Kansas Coalition
for Lifesaving Cures
PO Box 394
Topeka KS 66601-0394

Toll-free: 800-821-2658
Email: info@kansascures.com

Examples of Diseases and Injuries That Could Benefit From Stem Cell Research

ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease)

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a devastating disease that progressively destroys nerve cells, called motor neurons, in the brain and the spinal cord, eventually causing paralysis and death. Baseball great Lou Gehrig first brought national attention to the disease in 1939 when he retired from baseball after being diagnosed with ALS. He died two years later, but ALS is still commonly referred to as “Lou Gehrig's disease.” Read More >

Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer’s disease causes the gradual loss of brain cells, resulting in memory loss, disorientation and ultimately death. The areas of the brain that control memory and thinking skills are affected first, but as the disease progresses, cells die in other regions of the brain. Eventually, a person with Alzheimer’s will need complete care. Read More >

Cancer

Cancer is basically out-of-control cell division and growth that destroys surrounding tissue and organs. Cancer often turns into a tumor. Some forms, like leukemia, affect the blood and blood-forming organs and circulate through other tissues where they grow. Cancer cells often develop because of damage to the genetic material in a person's cells. This damage can be inherited or caused by exposure to something in the environment, like smoking or hazardous chemicals. Read More >

Diabetes

Diabetes is a group of diseases characterized by high levels of blood glucose resulting from defects in insulin production, insulin action, or both. Insulin is a cellular protein that regulates glucose levels in the blood. Read More >

Heart Disease, Stroke and Other Cardiovascular Diseases

There are many different diseases that affect the heart and other parts of the cardiovascular system, including: Read More >

  • Coronary artery disease (CAD)
  • Heart attack (acute myocardial infarction)
  • Stroke
  • Heart valve disease
  • Congenital heart disease
  • Heart muscle disease (cardiomyopathy)
  • Pericardial disease
  • Aorta disease and Marfan syndrome
  • Vascular disease (blood vessel disease)

Multiple Sclerosis (MS)

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, unpredictable neurological disease that affects the central nervous system – the brain, spinal cord and the optic nerves. MS is believed to be an autoimmune disease which causes damage to the protective sheath surrounding nerve fibers, called myelin. Damage to myelin interferes with messages between the brain and other parts of the body. Read More >

Parkinson's Disease

Parkinson's disease is a progressive disorder of the central nervous system. It occurs when the group of brain cells that produce an important chemical called dopamine begin to malfunction and eventually die. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter, or chemical messenger, that transports signals to the parts of the brain that control movement initiation and coordination. Read More >

Sickle Cell Disease

Sickle cell disease is an inherited genetic blood disease that can cause severe pain, damage to vital organs and death. It results from a defect in a protein (hemoglobin) that enables red blood cells to carry oxygen throughout the body. Normal red blood cells are flexible and disk shaped. People with sickle cell disease have red blood cells that become hard and pointed instead of soft and round. Read More >

Spinal Cord Injury

Spinal cord injury (SCI) resulting from accidents, gunshots or other traumas is a tragedy that affects hundreds of thousands of people of all ages. Vehicular accidents cause about 44% of these injuries. Nearly one-quarter are the result of violence and 22% are the result of falls. Sports injuries account for 7% of spinal cord injuries. The remaining 1% of spinal cord injuries results from work-related or other accidents. Read More >