Stem cell pioneer warns of roadblocks before cures
(Published Friday, February 9, 2007 10:47:25 AM CST)
A d v e r t i s e m e n t
By Ryan J. Foley Associated Press
LAKE DELTON, Wis. - Major roadblocks remain before human embryonic stem cells could be transplanted into humans to cure diseases or replace injured body parts, a research pioneer said Thursday night.
University of Wisconsin scientist James Thomson said obstacles include learning how to grow the cells into all types of organs and tissue and then making sure cancer and other defects are not introduced during the transplantation.
"I don't want to sound too pessimistic because this is all doable, but it's going to be very hard," Thomson told the Wisconsin Newspaper Association's annual convention at the Kalahari Resort in this Wisconsin Dells town. "Ultimately, those transplation therapies should work but it's likely to take a long time."
Thomson and his colleagues in 1998 became the first scientists to isolate a line of stem cells from a human embryo.
Scientists believe embryonic stem cells may help them unlock cures to diseases such as juvenile diabetes and Parkinson's because they can theoretically grow into any tissue or organ of the body.
One day, some believe the cells will become sources of brain tissue, muscle and bone marrow to replace diseased or injured body parts.
But Thomson cautioned such breakthroughs are likely decades away. Scientists will learn how to grow the cells into all types of tissue and organs in the next decade, he predicted, but serious safety concerns will delay use in humans.
Thomson said other scientific uses for the cells may prove just as important. He said the cells are allowing scientists to study disease and will lead to greater understanding of what causes infertility, miscarriage and birth defects.
Thomson noted two companies he created with colleagues at University Research Park in Madison illustrate some of the first uses of the cells.
One of them is trying to create blood products to treat wounded soldiers and others who need blood transfusions. The other is growing stem cells into adult heart cells that could make the testing of experimental drugs safer and more efficient.
While promising to scientists, the research faces intense opposition from some social conservatives because days-old human embryos are destroyed as scientists extract the cells. Critics argue it is unethical to destroy human life in the name of science.
But Thomson said President Bush's policy of restricting federal funding to cell lines in existence before 2001 has not saved embryos. He said the embryos, leftover from in vitro fertilization treatments to help couples have children, are instead being discarded.
"We're basically past the social controversy now," Thomson said. "George Bush is clearly very much in the minority right now. His policies would be overturned if he didn't have veto power."
