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PAN Applauds Stem Cell Research Breakthrough; Puts Study in Perspective

The Parkinson’s Action Network (PAN) is pleased by the news of a breakthrough in stem cell research, in which scientific researchers have created embryonic-like cells from ordinary human skin cells, without using embryos through the process of cloning.   “This important research should be supported,” said PAN CEO Amy Comstock Rick.  “However, it is important to remember that these findings are in the preliminary stages.  Embryonic stem cell research (ESCR) is still the most promising form of research and should be supported as well.” The two studies have been reported by researchers in both Wisconsin and Japan on Tuesday, November 20 in two scientific journals (Cell and Science).    Embryonic stem cell research has significant scientific and therapeutic potential for people living with Parkinson’s disease.  While replacement of human dopamine-producing neurons may be one therapy resulting from additional embryonic stem cell research, many avenues of Parkinson’s research will benefit from this legislation and expansion of the current policy.  Researchers will be aided in studying the causes of Parkinson’s, developing more accurate models to improve our understanding of the disease, and ultimately halt the unrelenting neurological degeneration and loss of quality of life for Parkinson’s patients. The Cell paper came from a team led by Junying Wu, working in the lab of stem cell pioneer James Thomson at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.  The Science paper was reported by Dr. Shinya Yamanaka of Tokyo University.     According to the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Thomson agrees that this research is still in the developmental stages: “Although Thomson is encouraged that the new cells will speed new cell-based therapies to treat disease, ‘more work is required to refine the techniques through which the cells were generated to prevent the incorporation of the introduced genes into the genome of the cells.’  In addition, to ensure their safety for therapy, methods to remove the vectors, the viruses used to ferry the genes into the skin cells, need to be developed.”