Response: Stem Cell Approvals 15

I think it's terrific that the FDA and NIH are making an effort to get breakthroughs such as stem cell therapies out and available to the public. The article did not mention any kind of stem cells in particular, so I'm curious as to which type they were referring to. Stem cells in general? Adult stem cells? Human embryonic?

This particular article didn't even brush on the ethical controversy of stem cell therapies. It was more focused on the politics of the situation with the FDA and new breakthroughs in general. I was pleased to find out that stem cells will be one of the focuses in developing breakthroughs.

I hope to hear more soon about which areas are awarded the grant money and if stem cell therapy development will receive any of the $6.75 million. In a previous article, California received grants specifically aimed to benefit stem cell research, both adult and embryonic.

For the FDA to be making this kind of contribution is exciting. Stem cell therapies are a very up and coming procedure and hopefully will not be over looked when the grants are awarded to avoid controversy.

Notes: Stem Cell Approvals 15

• Stem cell therapies are a medical treatment that US officials (FDA) is very interested in further evaluating.

• February 24, 2010 in an effort by the FDA and National Institute of Health (NIH) 6.75 million dollars are being made available in grants for the progression of medical research, specifically turning potential treatments into options available to the public.

• Health and Human Services Secretary, Kathleen Sebelius says "We want to accelerate and illuminate the pathway from microscope to market," something that would be incredibly influential to make stem cell therapies available in the US. "For Americans this is going to mean that new treatments are safer and available sooner."

• President Obama proposed a $4.03 billion budget to the FDA for the fiscal year.

• A new panel is being made to evaluate new leaps and discoveries for the FDA and will include 6 senior scientists from a collaboration of agencies.