Leaders ponder stem-cell funding

Less than six months after California’s Proposition 71 freed $3 billion in state funding for stem-cell research, some N.C. legislators have started looking into more public funding possibilities.

Rep. Paul Miller, D-Durham, introduced a bill Tuesday that would create a government commission to study the state’s role in stem-cell research.

The commission would then make recommendations to the 2007 legislature on whether laws should be enacted to limit or expand stem cell research and whether state funding should be provided.

The bill keeps North Carolina’s options open and examines allocating funding for all types of stem-cell research.

“I think North Carolina is already a very good place for research,” Miller said. “(State funding for stem-cell research) is the next logical step.”

UNC, which is at the forefront of stem-cell research in the state, stands to benefit if funding is provided by the state in addition to other sources.

“Duke and UNC and (N.C.) State are among the leaders in the state,” said Lola Reid, UNC professor of cell and molecular physiology.

UNC, along with other universities and organizations in the state, receive funding from both private and federal sources, but there is no state-level funding and federal funds are limited.

“To get funding from a federal agency, you can only use certain cells,” Reid said. “If you are getting your funding from elsewhere, there aren’t any restrictions.”

The government imposes these restrictions because of objections from conservatives and others who oppose the use of embryonic stem cells in research.

“Life begins at conception,” said Stephen Daniels, director of research for the N.C. Family Policy Council. “We believe very strongly that destroying a human embryo for scientific research is wrong.”

But for most conservatives, the controversy does not apply to stem cells obtained from adults.

“I think adult stem-cell research is fine,” said Rep. Mark Hollo, R-Alexander. “But I’m against embryonic stem-cell research.”

Adult stem cells already have been used to treat numerous diseases and medical conditions such as leukemia and paralysis caused by spinal cord injuries.

“There are a lot of examples where adult stem cells have shown success, but there have been no successes from research dealing with embryonic stem cells,” Daniels said.

There are two main categories of stem cells under consideration: pluripotent cells and multipotent cells. Only the second category can be obtained from adult humans.

Pluripotent cells, which are obtained from embryos, can develop into most kinds of bodily tissue. These cells come from embryos that have not grown past 150 cells.

Multipotent cells are more specialized and can only develop into a limited range of tissues. For example, blood stem cells can develop into other blood cells, but cannot grow into bone or brain tissue.

Proponents for both types of stem-cell research argue that research has the potential for medical breakthroughs such as a cure for Alzheimer’s disease or diabetes.

Other states such as Illinois, Wisconsin and New Jersey also are moving toward promoting stem-cell research.

 

Contact the State & National Editor at stntdesk@unc.edu.