The inability of the human body to be able significantly to self repair injured organs and tissues results in a considerable medical and social problem. During the last few years there has been incredible progress, and the achievements in experimental strategies for tissue regeneration, particularly in cell transplantation and stem cell research, have led to potential treatment options for many otherwise fatal conditions. These innovations hold promise for treating or preventing end-stage organ failure; cell therapy and tissue engineering of viable grafts with the potential to grow and remodel could provide prospective new solutions to the serious problems of organ donor shortage.

Regenerative medicine a" stem cell and gene-based therapy a" offers a new approach for restoring function of damaged organs and tissues. Several books have been published on particular aspects of organ and/or tissue replacement but none cover the major new aspects and field of regenerative medicine. This title is therefore a timely addition to the literature. It brings together the major approaches to regenerative medicine in one text, which ensures that techniques learnt in one discipline are disseminated across other areas of medicine, allowing practitioners to gain knowledge not only of how regenerative medicine applies to their discipline directly but also how it could benefit their patients in the years to come.