STEM CELLS

Advocates of the Gold Standard

A Roundtable Discussion on the World Stem Cell Summit

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Early next week, the fourth annual World Stem Cell Summit will convene in Madison, Wisconsin, the homebase of scientist James Thomson. Ten years ago, Thomson successfully derived and prolonged a culture of human embryonic stem cells; last year, his team produced pluripotent stem cells from adult skin cells. The field of stem cell research continues to widen as scientists work towards the possibility of regenerating damaged organs and mitigating chronic genetic illnesses. Meanwhile researchers, along with patients, drug companies, and advocacy groups, are pushing for the next administration and Congress to lower restrictions on research and increase federal funding for work with human embryonic stem cells, or hES cells.

The co-chairs of the World Stem Cell Summit recently spoke with Science Progress in a roundtable discussion on the state of research. Bernard Siegel, executive director of Genetics Policy Institute, joined Timothy Kamp and Clive Svendsen, co-directors of University of Wisconsin Stem Cell & Regenerative Medicine Center, and Science Progress Editor-in-Chief Jonathan Moreno. Here are some of the highlights of the discussion.

The summit runs September 22 -23 and is distinctive in that it brings together scientists, patients, advocacy groups, and philanthropists, said Siegel. It is public-facing, interactive, and scientists learn “where their work fits into the world,” said Svendsen.

“We live in our own little shoebox sometimes as scientists,” he said.

Clive Svendsen discusses interactions between scientists and the public:

Although Kamp says it’s unusual to have this kind of interaction, he said he’s excited about the upcoming conversations. Industry and advocacy groups will have their own sessions in addition to the discussions of diseases and treatments.

During the summit, attendees will have a chance to discuss the ethical issues surrounding embryonic stem cell research. Those in favor of President George W. Bush’s restrictions on federal funding for hES cell research hailed Thomson’s work to create induced pluripotent stem cells from adult cells. But scientists and policy experts alike have pointed out in order for research to progress, work with human embryonic stem cells is critical, as they remain the “gold standard” for understanding pluripotency. Also, Svendsen said, studying IPS and hES cells simultaneously will create collaboration between scientists working in both fields.

Moreover, putting all future research eggs in the IPS cell basket is not a sound approach. “Extremism in any area is dangerous,” Svendsen said. “Although [Thomson’s research] is an exciting new technique, relying on any one technique is not the way forward, particularly if you want to bring cells into the clinic as quickly as possible.”

Tim Kamp explains why embryonic stem cells are the “gold standard” for pluripotency:

“I think we’re still in the long process of really understanding just how much an induced pluripotent stem cell is like an embryonic stem cell and its ability to grow for prolonged periods of time, [and] its ability to deferentiate into all the different cell types we’re interested in,” Kamp said.

Researchers are discovering new, previously unimagined ways to reverse damage from injury and disease. Svendsen said he believes the first work using stem cells in clinical trials will employ them as helper cells, which modulate the tissue by increasing blood flow to the area, regrowing damaged cells.

Tim Kamp describes clinical work using autologous cells to repair damaged heart tissue:

“This is really alchemy; taking lead and turning it into gold,” Svendsen said. “We can take an adult cell and make it pluripotent and make it do what ever we want.”

Clive Svendsen on the exciting new potential of pluripotent cells:

Addressing possibilities for significant expansion of federal support, Kamp said that the United States has “an incredible pool of researchers,” but to continue that research, the National Institutes of Health needs to increase funding. He even mused about the possibility of creating a stem cell and regenerative research center, much like the Center for Cancer Research.

Siegel pointed out that funding for the NIH has been flat overall and that funding for this field has been neglected. He hopes the next administration will increase federal funding for embryonic stem cell research and the Food and Drug Administration will move swiftly and safely on regulations.

Bernard Siegel stresses how important FDA regulations and federal funding are to stem cell research:

“We want to make sure we don’t have a gridlock,” Siegel said “and that we can move all systems forward responsibly but quickly.”

The grassroots advocacy groups are pushing hard for this research, politically and financially. Next Monday and Tuesday, more than 150 corporate sponsors and non-profit partners will show their support at the World Stem Cell Summit. The co-chairs expect the summit, now in its fourth year, to help shape the future of stem cell research in this election year.

“This is a field that’s on the move,” Siegel said. “The political climate is changing for the better. And in the next ten years we’re going to see major advancements.”

Tristan Fowler is an intern at Science Progress and a journalism major at Ithaca College.

Tags: bioethics, funding, genetics, stem cells

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