Susan Lim: Transplant cells, not organs

The transcript discusses the evolution of liver transplants, highlighting the challenges faced by early pioneers. It addresses the shortage of donor organs and the ethical issues surrounding organ donation, especially from living and unrelated donors. The speaker shares personal experiences and ethical dilemmas encountered while harvesting organs from executed prisoners. The narrative shifts to the potential of cell transplants and stem cell research, emphasizing the promise of induced pluripotent stem cells (IPS) and fat-derived stem cells. The speaker concludes with the future potential of stem cell therapies in treating various diseases, offering hope for improved quality of life.

Who was the first to perform a successful liver transplant in the world?

• Jamie Thomson

• Shinya Yamanaka

• Sir Roy Calne

• Thomas Starzl

What was one of the major challenges faced by the speaker in pioneering liver transplantation in Asia?

• Developing new surgical tools

• Training a surgical team

• Convincing regulators

• Finding a suitable hospital

What is a significant ethical concern in organ donation from living, unrelated donors?

• The cost of the procedure

• The availability of medical facilities

• The risk of surgical complications

• The potential for coercion

What controversial practice did the speaker engage in after her first liver transplant?

• Using animal organs for transplants

• Selling organs on the black market

• Performing transplants without consent

• Harvesting organs from executed prisoners

What inspired the shift from whole organ transplants to cell transplants?

• The lack of trained surgeons

• The availability of new medications

• The high cost of organ transplants

• The complexity of whole organ transplants

What type of stem cells did the speaker's lab focus on due to their non-controversial nature?

• Embryonic stem cells

• Bone marrow stem cells

• Fat-derived stem cells

• Neural stem cells

What groundbreaking discovery did Shinya Yamanaka and Jamie Thomson make in 2007?

• The first successful heart transplant

• The creation of IPS cells

• The isolation of adult stem cells

• The development of robotic surgery

What is the potential benefit of reprogramming adult cells into IPS cells?

• Eliminating the need for donor organs

• Reducing the need for surgical procedures

• Increasing the lifespan of patients

• Avoiding the use of human embryos

What condition is NOT mentioned as a potential target for stem cell therapies?

• Heart disease

• Spinal cord injury

• Alzheimer's disease

• Diabetes

What is the ultimate hope for stem cell therapies according to the speaker?

• To replace all surgical procedures

• To eliminate the aging process

• To provide a cure for all diseases

• To reduce the need for donor organs