Recent scientific breakthroughs, celebrity patient advocates, and conflicting religious beliefs have come together to bring the state of stem cell research—specifically embryonic stem cell research—into the political crosshairs. President Bush’s watershed policy statement allows federal funding for embryonic stem cell research but only on a limited number of stem cell lines. Millions of Americans could be affected by the continuing political debate among policymakers and the public.

Stem Cells and the Future of Regenerative Medicine provides a deeper exploration of the biological, ethical, and funding questions prompted by the therapeutic potential of undifferentiated human cells. In terms accessible to lay readers, the book summarizes what we know about adult and embryonic stem cells and discusses how to go about the transition from mouse studies to research that has therapeutic implications for people.

Perhaps most important, Stem Cells and the Future of Regenerative Medicine also provides an overview of the moral and ethical problems that arise from the use of embryonic stem cells. This timely book compares the impact of public and private research funding and discusses approaches to appropriate research oversight.

Based on the insights of leading scientists, ethicists, and other authorities, the book offers authoritative recommendations regarding the use of existing stem cell lines versus new lines in research, the important role of the federal government in this field of research, and other fundamental issues.

Contents

• THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES
• COMMITTEE ON THE BIOLOGICAL AND BIOMEDICAL APPLICATIONS OF STEM CELL RESEARCH
• BOARD ON LIFE SCIENCES NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL
• BOARD ON NEUROSCIENCE AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH INSTITUTE OF MEDICINE
• Acknowledgments
• Preface
• Executive Summary
• CHAPTER ONE. Project Overview and Definitions
  • THE CHARGE TO THE COMMITTEE
  • WHAT ARE STEM CELLS? BASIC DEFINITIONS
• CHAPTER TWO. Adult Stem Cells
  • HEMATOPOIETIC STEM CELLS
  • OTHER ADULT STEM CELLS
• CHAPTER THREE. Embryonic Stem Cells
  • PROPERTIES OF ESCs IMPORTANT FOR REGENERATIVE MEDICINE
  • EVIDENCE SUPPORTING THE POTENTIAL OF ESCS FOR USE IN REGENERATIVE MEDICINE
• CHAPTER FOUR. Opportunities for and Barriers to Progress in Stem Cell Research for Regenerative Medicine
  • KEY SCIENTIFIC QUESTIONS
  • USE OF EMBRYOS FOR STEM CELL RESEARCH IS CONTROVERSIAL
  • PUBLIC FUNDING PROVIDES THE BEST OPPORTUNITIES FOR THERAPEUTIC ADVANCES
• CHAPTER FIVE. Findings and Recommendations
• References
• Glossary
• APPENDIX A Committee Biographies
• APPENDIX B Workshop Agenda and Speaker Biographies

NOTICE: The project that is the subject of this report was approved by the Governing Board of the National Research Council, whose members are drawn from the councils of the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, and the Institute of Medicine. The members of the committee responsible for the report were chosen for their special competencies and with regard for appropriate balance.

This study was supported by the National Research Council Fund and by the Ellison Medical Foundation under Agreement no. NI-CW-0007-01. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the organizations or agencies that provided support for the project.