TED Talks Daily Could you recover from illness ... using your own stem cells? | Nabiha Saklayen
Sep 24, 2021
Nabiha Saklayen, a biotech entrepreneur, dives into the revolutionary potential of personalized stem cell banks. She explores how using a patient’s own cells could transform treatments for chronic diseases like diabetes and Parkinson's. By leveraging advances in biology, machine learning, and laser technology, Saklayen envisions a future where personalized medicine is the norm. This innovative approach aims to enhance healing, reduce rejection risks, and make stem cell therapies more efficient and affordable for everyone.
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Grandma's Diabetes
- Nabiha Saklayen's grandmother died from diabetes in 2012.
- Had stem cell technology been available, it could have generated new pancreatic cells and potentially cured her.
Stem Cell Engineering Challenges
- Stem cells are difficult to engineer because creating them from blood cells results in a mix of different cell types.
- These unwanted cells must be removed, traditionally by hand, making the process slow and expensive.
Donor vs. Personalized Stem Cells
- Donor stem cells are cheaper but risk immune rejection, requiring immunosuppressants.
- Banking stem cells from common genetic backgrounds may not cover everyone, especially those with diverse heritages.