Stanford University shed some light on a basic biology grant approved earlier this week for a researcher linked to the
Palo Institute for Research and Education.
Here is what Stanford said in a
news release about grants involving the school:
“A fourth Stanford researcher also received funds from CIRM, but the funds will flow through a different organization. Tony Wyss-Coray(at right), PhD, associate professor of neurology and neurological sciences, will receive about $1.52 million to study molecular and environmental factors in the adult brain that support the differentiation of neural stem cells. Understanding how old brains may generate new neurons may help researchers devise ways to combat age-related neurodegenerative diseases. Wyss-Coray has a joint appointment with the Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System, and will conduct the research as part of the Palo Alto Institute for Research and Education. “
I understand that the 1.52 million given to Tony Wyss-Coray to study the stem cells in the adult brain, but I don’t understand is why the adult brain. Aren’t the stem cells collected from fetuses under the gestation period of 5 weeks or younger the most active stem cells? How and why do adult stem cells are still useful for research. From what I learned about the adult body is that most growth stops after the age of thirty, usually, then why would you want to collect stem cells from carriers who stem cells are no longer as active as they used to be? Also, how can the environment around the carrier’s brain effect the stem cell itself? And if the environment surrounding the stem cell carrier is in fact a factor in the stem cell growth, which type of stem cell would be more effected by the surroundings, stem cells from fetuses, or the stem cells from an adult brain? One more question I would like to ask is do you believe that the 1.52 million dollars given to you by the CIRM really enough to fund your research on a truly life changing science that could save many lives?
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