Adult Stem Cells Grow Heart Valves

If this works in animal testing, it could be a great breakthrough in the treatment of heart disease. Scientists have taken stem cells from bone marrow and, using a scaffold, engineered them into new heart valves. From the story in the Guardian:

Growing a suitably-sized piece of tissue from a patient’s own stem cells would take around a month but he said that most people would not need such individualised treatment. A store of ready-grown tissue made from a wide variety of stem cells could provide good matches for the majority of the population.

As I always say: Most biotechnology is not controversial. This is a wonderful example. Let us hope that the reality meets the dream.