Stem cell success without killing human embryos

The month of October featured two breakthroughs from scientists using stem cells from life-affirming sources which received next to no attention from American media outlets. First, researchers from Britain were able to turn stem cells found in umbilical cord blood into “mini-livers.” They hope these “mini livers” could be used to test drugs and think they could be used to treat patients in possibly 10 15 years. Second, researchers from Minnesota were able to turn umbilical cord stem cells into lung cells. They hope these cells will help them understand how diseases like Cystic Fibrosis begin and then help them develop better ways to treat these diseases.

Another way to judge the success of life-affirming stem cells is by looking at the clinical trials which are currently underway. According to www.clinicaltrials.gov (a government web site) there are more than 500 clinical trials using adult or umbilical cord blood stem cells underway which are no longer recruiting patients while there are an additional 500 plus clinical trials still recruiting patients for research using adult stem cells or stem cells taken from umbilical cord blood. How many human clinical trials are underway using embryonic stem cells? Zero. Zip. Zilch.

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