Stem cells for tissue repair : research on therapy using somatic and embryonic stem cells

Damaged cells in tissue can sometimes be replaced by cells from a donor. Striking examples are cell transplants used in animal models for studying diabetes and in clinical trials with Parkinson patients. This research has given rise to the hope that it will be possible to repair human organs and tissue using donor cells. The analogy is with the current use of bone marrow transplants for bone marrow failure.