In the News – Baldness Cure from Stem Cells Within 5 Years?
Snippet from the article:
For the first time, scientists in Germany have grown hair follicles from stem cells. The feat has brought scientists a step closer to creating a cure for baldness. The study used cells taken from animals, but researchers hope to create human hair follicles from human stem cells within a year.Stem cells are the body’s master cells. With manipulation in the lab, they can be grown into any tissue in the human body from blood to bone and even whole organs. Although stem cells are seen as the holy grail for medicine, progress has been slow and very few treatments are widely available.
However, Professor Roland Lauster at Berlin’s Technical University believes his work could be a step towards providing treatment for the 80 per cent of people who suffer from hair loss worldwide. Lauster claims the treatment – which would probably require the hair follicles to be implanted on to the head – could be available in five years.
Read the full text — A cure for baldness ‘could be available in 5 years’
This is quite interesting and I’d love to learn more about their achievements. I’m not sure that we’re ready to say a hair loss “cure” is coming in 5 years, though. I’ll keep my fingers crossed, but as the article mentions, progress with stem cell treatments has been very slow. Anyone can guess about the timeline, but I will believe it when I see it.
(Thanks to all the readers that brought the link to my attention.)
Why are you keeping your fingers crossed for a cure? Wouldn’t you take a financial hit from a cure?
That’s a common misconception. As I’ve said before, who do you think would be the doctors that administer the “cure”? My business would change, not disappear.
Nice answer doc. You’re obviously an astute businessman.
I know its off topic but the film and music industries in America have the opposite approach… Which is to lobby the governent to change the law to save a failing business model.
It would be like you guys taking stem cell researchers to court and suing them the same way the recording industry is suing kids and old ladies for downloading content.
My point is that unlike those who ignore and fight progress I feel you guys are going to be here for the long haul!! Have a nice Christmas mate!!
It’s really a wonderful news ever. I gradually loss my forehead of hair. Even worst, I don’t have enough hair at donor area to fix it anymore due to unsuccessful of hair transplant with DR. Rassman sixteen years ago, I did lost at least 5 to 600 grafts for nothing. This new technique will give me an enormous hope. I really wish it will be in practical phrase in no time. No matter how much it cost, i definitely will take it.
The recording industry SHOULD be suing kids, old ladies and anyone else who downloads content illegally. Free downloads are not a “right” and nobody is entitled to them. It is like receiving stolen merchandise. You have no right to have it.
I’m skeptical about this breakthrough coming through; 3 years ago, the news published research that proclaimed a cure for baldness by as early as 2010. This timeline seems to be a moving target.