ADULT STEM CELLS

August 2004
		Adult stem cells, which come from bone marrow, skin, brain, blood and muscle, appear to have enormous potential to help repair the body. But individual studies on stem cell therapy are showing mixed results. Helen Blau, Ph.D., of the Stanford University School of Medicine and Charles Murry, M.D., Ph.D., of the University of Washington's Department of Pathology answer your questions.

Online NewsHour Special Report: Adult Stem Cells Forum Introduction If the current restrictions posed on stem cell research were eliminated, how long would it be before initial procedures for spinal cord injuries would begin to appear? I have Parkinson's and I'm 51 years old. What's a possible timetable for the application of stem cell therapy to help me and others in my age range? Why can't stem cells derived from bone marrow be cultured and the injected locally into regions of the brain that has been damaged as a consequence of a stroke? What are your feelings on the potential of umbilical cord blood as a source of stem cell transplantation? Is it true that the research to date is not applicable to all ethnic groups, particularly, persons of African decent? Can stem cells injected into the body cause cancers? What kind of research is happening in this country, and when can I see human research here?	Alan Olsen of Harrisburg, Neb., asks: What kind of research is happening in this country, and when can I see human research here? Dr. Helen Blau responds: Our government has policies that restrict embryonic stem cells. However, these policies are hurting the progress of all stem cells. We need to investigate all types and see what works best for what disease. In the current political climate no stem cells can be adequately studied in the United States. We need to change the policies at the level of the White House. Dr. Charles Murry responds: The U.S. leads the world in adult stem cell research. Bone marrow transplantation, and later, blood stem cell transplantation were developed here and exported worldwide. Although excellent work is going on worldwide, the U.S. leads in neural stem cell research for treating Parkinson's disease, spinal cord injury and stroke. The U.S. also leads research in adult stem cells for treating diabetes and shares a lead with Germany in treatment of heart attacks. The U.S. is lagging behind many countries in embryonic stem cell research. Great Britain, Australia, Israel, Singapore and South Korea are just some of the countries where embryonic stem cell research is more advanced than here. This, of course, relates to the administrative restrictions on human embryonic stem cell research. Human research in the U.S. is already underway with adult stem cells. I predict that within the next five years, clinical trails and derivatives of embryonic stem cells will begin as well. The three diseases where progress seems most likely with either adult or embryonic stem cells are heart attacks (myocardial infarctions), Parkinson's disease and diabetes.