Beschreibung (Langtext)

Regenerative medicine promises to be one of the great future frontiers. Critical to the success of this area is stem cell research, and cell- and gene-based therapy. In this book, a variety of outstanding authors discuss important aspects of these research areas. Important topics include new types of cell therapies and stem cell-based therapy for angiogenesis and cardiac repair. They also include cell-therapy approaches in neu- logic areas such as Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, and stroke. A third area that is explored involves the development of cell-based systems for cartilage and bone repair, bladder repair, and kidney regeneration. A fourth area involves important work in the eye, specifically, optic nerve regeneration, retinal repair, and ocular surface regene- tion. The potential of using insulin-producing cells or islets is also examined in this book, as are strategies for cord blood transplantation for various hematologic disorders. Finally, important areas of research involving skin regeneration and wound healing are discussed. This book should provide an excellent overview of the important areas in regenerative medicine with respect to cell and gene therapy and hopefully will be a u- ful guide for scientists doing research in these areas.

The human body is unable to significantly self-repair injured organs and tissues, resulting in a considerable medical and social problem. During the last few years there has been incredible progress, and achievements in experimental strategies for tissue regeneration have led to potential treatment options for many otherwise fatal conditions. This multidisciplinary book offers a new approach for restoring functions of damaged organs and tissues. Several books have been published on particular aspects of organ and/or tissue replacement, but none cover the major new aspects and field of regenerative medicine. This title is therefore a timely addition to the literature, bringing together the major approaches to regenerative medicine and ensuring that techniques learnt in one discipline are disseminated across other areas. Practitioners will gain knowledge of how regenerative medicine applies to their discipline directly as well as how it could benefit their patients in the future.