The Federal Drug Administration has approved the first human trials of embryonic stem cells — a sign of a new, liberal attitude toward stem cell research, which was hamstrung by the Bush administration.
Starting this summer, the biotech firm Geron will treat a small group of spinal-cord injury patients using neurons derived from stem cells, marking the first time embryonic stem cells will be tested in humans.
The trial is designed to test the safety of the treatment, not how well it works. Nonetheless, it’s a huge first step for the field.
Post Bush FDA OKs Human Trials of Embryonic Stem Cells
Posted by Greg Laden on January 26, 2009
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Comments
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w00t!!!
That is all
-JJ -
Can I get a “Ramen!?” I say, I say, Can I get a “RAMEN!” Change we can believe in!
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W00T indeed – hopefully someone else will take this approach now for Type 1 Diabetes to regenerate the insulin producing cells in the pancreas.
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Great, but don’t forget that the religious right are not the only ones out there trying to block this work, ane animal rights lobby would also do so given half the chance.
http://speakingofresearch.com/2009/01/23/a-new-era-for-embryonic-stem-cells/
As for Type 1 diabetes, there’s certainly work being done in several centres on that right now, but both the ESC and iPS approaches look as if they’re still several years away from clinical trials in humans.
e.g. http://esciencenews.com/articles/2008/11/20/pure.insulin.producing.cells.produced.mouse
http://esciencenews.com/articles/2008/09/17/unc.scientists.turn.human.skin.cells.insulin.producing.cellsHopefully under the new administration the pace will pick up!
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Happy Happy Joy Joy!
January 26, 2009
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, which is now available for the 
