Scientists criticize adult stem cell claim

Stem cell scientists in Germany are accusing a clinical researcher of making unscientific claims about an adult stem cell transplant therapy in gen research as the country's parliament prepares to debate liberalizing the current stem cell law.Bodo-Eckehard Strauer, director of cardiology at the University of Düsseldorf, told the daily Rheinische Post (Sept. 15) that his team had saved the life of a 64-year-old man who suffered from cardiogenic shock by transplanting adult autologous bone marrow-derived stem cells into a damaged artery. Strauer described the treatment as a "global innovation" and called for increased funding for adult stem cell research. Strauer has performed the procedure in over 300 patients since 2001, but the case was the first in an acute patient. But some researchers say his claims go too far. Andreas Zeiher, director of cardiology at the University of Frankfurt and also a bone marrow transplant specialist, noted...