One of the most promising forms of emerging therapy is the use of a person's own or a donor's cells to treat a variety of diseases. This approach, often called cell therapy and more recently regenerative medicine, attracts a great deal of attention because the therapeutic use of stem cells falls into this category. Many US states and other countries developed strategic plans to attract the top researchers, clinicians, and companies competing in this space. North Carolina does not have a specific plan to support this effort, despite already having many of the key elements that other regions covet. This article outlines action items that might keep North Carolina in a leading position in this emerging therapeutic field.
The idea of using cells as therapeutic agents is not new. Stems cells have been infused into cancer patients for nearly 40 years to reconstitute the blood and immune systems of patients ...
