Encouraging signs in stem cell research
Editorial - Tuesday, August 14, 2007 Updated @ 6:51:22 AM
Osprey Media. - St. Catharines Standard - Ontario, CA
Stem cell research holds the potential for so many medical breakthroughs, but has been hampered by serious ethical questions.
The destruction of human embryos for cells that can be transformed into any in the body has proved as morally polarizing as it has medically exciting.
Embryonic stem cells can be manipulated to transform into any cell in the body and therefore have the potential to repair damaged human cells, like brain or spinal cells.
Better understanding of stem cells could lead to a better understanding of birth defects and diseases like cancer.
But what has medical researchers excited is the therapeutic possibilities of stem cells in regenerating tissues and organs.
It could lead to breakthroughs in the treatment of diseases like Parkinson's and Alzheimer's, spinal cord injuries, strokes, burns, heart disease, diabetes and arthritis.
And multiple sclerosis, as seen in Saturday's Niagara Closeup.
But while medical researchers, and indeed some patients, are excited at the prospects, the catch is the ethical question: is it morally proper to initiate reproduction only to harvest the days-old embryo for its stem cells?
Those opposed to abortion generally find fault with this concept.
But there is hope for a less controversial avenue. Recent research has found stem cells harvested from adult bone marrow may be as malleable as embryonic stem cells.
Two doctors in Ottawa have been conducting trials, primarily funded by the MS Society of Canada, using human bone marrow cells to treat diseased immune systems.
Their study meshes with others from around the world that are looking into the possibility of transforming these bone marrow stem cells into any other cell in the body.
If successful, this research opens a whole new realm of possible medical therapies.
"Ultimately, we would like to be able to reverse the (damage to) patients who are very disabled today," said Dr. Mark Freedman, who is partnering with Dr. Harry Atkins on the study at the Ottawa Health Research Institute.
That, indeed, is a laudable goal.
Besides the work of Freedman and Atkins, the MS Society is also helping fund a joint study by McGill University, the University of Calgary and the Mayo Institute researching the use of stem cells to repair the lining of the brain and spinal cord that is damaged in MS patients.
For patients with MS and other diseases, the breakthroughs are exciting and offer a prospect at a new life.
If those medical breakthroughs can be achieved without having to meddle in the sticky ethics of embryonic stem cell research, it is all the more worthwhile.
http://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/webapp/sitepages/content.asp?contentid=652645&catname=Editorial&classif=
Editorial - Tuesday, August 14, 2007 Updated @ 6:51:22 AM
Osprey Media. - St. Catharines Standard - Ontario, CA
Stem cell research holds the potential for so many medical breakthroughs, but has been hampered by serious ethical questions.
The destruction of human embryos for cells that can be transformed into any in the body has proved as morally polarizing as it has medically exciting.
Embryonic stem cells can be manipulated to transform into any cell in the body and therefore have the potential to repair damaged human cells, like brain or spinal cells.
Better understanding of stem cells could lead to a better understanding of birth defects and diseases like cancer.
But what has medical researchers excited is the therapeutic possibilities of stem cells in regenerating tissues and organs.
It could lead to breakthroughs in the treatment of diseases like Parkinson's and Alzheimer's, spinal cord injuries, strokes, burns, heart disease, diabetes and arthritis.
And multiple sclerosis, as seen in Saturday's Niagara Closeup.
But while medical researchers, and indeed some patients, are excited at the prospects, the catch is the ethical question: is it morally proper to initiate reproduction only to harvest the days-old embryo for its stem cells?
Those opposed to abortion generally find fault with this concept.
But there is hope for a less controversial avenue. Recent research has found stem cells harvested from adult bone marrow may be as malleable as embryonic stem cells.
Two doctors in Ottawa have been conducting trials, primarily funded by the MS Society of Canada, using human bone marrow cells to treat diseased immune systems.
Their study meshes with others from around the world that are looking into the possibility of transforming these bone marrow stem cells into any other cell in the body.
If successful, this research opens a whole new realm of possible medical therapies.
"Ultimately, we would like to be able to reverse the (damage to) patients who are very disabled today," said Dr. Mark Freedman, who is partnering with Dr. Harry Atkins on the study at the Ottawa Health Research Institute.
That, indeed, is a laudable goal.
Besides the work of Freedman and Atkins, the MS Society is also helping fund a joint study by McGill University, the University of Calgary and the Mayo Institute researching the use of stem cells to repair the lining of the brain and spinal cord that is damaged in MS patients.
For patients with MS and other diseases, the breakthroughs are exciting and offer a prospect at a new life.
If those medical breakthroughs can be achieved without having to meddle in the sticky ethics of embryonic stem cell research, it is all the more worthwhile.
http://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/webapp/sitepages/content.asp?contentid=652645&catname=Editorial&classif=
posted by Bill at 6:05 PM
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