New Breakthrough on Ethical iPS Cells

UW Madison continues to forge a new path in ethical stem cell research as researchers announce a safer method of reprogramming ordinary cells into becoming like embryonic stem cells. No embryos are used or destroyed in the reprogramming process.

When the reprogramming method was discovered, viruses were used to coax skin cells into returning to their embryonic origin. Critics claimed that iPS cells would not have value because the viruses and genes used to reprogram could cause mutations and tumors.

UW scientist James Thomson and his colleagues report that they have bypassed these obstacles using a new process.

“You don’t need to make viruses. You don’t need to have special precautions. This is a technique any basic molecular biology lab can use. I think we’re getting to a position where we can start to think about using these cells therapeutically,” stated Stephen Duncan from the Medical College of Wisconsin in today’s Journal Sentinel.

Thomson now plans to analyze the reprogrammed cells using the new process to see how closely they match embryonic stem cells. Unfortunately, Thomson plans to still work with embryonic stem cells. A step backwards, but a major step forward.

Barbara Lyons

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