Stem Cell Accountability

I am inclined to favor pump-priming efforts by state and federal governments if there is a clear opportunity for a payback. Most ballot initiatives are worded to capitalize on popular or progressive-sounding phrases, I would agree. Reading between the lines of any interpretive statement is not easy, but gives valuable clues as to the merits of a ballot question. If a stem cell research question were on the ballot this November, I would want to see a balanced description with hard facts showing the state's outlay up front, the cost to taxpayers in such debt service, and what job creation can reasonably be expected. Furthermore, any expected revenues from licensing technology or facilities rentals should be included.

those who got sick at Ground Zero??

You idiot, you brains are where you sit plus the fact you don't know what you are talking about, MORAN, the mess came after she left office DUMMY.

I am sick of you quacks trying to talk about a subject that you were neither involved in nor know anything about and are being, as usual, led by the LIBERAL press in this state.

So check your facts, oh I forgot you are to DUMB to know anything about this subject....

BECAUSE YOU WERN'T INVOLVED.

The topic is stem cell accountability in New Jersey! What started out, as an effort to do the research the federal government does not support (embryonic stem cell research) has shifted to mainly funding adult stem cell research, the kind that is openly funded already. The bond issue which will be voted on this November doesn't even stipulate a percentage of how much funding will go to embryonic stem cell research, yet it specifically says 50 million will be set aside to set up a clinical trial network to test only adult stem cells. By the way, Dr. Wise Young, who toured China with Governor Corzine to solidify positions with drug companies, always had a dream of setting up a clinical trial network. Is the stem cell institute throwing him a bone? With 50 million already guaranteed to an Adult Stem Cell Clinical Trial Network and the rest of the 450 million up for grabs, if we look at the grants already issued which funded only 5 embryonic stem cell research projects, but managed to issue grants to 28 adult stem cell projects, the State of New Jersey is not living up to it’s promise. In fact it’s rather distasteful that Governor Corzine flanked himself with youngsters in wheelchairs, like my son, and promised to make NJ the leader in Embryonic Stem Cell Research. What’s even more appalling is he still takes credit for his poor effort and uses it to bash republicans who are against embryonic stem cell research. The hope was to cure disease, not to fund universities, issue large contracts to builders, or fund some researchers pet project. By the way, embryonic stem cell research is no longer a political party issue. Many republicans support the research. In NJ however, it seems it is a political issue, a bait and switch deal. How low can you go Corzine? You got elected because you campaigned flanked by a youngster in a wheelchair, at that time you were all for embryonic stem cell research. Only funding 5 out of 33 grants to embryonic stem cell research is not living up to your promise.

