The source of this story is The Independent Newspapers: http://tinyurl.com/45p6w

Stem Cell Debate Reaches Southampton Shores 
By Carey London

Marked by tremors, stiff movements, and problems with maintaining balance, Parkinson’s disease currently afflicts 1.5 million Americans. With an estimated 60,000 new cases diagnosed each year in the United States, the unpredictable, unpreventable, and incurable disease does not discriminate between gender, race, economic or geographic backgrounds. 

Recently, Congressman Tim Bishop’s older brother Cortland, of California, was diagnosed with the disease. Bishop spoke to the Southampton Parkinson’s Support Group last week about the ban on embryonic stem cell research, a line of investigation that has offered the hope of combating this disease. 

Most Parkinson’s diagnoses are over 65 years old, although 15% of those afflicted are under 50, according to the National Parkinson’s Foundation. A brain disorder, Parkinson’s occurs when dopamine-producing nerve cells in a part of the brain called the substantia nigra die or become impaired. Dopamine allows smooth, coordinated function of the body’s muscles and movement. Parkinson’s symptoms begin to appear when around 80% of these dopamine-producing cells are damaged. Medication, surgery, and general lifestyle changes all contribute to alleviating the symptoms. 

Mary Schellinger, facilitator of the Southampton support group for nearly a year, was diagnosed with Parkinson’s 24 years ago, when she was just 31 years old. Although she wants to raise money and awareness for the disease, the task is not an easy one to undertake. 
“No one wants to talk about being sick, but you have to,” she said, adding that Bishop urged the group to “get organized and get out there.” About 40 strong, Schellinger said that the members of the 20-year old support group are too old to be soliciting funds. Instead, the group acts as an open forum to share experiences and information. “They’re not there to raise money,” she said. “They want to come and talk to each other and compare pills and talk about diet.” Schellinger may start looking into grant options. 

Ideology V Science
 
Now the group has Bishop on its side. “For ideological reasons, the President has taken the position that government can’t support it,” said Bishop of embryonic stem cell research on Monday. 

In August 2001, President George Bush limited the controversial research to 78 embryonic stem cell lines — a move many religious groups strongly agree with, because harvesting stem cells kills the embryo. However, there are only 19 lines available, all of which are “contaminated by mouse feeder cells, thereby making their therapeutic use for humans uncertain,” according to a statement released by Bishop. Embryonic stem cells are master cells that form during the early days after conception. They are unique because they have the ability to turn into any tissue in the body. 

According to the Stem Cell Research Foundation, “stem cell therapy can be defined as a part of a group of new techniques, or technologies that rely on replacing diseased or dysfunctional cells with healthy, functioning ones . . . Simply put, stem cells are primitive [or “progenitor”] cells that give rise to other types of cells.” 

On June 5, former President Ronald Reagan died from pneumonia related to complications with Alzheimer’s disease, one of the many maladies scientists believe stem cells can cure. Former first lady Nancy Reagan, her son, Ron, and 58 senators from both parties have asked the President to lift the ban on embryonic stem cell research. 

Cure For Cancer 

Although the research is still experimental, many scientists believe that stem cells could yield cures for cancer, Parkinson’s, diabetes, kidney disease, multiple sclerosis, macular degeneration and a host of other conditions, as well as allow for repairing spinal injuries, and helping victims of paralysis regain movement. 

The government-funded National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke released a study done in 2002 stating that “mouse embryonic stem cells transplanted into rats with brain damage resembling Parkinson’s disease . . . showed a gradual reduction in their Parkinsonian symptoms, and brain scans revealed evidence that the transplanted cells integrated with the surrounding area and began to produce dopamine. The findings raise the possibility that embryonic stem cell transplants may one day be useful in treating Parkinson’s disease and other brain disorders.” 

Still, the research presents some challenges. For example, scientists have difficulty identifying stem cells in tissue cultures. The process of identifying any one type of stem cell, among thousands of human cells involves “painstaking research.” And the research does not stop there. “Once stem cells are identified and isolated, the right biochemical solution must be developed to cause these progenitor cells to differentiate into the desired cell type,” according to SCRF. 

Another challenge is integrating the cells into the patient’s own tissues and organs and enabling them to “learn” to function in concert with the body’s natural cells. Tissue rejection and the risk of cancer are also concerns. 

Bishop is a cosponsor of H.R. 4682, the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act, introduced by Reps. Mike Castle (R-Delaware) and Diana DeGette (D-Colorado) which would allow federal funds for new stem cell lines formed from excess embryos created in fertility clinics for couples trying to conceive and donated to research through informed consent of those couples. 

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