How Could Stem Cell Research Affect Me or Someone I Know?

Stem cells may be able to repair or replace damaged tissue, thereby reversing disease and injury. For example, heart muscle damaged by heart attacks might be replaced by new muscle cells.

Stem cell research has the potential to impact not just one disease, but numerous ones. According to the scientists studying these diseases, diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, autoimmune disease, burn victims, blood diseases, leukemia, and spinal injuries could all benefit from stem cell research.

In fact, it is estimated that stem cell research has the potential to help over 100 million Americans who suffer from these and other diseases and injuries.

Stem cells also hold much promise for in vitro (outside the body) drug testing, and could therefore significantly lessen the need for drug testing in animals and humans.

What diseases could this impact?