When President Bush used his first veto on the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act on Wednesday, it stifled research opportunities at one MSU lab.
James Trosko, professor of pediatrics and human development, said restrictions in funding for embryonic stem cell research could limit advancements in his work with adult stem cells at the MSU cancer and stem cell lab in the Department of Pediatrics & Human Development.
"It's not devastating, but it is disappointing, and it will slow down research in one of the hottest medical research areas in decades."
The act would have expanded federal funding for research to go beyond supporting the stem cell lines — a group of genetically identical cells — that are already being studied.
Those cell lines will probably never be used for therapy because they are either contaminated with animal viruses or have shown to be genetically abnormal, Trosko said.
"You have to consider whether you are going to waste your time working on those lines when they have already shown that they aren't effective," Trosko said.
Trosko and his colleague, pediatrics and human development Professor Chia-Cheng Chang, are the two researchers in the MSU cancer and stem cell lab studying adult stem cells — a field in which stem cells donated by consenting adults are used instead of embryonic stem cells for developing therapeutic treatments, Trosko said.
Both embryonic and adult stem cell tissue research have the potential to bring about therapy that can provide better treatment or even cures for cancer, diabetes and other diseases, Trosko said.
Embryonic stem cells have the potential to grow any type of cell a person needs, such as cells that produce insulin for people with diabetes. The challenge, Trosko said, has been finding a way to replace the stem cells' original genetic material with the genetic material of the person needing therapy, otherwise a patient's body will reject the stem cells, similar to rejecting an organ donation.
Adult stem cell therapy already has many uses, including bone marrow transplants for cancer patients in which stem cells in the marrow give rise to new blood, Trosko said.
But there are also problems with adult stem cells, with one being researchers' uncertainty as to whether they can be used in parts of the body other than the place from which they originate, he said. In addition, once a person receives either type of stem cells, some diseases may cause those cells to become malignant as well.
Trosko said it's unknown which type of stem cell has a better potential to yield life-saving therapy.
Former MSU Students for Life President Katie Wilcox said she supports adult stem cell research, but not research involving human embryos.
"Embryonic stem cell research has not proven to cure any diseases or help anyone who is suffering, and it also takes the life of an embryo, so I'm glad (Bush) vetoed such destructive research," she said.
Wilcox thinks using embryos for research is valuing one life over another.
"I think it's extremely wrong to test on human life whether it's wanted or unwanted," she said.
Philosophy and bioethics Professor Emeritus Judy Andre said advocates for embryonic stem cell research often overlook the moral issues.
"It's certainly a matter of science, but it's also a question of value and of right and wrong, and no science can settle that," she said.
Andre said the controversy about stem cell research is similar to people who thought heart transplants were wrong, back when the procedure was first developed.
Andre said she thinks a majority of people support embryonic stem cell research, and support will grow, especially if any research proves it can provide therapy for diseases.
"We have to decide if destroying an embryo is worth it for what could really restore hope and function in people who clearly have lives and are clearly full persons."
Trosko said he understands the arguments against embryonic stem cell research but thinks it has potential for far-reaching benefits.
"For the extent that we could reduce some human misery by stem cell therapy, it seems to me we have a moral obligation to use our knowledge, talent, energy and resources to see if we can eliminate (that) misery," he said.
Dr. Gordon Srkalovic of Sparrow Hospital, 1215 E. Michigan Ave. in Lansing, said he was also disappointed by the veto. Srkalovic, who treats patients with cancer and brain tumors, said stem cells could provide treatment based on cells instead of chemicals.
He said the limited funding in the U.S. may give other countries the chance to pull ahead in this area of research.
"People who want to do this research will go to other countries, and that's terrible — biotechnology is already losing jobs here."
Trosko said embryonic stem cell research will continue whether the federal government provides any additional funding or not.
"There has been a tremendous, rekindled interest in life science because of this … and even with restricted funding, there are going to be creative ways to get information on stem cell therapy," he said. "If it can happen, it's going to happen — either here or somewhere else."
