Information about stem cells and stem cell research for PD
Let's do a quick summary of stem cells. They are the cells which can renew themselves through the process of mitosis. Once the nuclei separate the chromosomes to replicate itself, the cell can then split to form two identical cells with the second cell carrying all of the genetic information as the first.
In the body there are two types of stem cells, adult and embryonic. The adult stem cell is the repairman/woman, some being very versatile themselves. The embryonic stem cell (ESC) can differentiate itself into all of the specialized tissues...functions. It is for this reason that it is known as a pluripotent cell. (Preceding the pluripotent cell is the totipotent cell but that is another story.) The stem cell creates the existence of all three germ layers which form the body.
A stem cell line is a family of cells from one parent group. They require the correct signaling in order to differentiate into the cells required. This is where the research picks up.
The first stem cell lines were created in 1988 at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Dr James A Thompson's directed the group which isolated the first human embryonic stem cells, those undifferentiated cells which can multiply in the body. Currently at UW-M they are working to understand the mechanism by which embryonic stem cells can form any body cell (pluripotency), how that cell chooses between self-renewal and differentiation, and how the differentiated cell can be reprogrammed for pluripotency.
If you look up the National Stem Cell Registry online you will see the NIH website. One of the topics which gave us a big smile was the link to an archive entitled, Registry Information Under the Former Presidential Policy.
Here is the National Institute of Health stem cell site. If you haven't been there yet, check it out some time.
http://stemcells.nih.gov/
President Obama's Executive Order was not a complete green light for embryonic stem cell research. It did lift the ban on a few lines that were in existence as of 8/09/01 and has been interpreted to mean that new stem cell lines may be developed. The NIH has the responsibility to determine the guidlines for what scientists can do with federal monies.
NIH will receive $10.4 billion stimulus money from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. $3 billion will go to the National Science Foundation which already has $2 billion in approved but unfunded grants.
Something we were pleased to see at the NIH site were the links to what is happening in Congress. These are earlier pieces of legislation which are moving through the legislative process. The full text of each is available at the Library of Congress website links. You can link to the site and read the text of each pending Act.
111th Congress, House Bills
H.R. 110—Human Cloning Prohibition Act of 2009
H.R. 872—Stem Cell Research Improvement Act of 2009 H.R. 873—Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2009
H.R. 873—Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2009
H.R. 877—Patients First Act of 2009
111th Congress, Senate Bill
S. 99—Ethical Stem Cell Research Tax Credit Act of 2009
While these things are going on in D.C. several states have already passed legislation encouraging and sometimes funding stem cell research. Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Illinois, Iowa and California passed programs authorizing research spending after the 2001 federal ban. These programs are costly and some states have had to limit funding in the current economy so it is hoped that donations will not stop although many private philanthropies have been devastated recently.
On November 4, 2008 Michigan saw the passage of a state constitutional amendment which would permit researchers to create new stem cell lines by using surplus embryos from fertility clinics.
In contrast Oklahoma and Georgia have taken an opposite position and are presenting legislative action to restore the Bush status quo. In Georgia the senate has already passed legislation to prevent using cloning to create human embryos. The bill does allow induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS) which we will discuss tomorrow.
Arizona, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas already have laws on the books concerning use of state funds for research which would destroy a human embryo, would manipulate stem cells for treatment or potential cures or conduct research using the in vitro clinic (IVF) discards.
Most stem cells used in research have come from unused embryos of fertility clinics. They were at a "use 'em or lose 'em" condition. Since they were not going to be used in an attempt to create new humans, they would have been discarded if there had not been another use for research to develop a way to save existing human lives. There is a fear that in the future other sources which do not police themselves will be used.
Meanwhile there is much work to be done to develop effective, safe treatments.
A few places which have received federal grants for stem cell research recently or are sponsoring stem cell research:
University of Buffalo just received $4.9 million.
In Michigan on March 9th the University of Michigan announced a $5 million initiative with the Alfred A Taubman Medical Research Institute Consortium for Stem Cell Research. The consortium could also collaborate with with the University Research Corridor partners: Michigan State University, Wayne State University, Oakland University, University of Michigan at Dearborn as well as Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. They will be looking to create new stem cell lines from IVF clinics using the International Society for Research guidelines (see: link in FAQs below.)
California's Stem Cell Agency announced $17.5 million in grants for embryonic stem cell technology: training students in lab work, research techniques and ethics in a program which can lead to a masters degree.
