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Booger, This is for you. In Star Telegram today.

Stem cells will soon be tested in people
Posted Sunday, Aug. 29, 2010 Comments (0) Recommend (0) Print Share Buzz up!Reprints ArticleCommentsA Have more to add? News tip? Tell us

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By -- The Washington Post

Even as supporters of human embryonic stem cell research are reeling from the recent cutoff of federal funding, another portentous landmark is quietly approaching: the world's first attempt to carefully test the cells in people.

Scientists are poised to inject cells created from embryonic stem cells into some patients with a progressive form of blindness and others with devastating spinal cord injuries.

But beyond being loathsome to those with moral objections to any research using cells from human embryos, the tests worry many proponents: Some say the experiments are premature, others question whether they are ethical and many fear that the trials risk disaster for the field if anything goes awry.

"We desperately need to know how these cells are going to perform in the human setting," said John Gearhart, a stem cell pioneer at the University of Pennsylvania.

The Food and Drug Administration has demanded extensive experiments in the laboratory and on animals to provide evidence that the cells are safe enough to test in people and hold great promise.

"If we're right, we'll revolutionize the treatment of many chronic diseases," said Thomas Okarma, president and chief executive of Geron Corp. of Menlo Park, Calif., which after years of delay received a green light in July from the FDA to study patients partially paralyzed by spinal cord injuries.

But some researchers fear that if patients are hurt by the cells -- or even if there's no hint that the cells help -- that could be a devastating blow just as scientists are scrambling for funding from private foundations and benefactors.


Read more: http://www.star-telegram.com/2010/08/29/2432100/stem-cells-will-soon-be-tested.html#ixzz0y9XgfJrb