Living Drugs: The Therapeutic Potential of Stem Cells

As they age, most Canadians will suffer from chronic degenerative diseases. In 2010, the Public Health Agency of Canada estimated that the cost to Canadians of treating chronic and degenerative diseases is $190 billion per year, taking into account both the direct costs of hospitals, doctors and drugs, as well as the indirect socio-economic costs of disability and early death. These skyrocketing costs to the national health care system underscore an urgent need to develop new and efficient technologies and approaches to dramatically improve the outlook for patients, their families, communities across Canada, and the health care system.

It does not have to be this way. The ability of stem cells to become any cell type in the body means that they, or molecules that target them, could be used to treat – and perhaps cure – devastating and costly illnesses. Dr. Azadeh Golipour, of the Centre for Commercialization of Regenerative Medicine, will explore this topic and answer questions about this cutting-edge field of medicine.