Subscribe free to our newsletters via your
. 24/7 Space News .




CLONE AGE
Texas stem-cell plan comes under fire
by Staff Writers
Houston (UPI) Apr 9, 2012


disclaimer: image is for illustration purposes only

Proposed stem-cell regulations in Texas would make the experimental therapy commercially available before it's been proven safe and effective, critics say.

A Texas Medical Board draft policy on adult stem-cell treatments is coming under fire from a number of scientists and institutions, including the scientific journal Nature and the International Society for Stem Cell Research, the Houston Chronicle reported Monday.

Critics say the proposed regulations circumvent Food and Drug Administration oversight.

"Texas officials should take the FDA's regulatory power over stem cells more seriously," Nature said in an editorial. "If the medical board were to act according to its stated pledge to protect patients, then it would make clear the need for clinical validation of adult stem cells before use and rescind the medical licenses of any doctors in breach of rules about using unapproved treatments."

The Texas policy would allow doctors in the state to provide the unlicensed therapy as long as they have approval from a review panel, as is customary in clinical trials.

But whereas most clinical trials provide experimental therapy for free, the policy would allow Texas doctors to charge tens of thousands of dollars for treatments.

Texas Medical Board Executive Director Mari Robinson has denied the proposed policy circumvents the FDA.

"The FDA has provided no definitive statement about the medical use of adult stem cells, including whether it even has jurisdiction if the cells are taken from patients and given back within the state," Robinson said. "The board wants to let the field come forward and grow but in a safe manner."

Critics say the policy sets up a process redundant to the one already set by the FDA.

"It also confuses clinical research, which is conducted to find out generalized information about new therapies' safety and efficacy, with the practice of medicine, which is about using safe, proven methods to treat ailments," said Douglas Sipp, head of Science Policy and Ethics Studies at Japan's RIKEN Center for Developmental Biology.

"Essentially, Texas is saying research can be done as treatment, that patients can be charged to participate in research."

.


Related Links
The Clone Age - Cloning, Stem Cells, Space Medicine






Comment on this article via your Facebook, Yahoo, AOL, Hotmail login.

Share this article via these popular social media networks
del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg RedditReddit GoogleGoogle








CLONE AGE
UGA study reveals basic molecular 'wiring' of stem cells
Athens, GA (SPX) Mar 14, 2012
Despite the promise associated with the therapeutic use of human stem cells, a complete understanding of the mechanisms that control the fundamental question of whether a stem cell becomes a specific cell type within the body or remains a stem cell has-until now-eluded scientists. A University of Georgia study published in the March 2 edition of the journal Cell Stem Cell, however, creates ... read more


CLONE AGE
Russia Plans to Launch Lunar Rovers to Moon after 2020

Russia to explore moon

Earth's Other Moons

Flying Formation - Around the Moon at 3,600 MPH

CLONE AGE
Post Solstice Rover Takes The Opportunity For A Wiggle

Russia and Europe give boost to Mars robotic mission

Mars missions race, India takes lead

12-Mile-High Martian Dust Devil Caught In Act

CLONE AGE
Russia Plans First Tourist Spaceport

'Smart City' ambitions for quake-struck Italian town

Boeing Completes Parachute Drop Test of Crew Space Transportation Spacecraft

New Study Calls For Recognition of Private Property Claims in Space

CLONE AGE
China's Lunar Docking

Shenzhou-9 may take female astronaut to space

China to launch 100 satellites during 2011-15

Three for Tiangong

CLONE AGE
Busy first days for ATV Edoardo Amaldi

Space Savings for ISS Science Samples

Europe's ATV-3 Space Freighter Adjusts ISS Orbit

Aerojet Propulsion Helps Deliver Astronaut Care Packages

CLONE AGE
Spy satellite-carrying rocket blasts off

Orbital Receives Order for Minotaur I Space Launch Vehicle From USAF

Space Launch System Program Completes Step One of Combined Milestone Reviews

Russian Proton-M Puts Military Satellite into Orbit

CLONE AGE
NASA Extends Kepler, Spitzer, Planck Missions

NASA's Kepler Mission Awarded Mission Extension

A planetary system from the early Universe

Discovery of an 'alien earth' imminent?

CLONE AGE
New York pay phones to get touchy feely makeover

Company touts self-healing film for screen

China sets up rare earth body to boost sector

'Mass Effect 3' fans promised expanded ending




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2014 - Space Media Network. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA Portal Reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. Privacy Statement