Research being sponsored by:
http://www.parkinsons.org.uk/research/current-research/ongoing-stem-cell-research.aspx
http://www.michaeljfox.org/research_MJFFfundingPortfolio_searchableAwardedGrants_2.cfm?Search=Yes&ProgramID=3&Keyword1=42&Keyword2=&Country=&State=&Last_Name=&Institution=&Grant_Funded_Year=&search.x=28&search.y=9
FAQ links:
http://stemcells.nih.gov/info/basics/
http://www.isscr.org/science/faq.htm
http://stemcells.nih.gov/StemCells/Templates/StemCellContentPage.aspx?NRMODE=Published&NRNODEGUID=%7bA604DCCE-2E5F-4395-8954-FCE1C05BECED%7d&NRORIGINALURL=%2finfo%2ffaqs%2easp&NRCACHEHINT=NoModifyGuest#excited
http://www.aaas.org/spp/sfrl/projects/stem/index.shtml
Information about embryonic stem cell research for other conditions
http://www.geron.com/grnopc1clearance/
The National Stem Cell Bank: http://www.nationalstemcellbank.org/
Showing posts with label embryonic stem cells. Show all posts
Showing posts with label embryonic stem cells. Show all posts
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Stem Cell Ban To Be Lifted Soon
Obama To Lift Stem Cell Ban Soon - Will Funding Still Be Available?
Addressing the issue of lifting
the ban on use of embryonic
stem cells in research, a senior
advisor to President Obama
said on Fox News Sunday
"We're going to be doing something on that soon, I think.
The President is considering that right now."
Obama advisor David Axelrod said President Obama will soon issue an executive order lifting an eight-year ban on embryonic stem cell research imposed by his predecessor, President George W Bush.
In 2001 Bush banned the use of any embryonic stem cells lines which didn't already exist in an attempt to placate his right wing Christian fundamentalist backers who had played an important role in his election to the presidency.
Rather than making use of existing embryos slated for destruction by fertility clinics, Bush announced that those soon-to-be discarded embryos were not to be used for spare parts in a public crawling baby dog and pony show to the applause of some and the horror of many. While private parties struggled to raise research funds, Congress hustled to enact and pass corrective legislation only to be vetoed.
Embryonic stem cells are the master cell of the body; they can be made into any other kind of tissue. Instead of funding at a time when it would have been possible and encouraging embryonic stem cell research, former President Bush's policies caused research labs to waste their valuable time and limited monies keeping separate accounts of approved and unapproved stem cells. In the research equivalent of keeping kosher, universities had to establish and maintain separate facilities and funding sources.
Many researchers have long felt that learning to understand embryonic stem cells will bring us to the cures for many chronic neuromuscular and auto-immune diseases such as Parkinson's, Huntington's, ALS, type I Diabetes, Guillain Barre' and Rheumatoid Arthritis.
Since President Obama took office sufferers and advocates of these diseases have been hoping and waiting for this pending executive order. Hoping for an end to Bush's anti-intellectualism and waiting for the President to complete the economic stimulus plan.
Sources:
15 Feb. 2009, Fox Sunday News
15 Feb 2009, Reuters, Alan Elsner
Addressing the issue of liftingthe ban on use of embryonic
stem cells in research, a senior
advisor to President Obama
said on Fox News Sunday
"We're going to be doing something on that soon, I think.
The President is considering that right now."
Obama advisor David Axelrod said President Obama will soon issue an executive order lifting an eight-year ban on embryonic stem cell research imposed by his predecessor, President George W Bush.
In 2001 Bush banned the use of any embryonic stem cells lines which didn't already exist in an attempt to placate his right wing Christian fundamentalist backers who had played an important role in his election to the presidency.
Rather than making use of existing embryos slated for destruction by fertility clinics, Bush announced that those soon-to-be discarded embryos were not to be used for spare parts in a public crawling baby dog and pony show to the applause of some and the horror of many. While private parties struggled to raise research funds, Congress hustled to enact and pass corrective legislation only to be vetoed.
Embryonic stem cells are the master cell of the body; they can be made into any other kind of tissue. Instead of funding at a time when it would have been possible and encouraging embryonic stem cell research, former President Bush's policies caused research labs to waste their valuable time and limited monies keeping separate accounts of approved and unapproved stem cells. In the research equivalent of keeping kosher, universities had to establish and maintain separate facilities and funding sources.
Many researchers have long felt that learning to understand embryonic stem cells will bring us to the cures for many chronic neuromuscular and auto-immune diseases such as Parkinson's, Huntington's, ALS, type I Diabetes, Guillain Barre' and Rheumatoid Arthritis.
Since President Obama took office sufferers and advocates of these diseases have been hoping and waiting for this pending executive order. Hoping for an end to Bush's anti-intellectualism and waiting for the President to complete the economic stimulus plan.
