Category Archives: Stem Cell Research

Regulations and policies change frequently to keep up with the pace of research, as well as to reflect the views of different political parties. Here President Obama signs an executive order on stem cells, reversing some limits on federal research funding. (White House photo by Chuck Kennedy) Governments around the globe have passed legislation to regulate stem cell research. In the United States, laws prohibit the creation of embryos for research purposes. Scientists instead receive "leftover" embryos from fertility clinics with consent from donors. Most people agree that these guidelines are appropriate. Disagreements surface, however, when political parties debate about how to fund stem cell research. The federal government allocates billions of dollars each year to biomedical research. But should taxpayer dollars be used to fund embryo and stem cell research when some believe it to be unethical? Legislators have had the unique challenge of encouraging advances in science and medicine while preserving a respect for life. U.S. President Bush, for example, limited federal funding to a study of 70 or so hES cell lines back in 2001. While this did slow the destruction of human embryos, many believe the restrictions set back the progress of stem cell research. President … Continue reading →

anon950526Post 156 Is there any impact due to this? Obviously, some of you dont have kids. The life of a child is worth so much more than any adult. You got to live. What if that embryo happened to be you? Would you then feel that it is OK to conduct this research? I am a mother of two, soon to be three. I don't care about any of that just long as my kids at least get a chance at living and there is a God. I had a 50 percent chance of having babies because of a huge benign tumor that grew on my left ovary and killed my left fallopian tube. I prayed for my babies and got them every time. Besides that, everybody has their I watched this gruesome abortion video and the lady was 12 weeks along. You could see the child trying to fight for its life. Murder is murder. Helping to save other people or not -- that's like you seeing a man trying to rape a woman and you shoot him dead. It's the same if you were trying to save her life but you get persecuted and convicted for taking matters … Continue reading →

anon950526Post 156 Is there any impact due to this? Obviously, some of you dont have kids. The life of a child is worth so much more than any adult. You got to live. What if that embryo happened to be you? Would you then feel that it is OK to conduct this research? I am a mother of two, soon to be three. I don't care about any of that just long as my kids at least get a chance at living and there is a God. I had a 50 percent chance of having babies because of a huge benign tumor that grew on my left ovary and killed my left fallopian tube. I prayed for my babies and got them every time. Besides that, everybody has their I watched this gruesome abortion video and the lady was 12 weeks along. You could see the child trying to fight for its life. Murder is murder. Helping to save other people or not -- that's like you seeing a man trying to rape a woman and you shoot him dead. It's the same if you were trying to save her life but you get persecuted and convicted for taking matters … Continue reading →

Pros and Cons of Stem Cell Research - What are Stem Cells?There has been much controversy in the press recently about the pros and cons of stem cell research. What is the controversy all about? "Stem" cells can be contrasted with "differentiated" cells. They offer much hope for medical advancement because of their ability to grow into almost any kind of cell. For instance, neural cells in the brain and spinal cord that have been damaged can be replaced by stem cells. In the treatment of cancer, cells destroyed by radiation or chemotherapy can be replaced with new healthy stem cells that adapt to the affected area, whether it be part of the brain, heart, liver, lungs, or wherever. Dead cells of almost any kind, no matter the type of injury or disease, can be replaced with new healthy cells thanks to the amazing flexibility of stem cells. As a result, billions of dollars are being poured into this new field. Pros and Cons of Stem Cell Research - Where Do They Come From?To understand the pros and cons of stem cell research, one must first understand where stem cells come from. There are three main sources for obtaining stem … Continue reading →

En Espaol With funding from CIRM, California has become a world-leader in stem cell research. Learn more about how CIRM changes the landscape of research in California and about laws in other states. How will CIRM accelerate stem cell therapies?What are the economic implications of stem cell research?How does CIRM save the state money?What were the federal restrictions on human embryonic stem cell research under President Bush?How did federal regulations of human embryonic stem cell research change under President Obama?What is happening with stem cell research in other states? As the largest source of funding for stem cell research outside the National Institutes of Health, CIRM supports innovative research programs focused on accelerating treatments to patients with unmet medical needs. In addition, CIRM has also supported the construction of state-of-the-art facilities that were needed in order to build the infrastructure and perform research without the restrictions that came with federal funding under President George W. Bush. CIRM Major Facilities Speed Stem Cell Science and Create Jobs [4:20] CIRM has specifically targeted areas that will help push stem cell research toward the clinic. Our SEED grants pulled more scientists into stem cell research than ever before, and the Comprehensive awards supported … Continue reading →

