Here is the text of the response from scientists Peter Belafsky and Alice Tarantal of UC Davis concerning questions asked by the California Stem Cell Report. The questions first and then the response.
"What is the nature of the collaboration with Birchall?
"Have the disclosures concerning Macchiarini altered your direction or delayed your CIRM research?
"Has UCD inquired concerning your CIRM research in the wake of the Macchiarini disclosures? If so, what is the status of that inquiry?
"What is the current status of your research? The CIRM progress report on its web site appears to be old, and you are nearing the final stages of the term of the award.
"Do you plan to apply to CIRM to advance your research into a clinical trial?
"Is there anything else that would be useful for the public to know?"
The questions
"Has Macchiarini been involved in any way, including informal consultation or contact, with your CIRM award? If so, please describe the nature of that contact."What is the nature of the collaboration with Birchall?
"Have the disclosures concerning Macchiarini altered your direction or delayed your CIRM research?
"Has UCD inquired concerning your CIRM research in the wake of the Macchiarini disclosures? If so, what is the status of that inquiry?
"What is the current status of your research? The CIRM progress report on its web site appears to be old, and you are nearing the final stages of the term of the award.
"Do you plan to apply to CIRM to advance your research into a clinical trial?
"Is there anything else that would be useful for the public to know?"
The response
"Hi, David.
"I appreciate your inquiry and dedication to advancing
regenerative medicine. I am a head and neck surgeon specializing in the care of
patients with complex airway collapse. In June of 2008 an international team
performed what was then considered to be the world’s
first tissue-engineered organ transplant to help save a suffocating mother who
was failed by contemporary medicine. The team took a donor trachea stripped of
innate cells, implanted it with autologous stem cells, and transplanted it into
her failing windpipe. The operation was a success, and the patient is alive and
well. Based on this achievement, similar technology was used in 2010 to save
the life of a 10 year-old boy; he is now a thriving 15 year-old.
"Since the initial success with decellularized/re-cellularized human donor trachea, work on synthetic trachea implanted with autologous stem cells has not shown equal promise, and people have died. We have had no involvement in these procedures or investigations.
"An article published in 2013, by Gretchen
Vogel (Science. 2013 Apr 19;340(6130):266-8), questioned the success of
this work and urged caution before moving the science forward. She and others, our
team included, have suggested that more research is required to determine the
fate of the cells and the long-term viability of the grafts before making the implants
widely available to patients. Our team at UC Davis is uniquely qualified to
address these questions and we coordinated the CIRM proposal to fund the
research to critically evaluate the donor
trachea method. Our university’s support in this endeavor has not wavered.
"The ultimate goal of our work is to provide
better treatment options for people with life-threatening airway stenosis. The
primary aim of our CIRM grant is to take a step back and understand what
happens with the grafts in the lab before initiating operations in people. This
is a work in progress, and we do not yet have the data to answer all the
questions raised by the scientific community. We may apply to CIRM for funds to
continue our research, but will not consider human implantation until we are
satisfied that the science is sound and the technology is safe.
"To answer your questions, Dr. Birchall was
involved in our project at the onset, but due to the logistical difficulties of
intercontinental collaboration, is not currently an active participant. Dr.
Macchiarini has had no involvement in this project on any level, in any way, at
any time. (Belafsky's boldface italics)
"The translation of high-risk, complex
innovation from the laboratory to suffering patient is not an easy road. The
controversy surrounding Macchiarini has resulted in the redoubling of our efforts
to explore the science behind what saves lives and what does not. This step is
essential in order to lay a firm, evidence-based foundation upon which to build.
"Since your primary focus relates to the work
of Macchiarini, I would like to re-emphasize that our project is fundamentally
different. Our research is focusing on decellularized trachea only, whereas he has utilized synthetic grafts.
"Warm regards,
"Peter Belafsky, MD, PhD
"University of California, Davis"
