State’s first stem cell genetic research centre inaugurated at Sion Hospital
People with spinal cord injuries can look forward to an affordable treatment in the city.
The state’s first Stem Cell Genetic Research Centre was inaugurated on Tuesday at Sion hospital. Stem cells are the future of research and medical treatment globally.
Doctors at Sion hospital have been researching on the application of stem cells to treat spinal cord injuries for the past 10 years.
“We have treated and studied eight patients using the therapy over the past 15 months. The results have been remarkable,” Dr Prerna Badhe, stem cell consultant at Sion hospital, said.
The unique regenerative and healing properties of stem cells can be used to treat various diseases such as diabetes, cardiac problems, and brain strokes. Stem cells are the healthy cells that repair the damaged ones and fasten the healing process.
Ravindra Ahire from Jalgaon was one of the patients to undergo the therapy. After a severe injury last year, the 24-year-old lost sensation in his lower limbs. After 15 months of being injected with stem cells collected from his own bone marrow, Ahire has now started walking with some help. “Stem cells that we use are collected from the patient and injected back to them,” Dr Alok Sharma, head of neurosurgery department in Sion Hospital, said. “There are almost no chances of rejection because the stem cells belong to the patient.”
He said the therapy could help paraplegics if treatment was started at the earliest. The effects of stem cells start showing in a month or two of injecting stem cells. “These are small things like getting a sensation in a limb or understanding pain,” Badhe said.
She said stem cells had wiped out one of the biggest myths of medical science that damaged nerve cells could never be regenerated. “The cells can be regenerated and that is why stem cell therapy could be used to treat Parkinson’s.” Sion hospital would now try to treat brain strokes, she said.
Patients in Sion hospital might have to pay Rs10,000 to buy the consumables. In any private hospital, the cost of stem cell therapy could run up to Rs3 lakh.
Chennai, Bangalore and Delhi have been using stem cells for spinal cord injuries.
