First Human Treated with Stem Cells
AJC reports:
Taking a landmark step, Atlanta doctors have injected millions of embryonic stem cells into a partially paralyzed patient, treating a human for the first time in the U.S. with the controversial research, officials said Monday.
The medical procedure took place Friday at an unknown local hospital and the person, who was not identified, later entered the Shepherd Center, which specializes in brain and spinal cord injuries, for rehabilitation.
While supporters hailed the treatment as a monumental medical advance, others derided it as a moral atrocity. There was some irony in Atlanta being selected as the first American site for embryonic stem cell treatment, considering there have been several legislative proposals previously calling for a research ban. Clearly there was a divide when the news was revealed.
“This is a big deal for Atlanta,” said Steve Stice, director of the University of Georgia’s Regenerative Bioscience Center.” One of my son’s roommates at UGA [who is paralyzed] could be helped by this eventually.”
Atlanta was chosen for the initial clinical trial because of the city’s reputation for cutting-edge research in spinal-cord injuries and the Shepherd Center’s advanced rehabilitation center, said Anna Krassowska, spokeswoman for Geron Corp. of Menlo Park, Calif., which is sponsoring the research. The stem cell treatment could be offered to 10 patients at seven sites nationwide, with Atlanta receiving more patients, Krassowska said.
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