Outsourcing Health

Siji · Post by **Siji** » March 18, 2004, 1:51 pm

http://abcnews.go.com/wire/US/reuters20040317_178.html

March 17 — STOCKHOLM (Reuters) - The Pentagon has granted $240,000 to a Swedish team for embryonic stem-cell research linked to Parkinson's disease, the researchers said on Wednesday, despite U.S. government limits on stem-cell research.

In a statement, Lund University in southern Sweden said the U.S. Department of Defense was supporting the Swedish Parkinson's study because the findings could be used to treat similar neurological illnesses caused by battlefield toxins.

The Swedish research, using human embryonic stem cells, will focus on ways to prompt the cells to develop into the type of nerve cells deficient in the brains of patients with Parkinson's. The disease causes tremors, muscle rigidity and slow movement in its sufferers and is currently incurable.

"The goal is to develop a line of human embryonic stem cells which can be transplanted to test animals with a disease resembling Parkinson's," said Patrik Brundin, the research team leader.

Stem cells are a type of master cell. Embryonic stem cells, or blastocysts, can be directed to develop into any type of cell or tissue when grown correctly.

President Bush has forbidden the use of federal funds to manipulate or create human embryos for research and limited scientific research to a few existing batches of cells taken from fertility clinic leftovers.

Opponents, including Bush, say any use of a human embryo amounts to murder and is unethical. Critics are pushing for legislation in the United States that would outlaw the practice completely.

Brundin's team sought research funding from the Michael J. Fox Foundation, founded by the American actor who suffers from Parkinson's disease. The foundation forwarded the application to the Pentagon, Lund University said.
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It's pretty sad when we have to oursource even health research to more intelligent countries than us.

One more reason Bush is a jackass and religion needs to stay the fuck out of government.

Arborealus · Post by **Arborealus** » March 18, 2004, 2:01 pm

Prolly related to recent research regarding stem sell therapies for baldness...

Voronwë · Post by **Voronwë** » March 18, 2004, 2:02 pm

giving away our most important economic advantage over the next 100 years.

brilliant leadership by the Republicans.

Chmee · Post by **Chmee** » March 18, 2004, 2:13 pm

Bush's stance in general on stem cell research has been poor. There is still work going on in the U.S. though.

http://www.dynamist.com/weblog/archives/000934.html

Geron Corp., which owns nine of the embryonic stem cell lines eligible for federal research money, has successfully used stem cells to cure mice of spinal injuries. According to the WSJ report (link should work for a week), Geron plans to try the technique on humans with new spinal injuries. From the report:
The Menlo Park, Calif., company hopes that injecting stem cells -- which have been modified to become the naturally unreplacable cells that insulate nerve cells -- into the site of a spinal trauma will help reduce the severity of paralysis.

Voronwë · Post by **Voronwë** » March 18, 2004, 2:20 pm

yeah but none of it receives NIH money. THe NIH is the biggest source of money for biological research in the world, and the single reason the United States is the absolute center of the scientific world.

If the Republicans are allowed to continue this assinine capitulation to fundamentalist extremists, it will be a complete unmitigated economic disaster costing our economy billions if not trillions of dollars.

Lalanae · Post by **Lalanae** » March 18, 2004, 2:23 pm

You know, if pregnant women were encouraged to donate their umbilical cords after birth more, both sides of the stem cell controversy would be happy. (Umbilical cords contain stem cells.) Some folks have the stem cells harvested and pay a company to store them for possible future problems with their children. I personally don't have a problem with current means of collecting stem cells, but I understand how people can find the issue a bit unethical.

I saw a thing on TV about a little black boy who was completely cured of Sickle Cell Anemia because of stem cells from a donated umbilical cord. What I though was amazing is that the treatment actually changed his blood type. With stem cells, you don't have to worry about getting "a match." Anyone can use them.

Arborealus · Post by **Arborealus** » March 18, 2004, 2:29 pm

http://in.news.yahoo.com/040315/137/2c05w.html

Hair follicles also appear to contain stem cells...So ya know maybe Ron Jeremy will save medical stem cell research in the US...of course we will be way behind the curve by the time they develop good marking harvesting methods...

Voronwë · Post by **Voronwë** » March 18, 2004, 2:30 pm

we donated my little girl's cord blood =)

Winnow · Post by **Winnow** » March 18, 2004, 2:40 pm

Voronwë wrote:we donated my little girl's cord blood =)

cool voro : ) Did you offer to donate it spur of the moment or were you passed out on the floor of the delivery room during the big moment?

Dregor Thule · Post by **Dregor Thule** » March 18, 2004, 2:43 pm

He tossed it over his shoulder like a wedding bouquet.

Kaldaur · Post by **Kaldaur** » March 18, 2004, 3:14 pm

I have never heard that the umbilical cord contains stem cells. Why is it that this fact has been left out a national debate on whether embryo usage is an acceptable practice? It's as Lalanae said, this could satisfy both sides of the issue. Is it because they contain a good deal less stem cells than an embryo, or is it because they are harvested with more difficulty? Does anyone know?

Voronwë · Post by **Voronwë** » March 18, 2004, 3:21 pm

they are not "true" stem cells in that they are not what is termed "pleuripotent" -- meaning they have the potential to differentiate into any tissue type.

"Cell fate" is determined early in development and in some respects there is no way back once certain mechanisms have been activated. The 'stem cells' that are in umbilical cord blood are useful for treating blood disorders like leukemia or sickel cell anemia. But at this time they are not thought to have promise in treating neurodegenerative disorders like Parkinson's, etc.

that is my understanding anyway.

the cells that people are trying to harvest from blastulas in a dish are very different.

the end game is to not have to use cells derived from a fertilized ova, but to be able to develop stem cells from differentiated (basically adult) cells. but the knowledge to get to that point is quite a ways away - if it is even possible.

Siji · Post by **Siji** » March 18, 2004, 5:15 pm

It seems like having the cure to cancer, but refusing to develop it because an atheist doctor discovered it.

Aaeamdar · Post by **Aaeamdar** » March 18, 2004, 8:08 pm

Don't take this the wrong way. I am certainly opposed to the Bush policy. I find that to be nothing wrong with harvesting Stem cells from abortions (nor do I find there to be anything wrong with in vitro or in utero fertalization of an egg for the purpose of harversting stem cells). That said, it is either wrong or not wrong on its own. The potential for a cancer cure does not enter into it.

Arundel Pajo · Post by **Arundel Pajo** » March 19, 2004, 12:09 pm

The administration's stand on this issue is hypocritical. The embryos that had been used for stem cell research are not being "saved" by this legislation. They come from fertility clinics nationwide. In the same breath as he condemned stem cell research as immoral, Bush praised the work of fertility clinics.

The embryos are still being created. The only difference is that now they get thrown out with all the other bio-waste instead of being a part of some damn useful research.

Way to save the babies, dubya.