Your comment about bringing in medical professionals to run the program may in fact be the problem. We need citizen monitoring, and not something like the NJ Citizens Coalition for Cures, that organization is set up by just a few people and really doesn't represent the people of NJ, but is more like a rubber stamp for whatever Corzine wants, yea it may look good on paper, but thats about it. Heavy weight medical professionals don’t correlate to our needs, mostly they are hired to bring funding and respect to a University or Medical establishment. In New Jersey there are 3 key professionals involved in setting up the stem cell project. All of them can be quoted as being against embryonic stem cell research. I will take them one at a time. First, Dr. Gary Friedman is quoted as agreeing with Prentice, a strong opponent of ESC research. It appears in the Catholic Spirit, and the discussion took place at none other than Rutgers University. http://www.catholicspirit.com/stories/2005/oct/1027doctors.html From the article: Doctors: Adult stem cells, cord blood hold most promise By Jim Shea Correspondent At the 18th bi-annual interfaith Breakfast for Life Oct. 26 at Rutgers University, New Brunswick, approximately 150 doctors, students, clergy, members of the professional community and other pro-life advocates heard from one of the leading experts on the topic of ethics and stem cell research……..“The bottom line,” continued Dr. Prentice, “is that our real promise lies not in the use of embryonic stem cells but with adult stem cells. Adult stem cells are today already at work in patients. I can document, through published scientific papers, with over 65 human diseases, where patients are better already, having been effectively treated through adult stem cells.”…………….Fellow guest speaker Dr. Gary Friedman, medical director of the Center for Regenerative Medicine, Morristown Memorial Hospital, and trustee for the New Jersey Stem Cell Research and Education Foundation, agreed with Dr. Prentice’s assessment. “As of 6 p.m. last night, there were over 141 approvals for human clinical trials, utilizing human umbilical cord stem cells,” he said. “Going back 10 or 15 years, there were probably only five or 10 such cases. At the current rate, use of adult stem cells is exploding.” “What I have learned,” Dr. Friedman said, “is that life is precious. I get to see people giving life to other people, day in, day out. People volunteer to donate their organs to a friend or family member. This shows the great giving capacity of human beings. We also understand, through the process of arranging for organ transplants, that we cannot forcibly take a life from another human being.”………..“I didn’t know how effective adult stem cell research was,” said Nicole Czarnecki, a Rutgers University student. “I had no idea adult stem cells worked so well and that embryonic stem cells were not as effective.” Shannon Varga, a student from St. Peter the Apostle High School, New Brunswick, expressed gratitude for the opportunity to attend the breakfast. “I’m so glad I came today, to find out the importance of adult stem cell research,” she said. “I’m convinced embryonic stem cell research is wrong.” Next is Don Sebastian who has even said “Well in advance of the promise offered by controlled differentiation of embryonic stem cells, clinical trials are already underway for a diverse array of diseases and conditions using various forms of adult stem cells.” And finally Dr. Wise Young. Dr. Young has convinced his followers to work with right to life groups in order to try to get the Christopher Reeve bill passed. It’s a bill that would fund a clinical trial network, which seems to be his pet project. And all this was done at the expense of ESC research. Still after years of trying to get this bill enacted into law there is minimal support. But for some unknown reason the current Bond Issue in NJ is asking for 50 million to fund clinical trials of only adult stem cells. How could that be that clinical trials of adult stem cell has specific funding in the NJ bond Issue and the amount of Hescr which the whole program was to specialize in has no set amount? If you think I am kidding read this which Dr. Wise Young put  on his website: "Working with Pro-life groups. I know that this sounds like heresy but given the stalemate that has occurred with the stem cells in the Senate, I am not sure that we will have embryonic stem cells in the near future for clinical applicatoin. While we should not give up opposing legislation that are proposing criminalizing therapeutic cloning, we need to find common ground with Prolife groups so that we can work together on something. I don't believe that they are bad people. By the way, some of our members oppose embryonic stem cells research. So, why don't we work with prolife groups to push for a bill that allocates $300 million of federal funding to study umbilical cord blood stem cells, bone marrow stem cells, adult stem cells from nasal mucosa, and other cells (such as olfactory ensheathing glia). I think that all these cells are acceptable to the prolife groups. If we can get them to help us push such legislation through, I think it will benefit everybody. Wise"

It is not safe to assume that the scientists should decide the best route to take. And, we can’t even say that the NJ program evolved away from strong support of Hesc, otherwise this would not have been on the Stem Cell Institutes questions and answer page: Will institute scientists study embryonic stem cells? Institute scientists will study both adult and embryonic stem cells. Much of this research will be conducted on non-human stem cells derived from mice. So even though New Jersey wants you to think they are doing Hesc, BIGTIME, and they capitalize on the desire for esc research, it seems from the start they are channeling the funds to adult stem cells and duping us. I think some key advocates have been duped also. I give Christine Whitman credit for bringing up the issue. Also, as a former democrat, I contacted Governor Whitman when my son became paralyzed, while she was Governor. Not only did she respond, she had different agencies call to work out issues I was having with my son. So far, I have yet to get a call back from Corzine, or Menendez who I even visited in Washington, DC with my son to advocate for stem cell research. At this point, I am not a party man, but rather vote for someone who comes through. If Whitman were running for office, she would have my vote.

The topic not stem cell research. The topic is government waste of money. The specific example Whitman used was of stem cells, but she's being the pot to Corzine's kettle on gov't spending here.

It's simple, judging from some of the comments so far they seem to be less interested in the issues and more concerned about putting blame on a political party. What you accomplish is only turning all your power over to your party of choice. Maybe if we stuck to the issues and didn't give blind faith to our party of choice, or even went further and we crossed party lines, we could wipe out corruption and enjoy a democracy.