Published Wednesday
March 9, 2005

Stem cell expert makes case

BY NICHOLE AKSAMIT

WORLD-HERALD BUREAU

LINCOLN - As one legislative committee prepared to hear testimony on
three research-related bills, an internationally known adult stem cell
researcher advised state senators and scientists not to prohibit
embryonic stem cell research in Nebraska.

Dr. Catherine Verfaillie - a native Belgian, lifelong Catholic and
director of the Stem Cell Institute at the University of Minnesota -
briefed senators and reporters at the Capitol Tuesday.

She later gave a scientific lecture for researchers and others at the
University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha.

Her message was the same for all: Both adult and embryonic stem cell
research have the potential to lead to treatments for human health
conditions. And, because neither is likely to be a slam-dunk for all
ailments, both should be pursued.

Verfaillie led a 2002 study that suggested certain adult stem cells may
have flexibility similar to embryonic stem cells. Some who oppose
research that involves the destruction of embryos have cited that study
as a reason to ban embryonic stem cell research and focus efforts on
nonembryonic stem cells.

Verfaillie, however, said she firmly believes both kinds of research are
needed.

The institute in Minnesota conducts research with both kinds of stem
cells in adjacent labs with different funding sources. She said insights
gleaned from one type of research advance the other. And the institute is
doing head-to-head comparisons to understand which is the better cell -
embryonic or adult - when it comes to treating particular diseases.

She said that, although embryonic stem cells have the potential to create
all cell types, adult stem cells have limitations. They are more
difficult to isolate in older people - so the prospect of using your own
stem cells to heal yourself diminishes with age.

And, although adult stem cells from bone-marrow transplants have been
successful in creating new blood cells in cancer patients, Verfaillie
said scientists still have "a very difficult time" making heart muscle or
other cells from adult stem cells.

"It is most likely that five or 10 years from now if you want to treat
disease A, embryonic stem cells will be better. But if you want to treat
disease B, adult stem cells will be better," Verfaillie said. "That's why
I think it's important that all universities have both kinds of
research."

Chip Maxwell, executive director of the Nebraska Coalition for Ethical
Research, said Verfaillie's arguments still don't address his group's
concern: human embryos destroyed in the name of science.

"No matter how much promise or potential she can stack up," he said, "in
our view, you're destroying human beings to get that."

Verfaillie's advice came two days before three bills related to stem cell
research were to be heard by the Judiciary Committee:

LB 437, introduced by Sen. Adrian Smith of Gering, would ban the creation
of human clones and the creation of embryonic stem cell lines through
somatic cell nuclear transfer.

LB 750, introduced by Sen. Mike Foley of Lincoln, would ban the use of
state funds for nontherapeutic research that destroys a human embryo -
effectively banning creation of embryonic stem cell lines.

LB 580, introduced by Sen. Joel Johnson of Kearney, would ban human
reproductive cloning but allow somatic cell nuclear transfer to create
embryonic stem cell lines.

All three are scheduled for 1:30 p.m. hearings on Thursday, also the
annual lobby day at the Legislature for groups of abortion opponents.

"I grew up Catholic and am Catholic," said Verfaillie, who plans to leave
Minnesota to establish a similar stem cell institute at Catholic
University Leuven in Belgium.

She said she draws the line at human reproductive cloning - the creation
of human clones - but supports the creation of stem cell lines from
leftover embryos at fertilization clinics.

"Those have been created and will go to waste," she said. "If not used
for research, they will either die a slow death in the freezer or be
destroyed because the family doesn't want more children."

If embryonic stem cell research is banned in Nebraska, Nebraskans
probably could still benefit from any health advances that come from such
research - which is being and will be conducted elsewhere. But Verfaillie
said the state stands to lose researchers and the economic development
that comes with research.

Sanford Goodman of Nebraskans for Research - a group that supports
embryonic stem cell research - said a ban also would undermine the
quality of medical education that future Nebraska students will receive.

"This is the future of medicine," he said.

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