Exciting news on the stem cell research front: at Imperial College London, researchers have triggered the release of extra stem cells in mice.

Exciting news on the stem cell research front: at Imperial College London, researchers have triggered the release of extra stem cells in mice by combining Genzyme's Mozobil with other treatments. Similar procedures have been performed in the past, but this one was special because it also identified the approach releases specific stem cells.

This is ground-breaking stuff. It means that in future, treatments could be targeted. This could enable doctors to stimulate patients to produce their own replacement stem cells, rather than being forced to use stem cells from donors, embryos or stem cell banks. We could use these extra cells produced from our own bodies to heal broken bones, or repair cardiac tissue damaged by heart attacks.

It could also mean an end to the controversy surrounding the production of stem cells using human embryos – something that has dogged this area of research since its inception.