John Gearhart Interview (page: 6 / 8) Stem Cell Research	Print Interview

You have probably encountered more dramatic road blocks to your research than most scientists because of the delicate nature of the material that you're using. Can you talk about the controversy and why some people are so upset?

John Gearhart: It's difficult to assess how many there are but they are very vocal, so it becomes an issue. I should tell you up front that we have received more support than opposition, and not just from patient's interest groups who have a real vested interest in this, but among scientists and a number of people.

Having said that, let's say what the controversy is. The cells that we use are derived from human fetal tissue. That tissue comes to us as a result of elective pregnancy termination, abortion. As I mentioned, it took us years to get the approvals in place that said we have justifiable research goals, that we are conducting this under ethical guidelines and legal guidelines that are established at the federal, state, local and institutional level. Our work is reviewed annually by all these committees so we are within all the guidelines.

There is an absolute wall between our use of the fetal tissue in research and any woman who is considering or electing to have an abortion. We apply for this tissue as other investigators do, for research purposes, through a number of committees. Our protocols are reviewed and approved. So we get in line, if you will, to get access to this tissue, but still it's the source of the tissue that is the controversy.

As you know, abortion is the law of the land. There's nothing being done illegally here to induce a woman to have a termination.

We also feel that once we establish these cell lines in culture there's no need for additional fetal material. Remember these cells live forever -- not the cells themselves, but the cultures go on forever. So it's not going to be something where a lot of investigators come in and demand a lot of tissue. It's not going to happen.

One of the anti-abortion groups that has been vocal against your research went as far as to say that this could encourage abortion.

John Gearhart: It's not revealed where or at what hospitals we get this tissue. No one can predict ahead of time that this tissue would be used for this purpose. Although there is a consent form that a woman is given after she has made the decision to have a termination, that's very standard, if she wants to provide this tissue for research purposes, and it states what those research purposes are.

But there's no incentive for her, is there?

John Gearhart: No, none at all. There's no financial remuneration of any kind for this. There is no financial incentive in any fashion to anybody within this program. That is against federal law. Let me make one other point.

What is the fate of tissue that is collected following a termination? It is passed to a pathologist to make sure that the technician who did the abortion did it properly -- meaning that all of the material is there, there's no risk to the woman that anything has been left in situ -- and then the material is discarded. Discarded. So from an ethical standpoint I view what we are doing with this -- the benefit of this -- to far outpace the risk, if you will. The options are: the tissue is discarded, or it's used in a research purpose that could benefit many, many people. So it's important to keep in mind. That's the fate of the tissue. It's discarded.
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Have you seen your stem cell work, not only as a mean to further research but ultimately to prolong life?

John Gearhart: Yes, I would agree with that. Absolutely. The benefits would be enormous. You'd be able to help a lot of people.

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