for R&D in developing adult stem cells and iPS. We will have one of the biggest iPS centers of the world.
Having treated over 5000 patients, Dr Hu and his team have tremendous experience – which is just lacking in the West. He says he considers adult stem cell-based therapy, having seen overwhelmingly safe results from it. He says:
…the value to everyone in the company – helping so many patients improve their quality of life – has been priceless.
Practical Consideration of Treatment
Unfortunately the treatment in China is not cheap; and it may well have to be repeated – though the good news is that if it worked the first time, it will probably work the next time.
Patients have to pony up $15,000 for a first treatment – hard enough for us in the West to find, let alone in China. But the results can be fantastic, and costs will, presumably, fall in time.
The point is – resources must be put into this research for the benefit of all.
Incredible Results of Treatment – West Wake Up!
As the technology develops, and the Chinese government gets more involved there is no doubt that we will see huge developments in China using stem cell therapy.
One would hope that the Western world would see these amazing results and look to their Hippocratic Oath, and fulsomely embrace stem cells as a way forward to relieve suffering for millions. Sadly, this is not the way medicine works in the West, as we have seen time and again. Progress can be painfully slow.
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you have to wonder where the US would be in stem cell research if we haven’t had bans and the ethical troubles stem cell research has had over the years.
Obama is taking some good steps in helping the US in this area.
regenerative medicine information’s last blog post..NIH stem cell research policy lossened
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