I am a stem cell researcher interested in your opinions on the subject of federal funding for human embryonic stem cell research.

Stem cell research has the potential to treat many diseases, including diabetes, Parkinson's Disease and spinal cord injury, just to name a few. Federal restrictions prohibit the use of federal funds for the study of any human embryonic stem cell lines created after August 2001. Currently, we are working state-by-state to try to secure adequate levels of funding so that this important work can continue.

There are now approximately 400,000 test tubes of human embryonic stem cells that are no longer needed by their biological donors, but remain frozen in fertility clinics throughout the US. Right now, these stem cells are being discarded as medical waste, rather than being used for potentially life-saving research. Do you think the biological donors should be allowed to sign a consent form to release their stem cells for research purposes?

Meanwhile, other countries with less restrictive policies on stem cells, such as the UK, Australia, and Israel are forging ahead in the stem cell field, leaving the US behind in the dust. Some of our best stem cell scientists are leaving the country in order to carry out their work. I foresee a time where new treatments will be available overseas for those patients rich enough to travel to where human embryonic stem cell treatment is allowed. However, there is even discussion about criminally prosecuting a person who travels elsewhere for this kind of treatment to circumvent the restrictions of the US.

So, in summary, I am an advocate for stem cell research and would be interested in your opinions on the subject.



http://ragingcoconuts.blogspot.com

Opposition to stem cell research is proof that you could find a cure for cancer and some people would be stupid/ignorant/arrogant/superstitious enough to be against it.

If it has the potential to save just one life, have at it.

Yes,I am in favor of it.
I have a child with a disability,andit is my hope that stem cell research would offer some chance for a cure or at least an effective treatment for his neurological impairment.
go for it,doc.

California voted for state funded stem cell research but unfortunately it is tied up in litigation. The litigation has been brought by the anti-abortion wing of the religious right in the form of the California Bioethics Council, a James Dobson offspring.
http://www.californiansforcures.com/

I am not in faovr of people living forever.....but I am in favor of better medical care which stem cells would offer.

Doc,

My question is, why would Americans even consider ansewering no to funding this research??

It confuses me that our country even has to have a debate about this. I guess the problem now is maybe we are spending too much money on the war we are in

I am 28 years old and I have 3 kids. I have a mortgage payment that I can barley make, but like everyon else I get by.

Even with my circumstances in my life, I would agree to a tax increase for me to fund this program. Of course I do want the rich to pay a little more taxes than they are currently paying. I think the tax system now is a joke. The tax system we currently have targets the middle and lower class more than the rich AND THAT IS WRONG !!

For me, the question is a no-brainer! Of course we should fund this research!!

Matt M.

I'm all for adult stem cell research, but not for embryonic stem cell research. Why should my tax money go towards to destruction of human life? It's funny you call it a human embroyo and willing to kill it. I find it highly immoral. Don't tell me it is just a bunch of cells. We all started as a bunch of cells.

Embroyos in fertility clinics are still consider human life. Human life is not disposable. It is like saying that since one is going to die it is permissible to kill him or her.

I thank God your mother allow you to be born and not put you up to research.

I am 100% in favor of stem cell research and favor making frozen pre-embryos favailable for research as well as the use of the nuclear transfer technique to make customized stem cells.- but I'm an academic in the biological-medical sciences so am very familiar with the potential improvements in medical treatment the use of stem cells will bring. The bill in SD poses the most direct challenge to this research so far because it seeks to define human life as beginning at conception. I would seriously like to know on what basis people believe human life begins at conception. There is no biological/medical reason nor is there anything in the Bible to support this notion.

yeah right, the hazardous waste bin is always a better place to put embros

Off topic, but do you believe in the death penalty?

I feel that, considering that the stem cells will be tossed out, why not use them for research? Maybe one day, that research could save the live of an already breathing human being.

So you'd rather that those embryos just be thrown in the garbage as they are going to be instead of used for research?

Interesting.

