For many years, certain diseases have seemed utterly insurmountable, defying the best efforts of medical science. These diseases, often considered death sentences, have plagued humanity with a sense of hopelessness. But recent advancements in medical research have begun challenging these long-held beliefs, offering glimpses of hope where there once was none. This list explores some of the most remarkable strides made toward curing these seemingly incurable diseases, showcasing the ingenuity and perseverance of scientists and medical professionals.

These advancements are not merely incremental improvements; they represent groundbreaking achievements that could fundamentally alter the course of treatment for these conditions. From innovative gene therapies to revolutionary stem cell treatments, the landscape of medical science is rapidly changing. Each item on this list highlights a unique breakthrough, providing a detailed look at how researchers are tackling these formidable challenges head-on. The facts presented here paint a picture of a future where diseases once thought to be incurable might finally be defeated.

Related: 10 Unsettling Facts about the World’s Deadliest Diseases

10 Historic Remission of DIPG in a Young Patient

In an extraordinary medical breakthrough, a 13-year-old with diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) has achieved complete remission after seven years of experimental treatment. DIPG is notoriously aggressive, often leading to a grim prognosis, with many children succumbing within a year. DIPG is a brain tumor that occurs in an area of the brainstem (the lowest, stem-like part of the brain) called the pons, which controls many of the body’s most vital functions, such as breathing, blood pressure, and heart rate

This child’s unexpected recovery has provided a beacon of hope for families affected by this devastating diagnosis. While doctors are still unraveling the factors behind the success, this case emphasizes the critical need for continued innovation in pediatric cancer treatments. This remarkable remission could guide future therapeutic approaches, offering renewed hope in the fight against DIPG and other challenging cancers.^[1]

9 Promising Progress in HIV Cure Research Using Stem Cell Transplants

Several individuals have shown sustained remission from HIV after receiving stem cell transplants from donors with a rare genetic mutation that confers resistance to HIV. These cases, while not yet definitively declared cures, represent significant progress in HIV research and offer hope for future therapeutic approaches.

Stem cell transplantation is a complex and risky procedure, not currently a viable option for most people living with HIV. However, the success observed in these cases demonstrates the potential for this approach to eradicate HIV from the body. Ongoing research aims to refine this method and make it safer and more accessible, potentially leading to a functional cure for HIV.

These advancements highlight the importance of continued investment in HIV research and the possibility of achieving a scalable cure in the future. While stem cell transplantation may not be the ultimate solution, it serves as a crucial stepping stone toward developing more widely applicable and effective treatments for HIV.^[2]

8 Promising Gene-Editing Research in Diabetes Treatment

Chinese scientists have demonstrated promising results in treating diabetes in mice using CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing technology. By targeting the FTO gene associated with obesity and type 2 diabetes, researchers were able to improve insulin sensitivity and glucose tolerance in mice.

This study marks a significant step forward in understanding the genetic basis of diabetes and exploring potential therapeutic avenues. While the results are encouraging, it’s important to note that this research was conducted on mice, and further studies are needed to determine the safety and efficacy of this approach in humans.

The potential of gene editing to revolutionize diabetes treatment is substantial. This approach could offer a more permanent solution than traditional medication-based management if successful in humans. However, extensive research and clinical trials are necessary before gene editing can become a viable treatment option for diabetes patients.^[3]

7 Breakthrough in Brain Cancer Treatment

Australian Professor Richard Scolyer, diagnosed with an incurable brain tumor almost a year ago, remains cancer-free thanks to his pioneering treatment. Scolyer, a University of Sydney professor, utilized his groundbreaking melanoma research to treat his own glioblastoma. This made him the world’s first brain cancer patient to undergo pre-surgery combination immunotherapy, showing no signs of recurrence nearly 12 months after his diagnosis.

Scolyer’s journey began after a seizure in Poland revealed his grade 4 brain tumor. Using his expertise, he applied the principles of melanoma immunotherapy, which activates the patient’s immune system to fight cancer. The approach has saved thousands of lives from melanoma and now holds promise for brain cancer. Despite the high risk of adverse reactions, Scolyer has experienced positive results, and recent MRI scans confirm the absence of cancer.

