Originally published October 20 2005
New Jersey governor spearheads movement toward stem cell research
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
New Jersey Governor Richard J. Codey announced the nation's first statewide public bank for embryonic blood that will be available to stem cell researchers and transplant patients.
Continuing his efforts to make New Jersey a leader in stem cell research, Acting Governor Richard J. Codey announced today the creation of what he called the nation's first statewide public bank for umbilical and placental blood, to be used by stem cell researchers and patients in need of transplants.
He also signed an executive order directing state officials to educate doctors and nurses about the medical value of such donations, and to create two pilot programs, in Camden and Paramus, to help new parents donate placental and umbilical cord blood shortly after a baby is born.
Blood from the placenta and umbilical cord contains stem cells that researchers hope can eventually be used to cure diabetes, AIDS, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases, as well as to help patients who have had strokes or spinal cord injuries.
Such cells can take the place of bone marrow transplants, when they are transplanted into people suffering from leukemia and sickle cell anemia.
Use of these cells is less controversial than use of embryonic stem cells, which entail the destruction of an embryo.
The pilot programs will be overseen by the Health Department in consultation with the Elie Katz Umbilical Cord Blood Program at Community Blood Services in Paramus and the New Jersey Cornell Institute for Medical Research in Camden.
"This is the beginning of an expanded horizon to bring the promise of stem cell research to the people of the State of New Jersey," Dr. Jacobs, a physician, said in a statement.
"The promise of stem cell research is that instead of prescribing medication and rehabilitation for people with heart attacks, strokes, spinal cord injuries and Alzheimer's disease, we will cure them."
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