Stem-cell pioneer frustrated by debate

[John Cottingham <jcott@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

The source of this article is Science Daily: http://tinyurl.com/b7y5o

Stem-cell pioneer frustrated by debate
By STEVE MITCHELL
WASHINGTON, April 29 (UPI) -- A pioneer in the field of stem-cell research
said recently he has become frustrated by the actions of parties on both
sides of the issue.

"In our society, there must be room for differences in opinions," John
Gearhart, a professor of medicine at The Johns Hopkins University in
Baltimore, told attendees at a meeting of the American Association for the
Advancement of Science in Washington.

Gearhart, best known as one of the scientists who first isolated a type of
human embryonic stem cells in 1998, said he has become discouraged about
what he termed the distortion of facts for political gain in this area.

The scientific consensus is embryonic stem cells hold the potential to
yield insights into and cures for various diseases, but the research
remains controversial because it requires the destruction of human embryos.

The issue has turned into a heated political debate, with those on one side
morally opposed to the research because they regard it as killing human
life, and those on the other side -- including patient advocates and most
scientific organizations -- anticipating its vast potential to address
diseases.

The National Academy of Sciences, which issued new stem-cell research
guidelines this week, has sought to assure the public the research is
progressing in an ethical manner. The guidelines, which are voluntary,
recommend several oversight mechanisms and limitations on experiments. They
generally have been welcomed by scientists and other proponents of the
research, but have drawn sharp rebuke from opponents, who consider such
research unethical no matter what safeguards are applied.

Gearhart noted his shock at being asked, during his very first visit to
Capitol Hill after discovering stem cells, "how I felt to kill the little
Americans." He did not disclose who asked him this question.

He said he also is distressed by the comments of people in power, including
President George W. Bush, who have suggested that those who support or
pursue embryonic stem-cell research or therapeutic cloning lack a moral
compass.

Such statements "resonate" within certain groups in U.S. society, he said.

On the other hand, Gearhart said "the only time I've ever been accosted in
any way" was by a member of an unspecified patient advocacy group who
apparently objected to his lack of specificity about the timeframe for when
stem-cell-related therapies might reach patients.

Kevin Fitzgerald, a molecular scientist and ethicist at Georgetown
University, said he agreed with Gearhart's position.

"There's plenty of evidence to support his stance," Fitzgerald, a Jesuit
priest and chair of Catholic Health Care Ethics at Georgetown's Center for
Clinical Bioethics, told United Press International. He also is co-founder
of Do No Harm: The Coalition of Americans for Research Ethics, a group in
Washington that opposes embryonic stem-cell research.

"There's been hype all across this issue," he said, ranging from various
state legislatures that have proposed bills to ban all research in this
area to "statements by politicians saying if we don't do this all these
people are going to die."

Despite the controversies, Gearhart said the "last few years have been the
most important to me." Among other activities, he said he has spent
countless hours explaining stem-cell research and engaging in public
discussions at churches, synagogues, gardening clubs and other community
organizations.

He said he continues to receive thousands of e-mails a day containing
opinions both supportive and critical, but most messages tend to come from
people wanting body parts generated by stem-cell techniques.

On one recent occasion, Gearhart said he received 600 letters asking for
penises. Curious about the sudden demand, he sought to track down the
reason and eventually determined it was spurred by a media article posing a
"what if?" scenario.

Gearhart said he also spends considerable time trying to raise money for
his research because of limits on federal funding imposed by the Bush
administration in August 2001. Bush's policy restricts federally sponsored
research on embryonic stem cells to lines in existence prior to his
decision -- but these have proven difficult to obtain and their research
value is in doubt due to a lack of viability in some cases and the
positivity that they are contaminated with animal molecules.

He said stem-cell research someday could yield insights into disease and
even cures, but added, "None of this is going to occur in the next few
years" due to funding barriers.

Gearhart said he was pleased to see certain states -- such as California
and New Jersey -- attempt to fund stem-cell research on their own, but
noted the absence of federal funds will limit the progress of the
scientific field in this country.

"We must be clearly aware of that," he said.

Steve Mitchell is UPI's Medical Correspondent. E-mail: sciencemail@xxxxxxx

Copyright 2005 by United Press International. All Rights Reserved.

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