References:
1) Crosta, Peter. "What Are Stem Cells?" Medical News Today. MediLexicon International, 19 July 2013. Web. 09 Dec. 2013. <http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/info/stem_cell/>.
2) ARSMedical. "What Is the Function of Adult Stem Cells?" What Is the Function of Adult Stem Cells? ARSMEDICAL, n.d. Web. 10 Dec. 2013. <http://www.arsmedical.info/stem-cells/what-are-stem-cells-.html>.
3) Borchers, Callum. "Business." BostonGlobe.com. Boston Globe, 18 Nov. 2013. Web. 09 Dec. 2013. <http://www.bostonglobe.com/business/2013/11/18/stem-cells-from-patient-may-stop-immune-system-from-attacking-transplanted-organs/HjhSGLT1bNTnO2XBsjjIZN/story.html>.
Dr. Ott, one of the scientists working on this project said, “I think the most promising concept to take a scaffold that outlines the architecture and provides the environment that cells need, and then seed that scaffold with cells.”
One may ask how this process would benefit eh community. The answer is that it will save the patient a lot of pain because he will not have to endure the pain of a transplant rejection. People will endure less pain and can live relatively normal lives after the transplant. Furthermore, this process people save money because after the operation, they will no longer have to pay extra expenses for medication to relieve the pain. It will make people’s lives easier in the sense that they will no longer have to worry about life after the operation.
These scientists are looking to give back to the community through this process and are working to implement the process on a larger scale with more organs such as hearts, lungs etc. Experiments so far have been successful and the future looks bright for Harvard Apparatus and their experimentation with the bioreactor. So far, experiments have only been conducted on tracheas, because doctors haven't developed a bioreactor large enough to be able to hold larger organs such as the heart and liver. The scientists working on this project however have assured everyone that they will find a solution to the problem to help the millions in need. When you are seated in the future and hear about the breakthroughs Harvard Apparatus have reached, you heard it here first!