Thank you! You have just posted the most remarkably stupid message that I have ever read on this board. Do you have any idea what you're talking about?
You say that "Embroyos (sic) in fertility clinics are still consider (sic) human life. Human life is not disposable...."
You have your work cut out for you, quisutdeus! You'd better be getting right over there to every fertility clinic in the world and protesting the fact that these "embroyos", which medically are considered "pre-embryonic cells" are not thrown in the trash or flushed down the drain. You're in the wrong place, here!
Better yet, volunteer your uterus. If you don't have a uterus, or know somebody who does and is willing to go along with you, I don't know how you can prevent them from being disposed of.
If you're female, how many of these do you think you can save? There's that pesky nine-month pregnancy thing and there are millions of pre-embryotic cells.
Better get humping there, quisutdeus! You have millions of babies to save.... Sallie

Spot on...as usual

100% FOR stem cell research. The hold up is so frustrating, but a sign of the times we are in I'm afraid.

I see that this poll has generated some discussion!

Let me clarify for quisutdeus that the stem cells stored at fertility clinics are not derived from aborted fetuses. Rather, they are little clumps of cells that are the result of a sperm and egg mixed together in a test tube. They are routinely discarded as medical waste when they are no longer needed for fertility treatments. These blastocysts have spent no time in the uterus and are not destined to complete their development.

In order to accommodate those who feel as you do, quisutdeus, that a blastocyst is the same as a human being, I think there should be a consent system, just as we have for organ and tissue donation. If you want to allow your frozen blastocyst to be used for research, check "yes", if not, check "no". To do otherwise, in my opinion, would be imposing your particular religious view on others.

What a sane, rational idea.
The RWers will never agree to it.



Mac

The mentality that prevents our knowledge from exploring every option and every advancement would have us still foraging for food with a club... It is our responsibility to find new treatments and cures for all ailments.... The religious right will accept any advancement in fertility ie Invitro, embryo transplant, and all of these advancements are in a way circumventing "Gods will" if a woman is infertile she must not be meant to bear children.... But we can over look that small bit of hypocracy, but embryo stem cell research, WELL, that is a violation of God's will.... Untill they become afflicted in the future with something stem cell research would cure, and then a miraculous conversion takes place....

My other question is whether these same folks who are so adamantly against human embryonic stem cell research will avail themselves of stem cell treatments when they become available.

And today we lost Dana Reeve...how sad for the world. She & Christopher did so much to push this research forward.

Of course they will. And they'll advocate its use for profit.

if you truly believe that these blastocysts are human life, then wouldn't it be better that they were used to possibly help someone and not go to the dump?

I already asked that....... no response.

No there's rearly a response for anything that make common sense.

I support stem cell research wholeheartedly. My father is in a nursing home (in Bath) in the late stage of chronic, progressive MS. My sister, my mother and I want him back- so thank you for having the courage to fight the good fight for folks like him.

Nancy Reagan is a good example of a rightie who changed her stance on stem cells, out of self-interest. Now, if she could convince those other righties...

I support it.

I am not a researcher, but I am a professional in a field where several of my clients would benefit from stem cell research.
I would give my ova right now to research I knew where and how to do it.
Back to your post now, I don't blame the scientists here for leaving. I would if I were in their shoes in a heart beat. This country is going backwards in several areas, especially science.
I believe that people who are opposed to this research lack even the simple knowledge of basic cell biology. They are generally people who don't think for themselves, which seems to be about half of USA right now.
Thank you for your post on this subject, but I don't think most Americans can comprehend the benefits of this area of research.

hey! I know you and I voted yes of course.

Hiya, Tobyo!! Fancy meeting you here!

The poll seems to be very positive in favor of human embryonic stem cell research. Of course, I did place it in the "progressives only section"...

You could request from a mod that they move it to the General Forum.

And ruin a good thing??

I keeeed!

Vote early and often, folks!!

heh. yea, the trolls on this board can get pretty ugly.

vote early and often: thanks for the laugh!!! now let me see if I can vote again

p.s. I've never known exactly what "I keeed" means. not sure jimbow does either

Hey! No Freeping the poll.

Tis true about not only the trolls but the fundies. Stem Cell research holds so many promises. With the current mind set thou... the world will surpass the United States. I would like the research to be on going. Perhaps one day there will be a cure for me (epilepsy). Being on medication for the rest of one's life is not fun or cheap. I've already suffered permanent damage from one drug, Dilantin. I now have Dupuytren's Disease in both hands.

