Short answer: Yes. Stem cell research has enabled scientists to have a better understanding of cell functions, and it has led to breakthroughs in the treatment of cancer, heart problems, and the side-effects of chemotherapy.
Longer answer: Stem cells, since their discovery in the early 80’s, have been thought to be the key to treating many conditions and diseases that have been very difficult or impossible to cure. Stem cells are the precursor cells to the specialized that make up the human body; their ability to differentiate into nearly any cell makes them a powerful and flexible tool. However, there have been some criticism about the collection of embryonic stem cells, as well as how long the benefits of stem cell research have taken to emerge. One of the most straightforward ways to collect stem cells is by taking them from the developing cells of an early fetus. The cell development stages following fertilization occur almost entirely with stem cells. These cells can then be added to damaged or diseased tissue, alleviating or restoring it. However, there have been difficulties in controlling stem cells and triggering the right pathways to the intended specialized cell. Scientists still don’t understand all the mechanisms and subtleties that cause specific specialized cells; it’s also difficult to get the human immune system and body to accept foreign cells so late in development. Bottom line, stem cell research hasn’t progressed as neatly or quickly as one would like, but the research has been beneficial, with treatments and therapies on the horizon.