IT IS a first for stem cells. Last week, the US Food and Drug Administration approved a clinical trial of stem cells derived from human embryonic stem cells (ESCs). The cells can transform themselves into any of the 200 tissues of the body.
Geron of Menlo Park, California, will attempt to by injecting patients’ injuries with neural stem cells derived from ESCs. The neural stem cells turn into oligodendrocytes, which insulate and nourish neurons. The main aim is to test safety, but Geron will also track whether the cells repair damage and restore mobility to paralysed patients.…
