The Science
Stem cells have two important characteristics that distinguish them from other cells in our body and make them potentially crucial in the search for cures and therapies. They are unspecialized (pluripotential) cells that can be used to replace damaged or dysfunctional cells. For example, a stem cell can be transformed into an insulin-producing cell of the pancreas or a dopamine-producing cell deficient in Parkinson's sufferers. Stem cells are also unique because they can renew themselves, sometimes indefinitely.
There are three types of stem cells; each is harvested in a different way:
Embryonic
Embryonic stem cells are by far the most versatile and the most promising of any stem cells. This is because they, theoretically, are able to transform into any tissue in the body and can multiply indefinitely. No other cell can do this. Embryonic stem cells are obtained in the in vitro fertilization (IVF) procedure. IVF courses generally involve fertilizing about a dozen eggs (per patient) yet only two or three are usually suitable for implant into the uterus. While the rest are frozen for possible use at later date, most end up being discarded, unless they are donated to medical research. Scientists can culture or grow stem cells from the inner cell mass of these (otherwise discarded) blastocysts. President Bush continues to ban the use of these cells despite the fact that, nationally, fertility clinics store about 400,000 frozen human embryos likely to be discarded. The ban also exists not withstanding the National Institutes of Health guidelines that mandated the use of these embryos in creating cell lines to be studied with federal funds.
Fetal
Fetal stem cells can also become any cell in the body but are limited by their ability to multiply (they can only double their population size about 50 to 75 times). These cells are obtained from pregnancies that are terminated before the end of the first trimester (with informed consent by the donor). Adult: Adult (somatic) stem cells are limited in their ability to transform into different kinds of cells and also in their ability to replicate in mass quantities. Adult stem cells are also much more difficult to harvest because there is no single localized area, within the specific human tissue, from which to extract the cells.
Scientists believe that the embryonic stem cell — with its unique ability to self-renew and become any adult cell — might hold the key to unlocking the body's power to regenerate itself. If doctors succeed in harnessing the power of these cells, they might finally be able to find cures for diseases like ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease), Parkinson's, Multiple Sclerosis and diabetes and might even be able to help spinal cord injury victims and other types of paralysis.
Despite the hype and optimism surrounding stem cells, there are some problems and limitations that need to be addressed.
Main clinical challenges
- Finding the right method to deliver stem cells into the body.
- Differentiating the pluripotential cell to a more mature cell.
- Regulating the functions of stem cells after implantation without exacerbating symptoms.
Sociological challenges
- Many in the patient, patient advocacy and general community have unrealistic timeframes for the application of any stem cells research. This is born mostly of desperation.
- There are some concerns about who will have access to any potential stem cell therapies and what role socio-economic factors might play in distributing the benefits.
- There is a risk that people may become less cautious in preventing the onset of disease if they believe stem cells to be the cure-all.
- The seductive quality of stem cell biology might induce the medical community to divert funding and attention away from lower-tech but effectual, existing therapies.
The Politics
The majority of adults, regardless of religious affiliation or party identification believe embryonic stem cell research should be allowed. Nearly three-quarters of adults (74%) in 2005 believed that stem cell research should be allowed (73 percent in 2004).
President Bush
In a nationally televised speech on August 9, 2001, President Bush ended months of deliberation on the issue of federal funding of stem cell research when he stated that the Administration would support continued funding for research only on stem cell lines, which had already been extracted. He stated that 65 cell lines already exist, which is sufficient for present research purposes. (In reality, only 14 lines are viable.)
On July 19, 2006, President Bush exercised his first veto rejecting legislation (sent to him from the Republican-controlled congress), which proposed to expand funding for embryonic stem cell research. Within hours, the House tried to rally the two-thirds majority to overturn the veto but fell short with 235 to 193. By avoiding a total ban on funding, the Administration may have dodged a conflict with Congress where the majority supports stem cell research but many in the scientific community were disappointed. The decision produced a predictably mixed reaction from those advocating a total ban on the research and those who think the US should be the frontrunner in the search for stem cell derived therapies and cures.
Why federal funding matters
There are many advantages to sanctioning a federal stem cell research program. Apart from the obvious injection of huge amounts of much needed money, a federally backed program would encourage many more scientists (including the nation's best) to participate in finding lifesaving therapies. It would allow the country's national institutions to process the sharing of crucial information, which usually hastens discoveries and it would ensure public oversight.
The Parties
Democrats generally tend to support funding of this new technology for medical research purposes and this position is set forth in the 2004 Democratic platform. Republicans are as divided on this issue as they are on the abortion issue. Almost exactly one year ago (May, 2005), the U.S. House of Representatives voted 238-194 to pass bipartisan legislation to enhance ederal funding for stem cell research. Fifty moderate Republicans joined Democrats to pass HR 810, legislation that would lift President Bush's restrictions on stem cell research. In the July 19, 2006 vote to overturn President Bush's veto, 51 Republicans, 183 democrats and one Independent voted to override, while four democrats joined 179 Republicans in voting to uphold the veto.
Strongest Opposition
Since stem cells are obtained from destroyed embryos, the opposition to the research is similar to the concern surrounding abortion. The groups that oppose embryonic stem cell research mostly comprise groups who oppose abortion. The possibility that cell lines could be developed from cloned embryos raises concerns about human cloning. The most prominent global opponent today is the Catholic Church. In fact, the official Catholic position is also opposed to in vitro fertilization calling it “unnatural” and immoral because it results in the production of embryos that are not used.
Other Countries
Most other countries have not yet developed a policy on stem cell research and the results of trials in some nations have been difficult to assess. In February 2004, South Korean scientists reported that they had been successful in cloning human embryos for 30 days and then extracting stem cells. Several months later it became apparent that this claim was fraudulent. This reported scientific advance, however, was condemned by religious leaders and has renewed the call for international regulation. Recently scientists in Japan and Great Britain have taken steps to pursue human cloning research as well. It is possible that the pressure to keep up with other countries in the scientific advancement of stem cell research could help win US Senate support, however the same concerns opposing stem cell research do exist globally.
What is clear is that the US, usually a leader in medical research and biotechnology, is forfeiting the race for cures and therapies by maintaining a ban on federal funding for stem cell research.
©2006 Ninth Floor Project, all rights reserved.