Regulations and policies change frequently to keep up with the pace of research, as well as to reflect the views of different political parties. Here President Obama signs an executive order on stem cells, reversing some limits on federal research funding. (White House photo by Chuck Kennedy) Governments around the globe have passed legislation to regulate stem cell research. In the United States, laws prohibit the creation of embryos for research purposes. Scientists instead receive "leftover" embryos from fertility clinics with consent from donors. Most people agree that these guidelines are appropriate. Disagreements surface, however, when political parties debate about how to fund stem cell research. The federal government allocates billions of dollars each year to biomedical research. But should taxpayer dollars be used to fund embryo and stem cell research when some believe it to be unethical? Legislators have had the unique challenge of encouraging advances in science and medicine while preserving a respect for life. U.S. President Bush, for example, limited federal funding to a study of 70 or so hES cell lines back in 2001. While this did slow the destruction of human embryos, many believe the restrictions set back the progress of stem cell research. President … Continue reading →

South Africa is by far the most developed African country, and owes much of its modernity and industrialization to the early influx of external European influences. Contributions from indigenous African tribes and migrants from Asia have also played an important part. This melting pot of cultures has led to making it very diverse and open to technological advancement. The first human heart-to heart transplant was carried out in 1967. Stem cell research in Africa is really prominent in South Africa. There are stem cell banks which store cells of clients for future use. It is the only country in Africa so far with significant advances into stem cell research and its applications. South Africa has adopted the intermediate approach to stem cell research and use, where research is allowed, but has some level of restriction by the government. 79.9% of the population professed to be Christians in the 2001 national census. This huge majority largely skews parliamentary debates on controversial medical issues. South Africa is a parliamentary republic and legislations are subjected to strict parliamentary debate. In the area of stem cell research, South Africa allows the derivation of human embryonic stem cells from excess In vitro fertilization (IVF) embryos, … Continue reading →

In November of 1998, scientists reported that they had successfully isolated and cultured human embryonic stem cellsa feat which had eluded researchers for almost two decades. This announcement kicked off an intense and unrelenting debate between those who approve of embryonic stem cell research and those who are opposed to it. Some of the most prominent advocates of the research are scientists and patients who believe that embryonic stem cell research will lead to the development of treatments and cures for some of humanitys most pernicious afflictions (such as Alzheimers disease, Parkinsons disease, heart disease, and diabetes). Among the most vocal opponents of the research are those who share the desire to heal, but who object to the pursuit of healing via unethical means. CBHDs view is that because human embryonic stem cell research necessitates the destruction of human embryos, such research is unethicalregardless of its alleged benefits. Ethical alternatives for achieving those benefits should be actively pursued, and have demonstrated a number of promising preclinical and clincial results without the ethical concers present with embryonic stem cells. Human embryonic stem cells are the cells from which all 200+ kinds of tissue in the human body originate. Typically, they are … Continue reading →

The third instalment of RT's documentary series, 'Science Friction' where science and society collide, explores one of the most controversial issues in the history of science: the human embryo and its use in the ground-breaking field of stem cell research. In this episode, presenter Liz Bonnin embarks on a journey to meet the different people, both within and outside the science community, whose lives are touched by the controversy surrounding the embryo. Liz talks to 22-year-old Geoff Harte, who was left paralysed after breaking his neck in a school rugby match, and now believes that stem cells may one day help him to walk again. We also hear from Stephen Sullivan, a Harvard based Irish scientist who uses frozen embryos left over as a result of IVF treatment, as a source of stem cells for his groundbreaking research. On the flip side of the coin, Martin Clynes, a scientist at Dublin City University, explains why he passionately believes that research which destroys human embryos is morally unacceptable. And finally, Liz meets Lisa O'Callaghan who, after giving birth to a daughter thanks to IVF treatment, now finds herself with frozen embryos of her own and confusion over what will become of … Continue reading →

This website provides scientific facts and concise information for those of us who are not scientists, researchers or medical professionals. You will learn answers toquestions like ..."Who is benefitting from stem cell research and therapies today?" and "What types of stem cells are working?" In addition, basic questions such as"What is a stem cell?""Why do we need stem cell research?" are answered. The video patient profiles featured on this site emphasize ADULT stem cell advances with the goal of informing and the hope of inspiring you to take action. These real-life stories represent a small sampling of people and the many diseases and conditions now being helped by adult stem cells naturally found in the human body. Stem Cell Research Facts illustrates how current adult treatments and therapies directly impact the lives of patients and their families today - as opposed to debating themerits of other types of stem cell research. We invite you to discover, learn and share the incredible possibilites of stem cell research. We welcome your feedback and encourage you to return for the latest developments in the world of stem cell research. Thank you! Original post: Adult Stem Cells - Official Site … Continue reading →