Stem Cell Update: Research, Legislation, FAQs

Stem cell research continues to garner much media attention as a result of advances in promising stem cell treatments for retinal diseases and other conditions, and continuing legal and political discussions regarding federal funding for human embryonic stem cell research.

On January 3, 2011, Advanced Cell Technology (ACT) received FDA authorization to launch a clinical trial for their innovative dry age-related macular degeneration treatment, which is RPE-like cells derived from human embryonic stem cells. Two months earlier, the company obtained FDA authorizationl to launch a clinical trial of the same treatment for people with Stargardt disease. ACT uses an innovative technique to obtain stem cells from embryos without destroying the embryos. Click here to read more about ACT’s emerging treatment.

A federal appeals court is expected to make a decision soon on federal funding for human embryonic stem cells. In August 2010, a federal judge issued a preliminary injunction banning federal funding for virtually all human embryonic stem cell research. About two weeks later, a panel from a federal appeals court ruled that the federal government (including the National Institutes of Health) could resume funding of embryonic stem cell research while the court reviews the original order that banned funding.

These court rulings revolve around interpretation of the Dickey-Wicker amendment (appropriations bill legislation), which outlines the parameters for federal funding of human embryonic stem cell research.

The Foundation Fighting Blindness supports federal funding of all stem cell research, because of the strong potential it holds for saving and restoring vision.

Medical research, with its complex concepts and terminology, can be difficult to understand, and stem cell research is no exception. We’ve prepared a list of frequently asked questions on stem cells to help you better understand this promising research area.