In this recent article it is speculated that Crohn’s and colitis could be treated with bone marrow. Pam Fraker of Michigan State University was one of the lead author’s of these results in the current issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Fraker theorizes that if it were possible to reduce bone morrow’s ability to produce inflammation then it could reduce the severity of Crohn’s and colitis.
In June it was announced herethat the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research center was doing a study on allogeneic transplants for Crohn’s patients. What they essentially were doing is replacing the diseased immune system for a healthy one. It should be known that in the United States there is a shortage of bone marrow (causing innocent people to die). In the United States it is illegal to sell bone marrow (which creates the shortage). The problem is anyone can claim they want to donate bone marrow. However there is nothing binding the person who promises to give bone marrow to actually give it. A website MoreMarrowDonors.org is trying to fix that by offering $3,000 scholarships, housing allowances, and other incentives to get people to donate. If people had more incentives there would be more bone marrow which would lead to more experimentation which would give us more knowledge about not only Crohn’s but other diseases as well.