Stem Cell Therapies Show Promise for the Future of Medicine

The stem cell market in India is expected to touch $600 million by 2017, says an article published in The Pharma Letter in September 2015. Stem Cell Research in India is surging ahead with nine organizations involved in the same. The government is also doing its bit. It has sanctioned funds for this very purpose and has setup two regulatory bodies, the NAC-SCRT and IC-SCRT. All research and clinical trials in this arena have to obtain prior permission and have to be registered under the NAC-SCRT. Research is expected to revolutionise the treatment of common diseases, such as heart ailments and diabetes in India.

Stem Cell Research in India

Stem cells are undifferentiated cells that have the ability to differentiate and form specialized tissues (muscle, skin, bone, etc). It is found all over body. In adults, it is found in the blood, bone marrow, skin and other tissues. It is also found in the blastocyst (4 to 5-day-old human embryo). Cord blood is another vital source. It has been used to treat critical illnesses, such as Leukaemia, Lymphoma and Myeloma. The cells are either extracted from the patient (autologous transfer) or from a donor (allogenic transfer). Cord blood has proved to be effective in treating genetic disorders as well.

Stem cell research in India is focused on finding a cure for degenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s disease and Type I Diabetes, regeneration of the cornea and damaged heart valve. In India, where the incidence of blindness, heart ailments and diabetes seem to be on the rise, a cure would be no less than a groundbreaking feat and could save millions of lives.

One of the best ways to store stem cells is by preserving the umbilical cord blood. Umbilical cord blood is enriched with stem cells and can used to treat various diseases later in life. It is also a close match to siblings, parents and grandparents of the donor. There are many cord blood banks in India who have collaborated with hospitals to facilitate the process of collection and preservation of the umbilical cord blood. If you are expecting a child, then you must finalise the hospital for delivery early on so that you can make sure that the life-saving cord blood does not go waste. The process is completely safe and cord blood is stored immediately after the delivery of the baby. It is a painless procedure, given that it only collects the cord and placenta which would otherwise be discarded upon birth.