Happy Halloween From Auragens 🎃

First, lets start with trick-or-treating as we know it today.

The ritual of kids going trick-or-treating in the began during the 1930s having their basis in European and Celtic rituals brought over years before. But the practice of “trick or treating” really took hold as a child centered activity around this time.

The Great Depression played a large role in trick or treating’s popularity. Before organized trick or treating, Halloween had a reputation for pranks and mischief (think “tricks” over “treats”), with kids often engaging in “trick” activities like soaping windows or egging houses. However, as local communities sought to curb Halloween mischief, they began to encourage “treating” to give kids something to do and keep the night positive and safe. Additionally, the sharing of resources provided a community approach during difficult times.

Trick or treating gained national attention in the 1940s, after World War II, when sugar rationing ended, allowing candy companies to hop on board in a big way. Mars and Hershey saw a huge opportunity and began to market the holiday in a major way. By the 1950s, Halloween and trick or treating became the staple of childhood that we know today, with kids dressed in costumes, going door-to-door for candy, and, naturally, Halloween commercials on TV. And as we see today this custom has gone global and is a date we all circle on the calendar.

There is a pattern of evolution here that can be extrapolated into our treatments with stem cells and regenerative medicine at large.

Let’s look at the history a bit to show similarities:

The history of stem cell treatments, as we understand them today, began in the 1950s, about the same time as trick or treating went mainstream, with the discovery of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) in bone marrow, leading to early bone marrow transplants to treat leukemia. This breakthrough established the foundation of stem cell science by proving that these cells could regenerate specific types of tissues. In the 1980s, the discovery of embryonic stem cells (ESCs) raised new possibilities for regenerative medicine due to their ability to differentiate into any cell type, around the same time kids all watched E.T., and dressed as Indiana Jones and Care Bears, for Halloween.

The 2000s saw major advancements, including the development of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), which allowed scientists to reprogram adult cells to behave like ESCs without ethical concerns. Alongside this, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) from sources like bone marrow, fat tissue, and umbilical cord gained attention due to their anti-inflammatory and tissue-repair properties. While Spiderman costumes made a major comeback thanks to Toby Maguire, stem cells made huge advancements in thanks to human umbilical cords.

As we now prepare for Halloween 2024 and kids are dressed as Barbie, Pokémon, and Super Mario, this holiday feels as though it has always existed, yet its roots are still based in living memory. Stem cell treatments, although frequently referred to as “new” or “experimental” have as long a history as the tradition of trick or treating itself.

Which brings to the real point:

The science and medicine that Auragens’ practices have been around for as long as trick or treating has.  And Auragens’ mission is clear in our publishing, evidence-based research, patient outcomes, and sharing of knowledge, in an endeavor to remove the mystery of stem cell treatments and regenerative medicine. For too long stem cell treatments have been dressed up in glossy ads, essentially in a costume, to facilitate sales. Or framed as something to fear due to misinformation and lack of transparency and oversight. But on this Halloween, and all days that follow it, we remain committed to revealing what is behind the well-established mask and building the body of work to allow stem cell treatments to be as well received as young cowboy ringing your doorbell looking for a treat on October 31^st.