First patient treated in embryonic stem cell trial

[manouli]

First patient treated in embryonic stem cell trial
Controversial cells being used to help patient with spinal cord injuries
By Maggie Fox, Health and Science Editor
Reuters
updated 1 hour 53 minutes ago 2010-10-11T14:06:22

WASHINGTON — U.S. doctors have begun treating the first patient to receive human embryonic stem cells, but details of the landmark clinical trial are being kept confidential, Geron Corp said on Monday.

Geron has the first U.S. Food and Drug Administration license to use the controversial cells to treat people, in this case patients with new spinal cord injuries. It is the first publicly known use of human embryonic stem cells in people.

read....

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/39614418...nd_stem_cells/

[manouli]

I am so happy! wohooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!


First patient treated in stem cell study



The first patient has been treated with human embryonic stem cells in the first study authorized by the Food and Drug Administration to test the controversial therapy.

A patient who was partially paralyzed by a spinal cord injury had millions of embryonic stem cells injected into the site of the damage, according to an announcement early Monday by the Geron Corp. of Menlo Park, Calif., which is sponsoring the groundbreaking study.

The patient was treated at the Shepherd Center, a 132-bed hospital in Atlanta that specializes in spinal cord and brain injuries, Geron said. The hospital is one of seven sites participating in the study, which is primarily aimed at testing whether the therapy is safe. Doctors will, however, also conduct a series of specially designed tests to see whether the treatment helps the patients. No additional information about the first patient was released.

continue....

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/che...d_in_stem.html

[keeping on]

This is groundbreaking news; it is the start of promise for all. I pray that things well and Wise's trials will piggy up in this new endeavor. We're on our way for now. Let's pray for the best, myfriends, let's pray.

keeping on

[Scaper1]

I am so happy! wohooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!


First patient treated in stem cell study



The first patient has been treated with human embryonic stem cells in the first study authorized by the Food and Drug Administration to test the controversial therapy.

A patient who was partially paralyzed by a spinal cord injury had millions of embryonic stem cells injected into the site of the damage, according to an announcement early Monday by the Geron Corp. of Menlo Park, Calif., which is sponsoring the groundbreaking study.

The patient was treated at the Shepherd Center, a 132-bed hospital in Atlanta that specializes in spinal cord and brain injuries, Geron said. The hospital is one of seven sites participating in the study, which is primarily aimed at testing whether the therapy is safe. Doctors will, however, also conduct a series of specially designed tests to see whether the treatment helps the patients. No additional information about the first patient was released.

continue....

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/che...d_in_stem.html

Dr. Wise, can you please explain what the "series of specialized tests to see whether the treatments help" might entail?

[Claire]

I just saw this on my local news!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
If all goes well or better than expected, the floodgates should open.

[ineedmyelin]

Geron on cbs and abc evening news

Just saw the cbs and abc evening news report on the geron trials, very very very exciting. The cbs reporter said results should be seen within 2 months.



c4-c5 walking incomplete quad since Jan, 13 1990

[Lewis]

Just saw the cbs and abc evening news report on the geron trials, very very very exciting. The cbs reporter said results should be seen within 2 months.

Me too. Quick report though. Hope they talk about bit more and make a good impression for those against this possible avenue, to convince them it's a good idea.

[Oddity]

Man, watching that report brought a tear to my eye. In a good way.

[manouli]

What will happen if the people start walking after the treatment? Dr. Young said that we need only 10 percent returns to be able to walk. The rats were able to walk after treatments, and really it can happen to people too. I bet you that soon we will read about other companies do the same too. Finally human trials,, I think I am dreaming.



First Patient Treated With Embryonic Stem Cells
Paralyzed Atlanta Patient Gets Stem Cells Injected Into Spine
By Daniel J. DeNoon
WebMD Health News
Reviewed by Laura J. Martin, MD

Oct. 11, 2010 - The first person treated with embryonic stem cells is an Atlanta patient paralyzed by a recent spine injury.

The Geron Corp. GRNOPC1 stem cells come from embryos left over after in vitro fertilization and donated by the parents. The FDA approved the study in early 2009.

The clinical trial is a first step toward an eventual cure for paralysis, says study leader Richard Fessler, MD, PhD, professor of neurological surgery at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and a surgeon at Northwestern Memorial Hospital.

"We would love to see paralysis cured. Will that happen with this study? Of course not. We would be thrilled to see any beneficial effect at all," Fessler tells WebMD. "This is merely the first step in a long process that will take 10-25 years."

The study, taking place at up to seven medical centers, will enroll 10 patients in its first stage. Patients with complete grade A thoracic spinal cord injuries will be treated seven to 14 days after their injury. Such patients cannot move or feel their lower bodies and usually lose bladder and bowel control. Physical therapy has only limited benefits.



Embryonic Stem Cells Mature Before Injection
read....

http://www.webmd.com/brain/news/2010...nic-stem-cells

[Liisa]

For the first time in a long time, I feel so happy and hopeful that these trials have begun. I know that the road to the cure is long and we need to be patient (but not too patient!)

It's just that the last few years have seemed to be more full than usual of misguided media reports about flaky clinics and so on. Now that the real deal is happening it's almost like a fog has lifted for me.

[JimD]

Keeping fingers crossed! (Note to self: remember to breathe.....)!

[maryonwheels46]

Just saw it on the 5 o'clock new today that they injected the first patient at Shepard Center in Atlanta. Dr John Lupoot (sp) was talking and Dr Hans Keirstead was the Dr that did the work in his lab.
They injected embryonic stem cells into a patient ( they are only wanting to use a person that has only been hurt for 7 to 14 days and will try 10 new people in the next 2 years)
They injected into the site of injury so it is to insulate that site hoping to repair the spinal cord so it will work again. When they see how it works they will try to use it on people that has been injured for months to years.
WOW I am excited. Hope yall saw the news today.
Mary

[Curt Leatherbee]

I can't remember as there has been talk of so many different things over the years, but did this work in animal trials? Dr Hans Keirstead surely must have been experimenting with animals I'd think? if the results there were promising, then I am truely excited about this. If not, it seems like this is kinda a ramdom luck thing as to whether or not this will work. I should remember all this, but over the years I've read of so many different things here.

[Curt Leatherbee]

Ok, just answered my own question, oh Rats it worked in Rats!!!

I was kinda hoping for Monkeys, but it did work in Rats. http://www.apparelyzed.com/forums/to...on-for-humans/ It seems to me in the past a lot of things have worked in Rats but not in people, now I'm nervous. Hopefully they will release some results within six weeks or so, although as I remember Wise saying things worked a lot faster in Rats, so maybe it will take up to a year or so before the Patient starts showing improvement if anything. Now I will nervously await the results before I get too excited over this.

[manouli]

I can't remember as there has been talk of so many different things over the years, but did this work in animal trials? Dr Hans Keirstead surely must have been experimenting with animals I'd think? if the results there were promising, then I am truely excited about this. If not, it seems like this is kinda a ramdom luck thing as to whether or not this will work. I should remember all this, but over the years I've read of so many different things here.

http://geron.com/GRNOPC1Trial/


Animals injected with embryonic stem cells within the first few weeks of a spinal cord injury showed significant improvement in their ability to move.