Regenerative Medicine

Why Regenerative Medicine?

Regenerative medicine holds the realistic promise of regenerating damaged tissues and organs in the living body through techniques that stimulate previously irreparable organs into healing themselves. It also empowers scientists to grow tissues and organs in the laboratory and for later implantation in the body.

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Regenerative medicine is a rapidly growing field of biomedicine that seeks to create substitute tissues and organs for the human body, to repair or replace those whose function is lost through illness, injury, aging or congenital anomaly. It is widely accepted that regenerative medicine is at the forefront of 21st century medical research and represents a significant evolution in medical treatment.

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Although there is no single, agreed-upon definition of regenerative medicine, a crucial aspect of this approach to tissue replacement is that it involves the use of cells, which distinguishes it from bioengineered devices such as artificial organs. In the broadest sense, the foundation of regenerative medicine is the ability to manipulate cells in a variety of ways.

Above: Schematic representing the complex interplay between the various disciplines required solving one specific problem in bone tissue engineering.

With the exception of newborn infants, human beings repair most injured or diseased tissues by forming scar tissue. An important advantage of regenerative medicine over current therapies is that it has the potential to cure disease through replacement of damaged or failing tissues. The field is also characterized by multi-disciplinary, multi-institution collaborations, often involving research centers worldwide.

Regenerative medicine products are already changing the practice of medicine. Bioengineered skin products were the first to be used, for the treatment of chronic wounds and burns, and tissue-engineered cartilage is helping to repair damaged joints. Other experimental regenerative techniques are being developed to repair bone, heart defects, bladder/pelvic floor problems, and virtually every other medical condition that can be improved through replacement tissues.

Looking to the future

Regenerative medicine may well result in nerve regeneration for treatment of Parkinson’s Disease or Alzheimer’s, islet cells for diabetes, and replacement of damaged heart tissue. As biology, engineering and immunology expertise grows, the field may succeed in building three-dimensional organs like bladders, livers, hearts, and kidneys.