Small sections of human liver have been created from umbilical cord stem cells, say scientists from Newcastle University, UK. The researchers say this technology could eventually be used to grow small livers that could be used for drug tests - doing away with the need for human volunteers to take risks. Earlier this year six volunteers became dangerously ill during a drug trial in the UK.
The scientists warned that it will be tens of years before we are anywhere near producing whole new livers for transplants. However, within the next 15 years, tiny livers could be produced and used for treating patients. Team leaders, Dr. Nico Forraz and Prof. Colin McGuckin, have set up ConoStem, a company aimed at marketing their stem cell research results. Professor McGuckin said "We take the stem cells from the umbilical cord blood and make small mini-livers. We then give them to pharmaceutical companies and they can use them to test new drugs on. It could prevent the situation that happened earlier this year when those six patients had a massive reaction to the drugs they were testing."
The study papers have not yet been peer-reviewed and/or published yet. Dr. Mike Nicholds, CEO, ConoStems, said they are planning to have their studies peer-reviewed. Professor Colin McGuckin and Dr Nico Forraz (pictured), who have formed spin out company ConoStem, beat off competition from staff teams in other universities to win a major regional business plan competition, Blueprint. Conostem has developed ways of growing 3D models of human organs from stem cells for use in drug testing.
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October 31, 2006
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I recently came across your blog and have been reading along. I thought I would leave my first comment. I don't know what to say except that I have enjoyed reading. Nice blog. I will keep visiting this blog very often.
Elaina
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Posted by: Elaina | March 28, 2009 at 14:39