Another topic that generated much discussion among the group was regenerative medicine, which is a general phrase used to describe the repair and growth of tissues, organs and limbs.
Anthony Atala, director of the Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine, gave a 20-minute talk that was highlighted by a video of a young patient who received a regenerated bladder and is doing quite well 15 years later.
"The technology (under development) has the potential for making people's lives better," Atala said.
If salamanders can regenerate lost legs in a matter of days, Atala said that one day medical research will be able to replicate lost, damaged or diseased major organs. For example, researchers are now able to grow new skin for burn victims through a liquid spray of special cells, he said.
Research is going on to regenerate skeletal muscle, blood vessels and simply organs as bladders, tracheas, lung, kidneys and liver tissues, Atala said. Skeletal muscle is one of three major muscle types, including cardiac muscle and smooth muscle. Most skeletal muscles are attached to bones by tendons.
"We have (a lab experiment) where (regenerated) kidney can reprocess urine," Atala said, adding that one day the results may improve care for end-stage renal disease patients. The experiment is in phase one clinical trials.
"The FDA has approved a 10-center trial for a phase two" clinical trial, he said.
Earlier this year, Wake Forest began a five-year $20 million public-private partnership that involves the U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command. The goal of the Medical Technology Enterprise Consortium is to accelerate progress in regenerative medicine manufacturing.
The HealthQuake Summit was put on by the Detroit International Research and Education Foundation.
Contact David Ellis for more information.
"Futurists discuss bionic, regenerative medicine at HealthQuake Summit in Detroit" originally appeared in Crain's Detroit Business.
