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Scrutinizing a Stem Cell Trial

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the under-the-microscope dept.

Wired News has an interesting discussion of a clinical stem cell trial with the CEO of Geron, a California based stem cell company. The author takes time to discuss some of the process and hurdles that are faced by a company who wishes to engage in early clinical trials. From the article: "After an hour of speaking to Okarma, fears of a half-baked trial dissipated. He readily answered my many questions. If he didn't have the animal data to answer a query, he didn't try to dance around that fact. Okarma outlined a structured but malleable trial. I initially had reservations about safety, but Okarma emphasized that if the animal data is not good, the study will not move forward until problems are addressed."

12 of 54 comments (clear)

  1. Rats can walk! by Eightyford · · Score: 3, Informative

    In related news, stem cell transplants can repair injured spinal cords in rats!

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    Religion for nerds. Stuff that really matters
    1. Re:Rats can walk! by McGiraf · · Score: 3, Funny

      I am sure all the rats are realy happy we humans do all this reasearch to cure them of all these diseases and injuries.

    2. Re:Rats can walk! by Eightyford · · Score: 2, Funny

      I am sure all the rats are realy happy we humans do all this reasearch to cure them of all these diseases and injuries.

      They would probably be happier if we didn't intentionally paralyze them first!

      --
      Religion for nerds. Stuff that really matters
    3. Re:Rats can walk! by GenieGenieGenie · · Score: 2, Funny

      I've always sought a career in making rats happier. Or was it humans? I not sure anymore. Anyways, you can leave some cheese outside this evening if it makes you feel better.

  2. Testing on bums by Eightyford · · Score: 3, Interesting

    I wonder where medical science would be if society allowed more testing on homeless people? (not that I condone that, of course)

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    Religion for nerds. Stuff that really matters
  3. Summary by Otter · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Summary: This study had exactly the same oversight that every Phase I trial in the US has.

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    What I'm listening to now on Pandora...
  4. What does it say about our society... by tverbeek · · Score: 3, Insightful

    What does it say about our society that I initially parsed "stem cell trial" in the headline as "a court case alleging illegal use of stem cells in research"?

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    http://alternatives.rzero.com/
  5. When to believe by 1984 · · Score: 2, Insightful

    "I initially had reservations about safety, but Okarma emphasized that if the animal data is not good, the study will not move forward until problems are addressed."

    Don't believe that. Not because it's stem cells, not because Tom Okarma's a bad person (I have no idea about his character), but because that's not an independent, verifiable standard. Be happy that bad things should be avoided because some procedure is being followed and verified, not because you have a good feeling about a person. You want a process that deals with the honest folk and the dishonest folk just the same way, and works for both. Trust breaks the day you have a dishonest person on the other side of the table.

    Still, I guess this is offtopic. It's an interesting article.

  6. Good. by posterlogo · · Score: 2, Interesting

    It's excellent that there are well balanced articles like this out there. Many tend to follow the anti-science trend that is taking over the US in recent years. Recently, the controversy over patient-specific stem cells has been used to rally the bible-beating troops against the use of embryonic stem cells altogether. Any sort of glance under the surface whatsover would immediately reveal that the scientific process worked exactly as it should, as it will in this clinical trial as well. Frankly, the results in animal models are quite promising, and if this treatment even mereley 'does no harm', I will be quite impressed.

    1. Re:Good. by MrFlibbs · · Score: 2, Insightful

      You must be easily impressed. Frankly, I was hoping for positive results like an improvement in sensation or motion in the patients. Not killing them is not much of an accomplishment. If there's no benefit to the patients from the treatment, why would you be impressed?

    2. Re:Good. by posterlogo · · Score: 2, Informative

      Actually, I'm a postdoctoral biologist. I'm not easily impressed. I think the concept of being able to introduce stem cells into human, and them not turn cancerous, really would be a marvelous achievement. Remember, stem cells are undifferentiated, a lot like tumor cells become. If the stem cells simply incorporate themselves into the tissue without any harm to the patient, I think that would be a huge accomplishment. It would verify the validity of the approach, and serve as a stepping stone for further research.

  7. Interesting job description by brian0918 · · Score: 4, Funny

    Wanted: Assistant for lab. Will be required to break spines of rats for further research. Flexible hours. Bring own hammer.