UA scientists on the leading edge of non-embryonic stem-cell research host an open conference last Wednesday, at University Medical Center’s DuVal Auditorium, highlighting work in cancer, cardiology and diabetes, as well as business and political issues surrounding stem cells. It will included 18 lectures by scientists, a businessman and a state legislator.

Stem cells have the ability to revolutionize medicine — not only revolutionize it, but individualize it, as long as it doesn’t get caught up in politics. Stem cells are unspecialized cells that can mature into any type of cell in the human body and be guided into doing so. Taking stem cells from embryos is a politically controversial topic, but UA research covers other sources of stem cells.

David Harris, University of Arizona microbiology professor and the scientific director of Cord Blood Registry, focuses on stem cells taken from umbilical-cord blood, while other UA researchers use adult stem cells taken from fat tissue. Cord blood is one of the easiest sources from which to obtain stem cells, and those cells are among the few with the potential to be like embryonic stem cells.
According to Harris Cord blood is the next best thing to embryonic stem cells, these cells are versatile and robust. Neonatal stem cells are fairly equivalent to fetal stem cells, without all the controversy and hindrance.

Harris said that, twelve states have regenerative medicine centers or institutes, all of which use embryonic stem cells, Arizona would be the first to focus on non-embryonic stem cells. The state is poised to be unique in this type of institute by focusing on neonatal and adult stem cells and excluding embryonic ones.

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