A lecture about the evolution of stem cell medicine was presented by stem cell expert John Chapman Tuesday night in the University Union.

This was the third lecture to be presented by the Center for STEM Excellence this semester.

The lecture, “To each his own: How engineers, scientists and doctors are using your own cells to create personalized stem cell medicine,” presented how far the science of stem cell research has come and the need for new technology marketing to further research.

Chapman said the new generation of scientists coming into the field will see dramatic changes to how medicine is delivered.

“I am glad to see so many young people here today. There is a good chance within the next 20 years to see how health care will go from pharmaceutical based to more therapeutic in nature,” Chapman said.

He described to the audience how a doctor can take one’s own bone marrow, isolate the stems cells and inject them in another part of the body that needs help with repairing damaged cells.

Alison Dychiaco, first year biology student at Sacramento City College, said stem cell therapy may be something that will help her family.

“My cousin suffers from Celiac disease. It is intolerance to gluten where the villi within the intestines are not able to take in nutrients from gluten based foods,” Dychiaco said. “This research could help her someday by making it easier to digest gluten.”

Chapman compares pharmaceutical drugs and stem cell therapy to music.

“Pharmaceutical drugs by themselves can only treat one symptom and relieve the pain for a short time like the hitting of one musical note. With stem cells, we can treat all the effects of the illness like the playing of all the notes in a musical score,” Chapman said.

Denise Ryhal, a registered nurse from Granite Bay, said she believes stem cell therapy will create a new standard for treatment of illnesses.

“I believe this medical science will be a paradigm shift within the health care industry.  It is going to completely change medicine and health care for the better,” Ryhal said.

She said stem cell therapy will make medical treatment more accessible in developing countries. She said unlike pharmaceutical drugs, stem cell therapy would make receiving treatment for ailments cheaper since people already have the cells needed but would just need a doctor to do the procedure.

Ryhal also said she is passionate about the potential for the new treatment as it may help the aging community overcome age-related diseases.

“I am interested in the potential of this therapy because my mother died of heart disease at 57. With the technology we will have in the next ten years, she might not have died at such a young age,” Ryhal said.

Sacramento State biology professor Tom Landerholm said it is crucial for information about new therapies and techniques to be presented to the academic community.

“It is critical for the community to understand the kinds of things that are going on in the region and at Sac State; and that they have access to being involved in such things as this,” Landerholm said.

He said stem cell research and medicine is a key industry for expansion.

“This is one of the areas in the economy that will expand. As (Chapman) was saying in his lecture, this industry is set for huge growth and will need the hands and minds of young scientists and engineers,” Landerholm said.