Stem Cell Research Debate Hits Home

As the world of stem cell news is still dominated by fall out from President Bush's veto of the embryonic research bill.

The plus side of the desicion seems to be that companies specialising in adult stem cell research, such as TheraVitae and the one featured in the article below may well see more interest in their research, and their products derived from adult stem cells.

Stem Cell Research Debate Hits Home

As expected, President Bush cast the first veto of his 5 and a half-year presidency today, rejecting legislation to ease limits on federal funding for embryonic stem cell research.

While scientists say the President's veto will slow embryonic stem cell research, it helps a Rochester company, which is developing a way to capture adult stem cells for research more quickly. With the President's veto, the only growing field in stem cell research is on adult stem cells. Those are already in your body. But to get to them, requires a needle about six inches long and local anesthetic. A local doctor believes he has developed that device.

Stem cells can take the form of any of the body's cells, replacing sick ones with healthy ones, which is why Dr. Michael King of the company Stemcapture, wants to find them. Research on stem cells from embryos is limited, so he's looking for adult stem cells. "What we're trying to do is develop products that capture adult stem cells out of the blood stream,” said Dr. King. "The device is what you will eventually put into someone's arm."

Today, the President's veto made their work even more important. Scientist, Srinivas Narasipura says he wants to stay in Rochester to be on the cutting edge. The President's policies are a setback for embryonic stem cell research," said Narasipura. "We haven't let it hold us back in what we're doing.

The original article can be found on the Channel 10 News website from Rochester, NY, USA