Stem Cell


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ASCC Resources on Regeneration Medicine

In 2010, ASCC Executive Director Cheryl Vines convened a Task Force to consider an ASCC position statement related to President Obama’s lifting of the ban on stem cell research. Over the course of the year, the issue ended up in court and has yet to be decided, but the Task Force continued to meet to consider issues related to stem cells and other regeneration therapy. With the recent start of stem cell clinical trials on human subjects with spinal cord injuries in the United States as well as the ever increasing offers for a variety of treatments abroad, the Task Force had a primary goal of identifying or creating cutting edge, useful resources to assist ASCC clients and their families in considering these treatments.

The Task Force included:

Jon Wilkerson, MS, PT
Tom Kiser, MD
Maryanne Caldwell, MS, CRC
Russell Henry, MRC, CRC
Micah Hester, PhD
Cheryl Vines, MS

Task Force members created two documents including the Arkansas Spinal Cord Commission Regenerative Medicine Glossary by Jon Wilkerson M.S., P.T. and Predicting Outcomes (Prognosis) in Spinal Cord Injury fact sheet by Thomas S. Kiser, M.D., M.P.H.

In addition, they reviewed literally hundreds or resources, articles and websites to select those that were most useful and credible. The Task Force created this list to assist individuals in making good decisions in determining whether to participate in regeneration clinical trials or treatments.

Arkansas Spinal Cord Commission

Stem Cell and Medical Regeneration Resources

Internet Links:

http://stemcells.nih.gov/info/basics/

National institute of Health Resource for Stem Cell Research, Bethesda, Maryland.

An informational website about stem cell research, including spinal cord. Has definitions, glossary, basic information, current research updates, frequently asked questions and federal policy statements. Frequently updated.

http://sci.rutgers.edu

WH Keck Center on Collaborative NeuroScience, The Spinal Cord Injury Project, Rutgers University, Rutgers, New Jersey.

This project hosts the CareCure Community, a forum for individuals with spinal cord injuries, families and healthcare providers to interact. Includes forums on care and treatment of SCI as well as SCI research. Wise Young, M.D., PhD a world renowned expert in spinal cord injury research who is committed to responding to questions form those living with spinal cord injuries moderates the research section. Users should understand that while some posts are directly by Dr. Young and other medical professionals, posts by others might not actually be based on medical experience or training, but share personal experience and information.

http://Christopherreeve.org

Christopher and Dana Reeve Paralysis Foundation, Short Hills, New Jersey.

A Center founded by the late Christopher Reeve and his wife Dana to help individuals with spinal cord injury and other paralysis to learn about and obtain resources as well as to support SCI research and quality of life endeavors. Website provides a Paralysis Resource Center with information regarding research, treatment and other resources. The Research area provides information on the basics of SCI medicine research, clinical trials, and reports on projects funded by the Foundation.

http://icord.org

International Collaboration on Repair Discoveries (ICORD), Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

ICORD is an interdisciplinary research center for the development of effective strategies to promote functional recovery after spinal cord injury. Working in collaboration with SCI research organizations around the world, they have developed Experimental Treatments for Spinal Cord Injuries: What you should know if you are considering participation in a clinical trial, 2007, a resource to help those in considering participation in a clinical trial to understand what a clinical trial really means. In addition, the website includes other documents about SCI research and rehabilitation.

Documents:

Glossary

Arkansas Spinal Cord Commission Regenerative Medicine Glossary, Arkansas Spinal Cord Commission, 2010.

A glossary with definitions of frequently used terms related to stem cell research and activity based therapy, to provide readers with a basic understanding of these terms to help in reviewing articles, web information and treatment options.

Prognosis

Predicting Outcomes (Prognosis) in Spinal Cord Injury, fact sheet, Thomas S. Kiser, M.D., M.P.H, Medical Director, Arkansas Spinal Cord Commission, 2010.

A fact sheet developed for newly injured individuals and their families to help them understand spinal cord injury, concepts of complete and incomplete injuries, and realistic expectations of predicting recovery. Provides timely references for additional information.

Handbook

Patient Handbook on Stem Cell Therapies, Appendix 1 of the Guidelines for Clinical Translation of Stem Cells, 2008. International Society for Stem Cell Research, Deerfield, IL.

A must read for individuals with spinal cord injuries and other disabilities considering stem cell treatment or clinical trial. Provides questions and answers on topics including what are stem cells and stem cell therapies, clinical trials and experimental treatments and considerations for both, including informed consent, how to learn more about stem cell research. The ISSCR is a professional stem cell research organization with a commitment to ensure the promise of stem research is delivered to patients in a safe, effective manner.

Experimental

Experimental Treatments for Spinal Cord Injuries: What you should know if you are considering participation in a clinical trial. International Collaboration on Repair Discoveries (ICORD), Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

A 40-page booklet or 10-page summary in pdf format. (See ICORD above.)

Position Statement

Position Statement on Sale of Unproven Cellular Therapies for Spinal Cord Injury, Spinal Cord, 2009, 47, 713-14. A brief article penned by directors of the International Campaign for Cures of Spinal Cord Injury Paralysis regarding the impact of participation in unfounded treatments including stem cells.

Transplants

Cellular Transplants in China: Observational Study from the Largest Human Experiment in Chronic Spinal Cord Injury, Neural Rehabilitation and Neural Repair, 2006, 20:5.

Report of a study conducted on 7 subjects with chronic spinal cord injuries who underwent fetal brain cell transplantation in China to determine the effects and improvements after the transplantation.