February 18, 2009
Jennifer Lahl Tumors Found in Boy With Fetal Tissue Stem Cell Treatment <http://thehumanfuture.blogspot.com/2009/02/i-wrote-piece-few-weeks-ago-about-geron.html>http://thehumanfuture.blogspot.com/2009/02/i-wrote-piece-few-weeks-ago-about-geron.html <http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_71Vhl39WlPI/SZwckAOnLiI/AAAAAAAAAXA/Ty-U5zcoVR8/s1600-h/_45486468__44722657_stemcellresearch226spl-1.jpg> [] I wrote a piece a <http://www.cbc-network.org/enewsletter/index_2_04_09.htm>few weeks ago about Geron Corporation being granted the first human clinical trials using embryonic stem cells in spinal cord injured patients: A seismic shift has occurred this week. For the first time ever in history, human embryonic stem cells will be injected into human subjects. Geron Corporation has enthusiastically announced the FDA's approval of their Phase 1 clinical trial to begin using human embryonic stem cells in patients with new spinal cord injuries. This news came as no big surprise; Geron's CEO, Thomas Okarma, has been promising for years that they would be the first in human trials using embryonic stem cells. Geron has poured some $100 million into embryonic stem cell research since 1996; they have much at stake as they begin this trial, injecting human embryonic stem cells into patients. I imagine investors in Geron stock are delighted now as its price soared some 50% with this news, and Geron stock has moved from "hold" to "buy" status. We shall see. But today there is BREAKING news <http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gXPm4dnGNyn2DTR2t_FmA0GW_4JgD96DLTT00>here and <http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7894486.stm>here. From the BBC story: A boy treated with foetal stem cells for a rare genetic disease has developed benign tumours, raising questions about the therapy's safety. The boy, now 17, received the stem cells in 2001 at a Moscow hospital and four years later scans showed brain and spinal tumours, PLoS Medicine reports. Israeli doctors removed the abnormal growth from his spine and tests suggest it sprouted from the stem cells. Critics say the finding is evidence against the controversial therapy. Apart from the ethics of using cells taken from embryos, opponents say there are big safety concerns. Here is the <http://medicine.plosjournals.org/perlserv/?request=get-document&doi=10.1371/journal.pmed.1000029&ct=1>link to the journal article on the boys case. <*}}}>< <http://www.halfthekingdom.org/on+allposters+today.html>on AllPosters today <*}}}><<*}}}>< <http://astore.amazon.com/halthekin-20>Catholic on Amazon <*}}}>< + <*}}}>< <http://www.holypostage.com/>Holy Postage <*}}}>< <*}}}><<http://www.halfthekingdom.org/>Half the <http://www.halfthekingdom.org/>Kingdom!<*}}}>< + "The fruit of abortion is nuclear war" - Bl. Mother Teresa + <*}}}>< <http://www.halfthekingdom.org/on+allposters+today.html>on AllPosters today <*}}}><<*}}}>< <http://astore.amazon.com/halthekin-20>Catholic on Amazon <*}}}>< + <*}}}>< <http://www.holypostage.com/>Holy Postage <*}}}>< <*}}}><<http://www.halfthekingdom.org/>Half the <http://www.halfthekingdom.org/>Kingdom!<*}}}>< + "The fruit of abortion is nuclear war" - Bl. Mother Teresa + --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ Please note that I do not send or open attachments sent to this list. You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Catholics on Fire" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/Catholics-on-Fire May the blessing of Jesus and our Blessed Mother be with you -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
