Opinion: Patrick should move quickly on stem cell policy
By William M. Caldwell IV
As the only major private embryonic stem cell research company in the state, we at Advanced Cell Technology are delighted to see someone with a pro-science stance as the incoming governor.
Governor-elect Patrick’s views on stem cell research reflect those of most Massachusetts voters, and indeed most Americans. Chiefly: A belief that the government must fund basic scientific research, including stem cell research.
But a lack of public understanding of the nature of human embryonic stem cells (hESC) research has politicized funding for that work, and pushed treatments farther into the horizon, particularly those in the field of regenerative medicine.
Regenerative medicine uses hESCs to provide a well-characterized, reproducible source of replacement cells for clinical studies, and the potential treatment of devastating diseases and injuries, including Parkinson’s, retinal disease, cardiac disease, diabetes, and stroke.
Advanced Cell Technology has made great progress toward the goal of bringing the promise of embryonic stem cell research to the bedside. In August of this year, we published our technique for generating new embryonic stem cell lines without harming the embryo’s potential for life and development. Recently, we demonstrated positive progress in our retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) program, which showed how cells in the eye – derived from our hESCs – could potentially restore vision.
This progress in the field is encouraging, but forward movement in hESC research has been hampered by the ban on federal funding of new embryonic stem cell lines. Simply put, with more funding, we could move much faster toward eventually bringing potential cures to millions of Americans.
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is not currently authorized to fund hESC research - particularly "translational funding," designed to transform scientific research into products. This type of investment offers the greatest bang for the buck, in terms of job creation, and return on investment of government dollars.
Until those restrictions are lifted, states must fill the gap.
Those states that have enacted pro-stem cell legislation – such as California and Missouri – sent a message to the country and the world that they are a pro-growth, pro-science environment. This is critical in a globalized economy, where billions in investment dollars can flow across state and country lines in a heartbeat.
Voters’ reactions to Deval Patrick’s solid stance on stem cell research is encouraging, and we welcome his leadership.
Most of all, we encourage him, on his first day in office to be as bold in deed as he has been in words, and put forward legislation to fund embryonic stem cell research.
Such a decisive move would send a strong message to the citizens of Massachusetts, and the country as a whole. While others wax and wane, or get bogged down in needlessly politicized debate, the Commonwealth will fund this research, and do its part to help lessen human suffering – in Central Massachusetts, throughout the state, across the country, and around the world.
William M. Caldwell, IV is chairman and CEO of Advanced Cell Technology, Inc., which has operations in Worcester and in Alameda, California.
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