After years of heated debate and extensive preliminary research, scientists will finally have the chance to test stem cells on human subjects.
The initial trial will involve two groups. The first will be comprised of people afflicted with a progressive form of blindness; the second, those partially paralyzed by spinal chord injuries. In hundreds of tests on partially paralyzed rats, those injected with stem cells were able to walk.
The FDA has required exhaustive tests to get to this point and scientists say that the results have proven that the cells are safe for humans and have incredible potential to treat cancer, Alzheimer’s, diabetes, Parkinson's, spinal chord injuries, blindness and myriad other conditions, most of which are currently untreatable.
Last week a judge blocked the federal government from funding any research involving human embryonic stem cells, a move that scientists say will have devastating results:
- "Every day we lose is another day lost for patients waiting for cures."
Bioethicists stress that even research that achieves great things can’t be justified if it requires violating human rights.
The question then becomes whether embryos are human beings. Many who object to stem call research insist that those cells amount to a baby. Most bioethicists disagree, saying that if using embryonic stem cells to treat cancer is immoral, then so is creating embryos to treat infertility. Most fertilized eggs created for IVF are disposed of or indefinitely frozen; only a small number are actually implanted and even fewer are donated for research.
Despite last week’s injunction, it looks as though the human trial will still happen but the pressure’s on, say scientists. Many worry that if the results of this initial test, for whatever reason, are not positive, opponents will claim that the entire field is illegitimate.
What’s your take on stem cell research?
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