I’ve been chasing this topic since I joined this site in about 2016, @A MyCOPDTeam Member. Sadly, the technology isn’t yet stable enough to provide long-term relief.

I’ve pretty much determined that Mesenchymal Stem Cell research is the area I think will yield the best results, but for everything I’m reading / have read, one needs to be a Rockefeller or other wealthy person to afford the harvesting process, as well as the cost for ongoing repeated infusions.

When I talked to the folks at the lung institute, it was going to cost $7k to $13k to harvest my cells, and 3 days in their hospital. Thereafter, they’d treat the harvested cells, and - eventually - infuse the cells via my blood.

Recent studies say that’s not the most effective way to get the stem cells into my lungs for greater healing, and that infusing the cells in the lung lining might work better.

These two articles may help with your research:

https://journal.copdfoundation.org/jcopdf/id/11....

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC82...

I hope you can find something to help you, and that these two articles are of interest. One key question you need to ask of any possible treatment providers is if the acceptance of a stem cell infusion would disqualify you from lung transplants.

According to my pulmonologist, the treatment they do to modify the stem cell before placing them back into your body may impact your cells at a DNA level, preventing you from qualifying for future transplant options due to not being able to predict your recovery or rejection likelihood.

Please keep us updated on what treatment(s) your considering or move forward with. Good luck.

Tuesday night, 07-MAY-24

Mentioned Users

A MyCOPDT...

Stem Cell Therapy for COPD: Where are we?

https://journal.copdfoundation.org/jcopdf/id/1193/Stem-Cell-Therapy-for-COPD-Where-are-we

Stem cell therapy for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8280064/

I haven't heard of that. I'm getting the Zephyr valve procedure this summer.