New technique lets you convert blood to stem cells

According to a BBC report, a group of researchers at the University of Cambridge has developed a new technique for obtaining stem cells. According to the publication, the new treatment is to use patients' own blood to create custom cells that scientists hope they can use to treat a variety of diseases.

Stem cells are one of the greatest promises of regenerative medicine, as they can be converted into any type of cell in the body. However, some sources of obtaining - such as human embryos, for example - are still considered controversial, and the material obtained may be rejected, as sometimes occurs with transplanted organs.

Simple, safe and promising

As the researchers explained, the new method allows stem cells to be obtained from a mere blood sample, that is, from a much simpler and safer source than current sources. Also, since the material comes from the patient's own body, the new technique probably circumvents the problem of rejection.

During the experiments, scientists produced new blood vessels from stem cells obtained from a type of cell present in the bloodstream, responsible for repairing damage to vessel walls. However, despite the promising results, it is still early to determine if the material obtained with the new technique is safe enough to be used on a large scale, and further studies will be needed to test the effectiveness of the process.