Regeneration Ability Isn’t Just for Superheroes

If you ever playacted superheroes as a kid, then you know that whoever claimed “healing” as his special power always enjoyed the most success.

Thanks to huge strides in biotechnology, regenerative medicine is no longer just a playground pipe dream; it’s lauded as the next evolution of medical treatments.

While most scientists are now in the research stages of regenerative technology, aspirations all line up to the same goal: developing a regenerative technology that exactly reflects the nature of regeneration in organisms that undergo physiological and structural restoration to mimic their original, undamaged states.

The reality is that 99 percent of organ regenerative technology is still in the research stage — not in clinical practice. That said, with the evolution still so green, it’s the perfect time to be first in line.

Why All the Buzz?

We’ve all heard the idiom “It costs an arm and a leg.” While it’s used flippantly to express exorbitant prices, it gets to the root of what’s so exciting about regenerative technology: We highly value our bodies, and it offers a chance to fix what ails them. Regenerative applied science creates a very real possibility we can regrow tissue that has deteriorated, slow the process, or even fix the underlying pathology.

Biotech companies and Big Pharma both know exactly how much Americans value their health because they spend to the tune of $300 billion annually on care.

Generally, biotech startups are at the forefront of research, while Big Pharma has the money to hold clinical trials, so we often see those players work together to bring new products to market.

Beyond just being a fascinating breakthrough and a potentially lucrative endeavor, harnessing the power of regeneration also could cut costs exponentially for patients. Instead of paying for the treatment of a chronic condition day after day and year after year, they can use regenerative application to actually cure the chronic conditions.

How Could It Work in Real Life?

As a witness to the real-life application of regenerative technology, I have seen that it has the potential to be nothing short of a medical miracle. Here are some instances that make me an evangelical about regenerative medicine:

1. It can restore appearances.

A human body with relatively large third-degree full-thickness burns could fully undergo physiological restoration without skin grafts or amputation. Patients suffering from the pain — both mental and physical — of disfigurement can be restored to their original states with exact function and structure.

2. It means amputation is no longer option A.

A human body that suffered deep, gangrenous ulcerations could be healed without limb amputation and could retain a normal quality of life. A festering wound would no longer have to be a death sentence for the limb — which could be especially useful for our armed forces. Long-lasting chronic ulceration caused by radiation could regenerate, creating new options for emergency radiation relief.

3. It’s an internal fountain of youth.

Through regenerative technology, an elderly person could have a gastrointestinal tract with structure and functionality resembling that of a younger person’s. Aging is inevitable, but regenerative application could expand quality of life far beyond nature’s timeline.

4. It can easily restore limb function and structure.

Severed fingertips could end up fully restored to their original functional and structure. Imagine a simple procedure curing what would have been a catastrophic and career-ending injury to a pianist.

Regenerative technology is just like any revolutionary discovery in its infancy. People are scratching their heads trying to figure out the organ regeneration mechanism in organisms and how it applies to the human body. They know how profitable and philanthropic it would be to truly crack the code for mankind, which naturally leads to a bit of a rat race to secure market value before the competition.

Bottom line: I believe whoever first grasps the clinical realization and unmasks the nature of human regeneration will rule the kingdom of regenerative science. From there, everyone can be a superhero.

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