14 is struggling for attention on a ballot defined by the polarizing presidential election and ballot measures on gig workers, business taxes and dialysis. And the agency has a track record, leading to criticisms for underdelivering on claims that it would find cures for such diseases as Alzheimer’s and multiple sclerosis.Īt the same time, Prop. 14 campaign is up against the coronavirus pandemic, the ensuing economic uncertainty and state revenue challenges. While adult cells are less versatile, these technological advancements may reduce the need for cells derived from controversial sources. Scientists are now able to manipulate adult stem cells in a lab, reprogramming them to look and act more like embryonic stem cells. But Trump’s restrictions have focused on stem cells from fetal tissue obtained from abortions, not from embryonic stem cells, which come from unused embryos that are created through in vitro fertilization. President Barack Obama has since restored federal funding for stem-cell research that remains in place, albeit under threats from President Donald Trump. In the nation’s biotech capital - with an electorate dominated by Democrats and independent voters that support abortion rights - stem-cell backers made the case that California needed to step in to keep research alive. Bush’s prohibition on federal funding for embryonic stem-cell research, a stance supported by the religious right. 14, along with Dagmar Dolby, the widow of inventor and sound engineer Ray Dolby.īack then, Klein and other proponents had a ready-made argument by pointing to President W. That’s our real opposition,” said Robert Klein, the wealthy real estate investor and attorney who authored both measures and is the main funder of Prop. It’s not clear that the Yes on 14 campaign’s $15 million, even with a campaign that features actor Seth Rogen as “ Stemmy the Stem Cell,” will get the job done. Meanwhile, the 2020 fall election has been scrambled by coronavirus, which prompted the state to mail ballots to all California voters for the first time. The initiative is one of 12 ballot proposals, several of which have bombarded voters with ads for weeks thanks to their massive war chests. Please visit a Closer Look At Stem Cells from the International Society for Stem Cell Research.The current election environment doesn’t work in favor of the November stem-cell measure, Proposition 14. ![]() None of these clinics can back up claims of recovery with published, credible science.įueled by very motivated patients who seem to feel they have nothing to lose, stem cell tourism is a big business - despite warnings from reputable scientists and numerous reports of stem cell scams and fraud.īefore you or someone you know considers such a treatment, be a responsible consumer and make an effort to understand the risks. There are many clinics outside the United States and outside mainstream medicine that offer, for large fees, unproven stem cell therapies. Clouding the picture are high expectations for stem cells, amplified by lots of noise and demands. Not enough is known about how stem cells work, and moving from research to the clinic is long and complicated. But the stem cell field is still very new. ![]() Between newspaper headlines and testimonials across the web, it is indeed tempting to think cures are right around the corner. There is indeed a great deal of promise regarding stem cells. Participation in a stem cell trial or any clinical trial may prevent you from being eligible for future trials. There are potential risks for undergoing a treatment that has not been validated and approved by an appropriate national regulatory agency.Ī person who receives an unapproved treatment is unlikely to achieve functional benefits related to the treatment, while risking unknown and potential harm. In the future, innovative stem cell therapies will likely be developed to treat disorders such as spinal cord injury and diseases like diabetes, heart disease and Parkinson’s. Stem cells can also be used to screen and test drugs. Human embryonic stem cells can help reveal how organisms, including human beings, develop, which in turn enable scientists to better understand how the body might repair itself after injury and disease. In the here and now, stem cells are a powerful tool for scientists to use as they explore the underlying causes and mechanisms of injury and disease. We think about the usefulness of stem cells in two ways: the here and now and the future.
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