Regenerative medicine is the practice of creating living organs and tissues that can repair or replace the body parts damaged by age, disease, congenital conditions or accidents. It’s sometimes considered akin to science fiction because at its farthest horizons, it holds out the promise of extending human lifespan far beyond its current parameters.

Regenerative medicine isn't new -- things like bone marrow transplants and organ transplants are decades old. But there is a new horizon for this specialized field, thanks to the research being done with stem cells, immunology, cell biology and other areas that are adding knowledge the field of regenerative medicine.

Beyond regeneration, there is the hope that laboratories someday may grow new hearts, lungs and other organs that can replace worn-out parts. This would be a huge development because organ donation lags far behind the list of those waiting for a donation to survive.

The History of Regenerative Medicine

The first instances of regenerative medicine started in the early 20th century, when the first successful replacements of corneas, bones and soft tissue occurred. This concept took wings in 1954 with the first successful kidney transplant, continuing into the 1960s with successful pancreas, liver and heart transplants.

The heart transplant was particularly ground-breaking, captivating the world as famed surgeon Dr. Christian Barnard of South Africa kept grocer Louis Washkansky alive for a then-miraculous eight days with a new heart.