Guest guest Posted September 14, 2002 Report Share Posted September 14, 2002 Health Care Anal 2002;10(2):127-54 Related Articles, Links The commercialization of human stem cells: ethical and policy issues. Resnik DB. Department of Medical Humanities, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27858-4354, USA. resnikd@... The first stage of the human embryonic stem (ES) cell research debate revolved around fundamental questions, such as whether the research should be done at all, what types of research may be done, who should do the research, and how the research should be funded. Now that some of these questions are being answered, we are beginning to see the next stage of the debate: the battle for property rights relating to human ES cells. The reason why property rights will be a key issue in this debate is simple and easy to understand: it costs a great deal of money to do this research, to develop new products, and to implement therapies; and private companies, researchers, and health professionals require returns on investments and reimbursements for goods and services. This paper considers arguments for and against property rights relating to ES cells defends the following points: (1) It should be legal to buy and sell ES cells and products. (2) It should be legal to patent ES cells, products, and related technologies. (3) It should not be legal to buy, sell, or patent human embryos. (4) Patents on ES cells, products, and related technologies should not be excessively broad. (5) Patents on ES cells, products, and related technologies should be granted only when applicants state definite, plausible uses for their inventions. (6) There should be a research exemption in ES cell patenting to allow academic scientists to conduct research in regenerative medicine. (7) It may be appropriate to take steps to prevent companies from using patents in ES cells, products, and related technologies only to block competitors. (8) As the field of regenerative medicine continues to develop, societies should revisit issues relating to property rights on a continuing basis in order to develop policies and develop regulations to maximize the social, medical, economic, and scientific benefits of ES cell research and product development. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 16, 2002 Report Share Posted September 16, 2002 This reminds me... I saw Dr. Ron McKay of the NIH on TV last night talking about his research with stem cells and dopamine producing neurons in mice. He is also trying it on monkeys. This is indeed very promising. They showed a parkinson patient as well being examined by Dr. Standaert at MGH. The patient, who happened to be a minister, said he would have no problem ethically receiving stem cells obtained from discarded fertilized eggs from fertility clinics. Bill said: > Stem cell > technology has proven over and over to cure mice of induced Parkinson's > symptoms. It has also been shown to grow insulin producing cells in > mice whose insulin producing cells were killed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 16, 2002 Report Share Posted September 16, 2002 Pam, If you remember, Moller and I saw and talked with Ron McKay two years ago before he actually published his paper. Since then his work has been duplicated at least twice, so it is no fluke. Take care, Bill Werre ============================= Pam Bower wrote: This reminds me... I saw Dr. Ron McKay of the NIH on TV last night talkingabout his research with stem cells and dopamine producing neurons in mice.He is also trying it on monkeys. This is indeed very promising. Theyshowed a parkinson patient as well being examined by Dr. Standaert atMGH. The patient, who happened to be a minister, said he would have noproblem ethically receiving stem cells obtained from discarded fertilizedeggs from fertility clinics.Bill said: Stem celltechnology has proven over and over to cure mice of induced Parkinson'ssymptoms. It has also been shown to grow insulin producing cells inmice whose insulin producing cells were killed. If you do not wish to belong to shydrager, you may unsubscribe by sending a blank email to shydrager-unsubscribe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 23, 2002 Report Share Posted October 23, 2002 Hi Barb, I got this from you but I didn't see it go to the list so I'll copy it there now. Yes, I found out that removing attachments also stops people from sending enhanced emails with colours or pictures. Sorry about that but I don't have any other solution at the moment for the virus attacks. There is no way to make sure every subscriber on the site updates their anti-virus software. Hugs, Pam Stem Cells Good morning . With the new restrictions I was not sure this article would get through so am trying both ways, to Pam and to the list. It is very interesting. Barb Gee I miss being able to add the little images for all to see and enjoy. Just one more case of the innocent having to suffer because of the nuts on the loose Umbilical Stem Cells Show Promise NewsMax.com Wires Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2002 SEATTLE – Scientists said Tuesday they can increase the number of stem cells derived from umbilical cord blood significantly by exposing the blood to a particular molecule. The finding could have important implications for stem cell research. Dr. Irwin Bernstein, a pediatric oncologist at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center and the University of Washington, in Seattle, led a research team to determine how best to use stem cells that can be derived from umbilical cord blood. To do so, they exposed cord blood in the laboratory to a protein molecule called Delta-1. Although it remains unclear exactly how the molecule works, it somehow increased the number of immature stem cells in a sample of cord blood 100-fold. It also increased the number of hematopoeitic stem cells, which are cells that can evolve into any type of cell found in blood. As reported in the Oct. 22 issue of the Journal of Clinical Investigation, the researchers next tested their newly harvested cells in mice with deficient immune systems. The animals' immune systems resembled those of leukemia patients who have undergone radiation therapy before a bone marrow transplant. Such patients are left with collapsed immune systems, making them vulnerable to infection. Study results showed the enhanced stem cells were more potent in the mice compared with non-cultured stem cells or stem cells not exposed to Delta-1. This finding is critical, the researchers said, because it helps scientists overcome a major obstacle in the transplantation of cells into adults. When cells are transplanted, the body typically recognizes them as foreign and attempts to reject them. " What we're interested in and what we're trying to understand is what makes a stem cell renew, " Bernstein told