Stem cells from umbilical cord blood helped Paul Wagle beat chemo-resistant leukemia. Now, after surviving a brutal recovery period, which included another near-death experience, he’s discerning a call to the priesthood as a seminarian for the diocese of Wichita. Click here to read his story or watch below.
Ethical Stem Cells Help Child Recover from “PVS” Diagnosis
In case you missed the news, a little boy with cerebral palsy who suffered cardiac arrest and was subsequently determined to be in a “persistent vegetative state”, appears to be recovering thanks to a treatment using his own umbilical cord blood cells. From the story: After the cord blood therapy, the patient, however, recovered relatively quickly. Within two months, the … Read More
Weekend Life Links
A few quick takes for your weekend: 1. The Church Is Not Backward, But Forward — my good friend Rebecca on the far-reaching wisdom of the Church. This article will also give you an idea of what’s coming up in our next episode of BioTalk! I’ll be editing that this weekend. 2. The Church and Science: The Right Place at … Read More
Immature Adult Stem Cells Key to “Fountain of Youth”?
I’m not sure if this is really something to celebrate. I’m not a big fan of the whole “fountain of youth” quest for immortality. I don’t even like the idea of all those beauty serums and creams that claim to “reverse the signs of aging.” I would rather see scientists and medical professionals focus on combating actual sicknesses and diseases, … Read More
A Little Stem Cell Research 101
Admittedly, it’s difficult to keep up with all of the threats to life and human dignity these days. We’re no longer talking just about abortion, but also several end of life issues and, of course, embryonic stem cell (ESC) research. The science has been around for a good 20 years or more, but I’m sure there are quite a few … Read More
Pope Benedict: Science Must Never Compromise Human Dignity
On Nov. 12 at the Vatican’s Apostolic Palace, Pope Benedict XVI addressed participants of the Nov. 9-11 international conference Adult Stem Cells: Science and the Future of Man and Culture. The Holy Father opened his remarks with praise for the various institutions exploring and promoting research on adult stem cells. Adult stem cells hold great possibilities healing chronic degenerative illnesses … Read More
Vatican Hosts International Conference on Adult Stem Cell Research
Don’t ever let anyone tell you that the Catholic Church is “anti-science” or against stem cell research. Actually, she is very much in favor of stem cell research, so long as tiny human beings are not created, used and destroyed in the process, and now she’s putting her money where her mouth is with regard to that support. This week … Read More
Adult Stem Cells: Is the Media Catching On?
When it comes to stem cell research, adult stem cells (ASC) have been outperforming their unethical, embryonic counterparts for years now. While embryonic stem cell (ESC) research only just last year began its very first trial on humans and is still trying to overcome issues with tumor formation and other harmful, deadly side-effects in animal studies for the past 20 … Read More
Possible Stem Cell Treatment for the Unborn!
Up to 40 percent of premature births are caused by a rupture in the membrane surrounding the foetus, causing labor. Babies born before 24 weeks have a poor chance of survival while later babies are at higher risk of birth complications. Previous attempts to treat this problem have not been successful, but some UK researchers are hoping that they’ve finally … Read More
Trouble in iPS Cell Paradise?
Ever since the process was discovered, pro-lifers have held up induced pluripotent stem cells – adult cells that have been reprogrammed back to an embryonic-like (pluripotent) state – as a great ethical alternative to creating, using and destroying human embryos to obtain embryonic stem cells. Even some ESCR proponents have abandoned their previous work with ESCs to work exclusively with … Read More