Doctors Discuss Advancements in Amniotic Stem Cell Research

Press Release

Doctors Discuss Advancements in Amniotic Stem Cell Research

U.S. Congressman Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (TX-26) met today with Dr. Anthony Atala of Wake Forest University who has most recently gained media attention for his discovery of amniotic stem cells. Amniotic stem cells are obtained from the fluid surrounding the baby in the womb or from the placenta when the baby is delivered. Either way, collecting them does not harm the infant.

Dr. Anthony Atala is a urologist and Director of the Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine. He has worked in the field of tissue engineering for years, and came by to discuss the potential medical applications of his work with the Congressman. What he revealed was remarkable.

Dr. Atala explained that most human tissues can actually be grown in the lab without stem cells or cloning, by starting with a small sample of the original tissue. This is how he was able to bioengineer the first bladder to be implanted in a human; the few tissues that we can't grow like this include liver, pancreas, heart and nervous tissue. This is where stem cells become so useful.

Embryonic stem cells have the most potential to develop into any type of cell, but they are difficult to grow and often form tumors, besides coming with an ethical dilemma. The amniotic stem cells that Dr. Atala has described are easier to grow and do not form tumors. They can also replicate without aging in the rapid way that cloned cells do. Dr. Atala's team was able to differentiate these amniotic stem cells into fat, bone, muscle, liver, and nervous tissue, and all of these tissue types were functional.

Because Dr. Atala is meticulous in his experimentation, he often waits 5 years before publishing his work. This allows him to include follow-up information that verifies his claims. His team is currently investigating the treatment of diabetes in animal models, by creating pancreatic tissue that allows the animals to regain the ability to control their blood sugar. The results are very promising and could be life-changing for diabetics all over the world.

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