Stem Cells and the Future of Regenerative Medicine

Committee on the Biological and Biomedical Applications of Stem Cell Research, Commission on Life Sciences, National Research Council, Board on Neuroscience and Behavioral Health, Institute of Medicine0309076307, 9780309076302, 9780309509749

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.

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Table of contents :
Front Matter……Page 1
Acknowledgments……Page 7
Preface……Page 11
Contents……Page 15
Executive Summary……Page 19
C H A P T E R O N E Project Overview and Definitions……Page 25
C H A P T E R T W O Adult Stem Cells……Page 37
C H A P T E R T H R E E Embryonic Stem Cells……Page 49
C H A P T E R F O U R Opportunities for and Barriers to Progress in Stem Cell Research for Regenerative Medicine……Page 59
C H A P T E R F I V E Findings and Recommendations……Page 73
References……Page 79
Glossary……Page 85
A P P E N D I X A Committee Biographies……Page 91
BookmarkTitle:……Page 97
Index……Page 107