Stem cell research should receive increased government funding

Stem Cell Research Should Have More Government Funding

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Stem cell research should have more government funding

A stem cell can be defined as type of cell that can be found in many body tissues. Stem cells can develop into many different types of cells Magnus et al.()

Stem cells also serve as an internal repair system within the body where they divide without limitation in order to replenish other body cells. This happens as long as the individual is alive. When a stem cell is divided, the cell produced can remain as a stem cell or it can become another cell type with a specialized function like a brain cell, red blood cell, or muscle cell. Stem cells are unspecialized cells that have the capability to renew themselves through cell division. Stem cells can also be induced to become organ specific cells that have special functions within the body. This is how stem cells are distinguished from other cell types. In some body organs stem cells will divide regularly in order to replace damaged or worn out tissues in the bone marrow and gut. In the pancreas and heart, stem cells will only divide in case of special conditions. Stem cell research concentrates on two types of stem cells namely embryonic stem cells and adult stem cells. Embryonic stem cells are mainly used for reproductive purposes through in vitro fertilization procedures. While adult stem cells can be used for bone marrow transplantation, spinal cord injury, end stage heart failure, and chronic limb ischemia.

Stem cell research has the potential to develop treatment for chronic diseases like diabetes, cerebral palsy, Parkinson's disease, heart failure, and heart diseases Liao, Li and Zhao ()

. In order to ascertain the importance of stem cells, there is need for scientific research and lab testing. The scientific tests are experimental and require funding from different governmental and non-governmental organizations. Funding from government has been faced with stiff resistance. This is because people view stem cell research form the embryonic stem cell research. They fail to notice that stem cell research also involves adult stem cells, which can be harvested without destroying any human life. Since embryonic stem cell was the first type of stem cell research it has been the main focus of debate in regards to stem cell research.

Government funding for stem cell research

Embryos are not purposely created for the purposes of stem cell research, but rather for fertility clinics. The leftover embryos can then be used for stem cell research with authorization from the parents Svendsen and Koch ()

. This way instead of having to destroy the embryos they can be given another life or purpose. Using the embryos for stem cell research would assist in advancing the studies and trials. Using funding from the government would also promote scientists to remain independent and maintain moral conduct in their research. Stem cell research that is funded by the government would be forced to maintain ethical restrictions that have been enforced. The government would have the opportunity to set the guidelines and regulations that should be followed in stem cell research. The researchers would be forced to follow the guidelines since their research is federally funded. Failure to follow the guidelines would result in funding been withdrawn, and this would affect the research. Supporting the scientists would also demonstrate the government's willingness for medical advances for its citizens.

It is difficult to monitor the progress of research by the government if the research is funded by private organizations. If funding is solely received from private organizations, they would have vested interests that would go beyond treating diseases. This is because the organizations would want to recoup the funds they have spent on the research. The practices observed during the research would be dictated by the funding organization, which would mean that ethical considerations could be ignored. With the government fully funding the research, it would keep a close eye on the progress and monitor the research to ensure that ethical practices are observed throughout the research Salter and Salter ()

. The government could also establish laws or regulations that the researchers would have to adhere to in order to continue receiving funding from the government. If a government agency is charged with funding stem cell research, it would ensure that all the embryos used in the research are obtained after consent from the donor parents. The agency would also ensure that the embryos obtained are not sold for profit.

When the government is funding the stem cell research, it would have the opportunity to eliminate the legal and ethical grey areas that surround the research. The government would have the capability to clarify the laws that govern stem cell research, which are confusing and sometimes vary in the different states. Having government support for stem cell research would assist in clarifying and unifying the laws in the different states. This way researchers would have the capability to collaborate their research with others regardless of state. According to Jonathan Moreno ()

, before November 2008 researchers at Michigan's universities were forced to import stem cells from other states since it was illegal to obtain stem cells for embryonic research. The state had banned the destruction of embryonic stem cells for research. With federal funding laws would be streamlined and the unnecessary bureaucratic restrictions would be eliminated. The prospect of receiving financial funding from the federal government would also promote the elimination of restrictions by the states.

Stem cell research is a complex and difficult science aspect, which when compounded with nuisances from the current laws make it even more complex Burgin ()

. This has made promising researchers be reluctant in undertaking the research as they fear their research work could be halted due to legal restrictions. This would result in wasted time and money, which they would rather use for other research that does not have such restrictions. Federal funding would give the researchers the confidence they need in order to pursue further research on stem cells. Funding from the government would also give the researchers the security to pursue their studies of stem cell as they would be sure they would not be breaking any laws.

With government funding, the research could be used for the benefit of the citizens. Since the government would be funding the research, the results and treatments would be affordable by a majority of people. Leaving the research to independent laboratories and companies would result in expensive treatments that would only be affordable to the rich. The government would put recommendations once the research is completed that would see the research results used for treating common chronic diseases Concannon et al.()

. The research could also be used by the government in the development of drugs that would assist the people in curing common ailments. Stem cell research can be used for testing drugs instead of using human subjects. This way any side effects of the drug could be analyzed in a lab environment. The testing would assist in reducing the negative side effects before the drug can be released. Since the government was funding the research the drugs would be affordable and readily available to all people.

The failure of the government to fund stem cell research is resulting in researchers moving to countries that have no restrictions. This in turn means that the country will not have the opportunity to patent any new information, which would be a loss to the United States. The country would lose its lead in research especially regarding stem cells. The lack of funding would also mean the country will have no say in regards to how the research is conducted. The ethical use of the stem cells will be beyond the control of the country. To ensure that the country maintains its lead, it is vital for the country to fund stem cell research. Funding the research will mean that the country can control how the research is conducted and put restrictions and regulations on how stem cells can be used. The stiff penalties that the government imposes on the researchers would also be reduced since the government would be overseeing the research and funding the projects.

Conclusion

Government funding is vital for the successful and rapid progression in stem cell research. Federal funding will increase the researchers in the field of stem cell research, which will improve the quality of research. The potential treatments of stem cell research should be of concern to the government. With funding research could improve and reduce the possibility of liability to the researchers due to legal restrictions. The ethical concerns would also be addressed with government funding. This is because the government would impose restrictions and regulations that would require the researchers to observe and use ethical methodologies Herder and Brian ()

. When the government funds the research it can regulate scientific practices, which would mean the researchers would observe ethical and legal regulations imposed by the government. Without funding from the government, the researchers would not be easily regulated, and they could break laws. The potential of stem cell research should not be squandered due to legal quarrels and ethical considerations. With government funding the people against stem cell research can be shown how the research will benefit human life in development of treatments that would not be possible using other means. The government would take it upon itself to educate the public the benefits of stem cell research.