Health & Fitness
How Stem Cells May Help Cure a Rare Skin Disease
University of Minnesota professors have discovered that stem cells can treat symptoms of a rare skin disease.
Stem cells are helpful. Just look around the corner.
Professors Jakub Tolar and John Wagner from the University of Minnesota are using stem cells derived from bone marrow to cure a rare and deadly skin disease.
The disease is called epidermolysis bullosa and results in skin that simply falls off. It is painful and even upon touch, rashes can develop or skin can rub off. The disease only affects one in every 1,000 people in the world, but the University of Minnesota Stem Cell Institute is still fighting for a cure.
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Children from all over the world suffering from the disease are coming to the U of M Ampatz Children's Hospital for treatment.
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Let this serve as an example of what stem cells can accomplish. In this case, the stem cells being used are adult stem cells, not embryonic.
Evan Chen is a senior at Wayzata High School. He has been conducting stem cell research at the University of Minnesota for little over a year and recently became involved in the debate about stem cells in the Minnesota Legislature. As a high school student who works with stem cells, Evan feels he can provide an interesting viewpoint on the debate.
