Newcastle stem cell expert advises U.S. Senators
A Newcastle scientist has visited Washington to advise Senators and Congressmen about research into stem cells.
Professor Colin McGuckin, of the North East England Stem Cell Institute (NESCI*), attended a Congressional Lunch on Capitol Hill as guest of honour on Monday, 12 March. He went on to explain his work further and to advise on stem cell issues at a series of meetings with Congressmen and Senators, including presidential candidate Sam Brownback, from Kansas, before flying home on Thursday, 15 March.
Professor McGuckin said a wide range of people, from lobby groups, Senate offices and the White House also attended his briefing sessions.
The USA is considering new legislation on stem cell research. Currently, embryonic stem cell research is denied public funding by law but the USA's position on umbilical cord blood stem cell research is less clear.
Professor McGuckin explained that there are two stem cell Bills in the US, one of which has previously been vetoed by President Bush. The two Bills are now being merged into a single Bill, promoting research on adult stem cells and possibly embryonic stem cell research involving 'non-viable embryos' and somatic nuclear transfer procedures. There is much speculation about whether the President will also veto the combined Bill.
Embryonic stem cell research raises more ethical issues because scientists have to create an embryo to obtain stem cells, whereas umbilical cord blood is collected at birth from tissue that would otherwise be discarded. Both types of research are conducted at Newcastle.
Professor McGuckin has previously been to The Vatican in Rome to explain his work. He has made a number of important discoveries, including the production of liver tissue from stem cells.
* The North East England Stem Cell Institute (NESCI) draws together Durham and Newcastle Universities, the Newcastle-upon-Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and other partners in a unique interdisciplinary collaboration to convert stem cell research and technologies into cost-effective, ethically-robust 21st century health solutions to ameliorate degenerative diseases, the effects of ageing and serious injury. The Institute has received substantial funding and other support from the Regional Development Agency, One NorthEast, and is partly based at the International Centre for Life in Newcastle.
