Stem Cell Bazaar

First broadcast October 2007

Do stem cells really offer a miracle cure?

Stem cells are the building blocks of life. With the potential to grow into any type of tissue in the body, they seem to offer hope for patients with nowhere else to turn.

Patients with muscular dystrophy, Parkinson's and severed spinal chords are travelling thousands of miles and spending thousands of dollars on stem cell treatments - even though they know there is no guarantee of a cure.

Part Two: Progress

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Meet the doctors who are trying to introduce regulation of all stem cell therapies in India.

Although the Indian Council of Medical Research drew up draft guidelines on stem cells in 2006, these are already out of date - an illustration of just how quickly this area of research is moving.

Advocates say that public trust has to be won through clear and transparent research - so that those vulnerable patients who can least afford to spend money on unproven therapies can have genuine grounds for hope.

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