Stem cells are cells with the potential to develop into many different types of cells in the body. They serve as a repair system for the body. There are two main types of stem cells: embryonic stem cells and adult stem cells.
Doctors and scientists are excited about stem cells because they have potential in many different areas of health and medical research. Studying stem cells may help explain how serious conditions such as birth defects and cancer come about. Stem cells may one day be used to make cells and tissues for therapy of many diseases, including Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, spinal cord injury, heart disease, diabetes and arthritis.
National Institutes of Health
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Stem Cell Basics
(National Institutes of Health) - http://stemcells.nih.gov/info/basics/
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Stem Cell Information(National Institutes of Health) - http://stemcells.nih.gov/
- Stem Cell Transplant(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/stem-cell-transplant/MY00089/METHOD=print&DSECTION=all
- Stem Cells: What They Are and What They Do(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/stem-cells/CA00081/METHOD=print
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Understanding Cancer Series: Blood Stem Cell Transplants(National Cancer Institute) - http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/understandingcancer/StemCells
Also available in Spanish http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/understandingcancer/espanol/el-Trasplante-de-Celulas-Madre
- New Prostates Grown from Single Stem Cell(10/22/2008, HealthDay) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_70749.html
- Researchers Find Easier Way to Make Stem Cells(10/13/2008, Reuters Health) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_70342.html
- Researchers Create Embryonic-Like Stem Cells from Human Testes(10/08/2008, HealthDay) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_70214.html
- More News on Stem Cells http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/alphanews_s.html#stemcells
- Allogeneic Transplant: Importance of a Matched Donor(American Cancer Society) - http://www.cancer.org/docroot/ETO/content/ETO_1_4X_Allogeneic_Transplant_Importance_of_a_Matched_Donor.asp
- Bone Marrow and Peripheral Blood Stem Cell (PBSC) Donation Frequently Asked Questions(National Marrow Donor Program) - http://www.marrow.org/DONOR/When_You_re_Asked_to_Donate_fo/Donation_FAQs/index.html
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Bone Marrow Transplantation and Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplantation: Questions and Answers(National Cancer Institute) - http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Therapy/bone-marrow-transplant
Also available in Spanish http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Therapy/bone-marrow-transplant-spanish
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Cloning/Embryonic Stem Cells(National Human Genome Research Institute) - http://www.genome.gov/10004765
- Cord Blood Transplants(National Marrow Donor Program) - http://www.marrow.org/PATIENT/Undrstnd_Disease_Treat/Undrstnd_Treat_Opt/Lrn_BMT_Cord/Cord_Blood_Tx/
- Learning about Bone Marrow or Cord Blood Transplants(National Marrow Donor Program) - http://www.marrow.org/PATIENT/Undrstnd_Disease_Treat/Undrstnd_Treat_Opt/Lrn_BMT_Cord/
- Types of Stem Cell Transplants(American Cancer Society) - http://www.cancer.org/docroot/ETO/content/ETO_1_4X_Stem_Cell_Transplant_Basics.asp?sitearea=ETO
- Banking Your Newborn's Cord Blood(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/parent/pregnancy_newborn/pregnancy/cord_blood.html
- Cord Blood Banking Frequently Asked Questions(Academic Pediatric Association) - http://www.aap.org/advocacy/releases/jan07cordbloodfaq.htm
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Cytomegalovirus (CMV) Infection: A Guide for Patients and Families After Stem Cell Transplant(National Institutes of Health, Clinical Center) - Links to PDF - http://www.cc.nih.gov/ccc/patient_education/pepubs/cmv.pdf
- Donor Experience (Stem Cells)(American Cancer Society) - http://www.cancer.org/docroot/ETO/content/ETO_1_4X_What_Does_The_Donor_Experience.asp?sitearea=ETO
- Evaluating Your Health Before Transplant(National Marrow Donor Program) - http://www.marrow.org/PATIENT/Donor_Select_Tx_Process/Evaluating_Your_Health_Before_/
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GVHD (Graft-Versus-Host Disease): A Guide for Patients and Families After Stem Cell Transplant(National Institutes of Health, Clinical Center) - Links to PDF - http://www.cc.nih.gov/ccc/patient_education/pepubs/gvh.pdf
- Issues Related to Stem Cell Transplants(American Cancer Society) - http://www.cancer.org/docroot/ETO/content/ETO_1_4X_Issues_Related_to_Stem_Cell_Transplants.asp?sitearea=ETO
- Learn if You Can Donate Cord Blood(National Marrow Donor Program) - http://www.marrow.org/HELP/Donate_Cord_Blood_Share_Life/How_to_Donate_Cord_Blood/Learn_If_You_Can_Donate/index.html
