Questions about Neural Stem Cells
What are neural stem cells and how
they are being used to treat neurodegenerative diseases such
as Parkinson's?
Are post-natal neural stem cells identical
to those harvested from pre-natal embryonic tissue?
Are cells from all sections/regions
of the brain able to be harvested, cultured and utilized in
intracerebral implantation?
How can you harvest living cells from
someone who is dead? Doesn't the fact that they are dead mean
that their cells are dead?
How much can these cells expand - would
one donation of brain tissue be able to help treat one or
more patients with a neurodegenerative disease?
How long after death could these cells
be harvested? Does the cause of death matter?
Is there a limit to how old a donor
for this procedure could be?
What are some of the ethical concerns
associated with harvesting neural stem cell post-natally?
Can we assume donation of pediatric
brain tissue for this work would likely be handled similarly
to current organ donation procedures? Are there any current
legal or other precursors that need to be cleared?
Department of Health and Human Services Statements concerning
stem cells
Statement of Maria C. Freire, Ph.D.,
Director, National Institutes of Health Office of Technology
Transfer, before the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee
on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related
Agencies, January 12, 1999 on benefits of stem cell research.
Statement of Harold Varmus, M.D., Director,
National Institutes of Health, Before the Senate Appropriations
Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education
and Related Agencies, January 26, 1999 on research applications
of stem cells.
Benefits of stem cell research
form Fact Sheet on Stem Cell Research, Wednesday, April 21,
1999.
Definition of pluripotent stem cells
from Pluripotent Stem Cells: A Primer, January 28, 1999.
President Bush's Address
Text
of President Bush's Address to the nation on Embryonic Stem
Cells. This link is off site.
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