Obama countermands Bush on stem cells

The Bush administration barred research and funding on embryonic stem cell research by America's National Institute of Health(NIH)on moral grounds .This ban was in force from 2001.The catholics were against embryonic stem cell research.Even Pope John Paul II appealed to Bush to bar money for embryonic stem cell research.Finally Bush bowed to the pontiff's wish and banned funding embryonic stem cell research.Bush's national television speech on stem cell was considered as the best speech on 'medical ethics' ever made by an American President.Obama has now allowed funding to human embryonic stem cell research.He has asked NIH to develop guidleines for funding and research on human embryonic stem cells.This is an historic move.Obama once again proved he is guided by pragmatism.But his detractors feel it is moral arrogance.

He said he believed it was a "false choice between sound science and moral values".He also said "we have to work to ease human sufferings....."."Medical miracles do not happen simply by accident. They result from painstaking and costly research....and from a government willing to support that work... "

At the same time Obama was also very careful in saying that he would ensure that this "never opens the door to the use of cloning for human reproduction." This could go along way in alleviating human suffering on a number of incurable diseases.There are over 100 million people suffering from diabetes world over.It is believed stem cell therapy could cure diabetes.

When Bush prevented government funding to embryonic stem cell research,the research work moved out to countries in Asia including Japan,China and India.Also countries like Britan and Scotland started research work on this field.India became a preferred destination for many.India offered good potential for English speaking scientists and diverse ethnicity for their research work.Though India does stem cell research,stem cell therapy is in a nascent stage.

Obtaining stem cells from legally abortioned embryos may be acceptable.There is a mushroom growth of fertility clinics now. Usage of surplus human embryos of an invitro fertilisation procedure for stem cell research is considered unethical by some,since these embryos have to be killed for harvesting stem cells.Also creating an human embryo exclusively for research work is also not palpable to many.I feel crossing ethical limits in biomedical research is something that can not be fended off for long in the days to come.

All said and done one has to agree,the natural corollary of medical breakthroughs using stem cells from human embryos would be human cloning.Those who oppose human cloning say that it is like breeding people to harvest their tissues,organs from their body and dispose them later.On the other hand those who support human cloning feels it is an opportunity to remake mankind to its potential. Who knows what is in store for our posterity?

Stem Cell Banks

Storing the new born baby's stems cells for a period of 21 years in stem cell banks is the latest trend to fight diseases in the family.It is a guarantee for the family against a host of diseases.But the cost of storing the stem cells is porhibitive and beyond the reach of an ordinary person.This is a kind of 'Bio insurance'.But it is an undeniable fact there is a mushroom growth of stem cell banks in the recent past in India.The government should come forward to start 'stem cell banks' in government hospitals,at least in important district headquarters and make it available to the general public at affordable prices.An awareness campaign should also be started to make the general public to opt for stem cell storage in their own interest.The collected stem cells are preserved at -195 degree at stem cell banks.The donor and his immediate family members can access it any time for stem cell therapy.The normal storage period is 21 years.But longer period storage is also possible on payment of extra fees.
Stem cell therapy is all about injecting new cells in to the body to repair damaged or diseased tissues to cure a host of dieases.The most remarkable advantage of stem cell therapy is that there is no risk of rejection by the body.As on date,it is believed stem cell therapy can cure more than 75 diseases,and many more might get added to the list in the future.This has given hope to many patients smitten by chronic diseases.Hence there is a great demand for stem cell storage .The stored stem cell culture would be used at a future date to regenerate damaged or diseased cells in the body and thus relieve patients from incurable diseases.
The most unique property of a stem cell is that they are capable of renewing themselves for a considerably long period.Stem cells per se are unspecialised.But they can develop as a specialised cell type such as heart muscles,blood cells or nerve cells.Stem cells can be collected from different sources.The potential of a stem cell depends on the source from where it is collected.The different types of stems cell sources are given below.

Embryonic stem cells

These cells are derived from an early stage human embryo approximatley 4 to 5 days old.They have the potential to develop in to more than 200 types of cells.(There is an ethical and moral outcry against this source)

Foetal stem cells

These are stem cell types found in the organs of the foetus. (This is also opposed by many, as it tantamounts to killing )

Adult Stem Cells

These are stem cells found in the developed organism.Adult stem cells are referred to by their tissue origin.Adult stem cells were used for many years to treat early stage bone/blood cancer by bone marrow transplants.(Bone marrows contain stem cells)A person known to me,who was in early stages of bone cancer was completley cured by bone marrow transplant in late 70's at Adyar Cancer hospital,Chennai.

Peripheral Blood

Peripheral blood cells are the cellular components of blood like RBC,WBC and Platelets.These are stem cells.

Bone marrows

Bone marrows are tissues inside the hollow cavities of bones.The bone marrow stroma contains stem cells.

Umblical cord Blood

Umblical cord blood is the left over blood of placenta and cord after the birth of the baby.This blood is a rich source of stem cells. Until recently cord blood and umblical cords were thrown as a bio medical waste.But stem cells in cord blood can be used to treat 75 life threatening diseases .

The harvested cord blood is stored and preserved for future use of the child and its family for the tratment of a host of diseases.Cord blood stem cells are preferred over bone marrow stem cells because bone marow stem cell requires a surgical procedure.It could be painful and risky to the donor.Cord blood stem cells have other advantages like lesser chances of infection,quick and easy transplantion .The biggest advantage of cord blood is that it need not match the patient's tissue type precisely.
The donor of the cord blood stem cells can decide whther it is to be used entirely for his/her family or for the general public. This can be conveyed to the stem cell bank at the time of donating the cord blood.One can also donate cord blood for research purposes.Umblical cord blood collection is safe for the mother and the child and is the most preferred stem cell source by the doctors.
India's first stem cell bank was started in Chennai by Asia Cyro cell.Other leading stem cell Banks in India are Life Cell and Cyrobank .The latter has a country wide network in almost all major cities of India.Most of the cord blood harvesting centres collect blood from the hospital where the baby is delivered,if registered with the bank well in advance.Some of the stem cell banks have different payment options.
The government should accredit Blood Banks attached to Government hospitals to collect cord blood samples and preserve them at affordable prices for private as awell as general public use.This could go a long way in alleviating the suffering lot.Government should consider giving subsidy to Government Blood banks collecting stem cells and thus make it affordable to the common man.