MJFF CEO Katie Hood in today's Huffington Post:

Mr. President, the Science Is Waiting

"President Obama, it's time to get that progress started again.

Please fulfill your campaign promise and repeal President Bush's policy immediately. For the countless millions of Americans who live with disease every day, waiting even another day seems like an incredibly frivolous waste of time. After all, to quote Story Landis, director of the National Institute of Neurodegeneration and Stroke at NIH: "The science is waiting.""

Read the whole thing here:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/katie-..._b_168648.html

I think our community needs a good conversation about ESCR, that does not include whether we are pro or con, but to insure that we are all up to date with the cutting edge research on ESCR. With Debi B. participating, I'd like to know everything she knows.

We can't believe what we read. we know that. But can we attempt to discover what is real as we know it thus far, without bias? No one needs to tell the Bush story. Can we just tally the "science that's waiting" as Katie quotes Story Landis saying and titles her blog?

What does this science include, and why do some feel that ESCR won't be necessary because it will be replaced by our own cells or by something else with the current rate of discovery?

Degenerating minds want to know!

I'll toss out the first provocative statement in the interest of discovery and with very good intentions.

I once heard Dr. Ole Isaacson say, "you can't help someone who doesn't have any cells." So true. But i am not aware of how many treatments in development are actually waiting for ESCR or currently using fetal cells [including for delivery]? Are they years ahead of our own cells in producing a successful treatment? i consider the Prentice list of adult stem cell treatments to be incorrect. However, i want to be completely correct when I speak of this difference.

Realizing that this is a big topic and a huge question, I hope I'm making it clear that i'm not referring to the reason for lack of progress -namely the ban - that's obvious and the purpose of Katie's blog today. i'm looking to be aware of and updated as to the amount or extent of the escr and fetal cell science that is in progress or "waiting".

just the facts. And thanks - this forum is becoming a place for truth to be freely exchanged.

We need to understand the magnitude of the need for ESCR - with the latest facts, and with changes in the language that better reflect current status of proposed use of cells.

Ok first person to mention Bush is a monkey's uncle.

...and thanks for the blog Katie, patience only goes so far, doesn't it?

paula

You're right, Paula, we need a good and thorough review of where the science stands.

That said, one person alone made the decision to halt scientific research. For me, the ESCR controversy is all about politics and the inappropriate insertion of religion into politics. We've had to waste so much energy fighting this for the past 7 years, advocacy energy that could have been put to more productive use. We have no way to measure the impact on our health because of the halt; I can only say it hasn't been positive.

Guess I'm only half a monkey's uncle; didn't mention his name, but we all know who I am talking about!

Ok, now I've got that off my chest, and I can get back to the science!

She has the most profound ways of saying something. I enjoyed her post.

Paula - it is quite confusing as to the stem cell issue right now, and I consider myself prettywell read. But this block in the roado (to allow leftover embryos from fertility clinics that are not wanted by their owners and will be discarded as medical waste) MUST BE overturned! (IMHO) This is i true even if we do discover that there are alternatives to ESCR.

And I hope we see some more updated news on this soon - I'm looking for scientific, matter-of-fact, bipartisan info. And Fox will no doubt be providing that as we go along.
Peggy

VIVA KATIE HOOD! I am in step with her but probably wont make it through to see the results.

YES Very nice post and I hope President Obama/his administrative staff read that post. I am all for ES cell research and therapy. I firmly believe that the truth and the spirit of science got lost because of politics and religion.

Having said that, I like to emphasize that stem cell therapy is not a total cure (yet) for PD. From what I have read (mostly animal models and the latest paper by Dr. L...where a single patient was observed for 5 years post stem cell therapy) transplanted cells/neurons do die with time. Whatever mechanism that is responsible for neuronal cell death is still operative. Please correct me if I am wrong and missed anything in the literature. I will be delighted if there are papers or information contrary to what I said!

No doubt stem therapy gives us back the ability to function and would improve the quality of life. I can understand the need for such a therapy even if it lasts for a few months or years. All I am trying to say is we need to be aware of its limitations as of now and continue with more research for a complete cure.

Thanks and look forward to a good discussion on stem cells.

Girija

Girija

girija,
My knowledge of it is in line with what you said, but i haven't kept up with the latest innovation. As Bandido said, this is a future for those younger [i'm 59 - ouch that hurts] oh man, i hate to post that, but we need to have thoughts and perceptions associated with where we are in the "journey". Should we put it in our profile or under the picture - age and how long pd - or care partner or provider - some ID to go with the stage of illness -girija your picture is very nice. That's one more thing to do tho....lol. I'll forget.

I am very focused on the present, and am pretty sure, at the rate of discovery these days, that our cells are so complicated and each of us so individual, that unlocking the cell will continue to surprise and fascinate beyond words, really, and along with that comes the realization it may be much harder to figure out.

I'm truly asking if this is the best we will get - ESC from fertility clinics? Are they the best that can be done? Will it waist time and money on something that won't work as well as a newer discovery? I'm asking this question today, about today. It's a science question. I'm not as positive as many are about this science [without political agenda], and feel a real need to watch and be informed in a way that is centered around time and how it is spent. This can be worthwhile for some of us mentally, and hopefully a beneficial discussion without any political interference - i would listen to each and every word that was said with awe i'm sure.

We are totally cellular. As a friend Carl once remarked on a post I made long ago with that title: "At the cellular level, I am really quite busy."

thanks again,
paula

Paula,
AS always a thoughtful post from you. Your questions are very valid and need to be answered. Hope we will have a good discussion. As for me, I am totally biased about stem cell research and support it without any reservations what so ever. Its science, its research, its knowledge and must go on like any other field of science regardless of its utility today. Stem cell therapy may not help me either in my life time but it has the potential to help a young person who is paralyzed in an accident.....may be a kid with diabetes....... and who knows what else! At the cellular level stem cells are very busy too! Great quote!

On a different note, a story to share about that picture I posted, may not belong here......... A few days ago, on one of my bad days, I was feeling sorry for myself and was low in general. My 10 yr old daughter entertained me, made me smile, took that picture and told me " Look Mommy, I can make you feel better faster than your medicine". She insisted on posting it so that others can see her mom getting better with her treatment! And yes, she is right, she puts a smile on my face and keeps me going AND my reason to be optimistic about stem cell therapy .

Girija

Girija, i like your smile, and it makes me smile, too. Paula, the following blogger is a neurologist @Yale, Dr. Steven Novella, who has much to write about ESC research. http://www.theness.com/neurologicablog/?p=250#more-250
He notes that ESCs are incredibly useful in basic research and proposes utilizing them to make astrocytes that could then be injected into brains--author notes: "Such astrocytes could deliver drugs, secrete hormones, neutralize toxins, and tweak the local environment." He points out that these cells just need to be in the area to work--they do not have to make connections as neurons do, so they may work easier and stay around longer. There are many other discussion on ESCs in his blog archives. He was recently featured on NPR, discussing his opinion about ESCs.
madelyn

Thanks madelyn,

That's what I'm looking for - to try to get an updated overall picture of what they are being used for now. Observing how quickly things can change, I would like to connect the research some - to see the greater picture.

Also thought your neuroprotection publication was very thorough and informative.

paula