The truth about research
- Letter to the Editor from Karen Noel
- Letter to the Editor from Chip Maxwell
- Audio to Coby Mach podcast
I want to set the record straight about my position on research at the University of Nebraska. It is very disturbing that Earl Scudder is not only misleading people about the facts of medical research, but is grossly misrepresenting my position on research.
My position on stem cell research is consistent with the current policy of the NU Board of Regents.
My position is consistent with Nebraska’s Congressional Delegation including Senator Ben Nelson, Senator Chuck Hagel, and Congressmen Jeff Fortenberry, Adrian Smith, and Lee Terry. And finally my position is consistent with the Unicameral which just passed LB 606 that was approved by a vote of 48-0 last session.
From the Eppley Cancer Institute to UNMC’s expertise in Bioterrorism – I know how important cutting edge research is for the University of Nebraska and I support our excellence in research.
I enthusiastically support adult stem cell research.
Tremendous medical advancements have been made to find cures for devastating diseases using stem cells from adult body tissues, umbilical cord blood, placenta, amniotic fluid, and various other sources. I am also excited about the new "reprogramming of cells" commonly referred to as induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPSC). Utilizing these adult stem cells for research has yielded many successful procedures, cures, or progresses for human application, including Parkinson’s, diabetes, Lou Gehrig’s disease, and heart disease, to name a few.
Locally, please note that the following doctors are supporting my candidacy:
Dr. Deepak Gangahar
Dr. Mike Duggan
Dr. Alan Berg
Dr. Susan Hansen
Dr. Dave Clare
Dr. Tim Govaerts
Dr. Cory Friesen
Dr. Marc Koenig
Dr. Kurstin Friesen
Dr. Steve Ackerman
Dr. Doug Netz
Dr. Walter Duffy
Dr. Steve Nagengast
Dr. Phil Essay
Dr. Paul Petersen
Dr. Joe Petty
Dr. James Gallentine
Dr. Bill Johnson
Dr. Sandy Gallentine
Dr. Chuck Reese
Dr. Keith Miller
Dr. Clark Antonson
Dr. Jeff Tomjack
Dr. Rob Rhodes
Dr. Pat Clare
Dr. Rex Largen
Dr. Marlon Weiss
Dr. Mike Ferris
Dr. Steve Martin
Dr. Ameeta Martin
Dr. Mark Heibel
Dr. Scott Noel
Dr. Scott Strasburger
Dr. Nate Green
Dr. Alan Nissen
Dr. Sushil Lacy
Dr. Tom Tegt
Dr. Bob Byington
Dr. Greg Sutton
Dr. Kent Reckewey
Dr. Mike Germer
Dr. Eric Crimmins
Dr. Doug Dalke
Dr. Scott Donkin
Dr. Tom Heiser
Dr. Dave Hilger
Dr. Mark Hinrichs
Dr. Max Linder
Dr. Bill Nye
Dr. Herb Reese
Dr. Bob Shoettger
Dr. Jerry Spethman
Dr. Jerry Tanner
Dr. Harry Tolly
Dr. Don Walla
Dr. James Weesner
Dr. Paul Zuercher
If you would like more information about my position on adult stem cell research and some of its successes, please email me and I will be happy for forward you more about my position and the issue.
Best Regards,
Letter to the Editor from Karen Noel
NU Board of Regents candidate Earl Scudder said Alzheimer's disease could be treated with embryonic stem cells. Dr. William Theis, Vice President of the Research and Scientific division of the National Alzheimer’s Association disagrees with this statement.
The Alheimer’s Association is the largest nonprofit funding source for Alzheimer research in the world, outside the federal government, and has funded more than $185 million in grants for scientific studies. Researchers disagree and don’t believe that stem cells of any kind will cure Alzheimer’s, because it is a “whole brain” disease, rather than a cellular disorder such as Parkinson’s disease.
While we understand that there is well-intentioned passion on both sides of the stem cell debate, I urge advocates to be careful about the claims made regarding this issue. We want to be especially careful to not give false hope to those presently living and dealing with this disease.
We are the Alzheimer’s Association, the leader in Alzheimer research and support, and we are working to give everyone a reason to hope.
Karen Noel
President/CEO
Alzheimer’s Association
Great Plains Chapter
Letter to the Editor from Chip Maxwell
According the KOLN/KGIN Channel 10/11 web site, at a recent campaign debate in the race for the District 1 seat on the NU Board of Regents, candidate Earl Scudder said: "There are a number of diseases and conditions that have only been demonstrated to be treatable with embryonic stem cell research. One is Alzheimer's, another is Parkinson's disease, diabetes, spinal chord injuries."
The scientific truth is exactly the opposite of Mr. Scudder’s assertion.
It brings to mind a June 10, 2004, Washington Post story, “Stem Cells an Unlikely Therapy for Alzheimer's.” The story noted the unlikelihood that embryonic stem cells would ever be effective in treating Alzheimer’s. Then came this brazen statement in defense of exploiting Nancy Reagan and whipping people into a fever about embryonic stem cells someday curing Alzheimer’s:
"To start with, people need a fairy tale," said Ronald D.G. McKay, a stem cell researcher at the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. "Maybe that's unfair, but they need a story line that's relatively simple to understand."
Here’s something relatively simple to understand: There have been no successful treatments of any conditions in humans with embryonic stem cells. There are no human clinical trials involving embryonic stem cells. All the successful stem cell treatments in humans have been with non-embryonic stem cells, commonly known as adult stem cells. Adult stem cells have produced all the progress in research on various diseases, including those singled out for emphasis by Mr. Scudder.
Breakthroughs that keep surfacing in the news have nothing to do with embryonic stem cells. It’s all with adult stem cells. It becomes clearer with every breakthrough that resources should be directed to what actually works, and shows the most promise, without posing ethical problems. Even James Thomson, the leading pioneer of human embryonic stem cell research, is shifting his business interests and career focus away from embryonic stem cell research.
Who’s feeding Mr. Scudder such emotion-stoking fairy tales? It appears Mr. Scudder is being manipulated into an absurd position by people more interested in political sleight-of-hand than scientific reality.
Chip Maxwell