His success has far-reaching implications for future brain cancer treatments. By undertaking this experimental therapy, Scolyer has advanced the understanding of brain cancer and opened new avenues for research. His story highlights the potential of personalized medicine and immunotherapy in combating some of the most challenging cancers, offering hope to patients worldwide.^[4]

6 Gene Therapy Brings Hope to Sickle Cell Patients

In a promising development, gene therapy is providing new hope for individuals with sickle cell anemia, a painful and debilitating blood disorder. Tobi Okunseinde from New Jersey is among the first to benefit from this breakthrough. The treatment works by altering his own stem cells to produce normal red blood cells, significantly reducing the frequency and severity of pain crises. Since undergoing the therapy, Tobi has experienced remarkable improvements, regaining the ability to enjoy daily activities without constant pain.

This advancement is seen as a potential game-changer for sickle cell patients who have had limited treatment options. By addressing the underlying genetic cause of the disease, gene therapy offers the possibility of a long-term solution rather than just symptom management. As more patients undergo this treatment, there is growing optimism that it could soon become a standard option, bringing relief and a better quality of life to many affected by sickle cell anemia.^[5]

5 Breakthrough in Hepatitis C Treatment Offers New Hope

Recent advancements in medical science have made it possible to cure hepatitis C, a chronic liver infection that affects millions worldwide. Direct-acting antiviral (DAA) medications have revolutionized treatment, boasting cure rates exceeding 95%. These medications work by targeting the virus directly, preventing it from multiplying and allowing the liver to heal. This development marks a significant improvement over previous treatments, which were less effective and had more severe side effects.

Patients diagnosed with hepatitis C can now look forward to a future free of the virus, significantly reducing their risk of liver complications such as cirrhosis and liver cancer. The success of these treatments highlights the importance of early diagnosis and access to healthcare. As more people receive these life-saving medications, the hope is that hepatitis C could one day be eradicated entirely.^[6]

4 Innovative Eye Drops Restore Sight in Teenager

In a groundbreaking development, new eye drops have successfully restored sight in a teenager suffering from DEB-related vision loss. DEB (dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa) is also known as “butterfly skin disease. These first-of-their-kind eye drops, developed through advanced gene therapy, deliver a specially designed virus to the eye, which corrects the genetic mutation responsible for the vision loss. This treatment marks a significant milestone in ophthalmology, offering hope to many with similar conditions.

The teenager’s remarkable recovery has been closely monitored by medical professionals, who report significant improvements in vision quality and eye health. This success story highlights the potential of gene therapy to address genetic disorders that were once considered untreatable. The eye drops have provided a non-invasive alternative to traditional surgical methods, making treatment more accessible and less risky.

As research continues, experts are optimistic that this innovation could pave the way for new treatments for various forms of genetic blindness. The promising results from this case have sparked further studies and clinical trials, aiming to refine the therapy and expand its availability. The future of treating genetic eye disorders looks brighter than ever, thanks to this pioneering approach.^[7]

3 Gene Therapy Restores Hearing in Children with Genetic Deafness

In a remarkable breakthrough, gene therapy has successfully restored hearing in children with genetic deafness. Researchers conducted a study where they introduced a modified gene into the inner ear cells of the affected children. This gene therapy approach targeted the genetic mutations responsible for their hearing loss, effectively reversing the condition and allowing the children to hear for the first time. The study marks a significant advancement in treating hereditary hearing impairments, offering new hope to many families.

The therapy’s success was evident in the children’s improved auditory responses and speech development. For many, this was the first time they could experience sound, profoundly impacting their quality of life. The positive outcomes from this study demonstrate the potential of gene therapy to address various forms of genetic deafness, paving the way for future treatments that could eliminate the need for hearing aids or cochlear implants.

Ongoing research and clinical trials are expected to refine this gene therapy technique, making it safer and more effective. The future looks promising for those with genetic hearing loss as this innovative approach continues to evolve and reach more patients worldwide.^[8]

2 Breakthrough Treatment for Baldness on the Horizon

A groundbreaking new treatment for baldness has shown remarkable promise, bringing new hope to individuals affected by hair loss. This innovative approach utilizes stem cells to regenerate hair follicles, and the results are astounding. Clinical trials have demonstrated significant hair regrowth, with some participants experiencing near-total restoration of their hair.