Sources:
15 Feb. 2009, Fox Sunday News
15 Feb 2009, Reuters, Alan Elsner
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Obama's Hard Decision: Stem Cell Research
"I strongly support expanding research on stem cells. I believe that the restrictions that President Bush has placed on funding of human embryonic stem cell research have handcuffed our scientists and hindered our ability to compete with other nations. As president, I will lift the current administration's ban on federal funding of research on embryonic stem cell lines created after Aug. 9, 2001 through executive order, and I will ensure that all research on stem cells is conducted ethically and with rigorous oversight."
Nearly three-quarters of Americans want President Barack Obama to fulfil his campaign commitment to lift the restrictions on embryonic stem cell research according to a recent poll conducted for the Coalition for the Advancement of Medical Research (CAMR) by Opinion Research Corp. This can be accomplished either by Obama issuing an executive order or by Congress passing the bipartisan Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act H.R.3/S.5.
Both Obama and Congress have cited stem cell research as a top priority but some think it is too divisive an issue to be handled early in the new administration, remembering how President Clinton lost ground over the issue of gays in the military.
"I myself would favor legislation, so it is the law" said Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Representative Pelosi, U.S. House Speaker, D-CA also comented in an interview for Stanford News Service, "Science is a gift from God to all of us. Scientists have been given an almost biblical power to cure through advances in embryonic stem cell research. A repeal of the ban is critical so that we may take advantage of the opportunity to save lives, find cures and give hope to those suffering. It is an opportunity that we cannot miss."
Though the odds are good that the bill will pass in Congress, some Democrats worry about the off-year elections coming in 2010 when 70 of their seats will be in competitive races.
In Obama's inaugural speech he urged all of us to make "the hard decisions." By signing an executive order or prodding congress to pass the Stem Cell bill he would show the world that the last eight years of grinding science under the wheels of right wing religious fanaticism are definitely over. It will also show that the government has some compassion for the ever increasing numbers of chronically ill.
The Obama campaign published the following statement about advanced stem cell research:
"Despite recent advances pointing to alternatives like adult stem cell and cord blood, embryonic stem cells remain unmatched in their potential for treatment of a wide variety of diseases and health conditions. Barack Obama has been a long-term supporter of increased stem cell research. He introduced legislation while a member of the Illinois Senate that would allow embryonic stem cell research in Illinois. Obama has cosponsored legislation to allow greater federal government funding on a wider array of stem cell lines. Obama believes we need high ethical standards that allow for research on stem cells derived from embryos produced for in vitro fertilization, embryos that would otherwise be needlessly destroyed"
By employing science, technology and innovation to work to solve an urgent health care issue, more campaign and administrative goals could be reached. Finding solutions through private companies and university-based research would promote American business abroad ultimately. Grants to university research and tax credits to private company R & D would meet some of those goals.
Allowing research to proceed on embryonic stem cells which would otherwise be destroyed might pave the way for reducing health care costs. This in turn would reduce the long term need for that health care. There is a significant list of diseases which could benefit from advanced stem cell research and development. There are millions of people who could be affected in a positive way by the results of such research. And they and their families are still waiting.
It makes more sense to have healthier people who can live long and productive lives than to have sick people who can survive to old age but have huge medical costs and diminished quality of life.
Sources:
The Raw Story, Dems consider overturning stem cell ban
Nature Sept, 2008, Obama interview
Scientific American Congresswoman Slams Religious Right's Assult on Science, August 2008
http://news-service.stanford.edu/news/2009/january14/med-obama-011409.html
Obama campaign response to the group Science Debate 2008:
http://abcnews.go.com/Health/Politics/Story?id=6224566&page=1
http://www.barackobama.com/issues/technology/
Stem Cell information sites:
http://stemcells.nih.gov/info/basics/basics6.asp
http://www.isscr.org/science/faq.htm
http://stemcell.taragana.net/archive/100-plus-diseases-treateable-by-umbilical-cord-blood-stem-cell/
http://www.stemcellresearchnews.com/stem_cell_cures.htm
Nearly three-quarters of Americans want President Barack Obama to fulfil his campaign commitment to lift the restrictions on embryonic stem cell research according to a recent poll conducted for the Coalition for the Advancement of Medical Research (CAMR) by Opinion Research Corp. This can be accomplished either by Obama issuing an executive order or by Congress passing the bipartisan Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act H.R.3/S.5.
Both Obama and Congress have cited stem cell research as a top priority but some think it is too divisive an issue to be handled early in the new administration, remembering how President Clinton lost ground over the issue of gays in the military.
