Brawne 1 Maria Brawne Professor Guenzel ENC 1102-0014 March 21, 2014 Final Draft Eye-Opening Issues of the

Stem Cell World The often controversial, widely diverse and relatively new studies of stem cell research have taken the medical world by storm, leading to radical discoveries of the power of regenerative medicines and therapies. Although a recent application in medicine, one that rocketed to center-stage within the last decade, stem cell use in regenerative therapies has sparked hope on an international scale to change the medical fields many treatments into abundant cures. Ranging from Alzheimers to Parkinsons, blindness to paraplegia, there is true promise in each study involving stem cells but the main obstacles impeding on their progression is money, branching greatly from the controversies and lack of knowledge in the area. As Jeffrey OBrien claims in his 2012 article from the esteemed economics periodical, Fortune, The Great Stem Cell Dilemma begins in finances, where in both the federal and private sectors funding is limited and many a time unreliable even when available. Often times hearing anything to do with stem cell research throws many into frenzy and, naturally like anything else, people develop opinions on the matter prematurely, and sometimes the benefits and disadvantages involved are disregarded. Therefore, O Brien firmly argues that this common reaction drives the financial instability that hinders stem cell research and comes as

Brawne 2 an underlying cause to the continuous difficulties facing research if people do not seek further education in this area. The evidence supporting claims for lack of funds are clearly seen on the side of the government aid where in 2001 [President] Bush severed federal funding for [embryonic stem cell] development (OBrien 13). Even though government reins experienced a change of hands since then and President Obama restored work with IVF embryos in 2009, many scientists either left their work permanently for other endeavors or some determined to continue, left the U.S. and researched elsewhere. As well, the unstable level of support from the government and politicians unfortunately has an overwhelming influence on the public and private sectors of funding. With support wavering, many investors lose courage to hold stock in IPOs connected to stem cell studies and in the end support is severely lacking because Wall Street isn't interested in financing this particular dream (OBrien 7) and researchers end up begging for state and federal grants at a time scientific funding is under siege (OBrien 8). Eventually these trends lead to a Catch-22 cycle where public and private investors do not want to commit and the federal aid changes with each administration so stem cell research moves at glacial rates towards possible medical breakthroughs. OBrien defends money as the greatest obstacle in the way of stem cell research using hard evidence and examples of struggling research companies such as Advanced Cell Technology (ACT) and Stem Cell Inc. These companies have fought throughout the years to continue their businesses, ACT especially, as it has made some very desperate financial moves in the past to stay afloat, such as diluting their stock value and eventually merging with another company after being slammed by a heavy lawsuit and completely running out of money (OBrien 17). Surprisingly, OBrien also mentions the very few and rare occasions where some companies succeed in business and advance in their studies, places like The California Institute for

Brawne 3 Regenerative Medicine (CIRM). The state of California, where most companies form or expand to, due to the greater amount of support from the general public, many incredibly wealthy individuals, and the many colleges and universities, has seen stem cell facilities rise and fall as of recently and OBrien not only mentions smaller, struggling companies, he also mentions the very few successful businesses that have grown. This subliminal message to the audience demonstrates just how dire the situation and how substantial the need, so much so that he can list off the few places making headwind with stem cells. Throughout the entirety of his article, OBrien combines evidence including personal interview information with doctors and scientists prominent in this field as well as multiple emotionally appealing, firsthand accounts of how stem cells have miraculously ameliorated dismal situations. By appealing to the audiences emotion and use of ethos, the authors interview mentioned from start to finish of the article is with a woman named Patricia Riley. Affectionately referred to in the article as Mme, the French word for grandmother, this French-Canadian mother, grandmother and great-grandmother has had her fair share of illnesses throughout her 95-year-old life. Over the years she's had a cholecystectomy, a hysterectomy, esophageal surgery, a stroke, and ulcerative colitis and these only include the more major runins, she also struggles daily with things like high-blood pressure, high cholesterol, arthritis and malabsorption (OBrien 4). In addition to her already impressive collection of diseases, Riley was recently diagnosed with AMD, or age-related macular degeneration a disease of the back of the retina that is the leading cause of vision loss in the developed world (OBrien 4). Like most other ailments in modern medicine, treatment plans are the best course of action seeing as a cure has yet to be found, so every 6 weeks Mme makes the long trek to her doctors appointment where a needle injects a cancer drug, usually used to slow blood vessel

