JUST WHEN THINGS WERE GOING SO WELL...

Sunday, August 29. 2010

JUST WHEN THINGS WERE GOING SO WELL...

Everyone in my department was shocked this week when a federal judge halted all funding for stem cell research, including the work I’m doing in combating disease. We had all thought this issue had been settled last year with the new guidelines, so this development was like a predator leaping upon us unawares.
For those of you not in the field, embryonic stem cell holds promise for curing a host of ills such as Parkinson’s and diabetes. We use adult stem cells in our research as well, but at the stage we’re in we need to have a full range of options at our disposal. This ruling not only turns back the clock to where we stood last year, but goes even further. It also denies funding for projects that were allowed by the previous administration.
Thankfully the President is challenging the ruling but if it stands the funding will be halted by the end of September. Yes, that includes my research as well, which goes on until then.
I know I rarely mention my research in this blog, mainly because the developments that take place are ones I reserve for scientific journals. I don’t want competitors stealing my work! Of course, it’s the competition from other countries that are the main beneficiaries of this ruling. I’m sure they’d be delighted to have the playing field for themselves.
Sorry about the rant.

Posted by Lindesfarne at 04:02 | Comments (20) | Trackbacks (0)

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See, this just doesn't make sense. As a country we're all for developing new ways to cure diseases and such, but then something like this happens. Why? I honestly don't understand.

#1 katpod66 on 2010-08-29 04:41 (Reply)

On owr side of the portal its the church that is agenst stem cell research. They don't like it so they put preasure on the goverment to ban it. Their is supose to be a seperation of church & goverment. The church does what they want & the goverment does the same. The only problem is the church does not play by the rules. They don't like something they will lobby agenst it. They claim to be the moral magority but in truth they are the minority. Only because no one goes up agenst them.

#1.1 STEVEN BRAMS on 2010-08-29 11:10 (Reply)

Some of that ruling was because there are now non-embryonic stem cells. The ones that have been reverted from normal cells to stem cells. I doubt that the ruling would have gone through if this were not so.
This ruling is a PITA.
That new pathway from normal cells to stem cells is one that could someday grow new organs that are the same genetics as the person that gets them.
I still feel for your hurt research.
'Otter

#2 Old Prof. Otter on 2010-08-29 11:09 (Reply)

Sorry to hear about the funding. Hopefully, a review of your particular research will reverse the decision in this case. I'm afraid I'm still were my Internet connectivity is limited, but I do try to keep up with your posts!

#3 Patch O'Black on 2010-08-29 14:33 (Reply)

Thanks for the well wishes, everyone!
Last week there was a question about the respective ages of my family. As I understand things, the portal transmissions lead to some elasticity in time; that while the comic strip you humans are reading has been going on for 15 years, less than five years has passed for us.
Here are the current ages of us kids. (Obviously I'd never reveal Kell's age!)
Fenton and I are 21.
Rudy and Fiona are 18-year-old high school seniors.
Coney is four (almost five and about to enter kindergarten)
Edgar the lion is 18. He was two years younger then Rhonda when they were dating, but he was big for his age then.
Corrie and Bruno are 18 as well.

#4 Lindesfarne Dewclaw on 2010-08-29 14:43 (Reply)

If Fiona Rudy & Edgar are all seniors then they had better get busy & start teaching next years hunting team.

#4.1 STEVEN BRAMS on 2010-08-29 15:34 (Reply)

In the comic, Fiona ended up with the ability to fix electronic gadgets just in time for worries about Y2K. I take it from your point of view, she was just a little girl instead of the teenager she was depicted as?

And the court ruling was over here too. Not sure what the future is for stem cell funding as people have been debating if Washingtoon is overdue for some severe austerity budget cutbacks.

#5 Bixyl Shuftan (Link) on 2010-08-29 15:18 (Reply)

When I was a zoology major, I loved reading about stem cell research; I was focusing on animals, but I thought that some of the research related to stem cells could have helped animals drastically affected by the pollution over here-there is increased instances of visible cancer in dolphins over here, for example, so I am distressed that they have yet again cut funding to something that could not only help sick humans, but, with the right stem cells, help all sick creatures.

