Stem cell research is a hot topic in science and the media. Stem cells renew themselves for long periods of time through cell division. When a stem cell divides, it can either remain a stem cell or become another type of cell with a more specialized function such as a blood cell, a muscle cell, or a brain cell. Scientists are investigating using cell- based therapies to treat diseases. To find out more about stem cell research, visit the National Institutes of Health website.

times it is assumed that stem cell research is exclusively cloning. This is a misconception since stem cell research covers a wide range of topics – partly described in this FAQ section. At times it is difficult to separate stem cell research from cloning, since the latter might generate embryonic stem cells. To reiterate, the majority of stem cell research is exclusive of cloning.

With respect to federal funding for research, only the embryonic stem cell lines approved for research by President Bush in 2001 may be used. Detailed information on these cells can be found at: http://escr.nih.gov. Several laboratories around the country also conduct embryonic stem cell research using private funding. This research is monitored by an Institutional Review Board (IRB) within a privately funded institution.

There are two fundamental types of stem cells. Embryonic stem cells have the potential to generate all the different tissues of the body. Tissue-specific stem cells generate the cell types found in a single tissue, such as the brain or the pancreas. This bill will support research on both types of cells, as well as on other aspects of stem-cell medicine. It is targeted at all types of stem-cell research that offer therapeutic potential, including tissue-specific stem-cell research (ie.

Stem-cell research is an area of science that can assist in understanding how cells in the body develop, and that may help to find ways to reliably grow tissues that can be used for transplants. Stem cells may also help develop other treatments for disorders and conditions, and experiments are already under way to test treatments for vision loss using tissues developed with the help of stem cells.

Although there are many ethical and scientific issues with embryonic stem cells, these cells have the greatest capacity to make new tissues. To date, adult stem cells have not been shown to give rise to the variety of tissues that embryonic stem cells potentially can. Additionally, under certain conditions, embryonic stem cells can form cancerous cells. For this reason, embryonic stem cells have the potential to be studied as a model of cancer development.

Stem cells are immature cells that can replicate themselves and can develop into different kinds of cells as they mature. For instance, pancreatic islet cells can develop from cells that can also become liver cells. Some investigators claim to have found cells in the bone marrow that can develop into islet cells. Stem cell research is very controversial, because of the concern that single cells or small groups of cells could theoretically be used to create human beings.

Stem cells are the source of all tissues of the body, and understanding their properties is fundamental to our understanding of human biology in health and disease. In particular, stem cells offer the possibility of a renewable source of replacement cells to treat a wide variety of diseases and disabilities, including diabetes, neurological disease, cardiovascular disease, blood disease and many other conditions.

Stem cells can be found throughout the body. There are stem cells in tissues and organs as well as in umbilical cord blood and peripheral blood (i.e., hematopoietic stem cells). At this time there is no licensed stem cell treatment. If you are interested in clinical trials using stem cell therapies, you may want to visit www.clinicaltrials.gov. This site provides regularly updated information about federally and privately supported clinical research in human volunteers. ClinicalTrials.

There are four types of cell therapy, early embryonic stem cells, fetal stem cells, umbilical cord blood stem cells, and adult stem cells. The early embryonic stem cells are stem cells that are derived from fertilized embryos less than a week old and are totipotent meaning that they can replace just about any type of cell in the body.

A stem cell is an uncommitted cell that has the potential to develop into cells of a specific tissue (such as the hematopoietic stem cell developing into all of the blood cells). Within the fetus and the adult, stem cells are found in various areas of the body. Embryonic stem cells are the precursors to all stem cells as well as all other tissues of the body.

present, the only known way to derive embryonic stem cells involves the destruction of a blastocyst-stage embryo. Some people are opposed to this research because they consider the blastocyst to be morally equivalent to a human individual.

Wisconsin is already recognized as a worldwide leader in human embryonic stem cell research, but other states-and nations-are eager for a bigger piece of the pie. Singapore, the U.K., California, Connecticut, Massachusetts and New Jersey are spending millions of dollars to build new labs, fund research projects and attract top scientific talent.

