Stem Cell Information: Annotated Bibliography

Cellular Therapy: Potential Treatment for Heart Disease, Food and Drug Administration (FDA), 2004.
Despite advances in treatment, ischemic heart disease and congestive heart failure are major causes of death in the United States. Cell therapies for treating these diseases are of interest to medical researchers. This resource outlines the issues surrounding clinical studies of human stem cells and the FDA's role in ensuring safe studies.

Stem Cell Therapy for Heart Patients, National Public Radio Talk of the Nation Audio, April 2004.
This one-hour audio program discusses injecting stem cells into heart patients to improve blood flow. This new treatment for heart disease uses the patient's own bone marrow to restore heart function.

Reaping the Benefits of Genomic and Proteomic Research: Intellectual Property Rights, Innovation, and Public Health, Committee on Intellectual Property Rights in Genomic and Protein Research and Innovation, National Research Council, 2005.
The National Academy of Sciences reports on the granting and licensing of intellectual property rights on discoveries relating to genetics and proteomics and the effects of these practices on research and innovation.

Stem Cells and the Future of Regenerative Medicine, by Commission on Life Sciences, 2002.
Stem Cells and the Future of Regenerative Medicine summarizes what we know about adult and embryonic stem cells. It also provides an overview of the moral and ethical problems that arise from the use of embryonic stem cells, compares the likely impact of public and private research funding on progress in the field, and discusses approaches to appropriate research oversight. Based on the insights of leading scientists, ethicists, and other authorities, the authors make recommendations regarding the use of existing stem cell lines versus new lines in research, the important role of the federal Related Federal Government Sites in this field of research, and other fundamental issues impacting potential stem cell-based therapies.

Unlocking the Promise of Stem Cells, Harvard Stem Cell Institute, March 2004.
View an interactive videoconference in which University researchers discuss the Harvard Stem Cell Institute, created to move cutting-edge research on embryonic stem cells from the lab to the clinic.

Beyond Therapy: Biotechnology and the Pursuit of Happiness, Report from Former President Bush's Council on Bioethics, 2003.
Can biotechnology satisfy our human desires—for better children, superior performance, ageless bodies, and happy souls? This report from the President's Council on Bioethics says these possibilities present us with profound ethical challenges and choices. Not declaring "findings," but holding an inquiry—inviting us all to think and debate—the President's Council sought the ideas of dozens of celebrated scientists, thinkers and writers, including such Council members as Francis Fukuyama, Charles Krauthammer, Michael Sandel, and James Q. Wilson, as well as witnesses Steven Pinker, Daniel Schacter, Lawrence Diller, Steven Austad, and S. Jay Olshansky.