Today, stem cell therapy is a well-known and incredible regenerative medicine used to heal people with conditions such as blood cancers, autoimmune conditions, chronic pain, and much more. Of course, it has not always been around, with the origins of stem cell therapy going back to the mid-20th century. Here at BioXcellerator, discover the exciting start of stem cell therapy, including how it has developed from then until today.
The First Use of the Term “Stem Cells”
Before we get into the very first stem cell treatment, let’s understand stem cells and when the term was first used. Stem cells are naturally occurring cells that live throughout your body, including the brain, bone marrow, heart, and blood vessels. They have many regenerative and anti-inflammatory properties, which gives them the unique ability to heal and regrow damaged tissues such as muscles, ligaments, and cartilage. The term stem cell was first used in 1888 when it was coined by Theodor Boveri and Valentin Häcker. At this point in history, stem cells used in medicine were still a thing of the future.
So, When Was Stem Cell Therapy Discovered?
Stem cell therapy itself was first discovered back in 1958. It involved the very first stem cell transplantation, which was performed by Georges Marthé, a French oncologist. He performed the treatment using stem cells to treat six patients who were in an accident – they were nuclear researchers who were exposed to too much radiation. All of the patients survived following the treatment. Since then, many discoveries surrounding stem cells have been made – we’ll go over some of the most notable breakthroughs here.
Learn More: What Are Stem Cells?
The Discovery of Hematopoietic Stem Cells
The discovery of hematopoietic stem cells came not too long after the first stem cell transplantation. These were discovered by James Till and Ernest McCulloch in the early 1960s. Only a few years after their discovery, it was found that these very same cells had the unique ability to self-renew – one of the properties that make stem cells so beneficial in medicine.
More Success from Georges Marthé
After the success of his stem cell transplantation in 1958, Georges Marthé was able to continue his success, this time in 1963. During this year, he performed a bone marrow transplant on a patient with leukemia. Amazingly, this bone marrow transplant was a success as it cured the patient completely.
The Discovery of Embryonic Stem Cells
Until recently, most stem cell treatments involved using embryonic stem cells, and that’s all thanks to something that happened in 1981. During this year, Martin Evans and Matthew Kaufman, two British biologists, were able to isolate embryonic stem cells from mice. It was a massive breakthrough, and later human’s embryonic stem cells would be used in stem cell treatments.
Other Stem Cell Types
Over the years, more specific cell types have been discovered and used, including mesenchymal stem cells, also known as adult stem cells. These are known to be highly potent and able to differentiate into a large number of other cell types, making them highly useful in stem cell therapy.
The First FDA Approval for Stem Cell Therapy
In November 2011, the FDA approved the first type of stem cell therapy in the US, which covered using hematopoietic progenitor cells from the umbilical cord blood. FDA approval meant more people could safely receive treatments, particularly when treating blood disorders and cancers. While the FDA hasn’t approved all types of stem cell treatments, more studies and research are proving their safety and efficacy by the day.
Stem Cell Therapy Today: What Can It Treat?
In recent years, stem cell treatments have helped many patients overcome some of the more unpleasant symptoms of their conditions. One such example is the case of Dave Randle. Dave Randle suffered from a heart attack in 2016. While he survived, he experienced symptoms following the heart failure, such as an inability to walk up the stairs. Randle did not want to go down the route of surgery (which would typically be recommended in this case), which is when the doctor decided to recommend stem cell therapy as an alternative option. It was a good call; Dave Randle underwent stem cell therapy and overcame his symptoms in a matter of weeks.
There are many more cases of stem cell therapy proving an incredible medical treatment for a wide range of illnesses and symptoms. Here are just some of the conditions stem cell therapy can treat:
- Autoimmune Conditions
- Chronic Pain
- Certain Cancers
- Heart Failure
- Osteoarthritis
- Parkinson’s Disease
- Stroke
- Blood Disorders
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Spinal Cord Injuries
Read More: What Are Stem Cell Injections?
Choosing BioXcellerator for Stem Cell Treatments
If you want a safe treatment, BioXcellerator offers the safest possible stem cell treatments. We are a team of dedicated researchers, scientists, and physicians dedicated to providing high-quality stem cell therapy to all patients. We manage that using the most potent cells offering the most chance of success – mesenchymal stem cells from Wharton’s Jelly umbilical cord tissue. Thanks to that, alongside our experts and many years of experience in the field, we deliver successful results time and time again. Contact our team to find out more, including the stem cell therapy cost for you.
In Summary
The simple answer to the question, “When was stem cell therapy discovered?” is 1958. That was the first ever case of a physician using stem cells in a medical treatment, which resulted in the survival of six patients after an accident involving radioactive activity. Stem cell therapy has come a long way since then. Over the years, more stem cell types were discovered, and more patients were able to undergo stem cell treatments to heal their conditions. It’s pretty remarkable already, but who knows what the future of stem cell therapy will look like?
At BioXcellerator, we are at the forefront of stem cell research and discovery. We believe in the power of science and have already helped thousands of patients heal. Could you be next? We have several locations we cover, so hopefully, we can accommodate you. Don’t be pulled back by your condition any longer.