I would gladly welcome a cure from stem cell research.

I'm a pro-life liberal and a Christian, but educated enough to realise that the embryonic stem cells used for research would come from an excess used for IV fertilization and would otherwise be destroyed regardless. Why not put them to good use if they are to be destroyed anyway? As long as IV fetilization is legal, then embryonic stem cell research using disgarded embryos should be an important research area and should be federally funded.

Thank you for that. It's nice to hear a Christian speak logically about this issue.

Well, there are some of use that aren't fundementalist, Bush loving, right wing zombies who hate gay people!

I believe there are a lot of progressive principles that are also Christian principles....and I cringe when the fundies use MY religion to try to justify and push their right wing agenda.

I think that stem cell research is evidence that G*d gave us brains as well as Bibles, and we're supposed to use them. Somehow using religion as a rationale for healing the sick is less acceptable than rationalizing war.

I donated eggs for one of my friends, and donated the unused tissue for research (not implantation). If we're short-sighted and act only in our self-interest, the research will be too slow to help us. If, like Nancy Reagan, we only act when it's too late, it'll be too late for everyone.

OK, I just got off the phone with a NY Assemblyman. We had a conference call meeting to discuss the stem cell research bill in New York.

It seems that he would support a stem cell bill that involved using the already-existing 400,000 embryos from fertility clinics, but cannot support the part of the bill that would allow for "therapeutic cloning" (ie. transfering DNA of interest to an unfertilized egg). I have the feeling that there are others who feel that way too.

Question: Do you think that we should water down the bill by removing the "therapeutic cloning" part of it, yet still allow state funds to be used for research on the 400,000 already-existing embryos? In one way, it would allow progress to move forward with more support. Once we've shown results, we could add the "therapeutic cloning" part of it later, if need be.

explain the use of theurapudic cloning,in terms we can understand,so we can make an informed judgement.
Is therapeutic cloning the creation of 'spare parts' for use in organ transplants?
<<okay,I'm a dummy about this:blink: >>

Good question!

Here is an explanation from the International Society for Stem Cell Research on "Therapeutic Cloning", also known as SCNT:

Nuclear Transfer -- Stem Cells or Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer (SCNT)
By Richard Mollard, Ph.D.

The major problem facing widespread use of embryonic stem cells in cell therapies and organ replacement is their anticipated rejection by the patient's immune system, which will recognize them as foreign. One way around this problem would be to produce "custom" embryonic cells, matching the patient's immunologic profile. The approach, known as "nuclear transfer for stem cells" or somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT), would lead to the production of cells and tissue matching one's self, that would not elicit rejection when the cells are transplanted into the patient.

For nuclear transfer - stem cells, the DNA from any one cell in the body of a patient (usually a skin or muscle cell) could be removed and transferred through a microscopic glass tube into an unfertilized egg that previously had its own DNA removed.

In a culture dish, the egg is then coaxed into developing as if it had been fertilized. The one egg cell divides rapidly and generates a ball of cells, called the blastocyst, in only 5-6 days. The inner cell mass, a part of the blastocyst (middle image below), is then removed and embryonic stem cells grown out of it. These embryonic stem cells, containing the patient's DNA, now match the patient's immunological profile and will not be rejected by the patient's immune system. These embryonic stem cells can now be used to generate cells and tissues for the patient.

While this procedure sounds straightforward and is being performed quite successfully to a certain degree in animal models, there are still technical hurdles that need to be addressed before widespread use in humans.

For example, it is not yet clear how successfully entire sophisticated organs could be generated in culture from embryonic stem cells. Culture conditions are not sufficiently developed to mimic perfectly the environment that contributes substantially to regulation of cell fate during organogenesis. In the nearer future, therapies would probably be restricted to injection of tissue-specific progenitors that have been generated from the "custom" embryonic stem cells, which then will contribute to the repair of damaged organs in the patient.

