Web Extra: Growing an Ear

December 13, 2009 11:57 AM

Believe it or not, but doctors can now actually grow a human ear.

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by playmoe July 26, 2010 3:24 AM EDT: This is a miracle! I'm wondering if a new set of lungs could be grown for those of us suffering from Interstitial Lung Disease aka Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis.

How can a person become involved in this project for lung regeneration? Hopefully it won't have to take the usual route to be approved as most drugs. Any ideas on this?; Reply to this comment


by newgrandma July 25, 2010 10:25 PM EDT: I have a darling grandson of 2 months. He was born with Ulnar Club Hand. This affects his right arm/hand from the elbow down. He will need a new partial arm/hand. Could I count on you to make his life fulfilled? Thank you so much for anything you can do for my sweet grandson.; Reply to this comment


by salibrahim January 6, 2010 9:54 PM EST: I am a grandmother of a beautiful 7 year old girl who was born with one fully developed ear and one malformed ear. She needs reconstructive surgery on this year. We were very intrigued and impressed with the new method of regenerative technology that was explained by Dr. Anthony Atala to grow ears using cells from the patient and attach them to the patient. We have been researching different options for my granddaughter for seven years in hopes of finding a non-invasive solution to reconstruct her ear. We do not want a prosthetic ear for her and the other option is a surgery which involves getting cartilage from her floating rib and creating an ear during surgery and attaching it. We would like to get an idea of when this regenerative cell technology for growing ears will be available. Is this 1 year away? 3 years? 5 years? We need to make decisions for her and would like to have some idea as to when this will become available. It is very important to us and her parents to have this information and whether it is within a reasonable time that we can wait. Please let me know. We also would like to know if there is any preparation and approximately the cost for this procedure, surgery, etc. Will this regenerative procedure and surgery be covered by our medical insurance? We look forward to hearing your response.; Reply to this comment


by eddieg1231 December 25, 2009 2:45 AM EST: Hello again this will be the second time i post a comment here, my question is if you can grow body parts can you get me in a program that will regrow the sheath around my nerves? i have been diagnaged with primarry progressive ms please can you help get me in a program.thank you Ed.; Reply to this comment


by jillry December 16, 2009 2:27 AM EST: I have Muscular Dystrophy and for the first time since I was diagnosed in 1982, I HAVE HOPE!; Reply to this comment


by carlsonwilliam December 15, 2009 11:23 PM EST: Concerning muscle growth,has anything been tried on the heart muscle to date?; Reply to this comment


by Lemuel1975 December 14, 2009 7:46 PM EST: I would like to know if this same technology could be used to reform bone structure and teeth.; Reply to this comment


by Mom_to_James_and_Joe December 14, 2009 8:54 AM EST: This technology seems like a miracle. Does anyone know how long it will be before it is approved in the US? Are they going to do trial patients, like they would before approving a perscription drug? If so, how would a patient get approved for that?; Reply to this comment

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