ABC Nightline report on stem cell research by Bill Weir, January 18, 2013.
PROMO:
At 11:35 p.m. CT on Friday, Jan. 18 Mayo Clinic and the lab of Dr. Tim Nelson will be featured on ABC’s Nightline. The topic is stem cells and regenerative medicine (See Nightline anchor Bill Weir tease the segment above).
Weir was visiting Mayo Clinic for a story about organ transplants in early 2012 when he stopped at the lab of Dr. Nelson, director of the Program for Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome, to learn about a new discovery that could one day replace transplants for some patients.
Dr. Nelson discusses the research happening in the HLHS lab:
Dr. Nelson and colleagues are reprogramming adult stem cells to create heart muscle so that patients can heal themselves. Weir watched in amazement at a sample of beating heart tissue created from skin tissue.
Weir said what he was seeing was worthy another trip to Mayo. Dr. Nelson took a sample of skin tissue from Weir’s arm and worked with his staff to reprogram stem cells from the sample into heart tissue. When Weir returned to Mayo Clinic a few months ago, he was able to watch his own heart tissue beat.
Dr. Tim Nelson discusses the experiment he conducted with Weir and what they were able to show him during his visit:
Dr. Nelson’s program is just one of many examples of regenerative medicine being studied at Mayo. By finding ways to rejuvenate, repair and regenerate the body’s own tissue, the Center for Regenerative Medicine hopes to offer therapies to cure major disease – such as diabetes, heart disease, degenerative joint conditions and neurological disorders – as well as injuries and congenital conditions.
Dr. Nelson talks about the promise of stem cell research:
However, none of the research, work in the HLHS lab or clinical trials in general would be possible without the help of patients. Dr. Nelson explains:
