This article is part of the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting (Davos-Klosters, Switzerland 21—24 January 2020)
The leading causes of death in 1900 were mostly infectious/communicable diseases. While the prevalence of most causes has diminished, the largest increases include heart disease (+40%) and cancer (+300%). Granted, this is partly due to doubling life expectancy and a lack of death from other causes. However, given time and resources, scientists and physicians may cure these challenging diseases.
Today, six of the seven leading causes of death are non-communicable diseases (heart disease, stroke, lung diseases, cancer, Alzheimer’s disease and diabetes). Regenerative medicine may be our best hope to solve the great non-communicable diseases of our time, and perhaps the single most transformative medical innovation in a century.
The current market for stem cell therapies is growing at 36% per year and will rapidly expand when a breakthrough treatment for non-communicable disease or a lifestyle factor occurs. With greater resources and an increasingly experienced talent pool, scientists and physicians may be able to develop stem cell science to cure the world’s most challenging diseases.
For more information please visit https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/01/how-will-stem-cells-impact-the-future-of-medicine/
The US-based company BHI Therapeutic Sciences (BHITS) represented by Brian Mehling, MD, Founder, Chief Medical Officer, and his team attended the 2020 World Economic Forum in Davos. BHITS is developing a stem cell technology to support regenerative repair with the intent of avoiding surgery as a final option. BHITS believes stem cells possess the potential to treat various diseases, to extend lifespans and to improve the quality of life for certain patients. For more information please visit www.bhisciences.com