Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
studies were conducted in other species that tissue matching came to
be recognized as an important component in transplantation (Little
and Storb, 2002).
Bone marrow, or haematopoietic stem cell, transplantation is now
routine. One estimate suggests that 18 000 patients were treated with
this procedure in the year 2000 alone (Little and Storb, 2002).
Continual refinements to understanding of the mechanism of bone
marrow transplantation since the 1970s coupled with improvements
in technique have seen older patients who were typically excluded
from treatment now able to be recipients of bone marrow transplants,
the adaptation of the treatment such that it may be performed
outside an intensive-care setting, and the successful treatment of
patients with their own, rather than donor, stem cells (Little and
Storb, 2002).
Crucially, one of the important factors in the development of
adult stem cell science was the enrolment of the commercial
biosciences in research and development surrounding haematopoietic
stem cells (Martin et al., 2008). Citing a more detailed study of the
commercial aspects of early stem cell science published in 2006,
some commentators argue that commercial interest in haematopoietic
stem cell science began in the early 1980s, with a number of small
biotech companies and at least one large pharmaceutical company
becoming interested in the field (Martin et al., 2008).
Part of this commercial interest in haematopoietic stem cell science
was stimulated by the possibility of a wide range of clinical
applications that might be found if haematopoietic stem cells (HSCs)
could be reliably isolated (Martin et al., 2008). Specifically, it was
imagined at this time that HSCs might be used profitably in genetic
engineering, in other types of cancers and in HIV/AIDS treatment
(Martin et al., 2008). Moreover, as expectations grew for the
application of HSC-based treatment, so too did the commercial
interest in the developing field (Martin et al., 2008). Yet disappointing
results in gene therapy and ongoing intellectual property disputes
saw interest in HSC decline significantly by the late 1990s (Martin
et al., 2008) - until, that is, the revival of interest in stem cells
sparked by the derivation of the first human embryonic stem cell and
the cloning of Dolly the sheep.
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