REGENERATING LOST BODY PARTS to make life normal for soldiers who have suffered horrendous wounds isn’t just science fiction anymore.

THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE recently announced the creation of the Armed Forces Institute of Regenerative Medicine with a $250 million grant.

THE GOAL IS TO HARNESS STEM CELL RESEARCH and technology to reconstruct new skin, muscles, tendons, ears, noses and fingers. Three universities are in the program.

MILITARY SCIENTISTS in labs have grown blood vessels, bladders and breast implants, as well as beating, disembodied rat hearts, reported William Saletan for Slate.

ARMY Surgeon General Eric Schoomaker said that our bodies systematically generate liver cells and bone marrow and that this can be redirected with the right kind of stimulation. Salamanders can regenerate whole limbs. How long before we mammals can learn to do the same thing?

THE EXPLOSIVE DEVICES used on our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan have left behind 1,000 amputees. Others have lost eyesight, suffered terrible burns or been afflicted with spinal-cord damage. Prosthetic limbs are the norm, but the goal is to make soldiers “whole.”

SOLDIERS ARE SURVIVING WOUNDS that would have killed them in earlier wars. Our medical cures must give our brave fighting men and women the chance at a life without a wheelchair. How soon can modern science catch up?

WHO IS THE WELL KNOWN SOCIALITE who has borrowed major funds from every friend and every friend’s husband? Will they ever see a penny back as she lives the good life, playing the victim of an unscrupulous medic who fleeced her financially and emotionally.

CONGRATULATIONS TO BRENT WORTELL OF TRITON INDUSTRIES on the respected firm’s 50th anniversary in fine metal manufacturing. His father, Marvin, founded the company and is still active.

MEMORIES, MEMORIES … We share with you a photo from 1988 when Michael Richards, a star on “Seinfeld” as the zany Kramer, was in town to add starshine to the opening of Club Macanudo, 60 E. Walton St. It quickly became a cigar smoker’s paradise but fizzled out after a few years. With Michael was Jack Sandner, chairman of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange.

FANS OF CHARLIE SHEEN are dismayed at how sick the actor is — unable to see his dangerous slide toward death, oblivion, or both. Sadly, he’s turning into Mel Gibson.

FIT AND FABULOUS are birthday luminaries and personal trainers Jim Karas and Pete Maltese.

PRODUCER TOM ROSENBERG revealed in Vanity Fair that he named his movie firm Lakeshore Entertainment because the first theater he ever went to as a child was called the Lakeshore.

THE SEXUAL ASSAULT of CBS correspondent Lara Logan in Egypt while the despicable crowd shouted “Jew! Jew!” can never be avenged, and must never be forgotten. We don’t value our reporters enough. They face violation and death to bring us the news around the world.

FASHIONISTAS OWE A DEBT to best-dressed Carol Ware, of the legendary Ware Fur Salon, who set the benchmark in style and glam. Her suits, furs and jewels were exquisite — unique, fresh and dynamite. Every day was a fashionable one for petite dynamo Carol.

VIP GUESTS AT THE BENJAMIN MARSHALL black tie centennial gala at the Drake March 4 include: the Archduchess of Austria, Prince Galitzine, Christie Hefner and Bill Marovitz, Janet Melk, the Jim Spurlocks, the Rick Fisdales, Mitch Serrano and master of ceremonies Walter Jacobson.

SHOES, FABULOUS SHOES star at Neiman Marcus March 9 through 12 when Blahnik and Louboutin will show spring styles.

WE MISS FIREWORKS at the Oscars. It was too bland — no streakers, no knifings-in-the-back, no memorable gaffes, no errant boobs.

DEDICATED TO PRESERVING HISTORIC HOUSES and monuments in Ireland, the Irish Georgian Society boasts many of our most important VIPs. Last fall they participated in several benefits and many traveled to New York City for a special fund-raising. Standouts at the last local Casino event included: the Consul General of Ireland Martin Rouine and wife Mary; Lawrie and Ed Weed, Ed and Casey Rutledge, Steve Zick, Alexandra and Tom Cooney, Pauline Sheehan, Michael Kerrigan, Susan Gohl, Patsy and Gerry Magner, Missy and Tom O’Neill, Dotty Pattishall and Lyssa Piette, Brian White, Jim Kinney, Maribeth Heeran, Christopher Monkhouse, Ed Schimmelpfennig and John and Pat O’Brien.