Like other forms of biotechnology, technology that emanates from research on embryonic stem cells has the potential to fuel Wisconsin's economy. Companies founded on stem cell research are already beginning to emerge here.

WiCell has published FAQs About WiCell's Policies on the Use of Its hESC Lines (136k PDF file; get Adobe Reader) to address this question.

Yes. There are several committees that oversee stem cell research at UCLA. The UCLA Institutional Review Board (IRB) www.oprs.ucla.edu is required by California law to review all stem cell research with human subjects. The IRBs are composed of faculty, community representatives and consultants representing special subject populations.

According to the Stem Cell Therapeutic and Research Act of 2005 (H.R. 2520), the Administration supports the use of umbilical cord blood cells. These cells are taken from the placenta and umbilical cord after birth. This harms neither the mother nor the child. The government also supports the further use of stem cell lines. Stem cell lines are created from embryos that have already been destroyed and are able to regenerate indefinitely.

The Catholic Church is not opposed to stem cell research at all. With the use of adult tissue, umbilical cord blood, and other sources, such as bone marrow, blood, muscle, fat, nerves, and even in the pulp of baby teeth, there are no moral issues. The Catholic Church encourages technological advances and medical development however, what it calls for is reflected on the use of human embryos for stem-cell research and if it is moral and ethical or not.

Stem cells have been used for the past 30 years for treatment in patients. However, so far the stem cells most commonly used in therapy are adult stem cells derived from the bone marrow which have limited applicability and growth potential. There are many therapeutic applications currently in research that show very encouraging results.

More than 30 research groups involving more than 80 scientists at UW?Madison are working with human embryonic stem cells. Work ranges from the study of brain cells to treat Parkinson's disease and ALS to studies of heart cells to treat heart disease and insulin-producing cells to treat diabetes. Scientists have found ways to transform 'blank-slate', or undifferentiated stem cells, into important cell lineages with therapeutic potential.

In some cases, the Human Gamete, Embryo, and Stem Cell Research Committee (GESCR) will also review studies. The CHR will coordinate with GESCR to determine which studies should receive additional review. GESCR has scientific and ethicist representation as well as community lay members and has an advisory role for the Executive Vice Chancellor and the CHR. The Biological Safety Committee should review the applications and determine if there are any specific safety issues.

Stem cell research is often confused with cloning because both areas involve the use of embryonic cells. The public and the media often equate "cloning" with the manipulation of embryonic cells to produce an organism, and stem cell research was first brought to the spotlight when human stem cells were isolated from human "embryonic tissues". Both fields got even more confused when the term "therapeutic cloning" was introduced as a means to produce embryonic stem cells.

Stem cell-based therapies are already in widespread clinical use, in the form of bone marrow and cord blood transplants. These procedures, which save many lives every year, demonstrate the validity of stem cell transplantation as a therapeutic concept. We are optimistic that similar successes will be possible with other types of stem cells for other diseases, but it is impossible to predict how soon this will happen, given the many technical challenges that must be overcome.

The world's first human embryonic stem cell lines were created at UW?Madison in 1998. The patents that govern embryonic stem cell technology are held by the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation, a private, non-profit supporting organization of the UW?Madison.

The study of the human genome does not rely on stem cell research or human cloning, and these issues are not the focus of the public forum. Research on the human genome has medical applications, because it is providing new information about genetic factors related to diseases and can also yield new insights into basic human biology.

Yes, of course. Each type of stem cell has its own special characteristics and potential to provide therapies and cures for different diseases and injuries. That's why the overwhelming majority of medical experts, medical organizations and patient advocacy groups ? including the Missouri Coalition for Lifesaving Cures ? agree that both adult stem cell research and ES cell should be pursued in the effort to find lifesaving cures.

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Many factors are considered when selecting an autologous or an allogeneic stem cell transplant. In general, autologous stem cell transplants are safer and simpler than allogeneic (donor) stem cell transplants. Autologous transplants rely completely on the ability of the chemotherapy and radiation ("preparative regimen") to kill the cancer cells, and require the collection of your healthy stem cells.