Stem cell research holds a lot of promise for victims of many different injuries including spinal cord and traumatic brain injury. For the vast majority of people, these injuries are largely “unrecoverable” because brain cells do not repair themselves as most other cells do in the body. Stem cells, on the other hand, can help regenerate brain function. Because they are the basis of every specialty cell in the body, they can be triggered to become brain cells, replacing damaged cells and theoretically allowing the brain to fully recover.

In August 2006, Advanced Cell Technology of Alameda, CA announced a new method of stem cell extraction that does not harm the embryo. Using a standard biopsy method called Pre-implantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD), researchers can take one cell from a group of eight without damaging the embryo. Using this method, the researchers created two usable stem cell lines from 16 embryos. Although this does not sound like a great success rate, the purpose of the experiment was to see if it could be done at all, and in this sense the research ultimately proved to be successful.

"This will make it far more difficult to oppose this research," said Dr. Robert Lanza, head of the investigative team. The full report was published in the British journal Nature.

That’s what many scientists – and indeed patients with traumatic brain injury – would like to believe, but the truth is that many people in power do not see it that way. The Catholic Church, for example, opposes stem cell research of any kind. Others speculate that this new method does not solve any moral issues because in theory one stem cell from this eight-cell stage embryo could divide on its own to create a new embryo, a twin of the original cells.

But what shocked and dismayed scientists and others on both sides of the fence is that the researchers in this study destroyed all 16 embryos after they had completed their research. Many have called this an unethical act on its own, and may well erase any impact that the research would have had since what can happen “in theory” and what scientists will actually do are apparently two different things.

Scientists are searching for new ways to treat patients with traumatic brain injury, and stem cell research may well be one of the key lines of investigation. However it seems apparent that many ethical, moral, and political hurdles have to be jumped before that happens.

If you or a loved one has suffered any type of traumatic brain injury due to the negligence of others, contact Jim S. Adler & Associates to find out your legal rights from a brain injury lawyer. We can help you recover some of your financial losses including medical bills and lost wages, and secure compensation for your mental anguish. Call us  at 1-800-505-1414 or click on the link on this page to get a traumatic brain injury free case review and get the compensation you deserve.