United Press International. " We're only beginning to learn about hematopoeitic stem cells. " Scientists are studying stem cells because they can be developed into a variety of mature cells, involving the immune system, blood or different types of tissue. The ability to regenerate tissues could have major implications for the treatment of many diseases, such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and cancer. So far, however, such efforts have been difficult, Bernstein said, because stem cells behave differently in the body, their natural environment, than in the laboratory. The finding that certain stem cells behave differently when exposed to Delta-1 could improve the ability to control stem development, he explained. " We can use this information to begin to engineer so we can grow these stem cells in vitro and use them for therapeutic value, " Bernstein said. " It used to be thought this [stem cell differentiation] was all random, but it isn't. " Alternative to Killing Human Embryos Stem cells from umbilical cord blood also might be an ideal alternative to embryonic stem cells, which remain highly controversial because to harvest them human embryos must be destroyed. " To me, cord blood seems to be best alternative " source of stem cells, , director of the Cord Blood Registry Stem Cell Bank in Tucson, Ariz., told UPI. It offers the same advantages as embryonic stem cells without the ethical problems, he said. , a professor of immunology at the University of Arizona, said researchers have known since the 1960s umbilical cord blood was a rich source of stem cells. He called Bernstein's findings " very promising. The sooner it gets into clinical trials, the better. " Newborn stem cells don't have those emotional, moral problems that fetal stem cells have, " said. Copyright 2002 by United Press International. All rights reserved. Read more on this subject in related Hot Topics: Health Issues Stem Cell Research -- " Love may be priceless, but it demands a huge expenditure of time. " --Suzanne Fields Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 23, 2002 Report Share Posted October 23, 2002 Hi Barb, I got this from you but I didn't see it go to the list so I'll copy it there now. Yes, I found out that removing attachments also stops people from sending enhanced emails with colours or pictures. Sorry about that but I don't have any other solution at the moment for the virus attacks. There is no way to make sure every subscriber on the site updates their anti-virus software. Hugs, Pam Stem Cells Good morning . With the new restrictions I was not sure this article would get through so am trying both ways, to Pam and to the list. It is very interesting. Barb Gee I miss being able to add the little images for all to see and enjoy. Just one more case of the innocent having to suffer because of the nuts on the loose Umbilical Stem Cells Show Promise NewsMax.com Wires Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2002 SEATTLE – Scientists said Tuesday they can increase the number of stem cells derived from umbilical cord blood significantly by exposing the blood to a particular molecule. The finding could have important implications for stem cell research. Dr. Irwin Bernstein, a pediatric oncologist at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center and the University of Washington, in Seattle, led a research team to determine how best to use stem cells that can be derived from umbilical cord blood. To do so, they exposed cord blood in the laboratory to a protein molecule called Delta-1. Although it remains unclear exactly how the molecule works, it somehow increased the number of immature stem cells in a sample of cord blood 100-fold. It also increased the number of hematopoeitic stem cells, which are cells that can evolve into any type of cell found in blood. As reported in the Oct. 22 issue of the Journal of Clinical Investigation, the researchers next tested their newly harvested cells in mice with deficient immune systems. The animals' immune systems resembled those of leukemia patients who have undergone radiation therapy before a bone marrow transplant. Such patients are left with collapsed immune systems, making them vulnerable to infection. Study results showed the enhanced stem cells were more potent in the mice compared with non-cultured stem cells or stem cells not exposed to Delta-1. This finding is critical, the researchers said, because it helps scientists overcome a major obstacle in the transplantation of cells into adults. When cells are transplanted, the body typically recognizes them as foreign and attempts to reject them. " What we're interested in and what we're trying to understand is what makes a stem cell renew, " Bernstein told United Press International. " We're only beginning to learn about hematopoeitic stem cells. " Scientists are studying stem cells because they can be developed into a variety of mature cells, involving the immune system, blood or different types of tissue. The ability to regenerate tissues could have major implications for the treatment of many diseases, such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and cancer. So far, however, such efforts have been difficult, Bernstein said, because stem cells behave differently in the body, their natural environment, than in the laboratory. The finding that certain stem cells behave differently when exposed to Delta-1 could improve the ability to control stem development, he explained. " We can use this information to begin to engineer so we can grow these stem cells in vitro and use them for therapeutic value, " Bernstein said. " It used to be thought this [stem cell differentiation] was all random, but it isn't. " Alternative to Killing Human Embryos Stem cells from umbilical cord blood also might be an ideal alternative to embryonic stem cells, which remain highly controversial because to harvest them human embryos must be destroyed. " To me, cord blood seems to be best alternative " source of stem cells, , director of the Cord Blood Registry Stem Cell Bank in Tucson, Ariz., told UPI. It offers the same advantages as embryonic stem cells without the ethical problems, he said. , a professor of immunology at the University of Arizona, said researchers have known since the 1960s umbilical cord blood was a rich source of stem cells. He called Bernstein's findings " very promising. The sooner it gets into clinical trials, the better. " Newborn stem cells don't have those emotional, moral problems that fetal stem cells have, " said. Copyright 2002 by United Press International. All rights reserved. Read more on this subject in related Hot Topics: Health Issues Stem Cell Research -- " Love may be priceless, but it demands a huge expenditure of time. " --Suzanne Fields Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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