Girija, i like your smile, and it makes me smile, too. Paula, the following blogger is a neurologist @Yale, Dr. Steven Novella, who has much to write about ESC research. http://www.theness.com/neurologicablog/?p=250#more-250
He notes that ESCs are incredibly useful in basic research and proposes utilizing them to make astrocytes that could then be injected into brains--author notes: "Such astrocytes could deliver drugs, secrete hormones, neutralize toxins, and tweak the local environment." He points out that these cells just need to be in the area to work--they do not have to make connections as neurons do, so they may work easier and stay around longer. There are many other discussion on ESCs in his blog archives. He was recently featured on NPR, discussing his opinion about ESCs.
madelyn