Stem cells are undifferentiated cells that can be transformed into specialized cells to repair and replenish human tissue. California's stem cell agency is exploring many approaches to using stem cells to improve people's lives. They have already changed drug discovery methods, with nearly every large company in the field using stem cells to understand disease and screen for potential therapies. One panelist will describe how he has used these methods to find a possible treatment for autism. Another will detail how a soon-to-begin clinical trial will use stem cells to replace the insulin-producing cells lost in diabetes. Using gene therapy to modify stem cells is another panelist's strategy in the battle against AIDS. But the ultimate goal of regenerative medicine may be to strengthen the body's ability to repair itself, which is the passion of another of our speakers.
