If the Massachusetts House of Representatives passes the stem cell legislation in review today, Tufts' Department of Biomedical Engineering Chair David Kaplan said he hopes the University could begin using controversial embryonic stem cells in its research.
Kaplan is also the Director of the Tufts Tissue Center.
Tufts currently has a stem cell program, but it does not use stem cells taken from embryos. The bill passed by the Massachusetts State Senate yesterday would allow scientists to take the nucleus from a human cell and transplant it into a human egg as part of their research - a process known as "somatic cell nuclear transfer" or "therapeutic cloning."
According to Kaplan, his lab would "certainly be open to using these techniques" if the House passes the legislation today.
Stem cells are found in embryos, umbilical cords and some adult tissues and have the potential to develop into a range of muscles, organs, nerves and other types of tissue in the body.
Researchers, however, are most interested in stem cells from human embryos, because they are the most versatile. Those cells may be able to repair and regenerate damaged tissue and organs, such as spinal cords severed during accidents.
The issue of embryonic stem cell research is currently a hot topic in Massachusetts, with Governor Mitt Romney facing a push by Democrats to pass the legislation by more than two-thirds of the vote in an attempt to override Romney's veto. The legislation passed in the Senate yesterday by a 35-2 vote.
Under current state law, scientists interested in conducting stem cell research first need the approval of the local district attorney.
The bill currently in the House would remove that requirement while also banning reproductive cloning, creating fines and penalties for those who violate the law, and giving the state health department some regulatory controls.
Although it is not currently illegal in Massachusetts to pursue embryonic stem cell research, Kaplan said that the lack of legislation on the matter makes it difficult to raise funding for the research.
Harvard University announced this month that it would begin using embryonic stem cell in its research, which Kaplan said was possible because the Harvard Stem Cell Institute has a large independent fund, including a $6 million donation in this month alone.
For Tufts, Kaplan said the legal situation needs to be clear. "With a more prescribed process for this in the state, it would allow us to be open about this kind of research," Kaplan said. "Otherwise we have to do this with other labs in other states, which makes it less efficient for our students and research."
Kaplan said that he finds criticism of stem cell research frustrating. "With some oversight, let the debate and the research continue and find some compromise," he said. "I'm a scientist, and I think it's very important to understand what new science and new technology can offer for clinical benefit down the road. If scientists can't explore these areas, no one, not me or Mitt Romney, can know what it will mean."
Kaplan also said that creating guidelines for stem cell research will create a healthy environment for high tech research in the state. "It would certainly help with the science brain drain people are talking about," Kaplan said in reference to the recent announcement by California to put $3 billion toward stem cell research.
The Senate bill states that embryonic stem cell research only can take place in institutions with formal Institutional Review Boards of at least five members to approve and review the research, which Tufts already has.
In addition, every institution conducting research must submit detailed, annual reports to a new state Stem Cell Research Advisory Board, which will have members appointed by the governor, Senate president and House speaker.
