UNC System Researches Stem Cells

But researchers at at least two UNC-system schools are exploring the medical potential of understanding adult stem cells.

Bush announced Aug. 9 that scientists can receive federal funding to experiment with roughly 60 embryonic stem cell lines already in existence.

Bush also emphasized alternative approaches, such as adult stem cell research, which UNC researchers have conducted for decades.

Embryonic stem cells exist in the early stages of human development and have the ability to produce any type of cell. Adult stem cells are mature cells that only produce one type of cell.

Lola Reid, a UNC-Chapel Hill cellular and molecular physiology professor, has experimented with adult stem cells for about 25 years, working with a team of about 12 to 18 people. "We're trying to create bioartificial organs that will mimic tissue," Reid said. "This will allow us to create livers for research or liver-assist devices for patients."

A liver-assist device would be an artificially created liver that could take the place of a defective natural liver, easing some of the need for donor organs.

Reid said adult stem cells show the greatest promise for medical applications, since the growth of embryonic stem cells can be controlled only in the uterus.

But Reid added that embryonic stem cells will be an invaluable research tool, showing how the body operates.

While Reid said she is not yet conducting human trials, an East Carolina University professor has already treated thousands of patients using adult stem cells.

George Sigounas, director of the Stem Cell Processing and Bioengineering Unit at East Carolina University Medical School, said adult stem cells are already used to treat patients for everything from cancer to blood disorders like sickle-cell anemia.

"Bone marrow transplants are just one of many examples of treatment using (determined) stem cells," he said. "We've treated thousands upon thousands of patients at ECU using these methods."

Sigounas added that most stem cell therapies involve trying to replace the problem or defective cells with determined stem cells to promote growth and recovery. "We isolate stem cells from the bone marrow or blood to rescue the immune systems of patients heavily treated with radiation or chemotherapy," he said. "(Radiation and chemotherapy) destroy a patient's stem cells. If we don't replace them, then the patient will die from infection."

Sigounas, who has done limited work with embryonic stem cells, added that Bush's recent support of federal funding for human embryonic stem cell research is a step in the right direction.

"(Bush is) allowing at least part of the research to be done," he said. "Embryonic stem cells have a higher potential to divide and would be a better source of medical treatment."

Despite the involvement of UNC-system researchers, Russ Lea, UNC-system associate vice president for research, said he doubts UNC-system President Molly Broad will pursue stem cell research to the same extent as genomic research.

Broad helped organize a statewide consortium last spring to pursue genomic research that included UNC-system schools and Duke University.

Lea added that UNC-system researchers would likely receive several federal grants for stem cell projects but could not predict how many.

The State & National Editor can be reached at stntdesk@unc.edu.