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Stem Cell News
National Pediatric Doctors Group Wants Exclusive
Support of Adult Stem Cell Research
By Steven Ertelt, Life News, May 14, 2007
Rather than have federal and state governments
throw money away by funding studies that focus on
embryonic stem cells, a national group of pediatric
doctors want the money redirected towards adult stem
cells research. The significant success adult stem
cell research has shown over embryonic research
provides data to back their cause.
Exclusive support of adult stem cell research is
what the American College of Pediatricians is
recommending to public officials.
"Not only does embryonic research require
taking the life of human embryos, it also prolongs
needless suffering by delaying the development of more
promising adult stem cell treatments and cures,"
said Michelle Cretella, MD, a fellow of the American
College of Pediatricians.
Dr. Cretella cites the use of adult stem cells
derived from umbilical cord blood, placenta, amniotic
fluid, various organs, adult blood, and fat, as proof.
These non-embryonic sources have thus far yielded
impressive results.
Cretella explained that certain forms of cancer
therapy make routine use of adult stem cells today.
But successful treatments have not been limited to
cancer. Parkinson's disease, diabetes, spinal cord
injuries, heart failure, and dozens of other health
problems have been treated with exceptional results in
human trials over the last decade.
"This has not been the case with any embryonic
stem cell trial," the pediatricians' group's
spokeswoman said. "Instead, there have been
catastrophic results with these cells producing the
wrong tissue, forming tumors and triggering immune
rejection."
"Every dollar spent on the failed and
unnecessary process of embryonic stem cell research
steals resources away from the established utility and
potential of adult stem cell research," Cretella
concluded. "This is fiscally irresponsible and
medically unconscionable."
Government entities are not hte only ones who have
put an emphasis on embryonic stem cell research
spending.
Patients were shown to develop insulin independence
when Brazilian scientists treated those suffering from
Type 1 diabetes with adult stem cells this past April.
But the study received no funding at all from a
leading U.S. diabetes group. This same group helped to
almost force taxpayers to fund embryonic stem cell
research by funding lobbying efforts to push Congress
to approve the bill.
Scientists found that 14 of the 15 patients
involved with the diabetes study became insulin free.
The findings were published in the most recent issue
of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Working with the scientists was Northwestern
University's Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago
doctor, Richard Burt.
"It's the first time in the history of Type 1
diabetes where people have gone with no treatment
whatsoever ... no medications at all, with normal
blood sugars," he says of the groundbreaking
study.
For the millions of Americans who suffer from
diabetes, the results of the study would be
miraculous.
But the Brazilian Ministry of Health and a private
corporation had to provide funds to the researchers as
the JAMA article reads. American's should feel
dismayed that countless sums of money lobbying
Congress to fund embryonic stem cells research have
been spent by the Juvenile Diabetes Research
Foundation and the American Diabetes Association, and
not directed towards the diabetes study conducted in
Brazil. The prominent diabetes entities chose to back
research that has yet to help even one single patient.
Both organization were asked why they did not help
fund the Brazilian diabetes study, but neither
organization responded to any e-mails that were sent.
They "were not interested in the
approach," said Burt to the AP when confirming
their non-participation.
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