Stem Cell Pioneer Cheers the Veto of the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act - Why?
By Jerry Steele
President Bush issued a veto of the stem cell research bill last week and Theravitae founder, Don Margolis couldn’t be happier. “I disagree with him on many things, but I have to say he made the right decision this time.” Don stated.
The House and Congress both passed the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2007, a bill that would have appropriated millions of dollars of taxpayer money to embryonic stem cell research. However, President Bush vetoed it thus continuing his policy of not budging when it comes to embryonic stem cells. Bush vetoed a similar bill supporting embryonic stem cell research last July.
“Why don’t they come up with a bill supporting adult stem cell research?” Margolis asks. Margolis is an expert on this subject. In 2003, Margolis started an adult stem cell company in Thailand with his own money. To date, his company, Theravitae has treated over 200 patients suffering from heart disease with their own adult stem cells.
Margolis keeps repeating his mantra “I just want to be shown one example where embryonic stem cells have helped somebody, just one. And if you can’t show me a human, at least show me one positive result.” Margolis states nobody has been able to present any affirmative results yet. “I spend an hour a day reading the latest stem cell research….Nada.” he says.
Margolis goes on to say there is no state or federal ban on embryonic stem cell research. “If Bill Gates wants to throw away 5 billion on embryonic stem cell research in his home state of Washington, he can.” Don exclaims. Margolis thinks the reason embryonic stem cell researchers need money from the U.S. taxpayer is they aren’t getting it from private investors. Margolis invested $3 million of his own money into Theravitae. “I saw that adult stem cells do work and I staked my life’s savings on it. Don’t you think if embryonic stem cells showed any promise, an entrepreneur would take the risk?”
Margolis thinks that the embryonic stem cell lobby is so powerful that many people don’t know the difference between adult stem cells and embryonic stem cells. He says “My patients know the difference and that is what upsets me, more money should be spent on what is helping people now (adult stem cells), not something that may or may not work in 50 years like the embryonic stem cells.”
Jerry Steele is Patient Relations Manager of Theravitae a company that treats heart disease with adult stem cell therapy(Vescell) The company also maintains a blog - Stem Cell Therapy Blog
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