Last week, researchers at UW-Madison announced the discovery of a new technique with which skin cells can be reprogrammed to mimic embryonic stem cells. This is one of the biggest advances in stem cell research in years, and these findings from the lab of UW-Madison biologist James Thomson have the potential to end the political and ethical debate that has surrounded stem cell research for much of the 21st century.
We applaud the efforts of Thomson and his research team. Since 1998, his cutting-edge research has brought the university unparalleled recognition and prestige. The university deserves praise as well, since it has weathered the storm of controversy since 1998, when Thomson plucked stem cells from human embryos for the first time.
The university and private entities continued funding this important research at the University of Wisconsin. This investment in research resulted in Thomson's recent discovery, which cements the position of UW as the leader in stem cell research and will lead to additional funding for further medical breakthroughs.
Members of the Bush administration and social conservatives argue that this discovery ends the contentious stem cell debate.
They present a false choice between ethical"" and ""unethical"" stem cell research, however. Both embryonic and non-embryonic stem cell research have positive and negative attributes. Embryonic stem cell research, for instance, is more established and readily understood but has been saddled with ethical concerns.
With the recently discovered skin cells, important questions remain regarding their behavior, volatility and comparability to embryonic stem cells.
Stem cell research should not be an either-or debate; in our view, any development that brings us closer to finding cures for chronic diseases such as Parkinson's or Alzheimer's should be welcomed. The nearly unlimited potential for treating a variety of chronic diseases outweigh the religious and political concerns of a small minority that have stifled research in the United States for too long.