"I myself would favor legislation, so it is the law" said Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Representative Pelosi, U.S. House Speaker, D-CA also comented in an interview for Stanford News Service, "Science is a gift from God to all of us. Scientists have been given an almost biblical power to cure through advances in embryonic stem cell research. A repeal of the ban is critical so that we may take advantage of the opportunity to save lives, find cures and give hope to those suffering. It is an opportunity that we cannot miss."
Though the odds are good that the bill will pass in Congress, some Democrats worry about the off-year elections coming in 2010 when 70 of their seats will be in competitive races.
In Obama's inaugural speech he urged all of us to make "the hard decisions." By signing an executive order or prodding congress to pass the Stem Cell bill he would show the world that the last eight years of grinding science under the wheels of right wing religious fanaticism are definitely over. It will also show that the government has some compassion for the ever increasing numbers of chronically ill.
The Obama campaign published the following statement about advanced stem cell research:
"Despite recent advances pointing to alternatives like adult stem cell and cord blood, embryonic stem cells remain unmatched in their potential for treatment of a wide variety of diseases and health conditions. Barack Obama has been a long-term supporter of increased stem cell research. He introduced legislation while a member of the Illinois Senate that would allow embryonic stem cell research in Illinois. Obama has cosponsored legislation to allow greater federal government funding on a wider array of stem cell lines. Obama believes we need high ethical standards that allow for research on stem cells derived from embryos produced for in vitro fertilization, embryos that would otherwise be needlessly destroyed"
By employing science, technology and innovation to work to solve an urgent health care issue, more campaign and administrative goals could be reached. Finding solutions through private companies and university-based research would promote American business abroad ultimately. Grants to university research and tax credits to private company R & D would meet some of those goals.
Allowing research to proceed on embryonic stem cells which would otherwise be destroyed might pave the way for reducing health care costs. This in turn would reduce the long term need for that health care. There is a significant list of diseases which could benefit from advanced stem cell research and development. There are millions of people who could be affected in a positive way by the results of such research. And they and their families are still waiting.
It makes more sense to have healthier people who can live long and productive lives than to have sick people who can survive to old age but have huge medical costs and diminished quality of life.
Sources:
The Raw Story, Dems consider overturning stem cell ban
Nature Sept, 2008, Obama interview
Scientific American Congresswoman Slams Religious Right's Assult on Science, August 2008
http://news-service.stanford.edu/news/2009/january14/med-obama-011409.html
Obama campaign response to the group Science Debate 2008:
http://abcnews.go.com/Health/Politics/Story?id=6224566&page=1
http://www.barackobama.com/issues/technology/
Stem Cell information sites:
http://stemcells.nih.gov/info/basics/basics6.asp
http://www.isscr.org/science/faq.htm
http://stemcell.taragana.net/archive/100-plus-diseases-treateable-by-umbilical-cord-blood-stem-cell/
http://www.stemcellresearchnews.com/stem_cell_cures.htm
Monday, October 13, 2008
Stem Cells Can Come From Male Testes
New type of stem cells coming from male testicles is the hottest stem cell blog and news article you will have seen in the last week.
German and British researchers have discovered that stem cells taken from male testicles are as versatile as those taken from embryos. This new stem cell will be able to make personalized replacement tissue which will not have rejection problems from the body's immune system.
Earlier studies used mice, the new study at the Center for Regenerative Biology and Medicine in Tuebingen, Germany , used cells taken from 22 men aged 17 to 81 years.
After a few weeks of growth the new cells began to differentiate into various types of cells just as embryonic stem cells do. In the future they may be used to treat Parkinson's and other neurological diseases.
The religious controversy over the use of embryonic stem cells should be avoided since the new types are natural and no embryos are used (killed) to produce them.
Nature (08 Oct 2008
Howard Hughes Medical Institute Press Release
King's College, London
University of Tübingen
German and British researchers have discovered that stem cells taken from male testicles are as versatile as those taken from embryos. This new stem cell will be able to make personalized replacement tissue which will not have rejection problems from the body's immune system.
Earlier studies used mice, the new study at the Center for Regenerative Biology and Medicine in Tuebingen, Germany , used cells taken from 22 men aged 17 to 81 years.
After a few weeks of growth the new cells began to differentiate into various types of cells just as embryonic stem cells do. In the future they may be used to treat Parkinson's and other neurological diseases.
The religious controversy over the use of embryonic stem cells should be avoided since the new types are natural and no embryos are used (killed) to produce them.
Nature (08 Oct 2008
Howard Hughes Medical Institute Press Release
King's College, London
University of Tübingen
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