MAIN Health Stem Cell Research

The topic of cell stem research has grown to be one of the hottest political issues of the 21st century - with impassioned debates on both sides of the issue regarding the ethics and benefits of the use of stem cells for treating disabling and life threatening diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.

What are stem cells and what are the objections to research? And what are the new breakthroughs that might quiet the debate about destroying human embryos in the process of extracting stem cells? These sites will help you sort out the hype from the facts...

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Stem Cell Information - The official United States National Institutes of Health resource for stem cell research has an excellent basic tutorial explaining what stem cells are, what the discoveries can mean, and an overview of Federal policy.

Do No Harm - This group is ethically opposed to embryonic stem cell research and provides plenty of information on adult stem cell and umbilical cord stem cell research. The argument is that with alternative sources of stem cells available, there should be no need to use fetuses to obtain them.

International Society for Stem Cell Research - The other side of the issue presented in a section on The Use of Unenabled Human Embryos in Research. Information and results of research using "nuclear transfer" (NT) with NT stem cells, or NTSC are presented in the Stem Cells for the Public area. Grants and literature for researchers are also available.

Stem Cell Action (SCAN) - This US-based grassroots organization made up of families and friends of patients who may be treatable or curable through research, with a picture of the cost of halting stem cell research in terms of people it affects.

Remarks by the US President [George W. Bush] on Stem Cell Research - Federal funding provides a great deal of the money needed for research in the USA. Policy that limits money for a specific line of scientific research is difficult to justify. This address to the American people explains the rationale behind the policy.

Religious Tolerance - Presenting both sides of the issue with relevant links and readings, this site encourages thought on the issue. The ads make the site a bit less professional looking than it is. The material is well presented and even more importantly, well balanced.

Dental pulp cells may hold key to treatment of Parkinson's disease - An alternative source of stem cells may be found in teeth. According to the resercher, "Using dental pulp has other advantages besides its availability...The cells produce a host of beneficial "neurotrophic" factors, which promote nerve cell survival."

also see feature article -> Stem Cells - Using Your Blood to Cure You