Doctors use adult stem cells in successful windpipe transplant
Scientists and doctors from several countries used stem cells from bone marrow to help create a windpipe for Claudia Castillo, who suffered from tuberculosis. Scientists used a windpipe from a donor and added Castillo's stem cells to create the new tissue, which has avoided immune rejection. This success in ethical stem cell research shows the potential for using patients' own stem cells to create tissue transplants.
Stem cell pioneer moves on to using iPS cells
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports from the 2008 World Stem Cell Summit in Madison, WI, that the two companies co-founded by stem cell pioneer Dr. James Thomson have merged and shifted away from using embryonic stem cells to using induced-pluripotent stem cells (iPS cells). Dr. Thomson was the first person to isolate human embryonic stem cells in 1998.
Australia allows human cloning
A Reuters story reports the Australian government has issued its first license for scientists to begin cloning humans. Australia lifted its ban on therapeutic cloning in 2006, meaning that any human created through cloning must be killed before he or she is born under Australian law. Scientists will attempt to isolate embryonic stem cells from the killed human embryos.
More breakthroughs with iPS cells
Scientists at Harvard University reported in early August they were able to create induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cell lines from patients with 10 different genetic diseases. These cells have the same properties as embryonic stem cells but are created without killing human embryos. Researchers hope to use these cells to study the diseases and obtain a better understanding of how these diseases develop. The diseases to be studied include juvenile diabetes, Parkinson’s, Lou Gehrig’s disease, and muscular dystrophy.
Michigan State Medical Society goes neutral on killing human embryos for research
Thanks to the work of many physicians
and legislators, the Michigan State Medical Society (MSMS) 
has
changed their position on embryonic stem cell research. Since 2003, the
MSMS, which represents more than 14,000 physicians in Michigan, had an
official position which favored embryonic stem cell research. During a
recent gathering, the members of the MSMS adopted a neutral position
on human embryonic stem cell
research and will provide its membership with more information on
the issue over the next year.
Read Representative Kevin Green's
letter, signed by 55 additional
State House Members, to the Michigan State Medical Society.
Real Life: Saved By Her Brother
Cousins,
siblings, aunts and uncles are all blood relatives. Usually this is a
metaphor about the strong bonds holding families together. For six-year-old
Colleen, however, this is a fact that might have been the difference between
life and death. Colleen was diagnosed with sickle cell anemia, a serious
blood disorder. Her first hospitalization was only eight months after
her birth. Fortunately, her brother William was able to provide the cure
to her condition. Her brother's blood is now literally hers as well.
“By the grace of God and the extraordinary medical knowledge and skills of staff at Mott Hospital at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, our daughter Colleen is almost three years out of her bone marrow transplant and cured of sickle cell disease,” Colleen's adoptive mother, Susan Sweetman said.
Embryo Adoption
EMBRYO OR TODDLER .
. . FRANK IS STILL FRANK!
(Roll over image to see Frank as a Toddler)
Frank
was adopted when he was just 4 cells old. Many seem to forget or ignore
that embryo, toddler, adolescent and adult are merely words to describe
levels of human development.
Destroying human life for research, even at its
earliest stages of development, is a dangerous prospect. Saying these
members of our society who have been frozen will be discarded anyway is
inaccurate. Many are saved for future family building by their parents
and others, like Frank, have been adopted by families who cannot conceive
children on their own.
FULL TEXT
A critical read through of "Myths and Truth About Stem Cell Research," as published on the curemichigan.com website.
A critical read through of "Cures, jobs, ethics on the line in vote on stem cell research Opposing sides dig in as vote nears on Proposal 2," BY Megha Satyanarayana, published in the September 24, 2008 Detroit Free Press.
A critical read through of "Op-Ed: Stem cells likely biggest
issue in Nov." by Jack Lessenberry published in the Traverse City
Record-Eagle on July 13, 2008.
A critical read through of "Stem cell advocate speaks out"
by Beth Jones published on the WLUC-TV 6 website on June 18, 2008.
A critical read through of "Dr. Mel Lester: Embryonic Stem Cell
Research Offers Hope" published in the June 1, 2008 Lansing State
Journal.
A critical read through of text on the front page of the curemichigan.com
website.
A critical read through of "Future of stem-cell research discussed"
by Chad Livengood that appeared in the Feb. 21, 2008 Jackson Citizen Patriot.
A critical read through of the Op-Ed written by State Senator Gretchen
Whitmer that appeared in the Lansing State Journal on Jan. 20, 2008.
A critical read through of "Op-Ed: Embryonic stem-cell ban shows
state isn't serious" by Jack Lessenberry published in the Traverse
City Record Eagle on Dec. 23, 2007.
A critical read through of "Stem cell discovery might help state
life-sci industry" published in the Ann Arbor Business Review on
Dec. 6, 2007.
A critical read through of "More travel overseas for stem cell
therapy" published in the Detroit News on November 29, 2007.
Michigan's laws which prohibit the killing of human embryos for research
and human cloning have often been mislabeled as a "ban on stem cell
research." Read the legislation for yourself.
