Are stem cells the answer? Much depends, of course, on your question and who you ask. I had many on the topic, which is why, on 30 April this year, I joined a small group in the elegant surroundings of the Holywell Music Room in Oxford, eager to hear Professor Peter Braude - 'a leading figure in the world of reproductive and stem cell research' - share his views.
Braude seemed frustrated by the media's tendency to distort preliminary laboratory findings, and more particularly how this served to support premature commercial exploitation. He suggested science and medicine were making significant progress, and there could be optimism that powerful, new therapies would eventually emerge. However, the gulf between promise and practice was still too large, and private enterprise had rashly established itself as the cart before the horse. Braude produced evidence to suggest those offering quick, safe and painless universal remedies were, at best, misguided, and at worst, dangerously irresponsible.
After condemning the mercenaries, Braude diverted his energy towards championing the technology. Not only did we learn what stem cells were, their different types, where they came from, and their divine versatility, Braude declared they were no panacea, and carried substantial quality control risks and ethical obstacles. However, breakthrough research into induced pluripotent stem (IPS) cell therapy gave hope for future suitable human therapeutic applications.
Braude had an engaging enthusiasm for his subject, and managed to reduce a highly-complex and emotive subject to an entertaining, informative and compelling overview. It could be argued that any research scientist would claim his work is never done and that more comprehensive and definitive research was needed. He convinced me.
Are stem cells the answer? According to Professor Braude: yes and no and maybe - it's still too early to tell.
HR, 25/05/09
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