An alternative approach to finding compatible stem cells for a given patient is to establish banks with embryonic stem cells from a wide array of donors, as is done for blood banks. However, this approach will have the same limitations as organ donor and bone marrow registries, i.e. the problem of limited availability of compatible donors. This problem particularly affects ethnic minorities who are of rarer type and are severely underrepresented in the organ and bone marrow registries.

simply put,they are cells that are 'customised' to resist rejection in certain instances such as organ donation.
I think even Bush could understand that.
and the rw is against this because..........
<<lefties might live longer>>

Therapeutic cloning is fine by me. So long as there are ironclad rules and safeguards put in to place that the full cloning of a human would not take place. Life in prison and a $500 Million fine would take care of that.

We have already cloned human beings.
Need proof?
Walk into any Denny's Restaurant and check out the swing shift cook.
609 Denny's in America and they all have the same guy cooking on swing shift.
(I've personally been in 210 of them.)



Mac

Denny's-not!
look at any Bush Rally

I do not think the Bill should be watered down. I also understand that it may need to be, so all of the scaremongers can be quieted, and that appropriate legislation to correct that omission can be passed later, when we have sentient legislators.

New Yorkers support stem cell research!

Zogby poll

Released: March 13, 2006
New Yorkers Overwhelmingly Support Human Embryonic Stem Cell Research

State Funding Encouraged to Seek Cures


Results of a new statewide poll find that New Yorkers strongly support medical research involving embryonic stem cells, and in the absence of Federal funding they support New York State playing a role in financing the most advanced research possible.

“New Yorkers clearly understand what’s at stake with the enormous promise of research involving embryonic stem cells, including the wide range of diseases for which therapies and cures may be possible,” said Susan L. Solomon, CEO of the New York Stem Cell Foundation (www.nyscf.org). [NYSCF commissioned the poll in conjunction with New Yorkers for the Advancement of Medical Research (www.nyamr.org). A summary of poll results follows; full results are available upon request, and will be available on Monday at both web-sites.]

“The most important finding is that New Yorkers overwhelmingly support research involving embryonic stem cells and Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer (SCNT) – by 84% and 86%, respectively – and understand that appropriate limits on reproductive cloning do not and should not impede the full range of vital research that is possible,” noted Solomon. “Because people can directly relate to someone suffering from Parkinson’s, juvenile diabetes, Alzheimer’s, lupus, cancer and other diseases, support for stem cell research was strong across the board. Regardless of age, ethnicity, geography, political affiliation or religion, New Yorkers are genuinely excited about the prospect of more effective therapies and cures that stem cell researchers are pursuing.”

“As a way of reacting to the restrictions on Federal funding, 69% of New Yorkers expressed support for State funding for research involving embryonic stem cells, with support coming from all political and religious groups, including Republicans and Catholics,” added Robin Elliott, Chairman of NYAMR (of which NYSCF is a member). “82% of New Yorkers said public support of stem cell research is an important election issue; while support from New York City voters was expectedly strong (85%), upstate voters were close behind (77%).”

NYAMR is a broad coalition formed to encourage investment in stem cell research by New York State; a proposal for $200 million for such research – including embryonic stem cells – is currently before the State Legislature.

The poll was conducted by Zogby International during the first week of March; the telephone survey reached 705 New Yorkers who are likely voters on a range of topics, with six questions focused on views about stem cell research. [Margin of error is +/- 3.8 percentage points.]

The key findings include:

84% expressed much or some support (65% said “much”) for embryonic stem cell research – when its great promise for treatments and cures related to specific diseases like juvenile diabetes, spinal cord injuries and Parkinson’s was noted;
When the process of somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) was explained (i.e., merging an unfertilized egg with a patient’s own skin cell), 76% expressed support (50% “strong”);
When the difference between SCNT and reproductive cloning was explained, 86% expressed support (58% “strong”) for SCNT;
69% expressed support (48% said “strong”) for State funding for research that includes embryonic stem cells;
71% expressed concern that New York could lose top scientists to other states and countries that are investing in less restrictive stem cell research; and,
82% say that the issue of public funding of stem cell research is important to them as voters.
“New Yorkers have now spoken on this issue, adding their voice to strong support shown by voters in several other states, as well as in national polls about moving forward with embryonic stem cell research,” said Solomon.

