Biology Professors Janice Naegele and Laura Grabel, in collaboration with Assistant Professor of Biology Gloster Aaron, have recently received grants supporting stem-cell research and will use the money to build a state center for stem-cell research, as well as to fund neurological studies on the treatment of epilepsy.
The two grants, awarded separately by the McKnight Foundation and the State of Connecticut, will provide non-federal funding for their research in concordance with federal laws prohibiting the use of stem cells taken from new human embryos. The McKnight grant provides $300,000 to investigate treatment of epilepsy in mice, while the state grant provides $2.5 million jointly to Wesleyan and the University of Connecticut to fund the creation of the Human Embryonic Stem Cell Core Facility in Farmington, Conn. The facility is expected to be fully operational in early 2007.
“Current federal regulations make it very difficult for researchers to harness the full potential of stem cells,” said Naegele, the primary recipient of the McKnight grant. “They prohibit us from using new human embryos, even though a good deal of evidence suggests that stem cells from those embryos could be the most effective at restoring destroyed cells.”
Federal regulations prohibit any research funding by the national government using such stem cells. Both the McKnight Foundation and the state seek to circumvent this law by providing their own money to researchers, without federal support. Associate Professor of Philosophy Lori Gruen, who is also director of the University’s Ethics in Society Project, characterized the federal ban as representative of debates in religious circles, rather than in the scientific community.
“Scientists aren’t opposed to the use of new human embryos or ‘surplus’ embryos,” she said. “Some religious individuals do oppose the use of new or old embryos, and because some members of some religious groups are opposed to the use of human embryos at any stage of their development for research, it has become a very serious political issue.”
Grabel, the primary recipient of the state grant, will become co-director of the Farmington facility with Ren-He Xu, director of the human embryonic stem cell laboratory at the University of Connecticut Health Center. Grabel has also received a little over $878,00 for a study that focuses on directing the production and functioning of embryonic stem cell-derived neural stem cells.
“This center will allow us to work with the full range of available stem cells, along with the very best equipment and researchers,” she said. “A core facility will expand our options and potential tremendously.”
Grabel also said that the facility will have a positive impact on both the University and the state as a whole. She said the facility will allow students to research at a world-class scientific facility and will educate the people of Connecticut about stem cells and their potential uses.
“This is a wonderful opportunity to better inform Connecticut citizens about stem cells,” she said.
Naegele emphasized the benefits for students interested in stem cell research.
“We have really brilliant students here—graduate schools call me asking for Wesleyan students,” she said. “This facility will give them access to some of the most groundbreaking research going on today.”
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