Hawaii (Stem Cell) – what-when-how

Hawaii has a growing biomedicine industry that is important to the states economy and to researchers performing fundamental research on stem cells. Progress is possible through appropriate legislation and public funding. As no federal legislation in the United States regulates stem cell research (except by an executive order to not allow federal funding to be used for embryonic stem cell research except on human embryonic stem cell lines created before August 9, 2001), each state is responsible for determining policy and funding for stem cell research. In 2007 Hawaii approved H.B. No. 364 to establish stem cell research policy and form an institute for regenerative medicine at the University of Hawaii.

The institute is assigned the goals of supporting stem cell and related research, translating innovation into clinical therapies through development and clinical trials, and establishing appropriate regulation and oversight. The state will benefit monetarily from royalties, patents, and licensing fees from the institutes discoveries and innovations. Funding provided to the institute is not to be used for human reproductive cloning.

The bill permits derivation of human embryonic stem cells and somatic cell nuclear transfer, as well as research on human embryonic stem and germ cells and human adult stem cells. This research requires institutional board review to consider ethical and medical implications. Excess embryos from in vitro fertilization may be donated by the parents with informed consent and the understanding that their confidentiality is to be maintained. The bill bans the sale of embryonic or fetal tissue directly, though handling fees are permissible.

To support stem cell and other biomedical research, the state offers high technology investment tax credits; other funding must be applied for through various sources such as the National Institutes of Health and private grant and foundation money, though there is extensive competition.

The Kakaako Biomedical Park in Honolulu is home to the University of Hawaiis John A. Burns School of Medicine, including an academic building and a research building. The complex is located near Waterfront Park and has views of Waikiki and Diamond Head. The park is meant to attract biotech companies for economic growth by increasing jobs and expanding the tax base. One such company located at Kakaako is Tissue Genesis, Inc. The company was established in 2001 to research bioengineering to create vascular and musculoskel-etal tissue and cell therapies for regenerative medicine with the hope of using a patients own cells.

The John A. Burns School of Medicine was founded in 1965. The schools mission is to train biomedical and allied health professionals in addition to physicians. Among the 14 departments are the departments of biochemistry, physiology and reproductive biology, and cell and molecular biology. The school also has centers on aging and clinical research and an Institute for Biogenesis Research.

Research at the University of Hawaii relating to stem cells includes work by the cell and molecular biology department (offering undergraduate and graduate courses and a broad range of research opportunities in cell differentiation in early development, DNA structure of germ cells and somatic cells, germ cells, and cloning).

Research at the Cardiovascular Research Center is being done to identify genetic mutations in mice leading to abnormal skin cell (keratinocyte) stem cell differentiation, genetic links to cardiovascular disease, and a study to determine the relationship between white blood cells and the replenishing of brain neural stem sells. Research by the Institute for Biogenesis Research includes studies on assisted fertilization and cloning, cell aging, and rejuvenescence.

See original here:

Hawaii (Stem Cell) - what-when-how