Good News For Stem Cells

I just turned on my computer to work on a different project (see 101 Places Not To See Before You Die) and got an update from JDRF that I needed to share. According to this press release, NIH just released new guidelines for federally funded stem cell research that are great news for anyone hoping for a cure. To quote from the press release:

We particularly want to commend the NIH for including in the guidelines a provision under which existing stem cell lines derived in an ethically-responsible manner would be eligible for federally funded research. This provision will ensure that a process is in place so researchers can build on the stem cell advancements made to date and accelerate research on cell lines with the greatest potential to facilitate treatment of the disease.

Translation: judging from the email sent out by JDRF, this means that they are allowing discarded embryos from fertility clinics to be used in stem cell research. To me and many other stem-cell advocates, this has always seemed like a no-brainer — and it’s nice to see that it’s finally happening.

Catherine Price

Catherine Price (www.catherine-price.com) was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes when she was 22 years old. She has written for publications including The Best American Science Catherine Price is a professional journalist who was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes when she was 22 years old. Her work has been featured in publications including The Best American Science Writing, The New York Times, Popular Science, The Los Angeles Times, The San Francisco Chronicle, The Washington Post Magazine, Salon, Slate, Men’s Journal, Health Magazine, The Oprah Magazine, and Outside, among others. A graduate of Yale and UC Berkeley’s Graduate School of Journalism

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Catherine Price

Catherine Price was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes when she was 22 years old. She has written for publications including The Best American Science Catherine Price is a professional journalist who was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes when she was 22 years old. Her work has been featured in publications including The Best American Science Writing, The New York Times, Popular Science, The Los Angeles Times, The San Francisco Chronicle, The Washington Post Magazine, Salon, Slate, Men’s Journal, Health Magazine, The Oprah Magazine, and Outside, among others. A graduate of Yale and UC Berkeley’s Graduate School of Journalism