The future of medicine may lie in adult stem cells, particularly mesenchymal stem cells. Those are the ones that eventually turn into bones and connective tissue. The problem is tracking them down. Researcher Arnold Caplan of Case Western Reserve University says, "These are rare cells in a new born one in 10,000 marrow cells is a mesenchymal stem cell; in a teenager its 1 in 100,000..." And the odds get worse from there. Still this branch of medicine -- called regenerative medicine -- holds hope for the future. We'll talk about it on the Sound of Ideas. Wednesday morning at nine.Dr. Stanton Gerson, Director of the Center for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine and Director of Case Comprehensive Cancer Center and Ireland Cancer Center, UHC
Barry J. Smernoff, PhD, Executive Director, Cleveland Cord Blood Center (CCBC)
Robert Harman, veterinarian, CEO, Vet-Stem