Using silk, researchers from IIT Guwahati have fabricated a biphasic scaffold where one half is spongy and mimics the cartilage while the other half is less porous and mimics the bone. The junction between the two phases is seamless. In rabbits, the fibre-reinforced scaffold allowed more bone formation, while the cartilage was regenerated and completely … Continue reading IIT Guwahati fabricates superior scaffold for cartilage repair
Stem cell
Editorial: Regulating stem cell research
Published in The Hindu on July 25, 2008 The saga of preparing the guidelines for stem cell research and therapy finally ended in November 2007 with their submission to the government by the Department of Biotechnology and the Indian Council of Medical Research. The two bodies began drafting the guidelines separately seven years ago but … Continue reading Editorial: Regulating stem cell research
Managing diseases using stem cells
Published in The Hindu on February 21, 2008 Cell based diseases such Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s and diabetes were seen as the first candidates for being cured using stem cell transplantation. There is a probability that it would be possible one day. But some scientists are beginning to think that it will take another 15 years for … Continue reading Managing diseases using stem cells
Public stem cell bank: dump not, donate cord blood
The Jeevan Blood Bank, based in Chennai, plans to launch Jeevan Stem Cell Bank before the end of March. The accent is on public banking with 70 per cent of its initial capacity of 2,500 units earmarked for the said purpose. The main source of stem cells will be umbilical cord blood that is otherwise … Continue reading Public stem cell bank: dump not, donate cord blood
How adult stem cells injected into heart improve its function
Published in The Hindu on October 26, 2006 He is the only person so far to get the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) approval to undertake clinical trials for treating heart patients by directly injecting adult stem cells into the heart. The stem cells are derived from the bone marrow. And the person who … Continue reading How adult stem cells injected into heart improve its function
Editorial: Fundamentalism versus science
Published in The Hindu on July 27, 2006 With a stroke of the pen, President George Bush has dealt a body blow to science and dashed the hopes of countless human beings round the world who look to human embryonic stem cell research as a possible cure for their afflictions. His veto of a Bill … Continue reading Editorial: Fundamentalism versus science
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