Under the supervision of the Dean of the College of Pharmacy, Professor Dr. Sarmed H. Kathem Alkhateeb, the Continuous Education Unit at the University of Baghdad/College of Pharmacy held an in-person workshop entitled “Stem Cell Therapy Applications”, delivered by Lecturer Dr. Zena Munther Qaragholi, a faculty member at the Pharmacology and Toxicology Department. The workshop aimed to introduce participants to the field of stem cells and their applications in various medical and research domains. It focused on the biological mechanisms of stem cells, including how they proliferate and differentiate. The workshop also discussed their medical uses, especially in treating incurable diseases such as cancer and heart disease, while addressing the ethical and legal issues surrounding stem cell research. It further provided an outlook on future developments in this field and the potential applications of stem cells in the near future. The workshop included several topics, including an introduction to stem cells, types of stem cells (such as embryonic stem cells and adult stem cells), the mechanism of stem cells: how they proliferate and differentiate into specialized cells, medical and cellular applications of stem cells, uses of stem cells in treating diseases such as cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and neurological disorders, ethical and legal challenges in stem cell research, and current research and future developments in stem cell science. The workshop concluded that stem cell research holds vast potential for advancing medical science, especially in the treatment of chronic and currently incurable diseases. It also emphasized the importance of understanding the ethical and legal boundaries and the need for continued research and responsible use of stem cell technologies for the benefit of future healthcare solutions.
