Stem cells are "master" cells that have the ability to grow into any one of the body's more than 200 cell types, including brain, blood, pancreas and heart cells.
Stem cells can reproduce into red cells that carry oxygen throughout the body, white cells for fighting infections and platelets that create clots and prevent excessive bleeding.
Stem cell research is predicted to improve treatment options for incurable conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease, Huntington’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, spinal cord injuries and traumatic brain injuries, among many others.
Scientists are conducting stem cell studies to develop cures for the more than 1.3 million Americans that suffer from spinal cord injuries. This is highly significant because no other form of treatment or drugs have been able to restore function for patients with paralysis.
Stem cells can self-renew. They are capable of replenishing themselves for long periods of time. Through natural division, one Petri dish can hold up to 5 million pluripotent, stem cells meaning scientists can create normal human cells in large scale for the first time in human history.
Stem cells have the potential to revolutionize the treatment of human disease. They allow scientists to study human development (and how it could go wrong), develop better and safer drugs and offer potential treatments for devastating diseases and injuries. Some of the brightest minds in medicine and science are working day in and day out to determine the full potential stem cells bring for understanding and treating a range of diseases. Each of us is standing at the intersection of real, tangible progress and limitless possibility. By supporting stem cell research, we have the opportunity to transform medicine.
Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2012 marks International Stem Cell Awareness Day, a day in which organizations and individuals around the world come together to foster greater understanding of stem cell research and the range of potential applications to treat or cure a variety of diseases and injuries. Show your support today by helping to spread the message that stem cells offer hope. Join us and let your voice be heard! Make a difference!
Help us spread the word about the importance of stem cell research. Show your support by downloading your favorite stem cell image below. You can use the image as desktop or mobile wallpaper. Easily SHARE, TWEET or PIN the images to your social media network with a click of a button. Share or tweet any of the rotating stem cell facts on the site. Change your Facebook profile photo or Twitter icon to your favorite image below to celebrate International Stem Cell Awareness Day. It’s easy and it will help raise awareness about the importance of stem cell research. Make a difference!


