The dazzling promise of stem cell medicine: does it work and will
it save us? Two experts look at the hype For decades, we've been
anticipating the dawn of regenerative medicine. Again and again,
we've been promised that stem cells will soon cure just about every
ill imaginable. If not tomorrow, then the next day, or the day
after that, and so on. We're still waiting. This book is an
antidote to hype and a salve to soothe the itch for stem-cell
salvation. In it, Professor John Rasko, a leading
physician-scientist, and writer-historian Carl Power take us on a
wild historical tour of this scandal-prone field. They expose all
the dirty little secrets that the hype merchants prefer to ignore -
the blunders and setbacks, confusions and delusions, tricks and
lies. You'll meet Alexis Carrel, who discovered how to cultivate
cells in a test tube: celebrity surgeon, scientific genius and
suspected Nazi sympathiser, he opened the field of modern cell
science with an experiment so bogus it blocked the way forward for
the next 50 years. You'll meet Don Thomas, who developed bone
marrow transplantation - the first successful stem-cell therapy -
but only after a miserable decade in which most of his patients
died. Alongside true stem-cell pioneers, you'll meet charlatans who
cooked their data and claimed fake cures - sometimes with fatal
consequences. Is there any good news? Which of the many promises of
stem-cell research have been kept? And what of the future? Rasko
and Power insist that we can only know where we're going if we have
a sense of where we've been. Their study tears down the hype
surrounding stem cells in order to reveal what's still worth hoping
for. PRAISE 'If you love some scandal with your science - or some
science with your scandal - this is THE book for you. Brilliant
stuff' Adam Spencer, University of Sydney 'Science, skulduggery and
snake oil salesmen ... it is a revolution in medicine but who knew
the story of stem cell science was such a ripping yarn!' Fran
Kelly, ABC Radio National Breakfast 'Science isn't magic: it's a
human enterprise. This enthralling book tells of high achievement
and astonishing blunders in a vital field of research' Robyn
Williams, science journalist and broadcaster 'A masterpiece in
myth-busting which helps separate fact from fiction in the world of
regenerative medicine. It shines a light on some episodes in
medical history many would rather forget but also shows a way
forward for stem cell research breakthroughs grounded in solid
science' Sophie Scott, national medical reporter, ABC 'The stem
cell revolution: myths, mistakes but mighty medical masterpiece'
Sir Gustav Nossal, AC CBE FRS FAA, Australian of the Year 2000 'A
compelling (and compulsory) read for anyone entranced by the latest
media-promoted breakthroughs in medical research, or planning
translation of new biomedical research into clinical practice' Ian
Frazer, AC, FRCPE, FRCPA, FAA, FTSE Australian of the Year 2006,
Australian Living Treasure 2012 'Is it really stem cells' turn to
revolutionise health care? When you come across a train wreck, keep
reading! You'll discover that stem cells reveal medicine in its
most provocative and challenging light' Antony Basten AO FAA FTSE
'Flesh Made New is a revelation for the general reader about what
lies beneath the surface of exciting scientific advances ... The
book shows the value of patience and trust in robust evidence-based
scientific research, and where things go off the rail, for
whistleblowers and experts like the authors of this book' Lucy
Turnbull AO, businesswoman, urbanist and philanthropist
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