This development has the potential to transform the way baldness is treated, shifting away from temporary fixes like hair transplants and medications. By harnessing the body’s natural ability to produce hair, this treatment addresses the root cause of hair loss. As research advances, this game-changing solution could become widely available, offering a permanent answer for those struggling with baldness.^[9]

1 Stem Cell Therapy Helps Paralyzed Man Walk Again

A man who was paralyzed from a severe spinal cord injury has regained the ability to walk after undergoing stem cell therapy. This treatment involved injecting stem cells into the damaged spinal cord, promoting nerve regeneration and restoring motor function. The patient’s progress has been closely monitored, showing significant improvement in mobility and independence.

This success story underscores the potential of stem cell therapy in treating spinal cord injuries and other neurological conditions. While further research is necessary, these findings offer hope for developing effective treatments for paralysis. The ongoing studies aim to refine this approach, making it more accessible and beneficial for a broader range of patients.^[10]

In medical research, finding a method to combat a chronic or terminal illness doesn’t typically come along very often. Of course, this being the future, such advancements are coming along at a far greater clip than decades or even a few years ago.

From the cosmetic to the truly life-giving, you’ll be surprised at some of the conditions where inroads have been made toward conquering them.

10 Baldness

The use of stem cells has made regenerative medicine a promising field in recent years. At RIKEN, Japan’s largest research organization, methods have been developed to regenerate teeth and certain glands in laboratory mice by taking advantage of stem cells’ ability to change into virtually any type of cell. But that’s not all: This technique can also restore hair follicles and could virtually cure hair loss when made available to the public.

Unlike traditional follicle transplants, which simply move active follicles to new locations where hair has been shed, the stem cell–based therapy actually regenerates new follicles—not simply stopping hair loss but promoting new growth. Electronics maker Kyocera is leading the charge to manufacture equipment for the process. In the US alone, over 50 million people are affected by hair loss—roughly one-third of them women.

9 Hepatitis C

Hepatitis C is a chronic infection of the liver that is difficult to manage, costly to treat, and often fatal. Approximately 350,000 people worldwide are claimed by the disease every year. The only previously available treatments helped 25–75 percent of patients (depending on the virus type) and came with a slew of unpleasant side effects.

Hepatitis C used to be incurable but no longer. In 2014, pharmaceutical company Gilead received FDA approval for a 12-week, pill-based course of treatment that eliminates the disease in the vast majority of patients.

Similar drugs were subsequently approved from pharmaceutical giant Merck and AbbVie. Although this is great news, the drugs can be prohibitively expensive—over $80,000 for a course of treatment in many cases.

8 Parkinson’s Disease

Tyrosine kinase inhibitors have been used to treat leukemia for some time. These drugs work by helping to induce a process called autophagy, the disposal of unneeded material within the body’s cells. In a small clinical trial, Georgetown University researchers found that the drug’s effects could also help those with Parkinson’s disease.

Patients were given a far lower dose of the drug nilotinib than is usually used in leukemia patients, mainly to see if it could be tolerated. Surprisingly, there was marked improvement in coordination and motor skills among all participants. Examination of blood and spinal fluid revealed a huge drop in Parkinson’s-related markers.

At follow-up visits after treatment had been stopped, the beneficial effects were reversed. But researchers are confident that this likely represents the most important breakthrough in Parkinson’s treatment in over 50 years.

7 Blindness

One Florida doctor has come up with a controversial, stem cell–based treatment to reverse blindness. The controversy arises from the fact that Dr. Jeffrey Weiss is not affiliated with any research institutions nor has his procedure undergone any clinical trials. But he has used the procedure—which involves extracting stem cells from bone marrow and injecting them into the patient’s eyes—to restore vision to over 100 blind patients.

As of mid-2016, a similar procedure is currently undergoing clinical trials at Moorfields Eye Hospital in London. Their technique uses an ultrathin layer of polyester to distribute the stem cells behind the patient’s retina.

6 Herpes

Herpes is an extremely common virus with over 100 strains, only eight of which ordinarily infect humans. Some versions are virtually asymptomatic, meaning people can be infected all their lives and not know it. There is no cure, but a promising new treatment has all but eradicated the disease in the lab by editing the DNA of the virus.

