Cells are the new cure : the cutting-edge medical breakthroughs that are transforming our health

Summary: "The future of medicine is happening now. Revolutionary new science is providing cures that were considered science fiction five years ago--and not with pills, surgery or radiation--but with human cells. Promising treatments now in more than 35,000 clinical trials could have dramatic impacts on cancer, autoimmune diseases, organ replacement, heart disease, and even aging itself. These treatments, which are saving the lives of patients in the trials, will soon be rolled to the medical community at large. The key to these breakthroughs is the use of living cells as medicine instead of traditional drugs. Research has found that our bodies are virtual treasure troves of adult cells that act as agents of remarkable healing and repair. These cells have been called adult stem cells because they resemble embryonic cells in their ability able to transform into many other cell types but without the ethical and moral concerns of embryonic cells. Adult cells can reprogram cells to work more efficiently. They can also carry edited genetic code to repair mistakes, and deliver targeted therapies, allowing them to address and even cure many diseases affecting children and adults. The applications of these cellular therapies are broad and growing. Regenerative medicine allows doctors to repair injured and aging tissues and, incredibly, to create artificial body parts and organs in the lab. New technologies make it possible to harness the immune system to fight cancer and reverse autoimmune diseases like multiple sclerosis, type 1 diabetes, and rheumatoid arthritis. We're also seeing advances to alleviate the effects of strokes, Alzheimer's disease, and even allergies. CRISPR, a new technology for targeted gene editing, promises to eradicate genetic diseases, allowing us to live longer lives--possibly beyond age 100 in good health. Cells Are the New Cure takes you on a tour of the most exciting and leading-edge developments in medicine. You'll meet the doctors performing the lifesaving research and the patients who have survived illnesses that, before today, were considered a death sentence. The content inside these pages could save your life or the life of someone you love."--Publisher's description.