Embryonic stem cell operations not for New Zealand

Embryonic stem cell operations not for New Zealand

But NZ to be key player in pursuit of spinal cord repair

News that the United States is starting trials on spinal cord injuries with embryo stem cells coincides with similar operations scheduled to get under way in New Zealand

But Noela Vallis, founder and Chair of the Spinal Cord Society in New Zealand, said trials here would use the injured person’s own stem cells.

“I almost hesitate to say this because any research in the World is helpful, but research has shown that there is no need to confront the moral dilemma of using cells from an unborn human,” said Mrs Vallis.

“Research here and in other countries shows that cells from bone marrow and olfactory nerves (upper nose) of the person to be operated on are producing encouraging results,” she said.

The Spinal Cord Society has been granted conditional approval  by the Multi-Region Ethics Committee to begin trials on 12 New Zealanders with spinal cord injuries.

 Once the Ethics Committee conditions have been fulfilled, It is intended that a total of 24 people will be participating in the trials .  The Spinal Cord Society hopes to start the trials  by the end of this year.

Mrs Vallis said operations in other countries have seen some wheelchair-bound New Zealanders go overseas for operations.

“It is pleasing to know that we can make a start on trials here, given our advanced knowledge of how these cells behave,” she said.

Mrs Vallis said the society’s research lab at Otago Medical School has made good progress in understanding how bone marrow and olfactory cells behave in the potential repair of other parts of the body.

The operations, expressed simply, involve surgery to remove scar tissue from the patient's spinal cord and then injecting either the patient’s own bone marrow or olfactory cells into the spinal cord area to assist in the repair.

Mrs Vallis said  this procedure has been trialled overseas with promising results .

“There are varying degrees of improvement, from increased feeling, bowel and bladder control, to return of some movement, “ she said.
r ultimate goal is to help people with spinal cord injuries to walk again, and our intention is that this trial will bring us closer to that goal ”

Mrs Vallis said the society is about to launch a fundraising programme to fund the trials.

“We need to get started and join this exciting international effort with actual trials,” she said.

“We have over 5000 people in this country, confined to wheelchairs. That’s twice the ratio of any other developed country.”

ENDS

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