OTHER IRISH GEORGIAN SOCIETY BOOSTERS include: Marty and Pat Fahey, Peggy Snorf, Janet and Rodger Owen, Sarah Crane, Oscar Tatosian, Mary Hartigan, Lisa Malkin, Maureen Savaiano, Edmund Lester, James Cuno, Judge Rhoda Sweeney, Micky Norton, Jessica Lagrange, Peter Mark and Karen and Michael Case Smith.

ONE OF THE PHILANTHROPIC COUPLES at the recent successful University of Chicago Cancer Research Foundation auction and benefit at the Four Seasons was Ward and Melissa McNally, stalwarts of the social scene.

DR. PHILIP KOTLER, S.C. Johnson Distinguished Professor of International Marketing at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management, and an author, consultant and father of modern and social marketing, gave the keynote speech at the Jewish Vocational Service’s Strictly Business networking luncheon at the Hyatt Regency. Honored was Robert Figliulo, president and CEO of SPR Companies, for his leadership and philanthropy. Chairs were John Daniels, David Macknin, Adrienne Meisel. The master of ceremonies was Regine Schlesinger of WBBM Newsradio 780.

JVS SUPPORTERS include: Alan and James Stone, the Jack Tovins, Jeff Ramsey, the Jack Bierigs, the Alan Cranes, Brenda Feis, the Alan Foxes, Gail Gruen, Paul Epner, the Michael Jablons, Steven Miller, the William Keroffs, the Steven Potashnicks, the Charles Rosenbergs, Sandra Rosenstein and Richard Bendix Jr.

ANIMAL LOVERS Paul and Christine Fisher were the kindly couple trying to get guests at the recent PAWS benefit to adopt this tiny kitten, Maggie. Several dogs found homes but poor Maggie went to the no-kill shelter.

PET PEEVE DEPT … Why are so many restaurant bathroom stalls soooo narrow you can hardly squeeze in? We are small and we find it difficult to maneuver.

TWO ACTIVE MEMBERS OF THE REHAB INSTITUTE’S women’s board, Kitty Freidheim and Alicia Ziegler, were among the guests at a Christie’s jewelry showing. The dazzling pieces were up for auction.

PEOPLE IN CRISIS benefit from the Catholic Charities emergency fund and talented local arts donated to the cause. At the Gala of the Arts benefit held at Navy Pier, paintings were sold and a portion went to the fund. Proceeds of $125,000 were bolstered by at least 50 per cent of sales from artists: Janine Andrys, Anna Maria Arena, Beverly Behrens, Carol Nies Bilder, Sergei Chernikov, Tom DeMint, Gordon France, Elizabeth Freyou, Diane Huff, Carolyn and Mark McMahon, Mary Ellen Mueller, Mary Jo O’Gara, Lenox Wallace, Leslie Speicher. The money will buy flood, clothing, shelter and supportive services.

CAROLE SANDNER, who was fostered and adopted many youngsters with husband Jack, received the Catholic Charities’ Mandatum Award at the arts gala.

ACTRESS KATHLEEN TURNER, best remembered for her roles in “Romancing the Stone” and “The War of the Roses,” is a modern woman with strong opinions. She has said she would prefer living in Europe because they have a much greater respect for women, especially older women. Our youth oriented culture doesn’t allow older femmes to be valued as they deserve … “I worry about the way my country is moving now — the intolerance and stupidity make me angry … There is far too much … right-wing Christian tyranny that I find extremely disturbing.

“ONE OF MY MAJOR CHARITIES,” TURNER HAS SAID, “is the Planned Parenthood Federation of America, concerned about women’s health care and their right to choose whether or not to have a family and when … Their choice is being threatened … with the far religious right having so much power. I’m afraid that they are going to turn the clock back for women and make us dependent on men again, heaven forbid.” … On the bright side, Kathleen’s rheumatoid arthritis is in remission and under control.

HOTEL OWNER AND BEST DRESSED CHICAGOAN Basil Kromelow was a standout at a men’s fashion show at Maxim’s.

“COPY FROM ONE AND IT IS PLAGIARISM: copy from two and it is research.” —WILSON MIZNER

CONTACT: annbgerber@gmail.com or 847-677-2232