“While Federal support and funding is vital when it comes to investment in medical research, states like New York can provide real leadership – both immediately and when a new Governor is elected later this year,” added Elliott.

Conceived in mid-2005, the New York Stem Cell Foundation (NYSCF) is dedicated to furthering human embryonic stem cell research to advance the search for cures of the major diseases of our time.

NYSCF’s Mission:

Educate the public about the importance and potential benefits of human embryonic stem cell research and nuclear transfer.
Support stem cell research through grants to scientists working in their own labs.
Create state-of-the-art, collaborative research laboratories supported entirely with private funds.

For Further Information:
Ethan Geto or Kendall Christiansen
Geto & de Milly, Inc
212.686.4551
Cell for Kendall: 917.359.0725
Email: kchristiansen@getodemilly.com

(3/13/2006)

I thought there was something fishy about this recent Minnesota Bush rally...

From the Scheaffer Autism Report


RESEARCH

Researchers to Study Effectiveness of Stem Cell Transplant In Human Brain

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/200...s-drt030906.php

First-of-its-kind clinical trial will explore safety, preliminary
efficacy of injecting human stem cells directly into the brain to treat
fatal pediatric neurodegenerative disorder Researchers in Doernbecher
Children's Hospital at Oregon Health & Science University will begin a Phase
I clinical trial using stem cells in infants and children with a rare
neurodegenerative disorder that affects infants and children.
The groundbreaking trial will test whether HuCNS-SC™, a proprietary
human central nervous stem cell product developed by StemCells, Inc. is
safe, and whether it can slow the progression of two forms of neuronal
ceroid lipofuscinosis (NCL), a devastating disease that is always fatal. NCL
is part of a group of disorders often referred to as Batten disease.
"NCL is a heartbreaking and devastating diagnosis for children and
their families," said Robert D. Steiner, M.D., F.A.A.P., F.A.C.M.G., vice
chairman of pediatric research, head of the Division of Metabolism and the
study's principal investigator at Doernbecher Children's Hospital, OHSU.
Steiner also is an associate professor of pediatrics, and molecular
and medical genetics in the OHSU School of Medicine. "While the preclinical
research in the laboratory and in animals is promising, it is important to
note that this is a safety trial and, to our knowledge, purified neural stem
cell transplantation has never been done before. It is our hope that stem
cells will provide an important therapeutic advance for these children who
have no other viable options."
NCL is caused by mutations or changes in the genes responsible for
teaching the body how to make certain enzymes. Without these enzymes or
proteins, material builds up inside brain neurons and other brain cells,
causing a rapidly progressive decline in mental and motor function,
blindness, seizures and early death. This study addresses two forms of NCL:
infantile neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis (INCL) and late-infantile neuronal
ceroid lipofuscinosis (LINCL). Tragically, children with INCL typically die
before age 5 and those with LINCL typically do not live past age 12.
"If delivering stem cells directly into the human brain is safe and
effective, it will, in my opinion, be a major step forward in the efforts of
scientists and clinicians around the country to find new treatments with the
potential to help tens of thousands of patients with degenerative brain
diseases," said co-investigator Nathan Selden, M.D., Ph.D., F.A.C.S.,
F.A.A.P. "I am proud that Doernbecher Children's Hospital will be part of
this effort." Selden is Campagna Associate Professor of Pediatric
Neurological Surgery and head of the Division of Pediatric Neurological
Surgery, Doernbecher and OHSU School of Medicine.
Up to six children from Oregon or around the country will undergo
HuCNS-SC transplantation at Doernbecher. Previous studies of mice that are
missing one of the enzymes that causes NCL have shown HuCNS-SC increases the
amount of the missing enzyme, reduces the amount of abnormal material in the
brain and prevents the death of some brain cells. No major side effects have
been reported in animals.
StemCells, Inc. received clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration to initiate a Phase 1 clinical trial of HuCNS-SC in October
2005. The company believes this will be the first trial using a purified
composition of neural stem cells as a potential therapeutic agent in humans.