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STEM Cell Research and Controversy Behind Its Funding

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STEM cell research and controversy behind its funding

In the year 1998, scholars created and recognized the initial human embryonic stem cell

line. The scientific milestone resulted in an ethics and guiding principle argument that continues

to date. Religious front-runners, bioethicists, government authorities have continued to have

debates about whether STEM cell research causes a threat, a promise or a diverse ethical concern

for the world. Moreover, scientists reasonably hold the perception and belief that knowledge may

come from the study of human stem cells. The majority of scientists believe that this presents the

opportunity to learn more about the reasons for disease developments as well as how they can be

prevented. As such, while trying to seek support, the scientists have argued that stem cell

research can help in the generation of cures for heart conditions and cancer. However, while

stem cell research promises significant strides in the understanding of human differentiation and

development and also finding treatments for diseases like Parkinson’s disease, it also raises

ethical concerns as well as political controversies. Stem cell research violates the laws that

prohibit the destruction of human embryos, thus consequently resulting in diminishing funding to

support the research.

Reasons for the controversy on how STEM cell research is funded

STEM cell study raises significant ethical concerns and political controversies. The

derivation of the pluripotent stem cell lines is challenged with disputes concerning the beginning

of personhood as well as a human production. Moreover, various methods surrounding the

derivation of stem cells pose ethical considerations. Somatic cells reprogramming to generate

induced pluripotent cells prevents ethical concerns, particularly embryonic stem cells. However,

there exist challenging dilemmas such as the consent to contribute materials for human stem cell
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study, oversight of the research and initial clinical trials of the human stem cell therapies (Lo &

Parham, 2009). These dilemmas have resulted in challenges of the funding of stem cell research

by the federal governments

Even though Pluripotent stem cell lines can be obtained from the internal cell mass of old

blastocysts, nevertheless, human embryonic stem cell study is both ethically and constitutionally

controversial due to its involvement in human embryo destruction. Within the US, the concern

about when life starts has often been extremely controversial and thus closely associated with

debates concerning abortion. It is not unclear that embryos possess the prospective to develop

into human beings; when imbedded in a female’s uterus, embryos can grow into a fetus and turn

into a young child (Lo & Parham, 2009). Moreover, some people perceive the embryo as people

with similar moral status as adults. Additionally, as a matter of faith and moral persuasion,

people perceive that an individual’s life starts at conception, and therefore the embryo is an

individual. As such, the embryo possesses rights and interest that should be appreciated.

Therefore, considering a blastocyst and eliminating its internal cell mass in order to remove

embryonic stem is regarded as murder (King & Perrin, 2014). These controversies in regards to

the perception of the human embryo have impacted stem cell study and its funding as many

people deem it inappropriate and unethical due to violation of embryonic rights.

Nonetheless, other individuals hold a varying perception about the moral condition of the

embryo. For instance, they believe that the embryo develops into a being in an ethical sense at

the later developmental stage compared to fertilization. Few individuals, however, hold the belief

of the embryo being a cluster of cells that may be used in study without constraint. Many other

individuals hold the middle perception about the embryo deserving respect as a possible human

being and also that it is suitable for particular research to be conducted provided they exist good
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scientific justification, informed consent from embryo donators and careful oversight (Lo &

Parham, 2009). Additionally, many of pro-life advocators are in support of stem cell study but

using freezing embryos that continue when a couple have finished infertility management and

may have chosen never to give other couples.

During the year 2001, the US president, under the view of pro-life, permitted the National

Institute of Health(NIH) financing for stem cell study but only using the embryonic stem cell

lines that were already in presence during the time while barring NIH funding for use or

derivation of extra embryonic stem cell lines (Jones, 2000). This was due to the increasing view

that stem cell study held a significant promise for the treatment and understanding of

deteriorating conditions while at the same time opposing the continued destruction of embryos.

The NIH originally announced and accepted 60 human embryonic stem cells lines for funding;

however, most of the lines were never researching feasible for instance, the cell lines had been

contaminated and not truly pluripotent. While 22 remaining lines had been eligible for funding,

long-standing lines have been demonstrated to accumulate mutation and predispose to cancer

(Jones, 2000). Moreover, challenges regarding the consent process pertaining to the derivation of

the stem cell lines have also been a concern hindering the funding of the above scientific

procedures.

Moreover, federal capitals may not be contemporarily in deriving new embryonic cell

stem lines that have not been approved by the NIH. Moreover, the NIH financed apparatus and

laboratory space can be applied for study on non-approved human embryonic cell stems.

However, both the generation of human embryonic cell lines as well as research not permitted by

the NIH can be performed under nonfederal financing. The existing ethical concerns have

resulted in restrictions on NIH funding regarding stem cells. For instance, rendering to The
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Guardian, US government financing for study applying embryonic stem cells was thrown in

confusion by a court after a judge declared that the study violated the laws prohibiting the

damage of human embryos (Adams, 2018). The temporary injunction resulted in the barring of

federal financing for research on stem cells obtained from embryos.

Research has shown that government-funded fundamental research enables a significant

basis by the biotechnology as well as pharmaceutical industries. Additionally, federal funding

ensures collaborations between private and federal sectors. However, the controversies witnessed

due to stem cell research have resulted in significant influence on funding which has socially

been justified. According to religious groups as well as other social groups, stem cell research

poses ethical and moral concerns based on the perception of the human embryo as having rights.

Moreover, scientific justifications have expressed the concerns that human embryonic stem cell

is unethical because it results in the destruction of the life of human for research purposes.

Dresser (2010) maintains that according to other scientists, stem cell research is morally wrong

as it is the direct destruction of human life and therefore does not benefits the particular embryo

that undergoes the research.

Overall, human stem cell research provides exciting opportunities for scientific

improvements as well as new therapies. However, the research also raises particular policy and

ethical concerns. For instance, the concerns about the rights of an embryo as a human being

before they are born. The above issues have consequently impacted the process of funding stem

cell research by the federal government. As such, issues should be addressed and discussed

together with the scientific challenges in a bid of ensuring stem cell research are performed in

ethically appropriate ways.

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References

Adams, R. (2018, October 6). Government Funding For Stem Cell Research Blocked By US

Court. The

Guardian. Https://Www.Theguardian.Com/World/Richard-Adams-Blog/2010/Aug/24/

Stem-Cells-Research-Us-Funding-Blocked

Dresser, R. (2010). Stem Cell Research As Innovation: Expanding The Ethical And Policy

Conversation.

Jones, P. B. (2000). Funding Of Human Stem Cell Research By The United States. Electronic

Journal Of Biotechnology, 3(1), 15-20.

King, N. M., & Perrin, J. (2014). Ethical Issues In Stem Cell Research And Therapy. Stem Cell

Research & Therapy, 5(4), 1-6.

Lo, B., & Parham, L. (2009). Ethical Issues In Stem Cell Research. Endocrine Reviews, 30(3),

204-213.