Stem Cell Publications

Books about stem cell science and related issues.

Cardiovascular Regeneration and Stem Cell Therapy

Annarosa Leri, Piero Anversa, William H. Frishman

his book is the definitive reference on two of the most exciting areas of cardiovascular research – myocardial regeneration and stem cell therapy – for the treatment of disease. Edited by pioneers in the area, with contributions from every major investigator worldwide, it covers: the biology of stem cells; the actions of stem cells from the bone marrow, the heart, and embryos on the normal restorative and repair functions of the heart and blood vessels; how stem cells could contribute to myocardial recovery in the face of injury and aging; how adjuvant therapy with growth factors might enhance stem cell activity in regeneration and repair; clinical applications and clinical experiences.
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The Charlie Rose Science Series: Stem Cell Research

Charlie Rose

The fifth episode of the Science Series is an exploration of one of the most promising fields of science: stem cell research. The panel discusses existing successes in the use of stem cells, such as bone marrow transplants, and the hopes for future applications of both adult and embryonic stem cells, both as a way to model and study disease and a possible treatment for a variety of conditions, such as heart and blood disease, diabetes , Parkinson's, Lou Gehrig's disease, Alzheimer's, spinal cord injuries, and cancer. The uses of federal and private funding for the research are also considered. These issues are discussed by Sir Paul Nurse, president of The Rockefeller University, Doug Melton, Co-director of the Harvard Stem Cell Institute, George Daley of Children's Hospital Boston and the Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Larry Goldstein, director of the UC San Diego Stem Cell program, and Story Landis of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.
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Fundamentals of the Stem Cell Debate: The Scientific, Religious, Ethical, and Political Issues

Kristen Renwick Monroe, Ronald Miller, and Jerome Tobis

Few recent advances in science have generated as much excitement and controversy as human embryonic stem cells. The potential of these cells to replace diseased or damaged cells in virtually every tissue of the body heralds the advent of an extraordinary new field of medicine. Controversy arises, however, because current techniques required to harvest stem cells involve the destruction of the human blastocyst. This even-handed, lucidly written volume is an essential tool for understanding the complex issues--scientific, religious, ethical, and political--that currently fuel public debate about stem cell research. One of the few books to provide a comprehensive overview for a wide audience, the volume brings together leading scientists, ethicists, political scientists, and doctors to explain this new scientific development and explore its ramifications.
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Human Stem Cell Manual: A Laboratory Guide

Jeanne F. Loring

Stem cells are self-replicating and undifferentiated, meaning their function is not yet cell, tissue, or organ-specific. Due to the unique nature of these cells, research into their biology and function holds great promise for therapeutic applications through replacement or repair of diseased and damaged cells. This reader-friendly manual provides a practical “hands on” guide to the culture of human embryonic and somatic stem cells. By presenting methods for embryonic and adult lines side-by-side, the authors lay out an elegant and unique path to understanding the science of stem cell practice. The authors begin with a broad-based introduction to the field, and also review legal and regulatory issues and patents. Each experimental strategy is presented with an historical introduction, detailed method, discussion of alternative methods, and common pitfalls. This lab guide for researchers also serves as a textbook for undergraduate and graduate students in laboratory courses.
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Renewing the Stuff of Life: Stem Cells, Ethics, and Public Policy

Cynthia B. Cohen

Stem cell therapy is ushering in a new era of medicine in which we will be able to repair human organs and tissue at their most fundamental level- that of the cell. The power of stem cells to regenerate cells of specific types, such as heart, liver, and muscle, is unique and extraordinary. In 1998 researchers learned how to isolate and culture embryonic stem cells, which are only obtainable through the destruction of human embryos. An ethical debate has raged since then about the ethics of this research, usually pitting pro-life advocates vs. those who see the great promise of curing some of humanity's most persistent diseases.
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Stem Cell Century: Law and Policy for a Breakthrough Technology

Russell Korobkin

The explosion of interest in stem cell research raises a raft of controversial policy questions. When should human embryos be used to create stem cells? Should cloning be outlawed? Should egg and tissue donors be paid? Should we allow scientists to patent stem cells? Is the government entitled to a portion of the revenue from stem cell technology created with public funds? How should the regulators and courts balance the competing goals of access to revolutionary treatments and protection of the public from unknown risks?
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The Stem Cell Dilemma

