Susan Lim: Transplant cells, not organs

Summary

This video script chronicles the journey of a pioneering surgeon who, after performing Asia’s first successful cavic liver transplant, navigates the complexities of organ donation and transplantation. The narrative shifts to stem cell research, exploring the ethical dilemmas and promising potential of stem cells in healing various conditions, including diabetes, heart disease, and vision loss. From controversial practices like organ harvesting from executed prisoners to breakthroughs in reprogramming adult cells into pluripotent stem cells, the script reflects on the evolving landscape of medicine, driven by hope and innovation for a healthier, longer life.

Takeaways

• 😀 The speaker trained under two pioneering surgeons, Thomas Starzl and S. Roy Khanna, who were instrumental in liver transplantation.
• 😀 In 1990, the speaker performed Asia's first successful liver transplant, but raising funds and convincing regulators were the biggest challenges.
• 😀 There is a severe shortage of donor organs globally, with many patients on waiting lists, leading to a rise in living organ donations.
• 😀 The expansion of organ donation to living unrelated donors has raised moral questions about voluntary versus coerced donations.
• 😀 The speaker faced moral dilemmas while harvesting organs from executed prisoners, especially as it conflicted with personal values.
• 😀 Surgery evolved from open to minimally invasive techniques, and transplantation shifted focus from whole organs to cellular transplants.
• 😀 Stem cell research became a key focus, offering a promising alternative to organ transplants by potentially growing organs from cells.
• 😀 The speaker's team focused on using adult stem cells derived from fat, aiming to create specialized cells without the ethical concerns of embryonic stem cells.
• 😀 In 2007, the discovery of induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells allowed adult cells to be reprogrammed into stem cells with broader potential.
• 😀 The speaker personally experienced vision loss after a skiing accident, which deepened their empathy for patients with retinal diseases and led to interest in stem cell research for vision restoration.
• 😀 Stem cell research holds promise for treating a wide range of diseases, from heart disease to spinal cord injuries, potentially reducing the need for organ transplants and improving quality of life.

Q & A

What is the significance of the first successful liver transplant in Asia performed by the speaker?

The first successful liver transplant in Asia, performed by the speaker in 1990, was a groundbreaking achievement for the region, highlighting both the speaker's pioneering role and the impact of such procedures on advancing transplant medicine in Asia.

What were some of the challenges the speaker faced in performing the first liver transplant?

The speaker faced significant challenges, including raising the necessary funds for the procedure and convincing regulatory bodies, which led to a parliamentary debate about allowing a young female surgeon to perform the pioneering surgery.

How does the speaker describe the moral dilemma involved in organ harvesting from executed prisoners?

The speaker reflects on the intense moral conflict faced while harvesting organs from executed prisoners, particularly in relation to the ethical implications of such practices and the personal emotional toll it took on her and her team.

What shift in transplantation did the speaker propose after witnessing the challenges of whole organ transplants?

The speaker proposed a shift from transplanting whole organs to transplanting cells, particularly pancreatic cells, as a less complex and potentially more effective approach to treating diseases like diabetes.

What is the key difference between embryonic stem cells and adult stem cells, according to the speaker?

Embryonic stem cells are pluripotent, meaning they can differentiate into a variety of cell types, whereas adult stem cells, such as those found in fat, are more restricted and cannot form as many different specialized cell types.

What was the speaker's response to the moral controversy surrounding the use of embryonic stem cells?

The speaker chose to focus on adult stem cells, specifically those derived from fat tissue, as a less controversial and more ethically acceptable source for stem cell research and potential therapies.

What groundbreaking discovery in stem cell research is highlighted in the speaker's narrative?

The groundbreaking discovery mentioned is the reprogramming of adult cells into induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS cells) by Shinya Yamanaka and Jamie Thompson, which opens up the possibility of using adult cells for stem cell therapies without using embryos.

How did the speaker's personal experience with vision problems influence her research interests?

After suffering a vision loss due to an injury, the speaker gained a deeper empathy for patients with retinal diseases and became more focused on researching stem cell-based treatments to restore vision for those with similar conditions.

What potential role do stem cells play in the treatment of heart disease, according to the speaker?

Stem cells hold potential in treating heart disease by delivering growth factors to repair damaged heart muscle or by differentiating into heart muscle cells to restore heart function, with ongoing clinical trials investigating their effectiveness.

What does the speaker hope to achieve with stem cell research in the future?

The speaker hopes that stem cell research will lead to breakthroughs in treating various conditions, such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and spinal cord injuries, potentially reducing the need for donor organs and improving the quality of life for aging populations.