One of Scotland's leading men of science and the man who created the first cloned mammal Dolly (a sheep), Professor Ian Wilmut has suggested that stem cell therapy should be made available to the terminally-ill. In doing so, the professor believes that such experimental treatment could save lives while serving as a catalyst for research.
He said, "I've come across people who have neuro-degenerative disease who face a steady, slow decline and premature death…(who) would be only too keen to participate in trials". He suggested in contrary to traditions that such non-fully tested treatments need to be used in such situations since the benefits could outweigh the dangers. Appointed as the Director of Edinburgh University's Centre for Regenerative Medicine earlier this month, the professor voiced his ideas about how stem cell treatments could be used.
Stem cells therapy is a fairly new development in the world of medicine, whereby "adult" cells from bone marrow and cord blood (umbilical cord) or "embryonic" cells from initial stage human embryos are used to treat a disease. The cells rich in growth factors help replicate different tissues in the body including skin, with the embryonic cells being more powerful. But the field has had a fair share of controversies and scandals including one involving a Korean professor.
It is already believed that the therapy using stem cells could be curative for Parkinson's Syndrome, Alzheimerism and diseases pertaining to motor neurons. However, the potential adverse impacts of such treatment and medical ethics have hindered progress in such experimental treatments. Also since some stem cells need to be harvested from human embryos (embryonic stem cells), there has been the bigger issue of whether this is acceptable.
But the fact is that the regenerative ability of the stem cells is linked to the efficacy of treatment. As UK is readying for a major announcement on such research, Wilmut told the press, "Imagine you've got motor neurone disease and you've got no movement below your neck. You hear reports of benefits from stem cells in news reports, on the Internet”. That hope is exactly what stem cell therapy and research offer to the many who have tried every possible therapy to no avail.
He noted, "If we wait until things are totally tested and analysed in animals, it will deny some people that treatment". Prof Wilmut, a licence-holder for cloning human embryos from the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority believes that since even otherwise the risks already exist, whereas the possibility of benefits need to be explored. Waiting to be sure for such persons would only mean the certainty of death overtaking research. With scientists saying that stem cells could treat diverse disorders from liver disease to diabetes or spinal injury, it appears that the world is with holding a critical means to save numerous lives.
Professor John Burn who heads the Institute of Human Genetics at Newcastle University said on radio that the suggestion to use stem cell therapy could prove to be popular among those enduring serious illnesses. He said, “It sounds like they're being used as guinea pigs but sometimes people volunteer… if it will advance medical treatment for others".
Already the UK government has granted a £50m award for funding research in this new realm of science for the coming two years. It may therefore be a question of time before others agree with Professor Wilmut in offering this last resort treatment to save lives.
