Stem Cell Research 101
Stem Cell Research
Stem Cell Research 101: A promising type of bioscience research
The Stem Cell debate and the impact of The Stem Cell debate and the impact of the induced pluripotent stem cell procedureprocedure
Stem Cell Research 101
Why Is Vocabulary Important?y y p
K t f th d b t Key terms frame the debate “Mature” versus “adult” stem cells “Early” versus “embryonic” stem cells Early versus embryonic stem cells “Therapeutic” versus “reproductive” cloning
DefinitionsMultipotent — Give rise to multiple but limited cell
typesPluripotent — Flexible, give rise to any cell type in
the body
Stem Cell Research 101
y
What Is a Stem Cell? Unspecialized cells Give rise to more
than 250 pe i li ed ell inspecialized cells in
the body Serve as the Serve as the
body’s repair systemsystemRenew itselfReplenish other
Stem Cell Research 101
pcells
Mature Stem Cells (MSC)
What Are the Sources of Mature Stem Cells?Mature Stem Cells?
Mature Body TissuesMature Body TissuesBrain
Neural cellseu a ce s
Heart
Cardiac muscle
Bone marrow
Stem Cell Research 101
Blood cells
What Is a Treatment Example?p
Stem Cell Research 101
Umbilical Cord & Placenta SC Research
l d Isolated immediately following birthg
Wharton’s Jelly showing promiseas a sourceas a source
More flexibility = some pluripotent p pcharacteristics
Research is limited but growing
Stem Cell Research 101
but growing
Early Stem Cells (ESC)
What Are the Sources of Early Stem Cells?y
Stem Cell Research 101
Where Are Early Stem Cells Found?y
5 days ofWho did it first? ydevelopment
Who did it first? In 1998,
U. WisconsinU. Wisconsin research team isolates stem cells from IVF-blastocysts
Stem Cell Research 101
How Big Is a Blastocyst?g y
Stem Cell Research 101
What Are the Characteristics?
Early stem a y stecells are pluripotentR i h Retain the special ability toability to develop into nearly
llany cell type
Stem Cell Research 101
Somatic Cell Nuclear TransferSomatic Cell Nuclear Transfer (SCNT)
Sometimes referred to as “therapeutic cloning”
SCNT: Asexual Reproductionp
No sperm involved Transfers nucleus from a mature cell into a donor egg Requires electric or h i l ti l tchemical stimulus to
begin dividingF nctionall Functionally
different from regular fertilized egg
Stem Cell Research 101
fertilized egg
How Would SCNT Treat Disease?
Stem Cell Research 101
What Should You Know About SCNT?
Purpose:Purpose: Find cures and therapies for diseasesAwaken the natural capacity for self-repairAwaken the natural capacity for self repair
that resides in our genes Potential Results:Patients will receive own stem cells to
treat diseaseNo need for donor match
• Like transplantation, but without rejection
Stem Cell Research 101
What Should You Know About SCNT?
No reputable scientist wants to clone No reputable scientist wants to clone human beings SCNT stem cells are alive in a Petri dish SCNT stem cells are alive in a Petri dish Unless implanted in uterus, you can not
t f tgenerate a fetus Evidence suggests that SCNT stem cells
may never develop into a human even when implanted
Stem Cell Research 101
Most Recent Discovery
Induced pluripotent stem cell 2006/2007 - mouse and
human induced pluripotent stem cells were produced.
Patient
Introduce 3/4 genes found in stem cells into adult fibroblast
ll
Patient
cells
Ethical concerns eliminated, b t th tibut therapeutic concerns remain
Stem Cell Research 101
Most Recent Discovery
Adult/Mature“Embryonic” Stem Cells
(Induced PluripotentAdult/Mature (skin) Cells
(Induced Pluripotent Stem – iPS)
Addition of Genes
Stem Cell Research 101
Curing Mice of Sickle Cell Anemia
• Remove sickle cell DNA
• Replace with properMarrow cells
producing blood cellsSkin cells from mice
with sickle cell anemia
• Replace with proper genetic code
• Induce genetic change to bone
producing blood cells free of sickle cell
mutation
change to bone marrow cells
• Infuse each mouse with corrected
iPS cells
with corrected marrow cells made from its own skin cells
Stem Cell Research 101
Public Policy and Ethics
How Is Stem Cell Research Funded and Regulated?
Both Kinds of SCR are Needed
Mature Stem Cells Early Stem CellsMature Stem Cells Early Stem Cells
First isolated in 1960s First isolated in 1998
~50 years of research 10 years of research
Federal Funding = Federal Funding = g>$2.462 Billion (FY04-FY07)
g$144 Million (FY04-FY07)
Results: 50+ human Results: Only in animalResults: 50+ human therapies
Results: Only in animal trials; No human trials
Stem Cell Research 101
Who Funds Stem Cell Research?
NIH — All Stem Cell Research FY04 to FY07 = $2.462 Billion
NIH — Early Stem Cell Research NIH Early Stem Cell Research FY04 to FY07 = $144 Million
NIH Funding ($ in millions and rounded)
Research FY04 Actual
FY05 Actual
FY06 Actual
FY07 Actual
FY08 Estimate
FY09Estimate
Stem Cell Research
553 609 643 657 656 655
Human Embryonic Stem Cell Research
24 40 38 42 42 41
Stem Cell Research 101
Source: NIH Budget Office (as of Feb. 2008)
Why Is Federal Funding Important?y g p
Most basic research supported by NIH fundsMost basic research supported by NIH funds Basic research requires millions of dollars
over many yearsover many years Difficult to find private funding for research
that is far from commercializationthat is far from commercialization It will be difficult for ESC research to
advance without federal fundingadvance without federal funding
Stem Cell Research 101
Who Is Overseeing Research Ethics in the U.S.?g
National Academies of Science National Academies of Science Issued recommended guidelines in April 2005Scientific community developed guidelinesScientific community developed guidelines
• No government involvement
Purpose: enhance the integrity of privatelyPurpose: enhance the integrity of privately funded early stem cell research by encouraging responsible practicesg g p pUrged all institutions to establish oversight
committees; compliance is voluntary
Stem Cell Research 101
; p y
What Are the Current Federal Restrictions?
Bush August 2001 gdecision
Limits federal funding to 78 t ll li li ibl78 stem cell lines eligible [global] 21 stem cell lines still
viable [global] Concerns about
contamination, ability to use in actual treatments, and long-term viability of stem cells
Stem Cell Research 101
What Are the Current State Restrictions?
Current State Policies(as of January 2008)(as of January 2008)
Stem Cell Research 101
Questions?Q
Stem Cell Research 101