Madam, – In response to Dr Dolores Dooley’s dismissal of adult and induced pluripotent stem-cell (IPSC) research as good and ethical alternatives to human embryonic stem cell (hESC) research (January 28th), a search of the world’s largest registry for clinical trials (www.clinicaltrials.gov) shows more than 1,900 current adult stem cell versus three hESC transplantation trials respectively.
Dr Dooley’s argument that hESCs are required as controls for adult stem-cell research is incorrect, since adult stem-cell research has been in progress for decades without hESCs. Dr Dooley’s argument that hESCs are required as controls for IPSC research is purely relative since human IPSC research (which has emanated from equivalent research in mice) will advance rapidly irrespective of the existence of hESCs. The justification that “all forms of stem-cell research need to continue and all are important” is only academic, and academic endeavour in my view, should never undermine the dignity of human life. – Yours, etc,