Apr 11, 2017 12:33 PM EDT By Eleanor Bright, UniversityHerald Reporter

Pioneering work on stem-cell therapy will reduce health costs and bring medical tourists to Washington. Scientists and physicians are finding ways to restore damaged organs and tissues using stem cells.

Stem cell therapy is the use of stem cells to treat a disease or prevent it. Stem cells can be taken from bone marrow or from the umbilical cord.

In the past, arthritis, kidney disease and diabetes were diseases that were expensive to treat. Full recovery was not guaranteed and the disease could become chronic. Today, these diseases could be treated fully with the use of stem cells.

Diseases are caused by damaged cells in a specific organ or tissue. Organ transplants are possible but complications may arise leading to death. By replacing diseased cells, the tissue or organ retains its health and puts an end to the illness. The patient's tissues and organs work as if they are brand new, the Seattle Times reported.

Currently, scientists and physicians at the University of Washington Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine are working on stem cell therapy to cure diseases of the heart, eyes, kidneys and other tissues. Once their work becomes successful, people around the world would benefit from stem-cell therapy.

Aside from getting stem cell from the bone marrow and the umbilical cord, brain cells to cure Parkinson's disease were tested on mice. Parkinson's disease is caused by the death of certain type of brain cells. Application on the mice was a success, giving another hope for people who suffer from Parkinson's disease, STAT reported.

The University of Washington Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine needs additional funds for the development of stem cell therapy. In fact, it needs funds for the scientists and physicians that it would hire. Once fully developed, stem cell therapy could help reduce health costs and bring medical tourists to Washington.

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