Christian Medical Association
January 23, 2002
Washington, DC, -- As a just-released report on
research at the University of Minnesota reveals what is described as possibly
the "most important cell ever discovered", the nation's largest faith-based
physicians' organization says the findings provide wonderful hope for patients
and should end the push to clone and destroy embryonic human beings.
"Cells taken ethically from adults with no loss of life have already shown
tremendous potential and proven benefits. This discovery should remove any last
vestiges of doubt in the lifesaving potential of adult stem cells. As many had
predicted, it now appears that adult stem cells are the avenues to providing
real cures for real people," observed Christian Medical Association (www.cmdahome.org)
Executive Director David Stevens, MD.
Dr. Stevens added, "If the remarkable results of this study prove consistent
with early published reports, then no reasonable person could justify violating
ethical barriers to clone and harvest human embryos for their cells."
According to a just-released report in today's NewScientist.com, Catherine
Verfaillie at the University of Minnesota discovered cells in the bone marrow of
adults that "can turn into every single tissue in the body." Princeton
University's Ihor Lemischka has labeled the work "very exciting", noting that
the cells "can differentiate into pretty much everything that an embryonic stem
cell can differentiate into."
Dr. Stevens added, "Given this breakthrough news and the consistent performance
of adult stem cells, if you were investing in the stock of companies pursuing
therapies from adult stem cells or from cloned human embryonic stem cells, where
would you put your money?"
Media interviews contact: Jennifer Pickel at 432-844-1000
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