(Iowa News Service) – A team of scientists at Iowa State University has discovered new ways to use stem cells to treat blood disorders. This advancement in what’s known as “regenerative medicine” could eliminate the need for bone marrow transplants. This discovery essentially gives scientists the ability to stop the body’s so-called biological clock to treat potentially lethal blood diseases.

Iowa State Assistant Genetics Professor Clyde Campbell said scientists now have the ability to inject patients with their own stem cells to fight leukemia, lymphoma, and anemia. “So, the more stem cells we have,” said Campbell, “the better our chances to generate enough tissue to actually be beneficial to patients suffering from certain disorders.” The group’s research was published in the journal Nature Communications in the Fall.

The body develops a lifetime’s worth of stem cells before birth. But Campbell said the Iowa State advancement allows scientists to develop them specifically for therapeutic use, which is new.

A Liquid Nitrogen bank containing suspension of stem cells. Cell culture for the biomedical diagnostic.

He said scientists can now manipulate switches in the body’s biological clock that tell stem cells when to expand and when to stop expanding. “And so,” said Campbell, “now we have the capability of manipulating these switches to generate more stem cells in the laboratory.”

Campbell said now scientists will focus on how to integrate the patient’s lab-grown stem cells into their treatment options, and potentially eliminate the need for painful – and often unsuccessful – bone marrow transplants.

UPDATE 9:30-a.m. 12/9 (Washington County, Iowa) – A pursuit in eastern Iowa Sunday afternoon resulted in a double-fatal, head-on crash. According to Muscatine Police, at approximately 3:15 p.m. the Muscatine Police Department responded to multiple reports of a woman later identified as 36-year-old Brittany Miles, of Cedar Rapids, driving a 2021 Nissan Rogue SUV through Muscatine shooting at people. Officers located the vehicle along Park Avenue and attempted to initiate a traffic stop. Miles refused to yield, and the pursuit lead out of Muscatine along 231st Street, police say.

A Muscatine Police Officer was who involved in the chase lost control of his car and crashed near the Cedar River. According to authorities, the officer sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was transported to a hospital for treatment. The pursuit continued west onto US Highway 218 and was picked up by outside law enforcement agencies. Miles began driving the wrong direction into oncoming traffic and eventually struck a 2017 Ford Explorer head on. The crash occurred at around 3:50-p.m.

Brittany Miles died upon impact. 27-year-old Olivia Alvarez, of Cedar Rapids, who was driving the Ford, died after life-saving measures were performed.

The State Patrol was assisted at the scene by the DNR officers, Washington County EMS, 911, the Medical Examiner’s Office, Riverside Fire/EMS, Ainsworth Fire/EMS, the Louisa County Sheriff’s Office and Muscatine County Sheriff’s Office.

BELLEVUE – The Iowa Dept. of Natural Resources says that on Sunday, December 8th, at approximately 11 a.m., a boat with three occupants capsized below Lock and Dam No. 12 in Bellevue on the Mississippi River. The victims were fishing in a restricted area directly beneath the dam when their boat overturned.

According to preliminary reports, the boat was pulled into the hazardous waters below the dam due to a strong back flow current created by the dam’s operation.  The men were pulled from the water and taken to shore. Emergency responders arrived and administered lifesaving measures, but two were confirmed dead at the scene. One victim was transported by ambulance to the MercyOne Dubuque Medical Center and was later pronounced dead.

The names of the victims are currently being withheld pending notification of their families. The incident is under active investigation. Iowa DNR was assisted by the Jackson County Sheriff, Bellevue Fire & Rescue, Bellevue EMS, Illinois DNR, Key West Fire/EMS, University of Iowa Air Care 3, University of Iowa Air Care 4, Jackson County Emergency Management, and Springbrook Fire/EMS.