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Additional Text for the 10/26/04 Alumni Sandstorm 
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>>From: Tedd Cadd ('66)

Re: A couple of notes on stem cells

From my reading, there are a few notes worth passing
along.

1. The current policy only applies to Federal funding of
new embryonic stem cell lines. 

2. There are about 30-60 (depending on who you are talking
to) embryonic stem cell lines that are not excluded in the
Federal funding issue and are sufficient for some years of
research.

3. A Washington Post Op-Ed piece by Leon Kass (President's
Council on Bioethics) says that there remains many years
(he says decades according to many scientists) before
embryonic stem cell research will produce reliable
results.

4. There is work with adult stem cells that has shown
positive results already. Adult stem cells are excluded
from the Federal funding limitations.

In a related area of research, my brother Dr. Gary Cadd ('71)
is doing work in the bioengineering area. He and his
company have developed and is working on proof of concept
for a way of using a nano-sized matrix material that 
will allow already differentiated cells to grow into new
tissues (muscle, nerve and whatever else). Such a process
would allow, for example, a new group of nerves to replace
the ones removed from my daughter's auditory nerve due to
a brain tumor. The new nerves could possibly restore her
hearing. While they have seen the cells grow into the
material and the new material accepted by the body as it's
own, there are some years of work ahead to make it see the
full potential.

They have already demonstrated the use of this material in
the body and are developing it initially into a hemostatic
bandage. The effect of the bandage would be to almost
instantly stop bleeding. The natural nano-matrix material
is absorbed into the body during the healing process
without consequence.

There is more to the debate that is currently being
sounded in public.

-Tedd Cadd ('66)
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