Prof Ariel Ruiz i Altaba is Coordinator of the EU-funded research project HEALING, was founding director of the Swiss Stem Cell Network and is professor at the Department of Genetic Medicine and Development, Université de Genève, Switzerland. He is also an established visual artist. Emma Kemp met Ariel to hear more about science, art and how they might come together to build an understanding of the evolving world around us.
Stem cell news & views
Research updates from other stem cell projects
 |  |
© Copyright 2008-2013 EuroStemCell e collaboratori
Lingue
Terapie a base di cellule staminali e neuropatologie: qual è la verità?
In questo periodo, diverse dichiarazioni hanno suggerito che le cellule staminali possano già essere impiegate oggi nel trattamento di persone affette da neuropatologie. Ma cosa si sa veramente di queste terapie e come interpretare queste dichiarazioni?
Making red blood cells: A model of stem cell therapy development
Non-fiction writing competition: send us your science writing, go graphical or submit a poem
*Update 3rd May: We've added answers to common questions in our competition FAQ*
Mesoangioblasts can derived from reprogrammed cells and may be an effective future treatment for muscular dystrophies
A recent study has shown that muscle stem cells called mesoangioblasts can be grown in the laboratory from induced pluripotent stem cells (IPS cells). Scientists think that mesoangioblasts transplants may be an effective treatment for muscular dystrophy but currently these cells have to be taken from donor who is a tissue ‘match’ for the patient, which is relatively rare.As IPS cells are grown in the lab from a patient’s own muscle cells this could potentially overcome the problem of having to find a ‘matched’ donor.
Clinical trial shows combination therapy of nitric oxide delivery and an anti-inflammatory drug are safe for long-term treatment of adults with muscular dystrophy
Muscular dystrophies cause muscle breakdown, weakness, and can lead to paralysis and death. The only current treatment that is effective is corticosteroids, shown to increase muscle strength. However, we do not know if it is effective in the long term, and there are side effects that limit its use. A combination of an anti-inflammatory drug, ibuprofen, and a nitric oxide delivery drug, isosorbide dinitrate, have been shown in mice to improve muscle health.