Brawne 4 growth in lung and colon cancer patients, into her eye to better her vision for the next 6 weeks. (Avastin) The author not only interviews Ms. Riley but also takes her to get her AMD injections and uses his experiences by her side to appeal to his readers emotions. In between every bit of facts in the article, OBrien recalls Mmes doctor appointment and how the procedure itself leaves her visibly shaken (OBrien 43). The audience through this telling experiences on a small scale the mundane events in an actual sick persons life. As well as tugging on the readers heart strings, OBrien provides even more credibility through his interview with Robert Lanza, the Chief Scientific Officer (CSO) of ACT, an author of countless medical books and publications, and a recipient of several awards in medicine and in the biotechnological field, alongside other very familiar individuals. Lanza, a prominent figure in the stem cell biology and tissue engineering world, first claimed Harvard Medical Schools attention at the very young age of 13 when he altered the DNA of a chicken in his basement (OBrien 11). From there he would go on to study at the University of Pennsylvania and eventually publish findings, with his company, ACT, from a study approved by the FDA to injected embryonic cells into the eyes of women with AMD. The procedure proved extremely successful and the women continuously see improvement in their vision (OBrien 10). OBrien establishes Lanzas status as a pioneer in the biotech world and therefore Lanzas name carries weight and his statements about the need for financial support in stem cell research are refortified. Lanza believes the power of an embryonic stem cells is its the master cell thus if any more grand discoveries and advancements are to be made in the quest for cures, money to fund such ventures is crucial (qtd. in OBrien 12). In any recently published study, disbelief creeps in and the skeptics are never far behind but in a rational attempt to strengthen his argument OBrien once again exposes weaknesses. In

Brawne 5 this case, the possible flaws in Lanzas AMD study. Lanza was severely criticized, as well as praised by fellow scientists, for publishing so quickly and after only two successful cases however he is quick to address these claims in his findings and in his interview with OBrien. You cant fake seeing better and as time has gone on these two women have continuously experienced improvements in their sight (qtd. in OBrien 16). Furthermore, ACT has been scratching and clawing to survive for years and so exigency in publishing finds before funds are gone can be critical (OBrien 17). Time is not the culprit in this situation instead money, or the lack thereof, is the great villain in the way of stem cell research furthering OBriens main claim. Here the author again reinforces his argument by demonstrating the importance for Lanza, and other researchers, to work quickly and effectively. Despite the very narrow time frame for delivery of results, Lanza takes advantage of the idea that knowledge is power and the more information available can lead to other studies discovering the path to cures for currently hopeless diseases. The Valley of Death as it is called in the article is the moneyless purgatory where stem cell research goes to die; it is the place where the possibility of scientific innovation meets the markets reluctance to provide support (OBrien 9). OBriens article is very clear and influential in establishing the need for monetary funds to continue expanding on stem cell technology. His rational and non-rational use of evidence, logic, and emotional appeals help support his claim. The true source of The Great Stem Cell Dilemma comes from the lack of financial funds tied to diminishing support for the cause and criticisms of stem cell ethics that follow.

Brawne 6 Works Cited O'Brien, Jeffrey M. "The Great Stem Cell Dilemma." Fortune 166.6 (2012): 186-195. Business Source Premier. Web. 18 Mar. 2014. "Avastin." Drugs.com Know More. Be Sure.. 08 Sept 2013. <http://www.drugs.com/pro/avastin.html>.