Putting science back in its rightful place, Part 1

President Obama is expected to lift the ban Federal funding for embryonic stem-cell research on Monday, March 9th. This is a reversal of President Bush’s policy restricting Federal funding for research on existing embryonic stem-cell colonies. Mr. Obama’s policy change will set the wheels in motion to funnel up to $10 Billion in stimulus money to this controversial practice.

It was sad when Christopher Reeves died. Matthew Broderick faces very scary prospect. Conceivably, tens of millions of Americans may be helped by the therapies that may be developed through the use of these cells, including friends, close associates, and members of my own family. Unfortunately, my illation at the possibility of miracle cures is tempered by the fact that there is no reasonable expectation of finding anything new through embryonic stem-cells.

Let’s get the easy one out of the way first. First, 10s of millions of us object to the practice based on moral grounds. We have religious reasons. We object to abortions, believe that life begins at conception, that the cells that would be used could become human lives, don't want to open the door to embryo-farming, and aren’t willing to pay for something we consider murder. We object to the idea of trading one life for another. It’s easy to discount the stem-cell as just a thing to be used for our own ends, but don't commit atrocities in our names. We don’t want tax dollars spent on performing abortions either. It’s just part of our value system.

Perhaps more substantial than my moral sensibilities, however, is the fact that it doesn’t make any economic or medial sense. There is no scientific or anecdotal evidence that the investment of billions of dollars and research time will produce one viable solution. There is however a track record of very real solutions from adult stem-cells.

Embryonic stem-cell research has never been illegal. The Bush policy simply prohibited Federal dollars from flowing to research on the cells. California created a $3 Billion fund to invest in embryonic stem-cell research. Countries on every populated continent permit the research. Scientists have been doing research on embryonic stem-cells since the 80s. What are the results for the billions of dollars and decades spent? Theory. Although it’s never been illegal, it’s never been productive. In contrast, adult stem-cells have a track record of success. Some of the successful therapies of adult stem-cells include cure spinal cord injuries, leukemia, and Parkinson’s disease.

People are generally more careful with their own money than other people’s. I find it strange that almost no free market researcher is investing in embryonic stem-cell research. Almost everyone who wants to spend money on embryonic research won’t do it with their own money. The pharmaceutical giants in the US that spend billions of dollars and decades developing new drugs, therapies, and goods are doing almost nothing with embryonic stem-cells.

I don’t put a lot of faith in corporate ethics so I don’t think the pharmaceuticals are staying away from embryonic stem-cell research for moral reasons. Their practice suggests to me that the companies that develop the drugs that the world takes don’t believe there’s any benefit. If GSK thought for a minute that they could cure Parkinson’s or cancer or MS or AIDS or Alzheimer’s or Varicose veins, they would move heaven and earth to own the technology. But private companies aren't investing anything in embryonic stem-cell research. They’re investing in adult stem-cells and cord blood. Maybe the great promise of embryonic stem-cell research is just wishful thinking OR can be done with adult stem-cells with out having to overcome the technical problems with embryonic stem-cells.

Embryonic stem-cells don’t seem to like being used. They have this amazing capacity to become any cell, and yet, rejection is common. Rejection inhibitors have to be taken with test therapies derived from embryonic stem-cell research to reduce the likelihood of rejection in the host. Cells that have the ability to become anything sometimes become cancerous and increase the likelihood that the host will develop cancer. Adult stem-cells have been used in the therapy of or have cured scores of conditions. There is no verifiable, repeatable example of successful use of embryonic stem-cell research.

I hope that every disease and injury will one day be cured, but let’s put our resources where we’re actually seeing results! Let’s not waste our resources chasing dreams when we already have viable options.