Researchers used the gene editing technology CRISPR to target double-stranded DNA in three herpes strains, including Epstein-Barr (which can also cause cancer). CRISPR essentially cut the viral DNA to pieces. The process was also shown to severely inhibit virus replication, especially with Epstein-Barr. Although the researchers acknowledge that further research is needed, no other treatment has shown such promise in eradicating the herpes virus.

5 Type 1 Diabetes

According to the American Diabetes Association, diabetes is the seventh-leading cause of death in the United States. Type 2 diabetes is an acquired condition in which the body does not produce insulin in sufficient amounts or use insulin properly. But type 1 diabetes is genetic and is the complete lack of insulin, making it much more difficult to manage.

Insulin is secreted by beta cells in the pancreas. The immune systems of type 1 diabetics attack these cells. Harvard Stem Cell Institute researchers have found a reliable, highly complex procedure for turning stem cells into vast quantities of pancreatic beta cells in the lab, the first means that has been found for producing these cells.

The procedure is half the solution to the type 1 diabetes problem, with the overacting immune response being the other. Several options for dealing with this, including immunosuppressants, are being considered.

4 Alzheimer’s Disease

Incurable and irreversible, Alzheimer’s gradually robs the sufferer of their mental faculties and precious memories. However, scientists from the United States and Australia intend to bring a pair of new vaccines—which have shown incredible potential to destroy the toxic proteins in the brain associated with the disease—to human clinical trials within a couple of years. Not only could the vaccines prevent dementia, but they may actually reverse its effects when administered together.

Meanwhile, Salk Institute researchers have discovered that THC, the active ingredient in marijuana, seems to excel at removing the buildup of these toxic proteins. In lab tests, THC reduced the levels of toxic proteins and eliminated the associated inflammatory response. The team also discovered that endocannabinoids, compounds similar to marijuana that are made by the body, trigger these beneficial responses naturally.

3 AIDS

In 2012, a clinical trial was performed on RV144, a potential HIV vaccine, using rhesus monkeys. It was the first clinical trial in which an HIV vaccine reduced the rate of acquisition.

In July 2016, Case Western Reserve University scientists were able to successfully duplicate these results using macaques. Although a tweak to the formula didn’t work, one aspect of the study proved highly beneficial—a pre-vaccination RNA screening of the subjects.

Using these, researchers were able to correctly predict the response to the vaccine in two-thirds of their subjects, which may pave the way for “personalized and predictive vaccinology” that prevents diseases more effectively in the future. They believe their HIV vaccine formula is ready for clinical trials in humans.

2 Cancer (All Of Them)

A host of related but different conditions fall under the umbrella of “cancer,” making a blanket cure impossible according to almost all medical researchers. But a team at Johannes Gutenberg University didn’t get the memo and say they have taken a huge step toward a universal cancer vaccine.

Their encouraging results come from testing in lab animals and early human clinical trials. Although called a vaccine, it would be administered to patients with cancer. It works by shooting tiny pieces of RNA from the patient’s cancer cells at the immune system to mount a lethal response against any cancer cells of this type. Different types of cancer can be targeted by changing the RNA used in the process.

The treatment has been shown to kill “aggressively growing” tumors in mice. So far, it has only been tested in human patients for safety, which yielded good results. No previous treatment has shown such promise against multiple varieties of cancer.

1 Aging

Scientists have been studying methods of slowing down or halting the aging process for decades. In 2005, a Stanford University scientist first demonstrated a process for rejuvenating the healing powers of an aging rodent by surgically linking its nervous system to that of a younger mouse. Other approaches have involved the in-depth study of medications and nutritional supplements to extend life and bolster the body’s natural regenerative powers.

But a team from the University of Tsukuba may have recently one-upped all previous research in this field by focusing on the mitochondria, which is essentially the battery of a cell. They theorized that mitochondrial DNA does not mutate naturally (as previously thought) but accumulates proteins over a lifetime. This eventually contributes to defects which cause the effects of aging.

By using stem cells to reset these aged cell lines, the team found the anticipated effect—the “old” cells morphed back into “young” ones, as if by magic. Combined with the amino acid glycine—which has been shown to partially reverse age-related defects in mitochondria—this process has made researchers practically giddy that they may soon develop an actual age-reversing pill. We’re going to go out on a limb and say that there just might be a fairly sizable market for such a thing.