Stem cell research has become one the hottest topics in politics today.

Opposing sides in the debate over this relatively new medical discovery have elevated this new scientific research to a level of debate equal to, and in many ways, overlapping with the abortion debate.

Bush Administration policies have filtered down to states, where stem cell research has now become a priority issue in our state’s gubernatorial race, with incumbent Governor Jim Doyle and Republican challenger Representative Mark Green taking opposing sides on a central element of the debate, embryonic stem cell research.

As the debate and controversy has garnered front page coverage across the state, and dominated television and radio talk shows, however, it has become clear that there is as much confusion over the various types of stem cell research as there are questions about its potential.

In an effort to bring clarity to this debate, the "Community Journal" has enlisted the assistance of the Medical College of Wisconsin experts to help educate our readers on this important medical research.

Recently, the Medical College of Wisconsin President and CEO, T. Michael Bolger, and Dean and Executive Vice President, Michael Dunn, M.D. issued a letter to various candidates for public office to bring clarity to the debate. Following are excepts from that letter, which we publish as part of our agenda to educate and inform our readership.

"According to the National Institutes of health, stem cells (adult and embryonic) have the unique potential to develop into many different cell types in the body. Stem cells are essentially the body’s repair cells. A stem cell does not have a tissue specific function, but can give rise to specialized cells, including heart muscle cells, blood cells, or nerve cells.

"Embryonic stem cells are derived from embryos that develop from eggs that have been fertilized, in vitro--in an in vitro fertilization clinic and later donated for research purposes, with the consent of the donor. These excess embryos would otherwise be discarded or destroyed because they are no longer needed for a donor’s fertilization purposes.

An embryonic stem cell has the remarkable ability to become any of the 220 types of cells in the body. A stem cell can become a brain cell, heart muscle cell, liver cell, or any other cell needed for the body.

"By contrast, an adult stem cell is an undifferentiated or partially differentiated cell fond in a tissue or organ and is generally limited to transforming into a cell type of their tissue of origin.

For example, an adult stem cell derived from a blood cell could only become another blood cell. These adult stem cells primarily maintain and repair the tissue in which they are found. They are very small in number and are very hard to grow in culture. Unlike embryonic stem cells that can become any type of tissue in the body, adult stem cells are reported to be found in the following tissues: brain, bone marrow, peripheral blood, blood vessels, skeletal, muscle, skin and liver.

"It is believed that adult stem cells may remain inactive for years until they are called upon because of tissue injury or disease.

The discovery of embryonic (pluripotent) stem cells maybe the single most important scientific and medical breakthrough in the past decade or more. Because they have the ability to develop into any cell type, this research could, through new treatments and cures, impact the lives of an estimated 128 million Americans afflicted with many debilitating diseases ad injuries, including Alzheimer’s disease, heart disease, Parkinson’s disease, diabetes and spinal cord injury.

"As one current example of research showing great promise at the Medical College, scientists have created beating heart cells form embryonic stem cells, in contradistinction to adult stem cells that do not beat. They have, moreover, shown that transplantation of these cells into experimental animals improves cardiac function after a heart attack. In the future, it is the hope that these cells will be injected into the hearts of human patients to heal damage from heart disease.

"Many will argue that embryonic stem cell research has yet to yield one treatment or cure as opposed to the advancements made with adult stem cell research. Research has been conducted on adult stem cells for decades while embryonic stem cell research is in its dawn of discovery. The Medical College of Wisconsin strongly supports research on both adult and embryonic stem cells as do the vast majority of scientists who work with all kinds of stem cells.

The MCW is sensitive to the ethical issues surrounding research on fetal tissue and human embryos. As an institution the college has taken the position that research should only take place on embryos that were created for the purposes of fertility treatments and were in excess of clinical need and will otherwise be destroyed or discarded.

"Given the great hope that stem cell research provides to those who are suffering from devastating illnesses, it would be tragic to waste the opportunity to pursue this important research.

The Medical College of Wisconsin believes there is much to be learned and gained from both adult and embryonic stem cell research. For the sake of our future generations and the illnesses and diseases that could potentially be ameliorated, we urge (stakeholders) to carefully review the scientific date on both adult and embryonic stem cell research. For more information, please visit the National Institutes of Health Stem Cell website at www.stemcells.nih.gov.