#6 Selina Grace on 2010-08-29 22:16 (Reply)

Not to raise the conspiracy flag, but there is a lot of money to be made from research grants, drug companies, hospitals, etc. And no doubt a good portion of this ends up back in the government hands.

Hmmm...

#7 Mortar on 2010-08-29 23:01 (Reply)

I fear that this is where I must part company. Perhaps, in a society that already looks upon other sentients as food and commodities, the idea of the potential market that would result from a true embryonic stem cell break perhaps is not disturbing. But for us, who not all that long ago in history, bought and sold our own species in the same way as livestock, the idea is perhaps more than some of us can stomach. If there is a break through, as many hope, will it be worth the cost to society?

This isn't a political screed, and I wouldn't have mentioned it at all if you had not brought it up in your blog. I'll merely raise the question. But I do not, I fear, think I can continue as a reader, not only of your blog but of the comic strips, though they will be sorely missed.

Some things simply aren't worth the cost.

#8 Harry on 2010-08-29 23:31 (Reply)

What cost to society? Stem cells come from many places. Embryonic stem cells come from lines of things that might be put in storage-eventually deteriorating to the point that they are unusable as either a potential baby-for they are not babies-or for research. I am from your world, and I can tell you, if these things that would otherwise be thrown away can help others, there is no cost to anyone.

#8.1 Selina Grace on 2010-08-30 01:41 (Reply)

I'm afraid you're wrong about the embryos not being babies. By the time a sperm and egg cell reach the embryo stage, the baby already has a full nervous system and can feel pain and emotion.

#8.1.1 Ryan Shanahan on 2010-09-13 00:32 (Reply)

Worth the (as far as I can see, negligible) cost? Absolutely.

But then, I've had to live with type 1 diabetes for the past 21 years. I can assure you I absolutely love being told that my health and well-being is less important than that of 'potential' life, which is more often than not rotting away and going to lose its potentiality anyways.

#8.2 Rydia Aslin on 2010-08-30 15:28 (Reply)

If it IS immoral to take stem cells from embryos, then it is even more immoral to create a dozen embryos, knowing that only 1 or 2 will be given a chance to develop. But we let people choose to do it, and boy would there be an uproar if we didn't.

#8.2.1 Robin on 2010-08-30 23:13 (Reply)

I have not checked, but what if anything is wrong with using reconfigured body cells, the ones that they have reverted back to stem cell status?

#9 Old Prof. Otter on 2010-08-30 11:08 (Reply)

Their are those who put their own moral opinions above the well being of others. But then they are in god health & don't need it.

#9.1 STEVEN BRAMS on 2010-08-30 19:26 (Reply)

Let's give a shout out to/for all those bacteria that are eating the oil.
Feast on guys!
'Otter

#10 Old Prof. Otter on 2010-08-31 17:25 (Reply)

It's surprising to see that same ruling in your world as in mine, for the reasons Harry identified. If you're playing by the exact same rules, then you could replace that funding with state government funding or private funding, but that might not be practical for an ongoing project.

I think it is very likely that in twenty years, it will be adult stem cells that represent the standard for therapies, and we will look back on the research effort devoted to embryonic stem cells as a tragic waste of resources. But that is science; you don't know what will work until you try it.

#11 Greg (Link) on 2010-09-01 03:12 (Reply)

How about putting your creative mind to work & find ways to raise the funds for your research.

Create some new gadgets to sell to a company & use the funds to pay for your research.

Remember the amulet you gave to Rhonda. Redesign it & put a patent on it. Their must be a big market for people who have a hard time remembering what they have to do during the day.

#12 STEVEN BRAMS on 2010-09-03 20:58 (Reply)

Did you see this fuss, about interspecies hybridization?

http://www.samefacts.com/2010/09/campaigns/campaign-2010/eeeeeek-a-human-mouse-hybrid/

#13 Suzii on 2010-09-16 21:41 (Reply)

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