Fox 2 Focus: Stem Cell Research

myFOXDetroit.com Staff - On Nov. 4, 2008, Michigan voters approved Proposal 2 which amended the state constitution, overturning a 1978 Michigan law that prohibited the use of human embryos for research, even if those embryos were to be discarded.

The new law makes Michigan one of just three states that protect stem cell research in the state constitution.  Because of  public support, Michigan’s universities are collaborating on new research initiatives, hiring new faculty members, and preparing to compete for federal funds that become available for embryonic stem cell research.

This week the Renaissance Center in Detroit is hosting the 2010 World Stem Cell Summit.   Why is the summit here in Michigan?  The answer according to the summit organizers is four-fold.

Michigan has world class research facilities, public support (the passing of Prop 2 in 2008), a large life sciences environment with more than $2-billion invested since 2000 and private philanthropy from people like Alfred Taubam and the A. Alfred Taubman Medical Research Institute at the University of Michigan.

Click on the video player to see our discussion.

Two questions to ponder:

1.  Why is stem cell research important?

Researchers in the field believe that stem cell research holds great promise for relieving human disease and suffering. Because stem cells are the source of all tissues of the body, understanding how they develop and work will give us a fundamental understanding of human biology in health and in sickness. In addition, stem cells may be a renewable source of replacement cells that could be used to treat a variety of diseases and disabilities.

Embryonic stem cell research may provides insight into the origin of disease and may lead to more effective treatments for serious human ailments such as juvenile diabetes, Parkinson's disease, ALS, cancer, heart failure and spinal cord injuries.

For more on stem cell research, consider the following web sites:

Michigan Citizens for Stem Cell Research

World Stem Cell Summit

National Institute of Health

2.  Why do some people oppose embryonic stem cell research?

The Catholic Church is the largest of several conservative Christian organizations which oppose embryonic stem cell research because they believe that life begins as soon as an egg is fertilized. They maintain that embryonic stem cell research is wrong because harvesting these cells kills the living human embryo. The Catholic Church opposes most forms of in vitro fertilization and the direct destruction of human life for any purpose, including research [Source: Michigan Catholic Conference Focus, February 2005].

For more on why groups oppose stem cell research check out these sites:

Leadership U

Helium.com

The American Catholic Church

Tonight on Fox 2 News Monica Gayle took an in-depth look at stem cell research and the role it plays in the state of Michigan. She spoke with the Director of the Stem Cell Commercialization Center at Tech Town Jim Eliason, Stem Cell Advocate Sabrina Cohen and the former President of Right to Life Warren, Harvey Dean.

Watch and add your comments below.  Some of them may be used in a newscast.