Stem Cell Research News

Stem Cell Research Ban Ruling Now On Hold

12:31 pm EST September 9th, 2010 | Science | 5 Comments

Good news.

President Barack Obama’s administration can continue funding embryonic stem-cell research while it appeals a decision banning government support for any activity using cells taken from human embryos, an appeals court said.

The U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington today put on hold a ruling by District Judge Royce Lamberth while it reviews that decision. The Justice Department argued the judge’s ruling will cause irreparable harm to researchers, taxpayers and scientific progress.

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NIH In Stem Cell Research Lockdown

7:33 am EST August 31st, 2010 | Science | 13 Comments

This is alarming.

The National Institutes of Health Monday ordered all of its researchers conducting research on human embryonic stem cells to immediately halt their experiments.

The move came in response to a temporary injunction issued last week by a federal judge barring the federal government from funding research involving human embryonic stem cells. The judge ruled that the research violated a federal law banning the federal government from funding any research involving the destruction of human embryos.

There’s probably some sort of legislative fix to this but our congress happens to be completely broken, and once again America gets left behind.

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Conservatives Silent As Mice Following Federal Court Ruling On Stem Cell Research

12:02 am EST August 24th, 2010 | Science | 3 Comments

Because, you see, when conservatives agree with a federal court’s ruling they get a sort of amnesia about “judicial activism” and the like.

stem cell research

A federal district judge on Monday blocked President Obama’s 2009 executive order that expanded embryonic stem cell research, saying it violated a ban on federal money being used to destroy embryos.

The ruling came as a shock to scientists at the National Institutes of Health and at universities across the country, which had viewed the Obama administration’s new policy and the grants provided under it as settled law. Scientists scrambled Monday evening to assess the ruling’s immediate impact on their work.

I happen to be a strong supporter of stem cell research, but I’m also a supporter of the rule of law. We have a system of laws and courts in America and that means that court findings don’t always jibe with my ideology.

And that’s okay.

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Stem Cells Make Blind Kid See

4:29 pm EST March 10th, 2009 | News | 36 Comments

Yeah, can’t imagine why would want to use them.

Macie Morse was born with optic nerve hypoplasia, meaning her optic nerve didn’t develop all the way. The only way to repair it was to grow more of the nerve using umbilical cord stem cells.

She and her mother traveled all the way to China for an experimental treatment.

For 6 weeks Morse received injections of cord stem cells and acupuncture to stimulate the cells. Gradually, they took hold and began growing the optic nerve Morse was missing.

Watch the video at the link. As the young girl says “why are we in China?”

Maybe now Americans won’t have to travel to freaking China to be cured of these horrible afflictions. Thank you, President Obama.

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Obama To Lift Bush Stem Cell Ban Monday

4:21 pm EST March 6th, 2009 | News | 8 Comments

New stem cell lines will be allowed to be created. Science wins. (per NBC)

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Although the exact wording of the order has not been revealed, the White House plans an 11 a.m. ceremony to sign the order repealing one of the most controversial steps taken by his predecessor, fulfilling one of Obama’s eagerly anticipated campaign promises.

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Elections, Thank God, Have Consequences

2:54 am EST November 24th, 2008 | News | Comments Off

“Foes of stem cell research now face tough battle”

Now that we’ve got a pro-science presidency, so many more lives can be saved.

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Stem Cells Cure Another Disease

2:32 am EST June 7th, 2008 | Uncategorized | 8 Comments

Science!

Using stem cells from umbilical cord blood and bone marrow, researchers have apparently cured a fatal genetic disease in a 2-year-old Minneapolis boy, which could open the door for other stem cell treatments.

For the first time in his life, Nate Liao is wearing normal clothes, eating food that has not been pureed, and playing with his siblings.

“Nate’s quality of life is forever changed,” said Dr. John Wagner of the University of Minnesota Medical School, who performed the treatment. “Maybe we can take one more disorder off the incurable list.”

The last time I checked, Sen. McCain actually supported stem cell research. But as we know, there is an entire library of things John McCain used to support or oppose before he started pandering to the far right of his party.

Sen. Obama supports stem cell research.

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Skin Cells, Stem Cells

4:08 pm EST November 20th, 2007 | Uncategorized | 3 Comments

If this skin cell research works, great. But I don’t think that it makes any sense to stop pursuing all avenues of research into this life-saving innovation.

Two teams of scientists have independently discovered a way to turn ordinary human skin cells into stem cells with the same characteristics as those derived from human embryos, a breakthrough that could open the door for advanced medical therapies.

If the work holds true to its promise, it would largely bypass ethical issues that have dogged research on human embryonic stem cells. It could also allow scientists to tailor the cells to specific individuals, eliminating the possibility of rejection.

The crux of the discovery, published online Tuesday by the journals Cell and Science, is a "direct reprogramming" technique that adds a cocktail of four genetic factors to run-of-the-mill human skin cells.

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Save Lives, End The Ban

7:35 pm EST June 15th, 2007 | Uncategorized | 70 Comments

“Hillary Pledges to Lift Ban on Stem Cell Research as President.” On the flip-flop flip side, Mitt Romney is still trying to smooth talk his way through his pretzel-like position on the issue.

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Stem Cells Repairing Eyes

7:22 pm EST May 7th, 2007 | Uncategorized | 3 Comments

Imagine how much further along stem cell research would be if our luddite president had not vetoed stem cell research.

Stem cells made from human embryos can home in on damaged eyes, hearts and arteries of mice and rats, and appear to start repairs, a US company says.

Massachusetts-based Advanced Cell Technology said it had devised a straightforward way to make blood vessel precursor cells out of the stem cells and plans to test them in humans.

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