- Planning for Life After Transplant(National Marrow Donor Program) - http://www.marrow.org/PATIENT/Plan_Life_after_Tx/
- Reduced-Intensity Transplants(National Marrow Donor Program) - http://www.marrow.org/PATIENT/Undrstnd_Disease_Treat/Undrstnd_Treat_Opt/Lrn_BMT_Cord/R_Intensity_Tx/
- Severe Combined Immunodeficiency (SCID) and Transplant(National Marrow Donor Program) - http://www.marrow.org/PATIENT/Undrstnd_Disease_Treat/Lrn_about_Disease/Immune_System/SCID_and_Tx/index.html
- Insurance and Transplant Coverage Information(National Marrow Donor Program) - http://www.marrow.org/PATIENT/Plan_for_Tx/Planning_for_Tx_Costs/Insurance_and_Transplant_Cover/
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Hematopoietic Stem Cells(National Institutes of Health) - http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/condition=%22Hematopoietic+Stem+Cells%22
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Stem Cell Transplantation(National Institutes of Health) - http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/condition=%22Stem+Cell+Transplantation%22
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Stem Cells(National Institutes of Health) - http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/condition=%22Stem+Cells%22
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation(National Institutes of Health) - http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/intervention=%22hematopoietic+stem+cell+transplantation%22
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Stem Cell Transplantation(National Institutes of Health) - http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/intervention=stem+cell+transplantation
- New Pill Improves Side Effect of Stem Cell Transplants(American Cancer Society) - http://www.cancer.org/docroot/NWS/content/NWS_1_1x_New_Pill_Improves_Side_Effect_of_Stem_Cell_Transplants.asp
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Stem Cell Reports(National Institutes of Health) - Links to PDF - http://stemcells.nih.gov/info/scireport/
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Study Compares Stem Cell Transplant Treatments(National Cancer Institute) - http://www.cancer.gov/clinicaltrials/results/allograft0307
References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
- Article: Toll-like receptor 4 polymorphisms and aspergillosis in stem-cell transplantation. - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18946062&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: Imatinib as a potential treatment for sclerodermatous chronic graft-vs-host disease. - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18794453&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: Intensive care unit mortality trends in children after hematopoietic stem... - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18766109&tool=MedlinePlus
- Stem Cells -- see more articles - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=search&db=pubmed&term=(hematopoietic+stem+cell+transplantation[majr]+OR+stem+cells/tr[majr])+AND+english[la]+NOT+animals[mh:noexp]+AND+(jsubsetaim[text]+OR+jsubsetk[text]+OR+jsubsetn[text]+OR+patient+education+handout[pt])+NOT+(letter[pt]+OR+editorial[pt])&doptcmdl=summary&cmd_current=Limits&pmfilter_EDatLimit=last+1+Year&tool=MedlinePlus
- National Marrow Donor Program: Glossary(National Marrow Donor Program) - http://www.marrow.org/GLOSSARY/
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Stem Cell Information: Glossary(National Institutes of Health) - http://stemcells.nih.gov/info/glossary.asp
- Accredited Cellular Therapy Facility Search(Foundation for the Accreditation of Cellular Therapy) - http://www.factwebsite.org/FacilitySearch.aspx?SearchType=FACT
- Accredited Cord Blood Banks Search(Foundation for the Accreditation of Cellular Therapy) - http://www.factwebsite.org/FacilitySearch.aspx?SearchType=Netcord/FACT
- Organizations That Can Help: A Searchable Directory(National Marrow Donor Program) - http://www.marrow.org/PATIENT/Support_Resources/Organizations_that_Can_Help/search_orgs.pl
- Where to Donate Cord Blood(National Marrow Donor Program) - http://www.marrow.org/HELP/Donate_Cord_Blood_Share_Life/How_to_Donate_Cord_Blood/CB_Participating_Hospitals/nmdp_cord_blood_hospitals.pl
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National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke - http://www.ninds.nih.gov/
Also available in Spanish http://espanol.ninds.nih.gov/
- National Marrow Donor Program - http://www.marrow.org/
- Blood & Marrow Transplant Newsletter(BMT InfoNet) - http://www.bmtinfonet.org/letter.html
- How to Understand NMDP Transplant Center Statistics(National Marrow Donor Program) - http://www.marrow.org/PATIENT/Plan_for_Tx/Choosing_a_TC/Consider_When_Choosing_TC/Understand_TC_Stats/
- Bone Marrow Transplantation - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/bonemarrowtransplantation.html
- Transplantation and Donation - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/transplantationanddonation.html
The primary NIH organization for research on Stem Cells is the NIH Office of the Director - http://www.nih.gov/icd/od/