Easy Drug Rehabilitation

A family shares their experiences with iron chelation treatment for thalassemia — and their urgent plea for treatment options for patients who receive frequent blood transfusions.

Researchers in the US western state of California now have government approval to begin the first human clinical trial of a treatment derived from human embryonic stem cells. The scientists will test a therapy that is designed to regenerate nerve cells in people who have suffered spinal cord injuries. The trial, however, has a limited goal of assessing the safety of the treatment. Still, Rachel Silverman reports for VOA, approval for the trial from the US Food and Drug Administration breaks what had been a significant barrier to stem cell research.