The man creates embryonic stem cells

10 years ago in a small laboratory like a private room, James 'Jamie' Thomson, an embryologist, at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, changed the world with the first human embryonic stem cells.

However, very few experiments were conducted due to a strong wave of debate. Recently, Thomson has contributed greatly to the creation of pluripotent stem cells. One day almighty stem cells will benefit embryonic stem cells without destroying embryos.

Thomson was financially supported by biotech company Geron to conduct experiments run by both his university and the government. But he ended his relationship with Geron in 2001 when there was support from the Government. He is almost no longer related to commerce and business.

James "Jamie" Thomson.
(Photo: ink.primate.wisc.edu)

However, he is still the co-founder of Cellular Dynamics International, which is testing the heart-mediated side effects drug. Most of the debate about embryonic stem cells is directed at replacing the damaged organ, but Thomson sees great promise in drug research. Below is a part of the interview between Forbes and Thomson. Both questions and answers have been slightly revised for clarity.

Forbes: Do you think embryonic stem cells have greater value in drug research than cell transplants?

I really believe that the value of embryonic stem cells is not confined to transplantation. It is very difficult to predict the future, but I think 20 years later, when we look back, we will see that 90% of the value of embryonic stem cells will be in things that are not really outstanding. It might be drug screening, although it's a bit boring, but it also helps pharmaceuticals to be on the market faster and safer.

I believe that transplantation techniques will play an important role in some areas, but we are underestimating the challenge that will be encountered for most diseases. We can pursue some low-level goals, but for goals like neuropathy it is not easy to get things connected. It would be much better to understand why cells die and then prevent it.

Unexpected human embryonic stem cells give us the opportunity to reach every part of the human body that we could not reach before. It will lead to understanding why cells die as well as discovering more traditional therapies that help prevent cell aging. For Parkinson's disease, if we can diagnose it from an early stage and then control it, it's as good as treatment. I think this is possible.

Why do implant therapies so attractive, he says?

Imagine that we can create a whole new set of compost, which is not interesting. I've been in this field for 10 years now. I originally created human embryonic stem cells as a model for human development. At that time I knew it had other applications, but it was just my personal pleasure. Because without a more accurate model, we cannot directly access materials in the human body. The experimental mice are different from us.

Speaking of experimental mice, they are actually faster, more economical and also better in many ways. But for species-specific diseases, human embryonic stem cells are extremely valuable. There are many human bodies that we cannot conduct research because the cells do not grow. Most are like that.

Dopamine neurons (dopaminergic neuron) are often destroyed when Parkinson's disease is present. Now, for the first time in history, humans have been able to create regular neuron depaminergic. I know a lot of people will continue to study transplant techniques and I hope they will succeed. But I'm actually quite surprised if 10 or 20 years from now we don't have such a thorough understanding of the biological nature of the disease so much that we don't need to use transplant techniques. Although human embryonic stem cells and almighty stem cells are not the basis for creating stories, they will also be an essential component in them.

Why do you think embryonic stem cells offer great opportunities for pharmaceutical research? What are those opportunities?

A real easy opportunity is the heart. We chose this path because the pharmaceutical industry realized this was an important area, and furthermore, we received many opinions from experts. Initial analysis of what is called QT prolongation has been conducted, and Craig January is the founder. He knows about the poison industry, they trust him, and the market is very simple. Creating heart cells is not difficult, but there is no other source of reliable human heart cells. We know there are intense pharmaceutical reactions that occur in human heart cells that do not appear in mice. This is a simple trick that the pharmacy brings us.

Certainly, many capitalists have come to him during the past 10 years. So why didn't he set up a company now?

I was only interested in this job recently. In my opinion, the main moment is now. However there are also some problems. Back when I created human embryonic stem cells, I didn't think it was reasonable to establish a company, simply because it was too early. There are many basic things that need to be done. During the past 10 years I have done a lot of them.

In addition, I think no one has done the job properly so there are still opportunities. Part of everyone wants to focus on treatment that puts embryonic stem cells aside. No one is really dedicated. Since we are skilled in cardiovascular toxicity, we want to try it as well.

According to him, how did political debates distort the public's view of the nature of science?

According to me at different times both sides make the truth a little vague. One side gives his opinion, the other side will feel forced to argue. Even if you say rational things, you can't spread the message far away. This situation is understandable, but the consequence is that people will not be fully equipped with the knowledge of the hardships of human embryonic stem cell transplantation. This is entirely possible because this is a completely new field.

In fact, I have not taken statistics on bone marrow transplants at the beginning but the patients are no longer available. For a new disease treatment like this, of course, unexpected accidents will occur. Some transplant therapies are also ineffective. But it's not that it ruins the whole field, just some of the methods that will need to be thoroughly researched.

Do you anticipate the level of controversy that you encounter?

Sheep Dolly was cloned in 1997. All reporters revolving around Dolly had to turn to embryonic stem cells in 1998. I realized it would create a fire storm. I cannot predict how long it will last, largely due to the election of President George Bush. If it became a normal science 8 years ago, we might have crossed the distance.

This field has the same characteristics as DNA. DNA engineering has also experienced similar public opinion in the early 1970s, then compromised and promoted. We take a little longer now because of the election cycle.

On the other hand, people cannot predict where it will go. They think gene therapy must be here, but it doesn't happen that way. No one can predict that genetic engineering has developed as it is today.

Human embryonic stem cells will undergo the same process. People have not yet evaluated the wide application of this research tool. Any medical laboratory in any school will have to use them. But scientists will not claim to be stem cell biologists anymore, they only use stem cells to study the area they care about. When this results, it will be completely separate from the stem cell biology. I have a firm belief that stem cell technology will dramatically change the field of human medicine.

Lessons provided by Dr. Tran Manh Hung , MA, STD
Tra Mi translates