Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, is a neurodegenerative disease that destroys the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord.

Cancer patients hold onto hope the way some people hold onto the lap bars of roller coasters: As if their lives depend on it. And

Thousands of the world’s leading stem cell researchers are convening in Los Angeles this week to discuss the prospects for a future without human disease. Stem cells could play a key role. These cells are remarkably flexible; under the right conditions, they can be coaxed to develop into many other types of cells in the body.

“With the right kind of environment and support, you can actually treat very specific regions or diseases down to the cellular level,” Humayun said. “One aspect of that could be called precision medicine, and another aspect is that stem cell-based therapies are coming of age. This will be one of the first studies to land that point.” Since the surgery, Kuehl notices little changes in her vision all the time. For example, she can make out the time on her watch again, and reading in general has become much easier.