**1. Introduction**

Tissue specific adult stem cells are the most hopeful cell at this moment for clinical use because it may represent Mother Natureʹs repair cells. Such cells are potentially present within all of the tissue of the body and may remain dormant until they are activated in response to tissue injury. Initially, the chemical environment at the site of any injury is very hostile. These adult stem cells, having a low oxygen requirement, appear to have the ability to survive this environment. When adequate numbers of cells have been achieved by multiplication, they are then programmed to mature and repair tissue damage of a certain magnitude. If this is the case, with the development of appropriate tissue‐specific scaffolds and the use of the optimal cell type, I believe that physicians and scientists will ultimately be able to repair or replace any tissue in the human body that is injured or damaged as a result of disease or trauma. Studies involving the use of stem cells and mature cells, in combination with genetic manipulation and determination of the efficacy cellular delivery systems and scaffoldings, should be enable rapid progression to human treatments. It is my belief that exploring the use of appropriate vehicles and cell types will ultimately lead to resolution of stroke symptoms, such as paralysis, and may help reverse symptoms associated with such central nervous system diseases as Parkinsonʹs disease and Alzheimerʹs disease.
