Profession
Harvard scientists giving free access to new stem cell lines
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted March 22, 2004
News that 16 of the 78 human embryonic stem cell lines eligible for federally funded research may be useless to scientists was tempered somewhat by the announcement in the New England Journal of Medicine that Harvard University will be giving scientists free access to 17 new stem cell colonies developed by Harvard natural sciences Professor Douglas A. Melton, PhD. Obtaining stem cells from the approved list can cost up to $5,000.
Dr. Melton, whose 16-year-old daughter and 12-year-old son have juvenile diabetes, developed the 17 new lines without federal dollars using excess fertilized eggs obtained from in vitro fertilization clinics with the egg owners' permission.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2004/03/22/prbf0322.htm.