What is this about?
US biotech company Bioquark has laid out a highly controversial plan to do the unimaginable – resurrect brain-dead people using the power of stem cells.
In 2016, Bioquark gained attention after gaining ethical permission to use 20 brain-dead patients for this research in India. Those trials were scrapped after Indian regulators shut it down. Now, they are back to announce a new trial in Latin America in late 2017.
How can this work?
In previous trials, the basic idea was to inject stem cells into the patient's upper spinal cord along with a cocktail of peptides shown to help neurons develop. They then aimed to stimulate the brain using electrical nerve stimulation and laser therapy.
Stem cells have already been shown to hold huge potential for biomedical sciences, whether that’s treating age-related macular degeneration or hair loss. The wider research into stem cells eventually promises to create functional replica tissues and organs for use as replacements.
In early 2017, new research produced the growth of millions of brain and muscle cells in a matter of days.
First results of Bioquark's recent trials are expected to be seen within the first two to three months of trial.
Is this a good thing?
Experts and the public have been very skeptical of the plans from both an ethical and scientific viewpoint. However, even in the face of this criticism and previous setbacks, Bioquark remains optimistic and gives itself a pretty good chance to succeed.
Though, the ethical question remains unanswered.
What do you think? Should humans resurrect the dead? Feel free to give me your thoughts and comment below.
For further information:
https://www.statnews.com/2017/06/01/brain-death-trial-stem-cells/
http://www.iflscience.com/brain/biotech-company-use-stem-cells-reactivate-brains-dead/