Leo Furcht and William Hoffman

Today's scientists are showing us how stem cells create and repair the human body. Unlocking these secrets has become the new Holy Grail of biomedical research. But behind that search lies a sharp divide. Stem cells offer the hope of creating or repairing tissues lost to age, disease, and injury. Yet because of this ability, stem cells hold the potential to incite an international biological arms race. The Stem Cell Dilemma will tell you everything you ever wanted to know about stem cells: what they are, how they work, and why their use has become so controversial. We are standing at a scientific crossroads, the likes of which the world has never seen. It is a moment that will change forever the practice of medicine and the future of life as we know it.
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Stem Cells in Endocrinology

Linda B. Lester

A critical review by prominent experts of both the cutting-edge of stem cell biology and the application of stem cells to endocrine diseases, including diabetes, infertility, and liver-associated metabolic disorders. The authors discuss current research to modify stem cells, develop an endocrine-like cell, and use adult bone marrow stem cells to treat autoimmune diseases, including endocrine-based autoimmune diseases. Topics of interest include a review of all stem cell subtypes and their characteristics, approaches to promoting endocrine development from stem cells, and evidence for endocrine cell function from stem cells. The authors also outline how best to develop preclinical studies that will determine the safety and efficacy of stem cell therapies for endocrine disorders.
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Stem Cells in Reproductive Medicine

Carlos Simon, Antonio Pellicer

This book gives an overview of the revolutionary advances in stem cell science that may potentially impact human reproductive medicine. The contents cover the production and regeneration of female and male germ cells, trophoblasts, and endometrium from human embryonic and adult stem cells. New developments in hESC derivation that will impact clinical use are covered and cutting-edge technologies such as reprogramming, nuclear transfer, and imprinting are addressed in relation to reproductive medicine. There is a tremendous thirst for knowledge about this topic and this will be one of the first books to address the key issues specifically for the reproductive medicine market.
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Stem Cell Wars: Inside Stories from the Frontlines

Eve Herold

When scientists first isolated human embryonic stem cells, no one could have predicted that this obscure branch of biomedical research would set off a firestorm of controversy. The stem cell debate has become intensely political, religious, and confusing to many people. Now, Eve Herold explains what this science is all about, who is for and against it, and why it must go forward, Pulling together fascinating stories to highlight every aspect of this multifaceded field, she exposes the politics of stem cell research and demonstrates how the outcome of the debate could ultimately affect all of us.
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Tissue Stem Cells

Christopher S. Potten, Robert B. Clarke, James Wilson, Andrew G. Renehan

Tissue stem cells and their medical applications have become a major focus of research over the past decade. With 16 full-color illustrations, this reference provides a thorough and up-to-date overview of the current and emerging technologies for stem cell research and transplantation. Divided into three sections covering general issues, adult stem cells within specific tissues, and clinical applications, this source studies advances in bone marrow transplantation, cancer development modeling, tumor analysis, and gene therapy.
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Umbilical Cord Stem Cell Therapy: The Gift of Healing from Healthy Newborns

David A. Steenblock, Anthony G. Payne, Ph.D.

We are standing at the threshold of a new and exciting medical era-an era of regeneration, rejuvenation, and renewal in which stems cells will set the stage for healing and in some cases, the restoration of injured, diseased, and debilitated tissues and organ. While stem cell therapy is still in its infancy, the field is rich with promise. The debate over the use of embryonic stem cells and the questionable effectiveness of adult stem cells have led many scientists and clinicians to concentrate their energies on umbilical-cord-derived stem cells from healthy newborn babies. While these cells are technically classifed as "adult stem cells," they appear to have greater restorative and regenerative potential than stem cells derived from adult tissues due to their young age. Human umbilical-cord stem cells (hUCSCs) have demonstrated great efficacy in promoting the healing of many conditions. In the last decade or so, pure cord-blood stem cells have been used by physcians to treat a mulitude of intractable diseases such as progressive multiple sclerosis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, certain degenerative eye disorders, stroke, diabetes, and various forms of heart disease. While certainly no cure all, umbilical-cord stem cell therapy appears to be amassing a respectable track record in terms of both safety and clinical utility. In "Umblical Cord Stem Cell Therapy: The Gift of Healing from Health Newborns", Drs. steenblock and Payne share some of the science that underlies stem cell therapy and put a human face on this field with accounts of people who have benefited from hUCSC treatments. And, in providing this information, they encourage readers to take that bold first step into this vast and wondrous medical frontier.
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