The ethical and legal concerns regarding the use of cells from human embryos cannot be ignored. However, so much attention has been paid to these issues that an understanding of the state of the science behind stem cell research has often been overlooked. This is especially troubling given that the policy decisions that are made now will affect scientific progress in the future and have long-range implications for all of us.
I recently chaired a committee of the National Research Council and the Institute of Medicine that examined the scientific and therapeutic potential of stem cell research. Despite what some media coverage would suggest, stem cell research is still very much in its infancy. It's true that animal studies using transplanted stem cells have produced some remarkable results, but reproducing these results in humans is still a long way off. A great deal of basic research is required for stem ...
