Stem Cell Research

Visit the new Stem Cell Facts website to learn about the amazing advancements and treatments offered by adult stem cells.

The Catholic Church is in favor of stem cell research, which has been used successfully to treat thousands of patients. But, the stem cells that are actually treating patients come from a patient’s own body or from umbilical cord blood, not from human embryos. The Catholic Church opposes the small percentage of research programs that obtain stem cells by killing human embryos.

People suffering from a devastating disease or injury need cures, not hype. Recent publications show that adult and cord blood stem cells are superior to embryonic stem cells. It is unethical to kill living human embryos for use in science experiments; it is also unethical to divert money from successful research into research that is speculative.

Ethical, effective alternatives to embryonic stem cell research should be promoted and legislation promoting embryonic stem cell research should be opposed. Instead of embryonic stem cell research, support should be given to legislation that will make Maryland a center for excellence for innovative basic and applied research in ethical stem cell therapies. These cutting-edge therapies use umbilical cord blood, amniotic fluid and adult stem cells.

Scientists assert that embryonic stem cells might one day treat disease. They have not offered any evidence to support their assertions. After 25 years of research with animal embryonic stem cells, the only thing to show for it is dead mice. But adult, amniotic fluid and cord blood stem cells are already treating disease and injury.

There is no correlation between funding embryonic stem cell research and the ranking of a nation’s or state’s biotech industry. Germany bans embryonic stem cell research and is the leading nation for biotechnology growth in Europe. Many states with top biotech industries ban embryonic stem cell research.

Embryonic stem cells frequently form lethal tumors. This is well-documented. Yet some scientists continue to dismiss the problem. The problem cannot be dismissed -- the reason embryonic stem cells form tumors is because they are embryonic.

Scientists continue to assert that their embryonic stem cell research has value and should be funded, but they are unable to back up their claims with data. Unproven human research should not be funded when:

*Plenty of money is available to fund animal embryonic stem cell research (NIH spent $409 million on animal embryonic stem cell research FY 2003-2006);
*The usual route that medical research follows is to first demonstrate success in animals, then, and only then, try to repeat the success in humans;
*The majority of Marylanders are opposed to embryonic stem cell research because of the ethical concerns; and
*Ethical research using non-embryonic stem cells is more promising and has shown success with 73 conditions, including Parkinson’s, spinal cord injury, heart disease, blindness, and cancer.

Because of the phenomenal success of adult and cord blood stem cells, the reasons to pursue embryonic stem cell research have disappeared. Now it is known that embryonic stem cells do not offer any advantage over adult and cord blood stem cells. Embryonic stem cells have four known disadvantages: they are rejected by the patient’s body, they form tumors, they are ethically and morally objectionable, and they are not useful for treating disease or injury.

For proof, look at little Mason Shaffer, one of thousands saved by adult stem cells thanks to umbilical cord blood.

Baltimore Archbishop Edwin O'Brien, with officials from Mercy Medical Center and Community Blood Services of New Jersey, launched the first public cord blood program in Maryland on October 11. The free program enables new mothers at Mercy to donate their child's umbilical cord to a public blood bank. Until now, their only options were to throw the cord away or pay for private banking.

"Allowing parents to make the harmless and life-saving donation of their baby's umbilical cord fits beautifully with Catholic hospitals' mission of providing life-affirming health care," said Archbishop O'Brien.

For more information, read the press release and articles in the Catholic Review and Baltimore Sun. Or view video from Ch. 13 WJZ and Ch. 11 WBAL.

Also, visit the Save the Cord Foundation website.

Photo courtesy Owen Sweeney III/The Catholic Review